Any debate about multiculturalism or cultural diversity in Italy is less of a discussion about a melting pot, and more of a fear of a complete melt down.
In Milan, discussions are particularly contentious, as the city, according to Milanese, looks less and less like it’s an Italian city and more like it’s a destination for any foreigner, legal or otherwise.
One example of the fear of the foreign in Milan, is bus line 90-91, considered by most residents as the crowning symbol of Italy’s so called “security emergency”.
It’s a place where girls should not go out by day, let alone at night: a bus line so full of foreigners it was the scene of round-ups a few months ago.
And yet it can be a place of inspiration and humanity, as demonstrated by Ben Harper.
Interviewed by Velvet some time ago, he said:“Finding inspiration is simple.
How do I do it? I get on a bus and I write.
I know by heart half of the world’s public transport, including those in Italy.
In Milan my favourite bus is “91″, the one that connects the most periferial circle of the city.
I get up early, I put on a hat and I sit at the back.
I spend hours and hours observing people: each person evokes a song.
”For the Milanese, hearing bus lines 90-91 spoken about like this, would have created some surprise in more than one.
Could it just be the musings of a naive tourist who finds everything interesting because he’s a foreigner? Or perhaps it’s the locals who are full of prejudice and exaggerated fear?The next time you see a black man sitting at the back of the bus, he may not be a dangerous criminal, and he may not even be Ben Harper.
But whatever the possibilities, a world famous musician could be writing a song about you.
Foto: Flickr.