January 2nd 2006 Sorrows of Milano
(In picture: before the once wooded area of Bosco di Gioia, a menacing sign alerts the citizens. Future is at work.)
So the cut down of Bosco di Gioia ("Gioia woods", an old green area in the center of Milan), initiated four days ago in the midst and with the dread complicity of Xmas holidays, ended today, with the final removal of all the remains of the dead trees (180 trees razed).
The area of "Bosco di Gioia" is soon to be transformed into a big skyscraper turd, like we were still in the fanatic raze-and-build frenzy of the eighties or something, thanks to the lazy greed meanness of the villains in charge.
The fancy turd will be occupied by the offices of the Lombardy Region Administration, may this name be wiped out from the maps forever. Big names of politicians wanted it, against citizens' will, with a big help from urban planners, architects, fashion designers, engineers, techicians, administrators, bankers, industrialists: may their death come soon, with humiliation and atrocious pains, may their names be cursed forever or something less rethoric but equally disrupting.
"Bosco di Gioia" is not anymore. And its name, is now a real mockery. "Gioia", in fact, comes from the historical figure of Melchiorre Gioia, who was one of the many ignored italian patriots who fought for italian unity in the XIX century: toponymy in Italy is quite a boring thing, as it is in most of the places everywhere. In the old times names of streets and squares in Italy had a lot more of imagination and pertinence and made a lot more sense... but that's another story.
Anyway, by sheer coincidence, "Gioia", means also "Joy". And we all know how Joy comes always with its other half, Sorrow ("dolore"). It was the writer Ceronetti to ironically note that the subway station underneath the area was called "Gioia", but no "Dolore" station followed or preceded as it should have.
Well, my simple idea is to change this name once and for good. Joy does not belong to this criminal doomed greedy lazy city anyway, if it ever did.
Sorrow does. Not everyday, of course, not anytime: only when the indifference to everything but money, boredom, fears and power has the hiccups, and all the sad wasted land of this built city emerges with its naked, hungry, menacing, hopeless face.
Let's change the damn unlucky name, then. Let's address a public petition. After "Gioia", always comes "Dolore".
7 things have been said about Sorrows of Milano
I’m always saddened by changes in the cities I’ve lived in. Everytime there’s a change in the topography of NYC (and that is a fairly common occurence) I always feel like a piece of me is changing.
Therefore, I am very saddened to hear about Parco Gioia…not only it is a serious shame, not to mention, I used to pass by it often on my way to school. I would gladly sign the petition.
I don’t want to hear more about Italy and Milano. With trees falling down the hopes too. Always.
I don’t want to hear more about Italy and Milano. With trees fall down the hopes too. Always.
(ok ok my english is now total kaputt)
@musings: so you went to school in Milan? I knew there was something…
@gp: Oh, gp, I know…
I just feel what you feel.
ehm…yes, I was born in Milano and went to school there until my teens, then moved to the states.
I went to the varesine only once, but it was a bit scary as it had become a bit of a meeting place for iv drug users.
comment above by musings….
;-)
Some gioia, cut down the bosco di gioia! (irony)
As if Milano really needs another skyscraper and not a park!
I’ve never been there, but it is always sad to see green spaces which add to relaxation become office buildings which produce stress.