Umberto Eco recounted an interaction that took place years ago while he was taking a walk in New York City. During this time, he spoke with a Pakistani taxi driver. The driver initially asked Eco where he was from, to which Eco replied that he was from Italy.
The driver then inquired about Italy’s population, expressing surprise at its relatively small size. Further conversation led the driver to ask Eco about the English language, noting that Italians did not speak it as their native tongue. Subsequently, the driver asked a question that surprised Eco: who Italy’s enemies were.
Eco initially responded with confusion, asking the driver to repeat himself. The taxi driver, speaking with noticeable patience, clarified that he was interested in knowing which nations Italy had been at war with over centuries due to issues such as territorial disputes, ethnic tensions, or religious differences. Eco then stated that Italy had not been at war with any nation.
The driver repeated his inquiry, maintaining his patience, and clarified that he wanted to know Italy’s historical adversaries—those who had historically been involved in conflict with the nation, and those who had been killed in such conflicts.
Topics: #asked #taxi #driver
