Dr. Masters – Gomorrah, Pt. 1

 

I came away from reading this book with gratefulness.  I am so glad I was not born anywhere near Naples.  I was astounded with the statistic that 40% of the shops in Naples were run by the Camorra in 2004.  To be born into such a vast system of corruption would have been the death of me.  I can’t imagine trying to go about my daily life during a war between two (or more) bosses.  People had to die, it didn’t matter if they were innocent or not.  That’s how the bosses held onto their power: with violence. 

 

I really felt for Pasquale who got paid a pittance for his skills.  To see your design walk down the red carpet on a famous movie star must have been extremely traumatic.  He found a way to survive, though, in spite of the system being in control of his life.  Most people in the region have to contend with long hours and backbreaking work just to survive.  Getting out doesn’t seem to be very easy, either.  Roberto Saviano exhibited a lot of guts to take the chance and write what he knew.  I only hope that his police protection really is protection.  In dealing with the Camorra, I would think there is no safe place for him to relax and be able to just live. 

 

This book has tinged my experience of Italy since I read about all the pollution from waste management operations run by Camorra.  Is the water really safe to drink?  I have to question that now.  It would be naïve to think that Umbria is exempt from their influence. There’s money to be made.  You can bet who will be making it.