The dems of Rome to Salvini: “We’ll explain our Unity Day*”

"Better an asterisk or flower than a flame or a Celtic rose": this is the response of the Rome Democrats to Matteo Salvini's joke on social media about the use of the asterisk in the name of the traditional meeting of Schlein's party

ROME – “An asterisk, or a flower or whatever you want to see inside it certainly does less damage than a flame or a Celtic rose”: the Democratic Party of Rome points out toll ‘address of Matteo Salvini, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, who had not let slip the opportunity to be ironic about the (ab)use of the asterisk in the communication of the Capital’s Unity Day.

“We thank Minister Salvini for his attention towards the Rome Unity Day. It is right to explain to him the meaning of the asterisk and the meaning it carries with it, because he is evidently not very knowledgeable on the subject”. So in a note the Rome PD therefore, following the controversy raised by the minister.
“The power of a symbol lies in its ability to communicate the values in an immediate and lasting way – continues the note – the identity and the promise of the message itself. A symbol can condense complex concepts into a single image, evoking emotions, memories and positive associations. The symbol thus becomes a powerful visual communication tool, capable of transmitting messages without the need for words and leaving an indelible mark on the mind of everyone (young people,
adults, elderly)”.

“INCLUSION THROUGH SYMBOLS AND WORDS”

The chosen communication, adds PD Roma, revolves around the “main and historical focus of the Festival enclosed in the word and concept of Unitywhich here becomes a symbol capable of communicating directly, clear, powerful enough to reach her too. The asterisk is used to indicate that a term or pronoun includes all gender identities, going beyond the traditional binary categories of masculine and feminine. use of the asterisk, in this way, aims to reflect and respect the diversity of gender identities and to make language more inclusive for all people“. Its versatility makes it a “useful tool for drawing attention to social inclusion, which yes, dear minister, also involves symbols, words and the meanings they convey”. The grave accent is a punctuation mark represented by a “small stroke inclined towards the left (`). It is used in some languages, such as French and Italian, to indicate a change in the pronunciation of a vowel”.

IT’S THE DIGITAL LANGUAGE, BEAUTY

Special characters on the internet are symbols or punctuation signs used “outside the standard alphabet for specific purposes. These characters – PD Rome continues in the note – are an essential part of the digital language which expands the possibilities of communication and interaction on the internet, however, special characters exist, such as an accent on an asterisk. At least until now, it represents the greatest inclusiveness imaginable. so far unspeakable. Hencethe decision and choice to make them a symbol: unique, powerful, unforgettable. Just like the Festa dell’Unità“.