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Wed 12/8/2010
Wikileaks Julian Assange Featured in Famous Naples Christmas Nativity

Gennaro Di Virgilio, creator of the famous Annual Naples, Italy Nativity Scene, yearly includes at least one contemporary   public figure to be "lionized" or "mocked". Julian Assange was the "Man of the Year". Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi,  is also included this year, with a version of him on his knees asking his former wife for forgiveness. There are also the  figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph wearing protective masks on their faces, to focus on the Naples Trash crises 
Mr Di Virgilio's family has been making nativity statues since 1830. 

Assange is a Hero to me.!!!!!  Democracy can hardly operate when the Government labels as "Secret", not only that which actually jeopardizes our National Defense, But also TONS of documents that the government feels we Taxpayers/Voters are not Adult enough to Understand, or that might expose the Stupidity/Duplicity of officials. 
 
When you have your government  labeling  Everything Secret/ Confidential/ Sealed, you then have Lack of Transparency and Lack of Freedom of Information. Then the (mislabeled) Patriot Act allows enormous intrusion into the Citizen's Privacy. 
 
That means you don't get to know anything the Government does, But the Government gets to know everything you are saying and doing. That's Fascism !!!!!!!!   


Wikileaks Julian Assange Figures in Christmas Nativity
 
Neapolitan nativity scenes often feature contemporary public figures as well as those from the Bible.
 
BBC News; December 8, 2010   
Arrested Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been honoured in Italy by being featured in a traditional Christmas nativity scene. 

A miniature statue of Mr Assange, clutching a laptop computer, stands alongside figures from the story of the birth of Jesus.

Its creator, Gennaro Di Virgilio, said Mr Assange was the man of the year.

He is the latest in a long line of public figures to feature in a nativity scene in the city of Naples.

"I included him to poke a little fun at the world and have a good time," said Mr Di Virgilio, who each year chooses at least one contemporary character to sculpt.

So far he has made only one copy of the 6in (15cm) statue, which cost 130 euros (?110), but says he will make more if asked. 

Neapolitan nativity scenes traditionally include others besides the Biblical characters.

Mr Di Virgilio's family has been making nativity statues since 1830. 

He's one of dozens of sculptors who make them in the southern city's narrow Via San Gregorio Armeno street, and who use them to portray the signs of the times. 

Premier role 
One theme this year has been the city's rubbish crisis, which has seen refuse piled up in the streets. 

That has led the craftsmen to create figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph wearing protective masks on their faces. 

Some have even put miniature bags of refuse in the scenes alongside the other figures. 

The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome says Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is facing a vote of confidence in parliament next week, is another popular statue this year. 

There are versions of him on his knees asking his former wife for forgiveness for his alleged transgressions and one of him with a teenage Moroccan belly dancer called Ruby, who recently made allegations about him

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11952052

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