Though the furore over FLOTUS’ wardrobe choices two years back have since been superseded by more consequent expressions of disdain, we thought it noteworthy to learn that what could be translated as having an “I don’t care” attitude has a lot of if not nuance then context underpinning that ought not be glossed over.
Menefrehismo traces its rabid pedigree back to the rise of fascism in Italy over its late entry into World War I. Under the leadership of Il Duce, his volunteer shock troops, known as the arditi—the daring—sang a vulgar song as they marched off to the fight. One line goes “me ne frego” if I die in battle, expressing not only a sense of nihilism but moreover in a wanton and crude fashion—the reflexive verb
fregare meaning to rub and thus I won’t rub myself about that or mildly I don’t give a damn, I don’t give a toss. Click here to listen to a
better song. Of course phrases become middle-of-the-road over time and don’t carry the same weight of history, propaganda and ideology but plenty of menefreghista are out there signalling among one another.
