Mussolini iPhone App Leaves Room For Improvement

It feels like Italy Day here at The Awl, right? Anyway, a new iPhone application that collects the text from over 100 Benito Mussolini speeches is a big hit in that country. As Der Spiegel reports, though, there is controversy.

Users on the Web site Iphoneitalia.com, a blog dedicated to discussing related Apple products and applications, have written effusive comments such as “Sainthood now!” “Thanks for making an application on one of the greatest statesman in our history” and “Whoever doesn’t like this application can always go live in China.” Those that oppose the application respond with comments like “I’m going to puke,” “This is just unadulterated masturbation for fascist egos” and “Are we insane? Collecting the speeches of a dictator who ruined Italy?”

The app’s programmer, 25-year-old Luigi Marino, is making a fortune, but says he’s unhappy that people are taking his work to be a promotion of fascism. “I’d like to make some improvements to iMussolini suggested by users,” he said. “And I’m thinking of making similar applications. But to avoid any scandals, perhaps they will be about people like Gandhi.” He could also just re-do the Mussolini one, but with Alexei Sayle reading the text.

That would be good.