“A tourist carved “Ivan+Haley 23″ into the nearly 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Rome, Italy.”
That was a first line of a paragraph from BusinessInsider.com written by Monica Humphries. I read it on July 5, 2023.
The story went on, “The tourist — who was identified as Ivan Dimitrov, a 27-year-old fitness instructor living in Bristol, England, according to The Guardian — was seen using a key to carve “Ivan+Haley 23″ into the nearly 2,000-year-old Roman structure in a video originally shared to YouTube.”
The Italian authorities took only five days to track the culprit to his home in England. Ivan is a twenty-seven-year-old fitness instructor who lives in Bristol. Another tourist videoed him using a key to carve his affection for Haley on the 2,000-year-old Roman structure and posted it on YouTube. Haley, smartly dressed, stood behind him, smiling her approval.
Ivan faces fines of up to $16,000 and five years in jail. I doubt the “+” has a warranty that long.
In an apology letter, Dimitrov stated that he didn’t realize the ancient site’s age.
Ivan has written an open letter to the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, and the prosecutor’s office, which was published in Rome’s Il Messaggero newspaper. In part, his message to the world was,
“Through these lines, I would like to address my heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and the world for the damage caused to an asset which is the heritage of all humanity.”
He should have left it right there, but he went on in his defense, “It is with deep embarrassment that only after what regrettably happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument.” He also pleaded his case by saying he was unaware of “the seriousness of the deed committed.”
All I can say to Ivan in the way of advice is, “Change your defense strategy, Dude! Stupid is not defendable.” Next time you are moved to express your heart, use a Post-it note or a diamond ring.
And to Haley, sister, find some help in your suitor search. Your current plan is not working. “23” may be the year, but it may be just a year or less. Hold out for “forever” or the infinity sign.
Just one other observation Haley needs to consider, “Did you notice that your boyfriend put his name in front of yours? That is not a good sign for a happy life in the future.”
There is a big gap between being famous and being infamous. It is tempting to turn Ivan’s disrespectful action into a warning about the future judgment of each human. But I won’t. I see a person who fails to think beyond emotions before action.
He should have considered in planning the trip to Rome what he would see there and the culture he would encounter. It appears that all Ivan thought about was himself. And dubious actions always follow when humans are consumed with their pleasures and pains. We end up projecting God’s approval upon our aspirations rather than aspiring for what God has already approved.
A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Luke 6:45 Christian Standard Bible
Photo – A third floor window of an abandoned unfinished building in Dahuk, Kurdistan, now occupied by refugee squatters.
Baldwin Heirlooms 