255. The Unification of Italy: A Dilemma
Today, the peninsular celebrates the 150 anniversary of the unification of Italy, consequently the birth of Italy. Not that the peninsular did not exist before, it has been here since time immemorial.
Among some of its achievements is that of having given a re-birth to mankind through the Renaissance, not to mention having formed one of the greatest empires, the Roman Empire, which although barbarically sent thousands of Christians to be ravaged by wild beasts in the coliseum, it never the less set up an urban plan of architecture, hydraulics, sewerage and road system which has been used as a blueprint ever since. The peninsular has also hosted, except for brief periods, one of the largest spiritual kingdoms, in a small but totally independent state called the Vatican.
For a minute and relatively new state which may be contained several times in any of the states in the US or regions in India, Italy is one of the most democratic countries where freedom of individuals is uttermost, and where life can be enjoyed significantly more than in most other countries. Yet Italians will never in a months of Sundays agree with that statement.
Among themselves, Italians are an argumentative lot, precisely because they have lived in a society that imposes few restrictions, from the cradle to the grave, so you will find them give free rein to their expression. It’s also thanks to the days of bright light and sunshine that makes them less inhibited than their Northern European counterparts.
Yet you will find that Italians will shout out loud and clear and even set up demonstrations with leading literary figures to say that there is no freedom of press. Of course the Italian press is one of the most free presses in the world, because there too, anything can be said- slander, lies, and even phone call conversations which are covered by state secrecy acts are printed with great ease... and when I say anything goes, phone calls are tapped in massive quantities, unknown in any other part of Europe, especially if they have nothing to do with real crime but something that may sell more papers by pulp fictitious headlines.
So that’s the dilemma, in a country that has all the ingredients- mountains, lakes, sea, unique cities, art, food, wine, cars, fashion, beautiful girls- to make life one of the best that can possibly be lived in the world, we have its inhabitants squabbling about rubbish waste, nuclear power, newspapers, governments, leaders, especially if in power- in fact about anything... so you can imagine if they can come to any agreement about celebrating the 150 years anniversary of the birth of Italy.
Houses are supposed to show their festive mood by displaying the Italian flag... I’ve seen one or two, but you have to look really hard. Now can you just imagine if there were such an indifference for the 4th of July? I’m not blaming these people- they are always celebrating anyway- an example of that is the series on the Carnival which I have interrupted to include this article. These people are not concerned how or when Italy became a nation, some think that’s was just a big joke.
That’s another thing about Italians, tragedy so often turns to comedy. But since I am one brought up in the United Kingdom who can claim a monarchy from 871 AD with Alfred the Great, I feel rather nostalgic that the “Father of Italy”, is a figure no one ever talks about. He is in fact the first king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II who was the then king of Sardegna and Piemonte and it was he who proclaimed the founding of the Kingdom of Italy when, thanks to the hero Giuseppe Garibaldi, the armistice was signed on 17 March 1861- exactly 150 years ago today.
Well, whether the Italians celebrate the event or not, is of no great consequence... they always know how to have a good time anyway, holiday or not.
