265. Italy: Republic Day! Ugh!
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| The Fountain of Trevi (section) - Rome |
2nd of June is a national holiday in Italy- as the 4th of July in the US, but certainly not on that level. Often I have alluded Italians have little sense of national pride and what have you. Well, if you consider that there are as many Italians dispersed throughout the world as there are living in Italy, one wonders why they don’t stay at home. The reason for this basically is due to the fact that there was no work in Italy during the last century to suffice for all, and may I add, there still isn’t.
So, that takes the edge off a bit as to why Italians have such disaffection for their own country and it also explains why the powers that be have made a special effort that 2011 should be remembered as a special year since it celebrates, or so to speak, the 150 years of unity, that is when Italy became a nation as such.
Therefore, at least 80 world leaders or their representatives have been summoned to the festivities held in Rome for this occasion and admittedly there is a bit of flutter going on even in the lukewarm hearts of the Italians. Yet still, that word Republic just doesn’t sound that great at all.
But as our forefathers, after the last world war, decided this was to be so, so be it- not of course that it would have stirred the hearts much more if the Monarchy had remained- I would doubt. Still, the pomp and pride of a monarchy does add that little extra something to a nation as we have seen in the recent royal wedding in Britain.
Which reminds me, whenever we speak of “The Queen” we do not need to mention her name, we instinctively know we are referring to The Queen of England. I apologise for the other queens in Europe but that is undoubtedly the case. Maybe Europe should elect to have just one kingdom represented by one monarch, the one of England... it was just a suggestion.
Italy does still have members of the once Italian monarchy, but they are all lying low except for our Crown “Prince Charming” Emanuele Filiberto of Savoia who has entered into the homes of Italian people via the TV after a lifetime in exile. He may never wear a crown on his head, but Italians are quite fond of him, much more to those who sit in Parliament... so let’s just leave it at that.
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