Regarding declarations of love (Italian)

Regarding declarations of love (March 2011)

Dear Beppe,

I read in the latest column of SETTE your response "A declaration of love" and I agree with what you wrote. Specifically with regard to the topic "Unity of Italy," I'm sending you this little column.

Dinner in the hinterlands of Milan. 5 nations are represented around our table: Maldovia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Eritrea, and yours truly, the sole Italian. The amostphere is peaceful and friendly, familiar among people of different origins who work, study and encounter difficulties and respect the laws. Two kids play in the living room, born in Italy 9 years ago, one from Maldovian parents, the other from Ukrainian-Egyptian parents. They attend 4th grade at different elementary schools. All of a sudden they start singing the Hymn of Mameli together. I hear them from the kitchen and I smile.

After "Italy beckoned" stupor blocks my applause, because the children continue: "We've been persectued and derided for centuries." We never sing the second verse because we don't know it. And when we break out in "Unite, love one another: the union and love reveal to us the ways of the Lord," stupor gives way to a true flood of emotion. Who's ever sung the third verse? D'Azeglio used to say that we need to "form ourselves into Italians," but if chosen people walk provocatively out of a hall while the hymn is playing, it means we haven't achieved that goal after 150yrs. But I'm optomistic: the children are "rushes bent under sold swords," and because of them we'll succeed in becoming Italians.

Daniele Redaelli, dredaelli@gazzetta.it

Beautiful story, Danielle: Thank you. I'm copying and attaching Thursday's letter from SETTE and my response.

Sandra Corti writes(sandracorti@mac.com): "I've been living in the United States for 10 yrs. I have a 7yr old daughter here. Since he started school when he was 4, he has, every morning, together with his classmates, teacher, and the whole school in unison (via loudspeakers), stood up, placed her hand over her heart, with eyes turned to the American flag and proclaimed out loud "The Pledge of Allegiance: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of United Stats of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all". This is how American children begin their day.

Beppe's response:
A sacred duty of fidelity to a nation: The Pledge of Allegiance, it would be good for us to do it as well. I imagine the objections: what use is such a declaration in an empatic, incoherent, and absent-minded Italy? So many of our leaders have made a mockery of the 54th article of the constitution: "Citizens to whom public functions have been granted have the duty to absolve those tasks with discipline and honor, under oath according to the stipulations of the law." Why would such people honor yet another tenet of loyalty? The answer is easy, and I'm happy to give it on the day of Italy's 150th birthday.

We must give ourselves up to the requirement of fedelity of the elected: he who has a conscience must use it; he who doesn't, no phrase or ceremony will deliver it for him. A declaration a' la Americana might help instead a younger electorate upon whom we cast our hopes, and for new Italians, from whom we expect effert, enthusiasm, and loyalty that the USA expects of its new citizens. To choose a new country is to accept new duties, rights, traditions, and lifestyles. In order ot be good Italians, a bit of romantic love for the place is a necessity: there's no other way.

Many wishes. Something I find in my email inbox that I enjoyed: auguri.tecnova.it. That's right. Italy deserves better. Italy needs to be better led and inspired, not pandered to in all its desires or absolved from all its guilts.

P.S.: Happy Saint's day to all Giuseppe, Beppe, Peppe, Peppino, Pino, Pinuccio, et company!