Happy birthday, Republic!
Italy between crisis and hope
--
Second of June. This day, every year, the President of the Republic and all the highest authorities climb the staircases of Victor Emmanuel II Monument to pay homage to the “unknown soldier”, the symbol of all the people that gave their blood and soul to make this country. A day to remind everyone of the cost of freedom and democracy. In the background, the passage of the Frecce Tricolori through the sky of Rome is more and more spectacular each passing year.
Today Italy celebrates the Republic. Seventy-five years is quite an age already! Despite the active and vigorous appearance, this young democracy on the Mediterranean Sea has started to show some wrinkles and first signs of arthritis. The deeply rooted corruption, the rise of populism in politics, and the prolonged economic crisis have all contributed to age the country quickly. On top of this, Italians are now battling a collective post-traumatic disorder after a devastating pandemic that hit the country especially hard. The present looks dark. And yet, despite the odds, the country has always emerged with new antibodies and new energy from every crisis in the past.
Today there is a glimpse of optimism that needs to be celebrated. The bold vaccination campaign is yielding visible effects. Infections and mortality are at a record low and a season of summer and late-day aperitivo is coming to give finally some relief. Cities are opening again, visitors are storming in and the crowded streets remind now of the good old times before bats and pangolins could spread heinous diseases.
There’s optimism in the air for the ambitious plan of recovery and resilience that has been recently approved in Parliament. A plan that is going to boost the future. Time and time again in history, Italy seems always capable to tap into its inner strengths even in its darkest moments. Is in the difficult times that the Italian spirit emerges. Like when a struggling Ferrari has been able to win the absolute epic Grand Prix of Monza a couple of years ago. A beautiful metaphor of triumph in face of all the hardships.
There are good reasons to think that the terrible fate of the pandemic can turn into an invaluable opportunity to wipe the slate clean and build a better Nation from the ruins.
Maybe history doesn’t repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes. There’s a red line that connects the celebration of today with the historical moment of the proclamation of the new Republic. Even then, the country was emerging from extreme conditions: the immense toll of the Second World War and the civil conflict that liberated the country from the last grip of fascism. Even then, Italy was a lacerated nation coming out from a long trauma.
A lost country without a guide. After the war, the king couldn’t sustain his role anymore and abdicated to the young son, Umberto II. The “king of may”, because its rule lasted nothing more than a month. A popular referendum was issued to all the population. Men and women, for the first time, came together to decide the future of the country: Monarchy or Republic?
That faithful day of June the answer was clear. In Italy, the power returned finally back to the people.
The founding fathers laid out a new Constitution for the nascent Republic. A compelling manifesto in defense of human rights and freedom. A defense against any form of oppression, discrimination, and totalitarianism that remains an extremely relevant spiritual guide in today’s world.
“The Republic recognises and guarantees the inviolable rights of the person, both as an individual and in the social groups where human personality is expressed.”
The Day of the Republic is a day to remember where we are from. Who fought in the past to give all the freedom we currently enjoy. A Republic that abhors any form of violence but has been born on the ruins and destruction of decades of fascism. This day of celebration is a stark reminder that democracy is not for granted. On the contrary, democracy stands on a miraculous equilibrium and is our duty to preserve this gift we’ve been given.
“Italy rejects war as an instrument of aggression against the freedom of other peoples and as a means for the settlement of international disputes.”
Ignorance, demagoguery, and the old fascism are the enemies to that old Constitution still alive and strong today and I really hope this dark past will never come back to bite us again. Yes, Salvini and Meloni, talking to you.
I don’t find it always easy to talk about my country. Is a place of extreme contradictions. An infuriating mess constantly on the brink of disaster that I personally hate most of the time.
We’re in a complicated relationship.
As singer Giorgio Gaber once said: “I don’t really feel Italian, but luckily or tragically I am”.
But still, there are some days when I remember to be grateful to be part of this beautiful and chaotic project despite everything. Italy is something more than just a country, is an extended family. You hate it, you have never chosen to be part of it. But you know deep down that you can never betray your roots.
Italy is like a family because, no matter where you are in the world, you can ALWAYS recognize Italians among strangers. And you don’t even have to speak to understand each other immediately. There must be some special energy that connects us anywhere.
Italy is like a family because it requires infinite patience to accept all the infinite disappointments of living in this dysfunctional but damn gorgeous, little country.
This country is a family because, no matter how bad it gets, she always comes back to smile at you. We’re still here, after a pandemic. Together and stronger, despite the fate.
Happy birthday, Italy!
— —
