L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 S tate visits, bilateral meetings and confi- dential talks between Italy and the US are quite frequent. Without a doubt, this is the result of the two countries' good relations and transatlantic pacts. But the arrival of President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella in the Bay Area has been a very important event, because of its rarity. It's been 37 years since the last time an Italian President came to the West Coast: it was Sandro Pertini , then, one of Italy's most loved presidents. The visit left its mark within the San Francisco community, just like a mark has been left by the many Italian immigrants, who have been bringing their talent to the US — their country of adoption and of choice — and who, more often than not, have received a lot in return, too. "The West Coast community, in particular, represents an incredibly significant example of how generations of Italians and Italian- Americans have been contributing efficiently to the social, cultural and economic growth of this part of the United States," Mattarella observed. "Testimony of this, the three Italian mayors of San Francisco: Angelo Rossi, Joseph Alioto and George Moscone, figures whose work truly made an indelible mark, like the decision to build, during the difficult time of the Great Depression, the monument symbol of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge. A decision taken by mayor Rossi, and made possible thanks to the support of the Bank of Italy, owned by banker Amadeo Giannini, who had Ligurian origins." Construction works for the Golden Gate, which was to become a symbol of America and an internationally recognized icon of San The many contributions of generations of Italians and Italian- Americans to progress From the director Francisco, began on the 5th of January 1933. 86 years have passed since and, speaking of it today, it seems centuries ago. But if we consi- der that, at the time of construction, the Golden Gate sported the tallest suspension towers and represented the highest point of civil engineering for the time, we realize how those years are not so far from us in the end. The worldwide IT bridges created also by high-tech businesses foun- ded by Italians and operating in the Bay Area (like Kong Inc. and Nozomi Networks) were visited by Mattarella, because they are like outposts, like symbols of the results that today's Italians and Italian- Americans have been obtaining. They are, quite simply, the digital ver- sion, the technological evolution of the Golden Gate Bridge: different form, but same substance. When the Golden Gate was completed, in 1937, it was the longest suspended bridge in the world: a triumph of masterful engineering and technology but, considering the times, also an incredibly courageous financial challenge. The engineers of today are computer specialists and the intelligence they apply with incredible results is artificial, but behind it all we find the same passion, professionalism and skills typical of people who dedicate their life to progress, often overcoming unimaginable obsta- cles. "This part of the United States bears the signs of the Italian collecti- vity's industriousness," Mattarella said while in San Francisco: "there is such an extraordinary background of cultural, socio-political and econo- mic growth here, characterized, in the last few decades, by a commu- nity made of researchers, IT specialists, engineers, who transformed this part of the world into the global leader in technological develop- ment and change. In this context, our scientists, engineers, IT speciali- sts, our researchers, entrepreneurs and start-up creators — whom Mattarella had the opportunity to appreciate also at the Italian- American Innovation Forum — stood out, contributing extraordinarily to Silicon Valley's development. They, and many are young, we should underline, have the opportunity today to create a network that can sup- port Italy while the country takes up fundamental challenges for its future." In a world where technological bridges make us closer to one another, or better, where they shorten distances, being part of this inno- vative and evolutive flow is a fundamental prerequisite. That a State President said so, that he actually came all the way to the West Coast— where the future's beating heart lies — to remind the world Italy not only is present, but wants to be part of the future, and that technology is the great strategic sector where to invest, is signifi- cant. Surely, it isn't by chance that all this took place during the month of October that "in the US is the month celebrating the Italian-American heritage. North Beach recently has celebrated the 151st anniversary of Columbus Day's Italian-American Heritage Parade, and of when the City of San Francisco decided, for the first time, to declare October Italian Heritage Month. It is a honor — Mattarella added — that tells us to create stronger, more efficient bonds between two communities that share profound values and principles with one another." The visit, then, hasn't been useful only to bring Italy closer to the heart of immigrants, but to say how the future, just like the present, needs to be built together, beyond all geographical boundaries. We should think the way they did with the Golden Gate. In the '30s, people could not have imagined that thousands of cars were to cross the bridge everyday as it happens now. It doesn't matter where we are, in Italy or in the Bay Area. What counts is the progress the future generations will benefit from thanks to the work and the innovations of today. What we build today must lead to a positive and beneficial development tomor- row. In 86 years, other millions of Italians and Italian-Americans will have contributed to build the present and to imagine the future, and what seems futuristic today, will become reality. All this will be possi- ble, however, only and always if we embrace the idea of sharing and of extended participation, that is, if on both sides of the ocean, we will work together to build bridges and cancel barriers. Simone Schiavinato, Director NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS

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