L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 4 FRANCESCA BEZZONE NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Due Giugno: a time to remember our rights, but also our duties F e s t a d e l l a R e p u b b l i c a , t h e d a y w h e n Italy celebrates its most impor- tant institution, is upon us: on the 2nd of June, our streets fill with the tricolo- re, the Frecce fly over the skies of Rome, while Via d e i F o r i I m p e r i a l i t u r n s into a stage for our Armed Forces, all parading in high uniform under the proud, attentive eye of the Presi- dent. But this is what happens usually. This year, of cour- se, things will be different. There won't be any parade in Rome, nor official gathe- r i n g s a n y w h e r e e l s e i n Italy: the Frecce Tricolori will carry on as usual, to bring the bright colors of our flag high up over the roofs of the Eternal City, as if the world beneath hadn't c h a n g e d — b u t w e a l l know it has. T h e F e s t a d e l l a Repubblica is an important moment for us Italians and it's only right to use the words of our President, S e r g i o M a t t a r e l l a , to explain why: "it is the sym- bol of the discovery of free- dom and democracy by our people." After more than 20 years under a dictator- s h i p a n d 5 o f w a r , t h a t early day of June 1946 was the beginning of a new era in our history and of a new lease of life for a coun- try that had suffered like no other during the first half of the century. The freedom we enjoy today, the right of living, s p e a k i n g , b e l i e v i n g i n accord to our own inclina- tions, is the result of how o u r R e p u b l i c c a m e i n t o b e i n g , t h e r e s u l t o f o u r parents and grandparents' efforts to create and leave us a just, democratic, free c o u n t r y . T h e I t a l i a n Republic gave to all of its c i t i z e n s t h e r i g h t t o b e i n d i v i d u a l s a n d t o b e r e s p e c t e d a s s u c h , t o d e f e n d t h e i r v i e w s , t o debate and contest, when deemed necessary. But we shouldn't forget that being a good citizen — being a free citizen — means also to abide to specific duties, just as it is written in our Constitution. In these difficult times we all realized, probably f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , w h a t having our freedom redu- c e d m e a n s : w h o d i d n ' t experience the years of the w a r a n d n e v e r l i v e d f a r from the comfort and civi- lized ways of Europe and North America couldn't know what government- imposed restrictions were. We learned it, in a way, allow me to say it, which was pretty cushioned and not all that dramatic, if you think the last time Italians' freedom was reduced there was no food, 3/4 of our men were fighting a war and we would spend half t h e t i m e h i d i n g u n d e r - ground because of regular bombings. Some of us complained, of course, but that was to be expected, because Man can be silly and self-cente- r e d a n d , e s p e c i a l l y i n today's day and age, very, very childish indeed. All in a l l , h o w e v e r , I t a l i a n s d u r i n g t h e l o c k d o w n demonstrated to be good people: resilient, if a tad whiney, with a big heart and the ability to keep a smile on their faces even in the darkest of hours. I like to think these characteri- stics are in our blood, that they still come from those m e n a n d w o m e n w h o endured dictatorship, fou- ght the war, sacrificed their freedom, all to give us a country able to celebrate a Festa della Repubblica. The Altare della Patria and the "tricolore" are both symbol of unity and of Italy's republican nature (Photo: Engin Korkmaz/Dreamstime) Continued to page 6

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