The divisions of Italy

[Lutiferre]

I recently encountered a Venetian who told me that "Italy is a state, not a nation", and that the Italian nation is a myth.

I've always thought of Italy as a nation, just with regions that have some differences.

But how strong exactly are these divisions? What is the nature of the Venetian identity, and similar?

And was this guy exaggerating, or presenting a general view by Venetians?

Italians are welcome to answer.

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by Lutiferre

I recently encountered a Venetian who told me that "Italy is a state, not a nation", and that the Italian nation is a myth.

Indeed, I am also interested about that, since I have stumbled upon such comments as well, though only on the internet.

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by Monolith

Indeed, I am also interested about that, since I have stumbled upon such comments as well, though only on the internet.

take a stroll in Venice and ask a local (venetian ..)

on the topic much has been said, even here.

i will eventually look for an english resume ...

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by Kernunnos

take a stroll in Venice and ask a local (venetian ..)

I would have done that, but I don't know any Italians in person.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Lutiferre

I recently encountered a Venetian who told me that "Italy is a state, not a nation", and that the Italian nation is a myth.

As with all XIXth century romantic nationalism constructions, they use (and abuse of) myths.

I've always thought of Italy as a nation, just with regions that have some differences.

You only have to look at Italy's history to realize that it has an idiosyncratic identity of its own.

Italians are welcome to answer.

Now I feel as if I had stuck my nose in it.

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Menydh

As with all XIXth century romantic nationalism constructions, they use (and abuse of) myths.

It's true that Italians have more in common than, let's say Wallons and Flemish.

You only have to look at Italy's history to realize that it has an idiosyncratic identity of its own.

A bit like the Ancient Greeks. Well, not a bit, a lot.

Now I feel as if I had stuck my nose in it.

You are welcome to do so, but hands off the Kingdom of Naples this time.

[Strengthandhonour]

To be honest, I never know how serious the issue is.
Maybe it's hard for me to know since I come from a family that is a hybrid of Northern(Genovese) and Southern(Calabreses,Neapolitan) Italians(even though my last name has a northern origen.) Sometimes I feel like the attitudes are blown out of proportion about the differences though.
I generally like Northern Italians and they are quite corteous and hard working. However, I dislike the ones that I feel that look down on all Italians. Not necesarily just southeners, but there is ones that like to go all out and see themselves above everyone.
There is a lot of Northern Italians that also like to claim a lot of Germanic and Celtic ancestry and what not. I remember one time while traveling I visited a Northern Italian restaurant. A group of Dutch tourists were speaking to the owner and asked her what part of Italy she was from. The tourists asked if she was Sicilian and she looked offended and said no. The Dutch tourists, naively of course not knowing of the issues said "ah okay my son is married to an Italian from Sicily and she looks similar to you."
But like it has been said, every once in a while this issue resurfaces and the same things are always said. I can't speak for Venetians as I am not one, but as Kernunnos said, just ask one.

[Pirate]

I would say that Sicilians and southern Italians are quite different people from northern ones, though it's hard to compare that with national identity. Maybe in the case of Sicily, I don't know..

[Strengthandhonour]

I think it's true but sometimes it gets blown out of proportion.
I just felt like including that story to point out at the humor of the elitist Northern Italians.

[The Venetian]

Prufesùr -- Gianfranco Miglio

Lega nord

Bossi was influenced and encouraged by Gianfranco Miglio,Miglio contended that the cultural gap between north and south was too wide for Italy to remain a unified nation.

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by Strengthandhonour

I think it's true but sometimes it gets blown out of proportion.
I just felt like including that story to point out at the humor of the elitist Northern Italians.

Just look at certain forum and youtube comments by southern italians ... kind of modern sanfedisats ... I don't want to start debate this issue since I have no time to dedicate and it has already been done.


Anyway, just look at videos from youtube that reproduce pieces of teh movie by Pasquale squitieri on teh Briganti ... and read the comments by southern italian separatists/borbonic legitimists.

[Strengthandhonour]

I am not saying they aren't there because they are but their numbers aren't nearly as large as the number of Northern Italian separatists. If we take a look back at the last vote for Italy to split up, we can recall that the 30% of so that voted yes were just about all Northerners with a few Sicilians.

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by Strengthandhonour

I am not saying they aren't there because they are but their numbers aren't nearly as large as the number of Northern Italian separatists. If we take a look back at the last vote for Italy to split up, we can recall that the 30% of so that voted yes were just about all Northerners with a few Sicilians.

You should consider that, apart from some bouts of southern supremacism, that are dictated more by rage than by true hate towards us northerners, I do believe that what neo-borbonics say is sacrosanct.

The South was conquered brutally and it was made just to create a state dominated by freemasonry, so destined to detach the italian populations from the catholic church.

I'm presently reading a serious history of italian freemasonry, quite plain, documented and dry, and the mere facts that are reported just speak for themselves to the reader (Fulvio Conti, Storia della Massoneria italiaan dal Risorgimento al FAscismo, Il Mulino).

The facts about the annexation of the South are still a sort of secret, only fringe literature, often from qualified Southern sources, does shed light, but it is ignored in public debates.

Just listen to your people

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