Posted on 04/23/2021 12:12:09 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The unification of Italy in the 19th century was at first greeted with enthusiasm, but this soon evaporated among the Sicilians. Namely, the island was poor and many Sicilians felt the central government neglected them just as badly as foreign rulers had, and things got even worse when Mussolini’s Fascists rose to power in the 1930s. Italy’s entry into World War II on the Axis side caused even more resentment, and a Committee for the Independence of Sicily was founded in April 1942.
When the American-led Allied invasion of the island occurred in July 1943, the island became the scene of heavy fighting. Tens of thousands of people were killed and there was much material damage. In addition, Mussolini’s previous crackdown on the Mafia was exploited by the Americans, and the Mafia provided them with military intelligence. However, this also led to the Mafia re-establishing its influence after the end of World War II.
The generally poor treatment afforded to the island by Italy as well as the fear of a communist takeover prompted a group of enterprising Sicilians named the Sicilian Independence Movement and led by the prominent bandit (or folk hero, depending on who you ask) Salvatore Giuliano, to petition U.S. president Harry Truman. Their request was no less than to join the United States, claiming Sicily would provide an effective deterrent to Soviet expansion on the Mediterranean. These initiatives also had some support among the numerous Sicilian emigrants in the USA.
It appears the U.S. actually had a contingency plan which would have involved the annexation of Sicily had communists won the elections in mainland Italy (which indeed almost happened). However, infighting among the Movement’s ranks and the central government’s granting of further concessions to Sicily resulted in its demise. Had the proposal been accepted, Sicily would have become the 49th U.S. state, preceding Alaska and Hawaii.
That would have been cool. No way La Cosa Nostra would have laid down for the Black and Latino drug gangs. It would have been bloody, sure, but it would have made for great drama.
I miss Joe Pesci.
It sounds like paradise.
I was in Italy more than 50 years ago (1961, 1966). At the time, all the people in Italy were Italian and the only places where you encountered non-Italians were tourist zoos like Florence and Rome or Alto Adige/Südtirol, with its large German-speaking population. From what I have been reading, that is no longer the case.
It’s not the case anywhere.
I went to Australia, and it already looks like a colony of China.
Aside from the obvious tourist centers, Italy’s still very much Italian and Sicily is still very much Sicilian.
If they’re willing to vote Republican I’m backing it... it’s no nuttier than democrats pushing for DC to become a State...
If democrats can do DC, the following week they’ll add other democrat hellhole cities... The State of Chicago... the State of Portland... the State of New York City...
That's good to know. I keep hearing about the hordes of "refugees" from Africa and the Middle East descending on Italy, but I hope those accounts are exaggerated.
Either way, if Chicago only or the Chicago metro area separated, the remaining state of Illinois would be solidly red, except for Rockford and the St. Louis suburbs. It would be a welcome change.
Thanks for the story. Once upon a time perhaps it was like this in the US also. Now many men here see an inebriated woman as an opportunity. It's horrifying and sad.
Has its ups and downs, but far more ups than downs. You can live in peace here. When I’m back in the ‘States, my head’s always on a swivel.
Not much of that going on in Sicily. Yes, “refugees” have been flooding into Lampedusa, an island off the Sicilian coast for years. But most of them end up moving on to other EU countries where the benefits are far more generous. In my town there are around ten of them, mostly from Africa, about 50/50 Christian to Muslim. African Christians are generally good people; hard working and they don’t cause any grief.
I had opportunities to visit Italy, but I never made it there. Maybe one day...
I went to Sicily during an eruption. The whole island smelled like a sulfuric fart.
I’d take Sicilians/Italians in a heartbeat over other most other cultures — you know, the ones ruining America. They’re generally great patriotic Americans and I love that about them. Even their nefarious history in America had some kind of structure and honor within it which BLM, Antifa, etc., do not have.
But that’s just me.
You’re right. Illinois would be better off...
But the US would have it’s first criminal state sending 100% Chicago thugs to Washington. Not pretty...
Pelosi and Faucci excepted.
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