Outrage as Somali militia dig up Italian graves

alertnet.org ^

[Revelation 911]

your Pastor must be so proud

Plenty of Italian freepers here - and even more served America with honors over the last 100 yrs.....my family included

[Clemenza]

90% the brave Italians (such as my grandfather, USS Bayfield, 1942-1946) immigrated here.

I think a good reason for the poor performance of Italian troops in Ethiopia, Somalia. Greece, Albania, etc. was due to 1. poor training and incompetant brass and 2. the lack of strong nationalism among the population. The notion of an "Italian" identity is relatively recent, Italy not being united until the Papal States were finally conquered in 1870. Few troops (especially conscripts) had any strong interest in Mussolini's colonial schemes, no matter what end of the political spectrum they fell on.

[Revelation 911]

the lack of strong nationalism among the population. The notion of an "Italian" identity is relatively recent,

well, as one that is still knee deep involved in it on a familial level - I'd note both of your assertions are inaccurate at best if not wholly mis-informed.

Youre in a hole - stop digging

[Clemenza]

Your the one that is ignorant of Italian history. Let us not forget that when Garibaldi (from Nice) came into Sicily, he was greeted with indifference.

The "Italian" people are actually a mixture of Germans, Greeks, Romans, Moors, Jews, Swabians, etc. At the time of the Risorgimento, most Italians did not see themselves as "Italians." Other Europeans, however, did.

Nationalism is a late 18th Century concept. The Italians, coming from a mixture of different peoples, did not have anything similar to the German concept of Volk. The unification of Italy was a TOP DOWN process, rather than a populist uprising.

[Clemenza]

I am half-Italian by heritage, 100% AMERICAN by cultural identity. I know many REAL Italians (not the Staten Island wannabes who have more in common with Ralph Kramden and Archie Bunker than Orianna Fallaci and Silvio Berlusconi), and, if they are educated, even they will admit that Italian national identity is a relatively recent product. After all, if you went to Palermo in say, the year 1000, you would find Greeks, Jews, Arabs, etc., but no "Italians."

I think you take too mucn of what Mazzini wrote (and the later Fascist Nationalist writers like D'Annunzio) as gospel truth, without realizing that they were nationalist revisionists with an agenda of their own.

[mamelukesabre]

Oh right. So the UN(aka USA) can rush to the aid of the italians that can't back up their own threats?

There's nothing that can be done.

[Clemenza]

What's wrong with assimilation? Are you a racial/ethnic separatist? Do you think it was great living in tenements/row houses, not speaking English, and living in Poverty?

[rdcorso]

Digging up Italian graves and throwing the remains in the garbage is not Islam.Chopping peoples heads off is not Islam.Blowing yourself and as many innocent people as possible is not Islam.Flying planes full of people into buildings full of people is not Islam.Calling for the death of all non Muslims is not Islam.All these acts are committed in the name of Islam by Muslims.To say this is not Islam is incorrect,this is what Islam is today whether they like it or not.

[Revelation 911]

Bye