I would say the centuries of fragmentation of the Italian peninsula actually bolstered the nationalist spirit more than in countries with a long history as a unified nation (England, France, Spain…) and much literature taught at school treats this topic.
But yeah history doesn’t teach shit, it looks like…
I’m not Italian but I have several Italian Canadian friends.
I just had this conversation with an older Italian Canadian friend of mine … she’s first generation Canadian and her parents were from northern Italy in the Veneto region. She told me a story about how she went back to visit relatives of hers years ago. They called her Canadian but didn’t call her Italian. They said you have to be born in Italy as an Italian with an Italian family and grow up in the language and the culture in order to call yourself Italian. Anything else and you weren’t Italian.
I am Italian from a nearby place to Veneto: can confirm that there is an obnoxious cultural protectionism that’s appalling. In general people are very friendly and kind, but so close minded… I only grew out of it (I think?) once I moved abroad. It’s bittersweet, because it’s nice to be proud of being part of a community, but at the same time there is much emptiness in thinking of oneselves as something special just for what’s on the passport.
having lots of private businesses with dickensian owners
Let me add, as someone who’s worked there a lot, they are:
misogynistic
arrogant, they think they’re better than everyone else just because they stumbled upon the right conditions to make lots of money (there are other rich regions in Italy, none of them do as much dick waving as Veneto does)
Are there a lot of wonderful people? Of course, as everywhere. But the culture is rotten.
The funny part was that she traveled to Italy alone from Canada … her Italian relatives scolded her and said that is definitely not something an Italian woman should do. If they were Italian at all.
I would say the centuries of fragmentation of the Italian peninsula actually bolstered the nationalist spirit more than in countries with a long history as a unified nation (England, France, Spain…) and much literature taught at school treats this topic.
But yeah history doesn’t teach shit, it looks like…
I’m not Italian but I have several Italian Canadian friends.
I just had this conversation with an older Italian Canadian friend of mine … she’s first generation Canadian and her parents were from northern Italy in the Veneto region. She told me a story about how she went back to visit relatives of hers years ago. They called her Canadian but didn’t call her Italian. They said you have to be born in Italy as an Italian with an Italian family and grow up in the language and the culture in order to call yourself Italian. Anything else and you weren’t Italian.
Italian here. Culture is what makes a country. Or would you rather discriminate based on genetics?
I am Italian from a nearby place to Veneto: can confirm that there is an obnoxious cultural protectionism that’s appalling. In general people are very friendly and kind, but so close minded… I only grew out of it (I think?) once I moved abroad. It’s bittersweet, because it’s nice to be proud of being part of a community, but at the same time there is much emptiness in thinking of oneselves as something special just for what’s on the passport.
Sorry to be harsh but Veneto has the most toxic culture of all of Italy’s regions.
I don’t agree, based on my experience, but it could well be :)
Let’s see. They are famous for:
Let me add, as someone who’s worked there a lot, they are:
Are there a lot of wonderful people? Of course, as everywhere. But the culture is rotten.
The funny part was that she traveled to Italy alone from Canada … her Italian relatives scolded her and said that is definitely not something an Italian woman should do. If they were Italian at all.