Italian Citizenship, Patriotism, and Mobility
CITIZENSHIP BIOGRAPHY - INTERVIEW WITH DAVIDE TOSO
“Tutti dicono che l'Italia deve cambiare, ma nessuno fa qualcosa per aiutare gli altri.” (Toso). The above quote was taken from my interview with an Italian citizen, Davide Toso, who described the present economic struggle in Italy and how few people are doing something to change it. My interview with Davide explored the notion of what it means to be Italian, to be an Italian citizen, and the role that non-citizens play in Italian culture, economy, and politics. Davide Toso works selling Murano glass, a family business, but is also studying at school to get certified to drive a firefighter boat in Venice. In my opinion, Toso exemplifies a good citizen; however there were some of his responses that I felt did not fulfill the role of a passionate citizen engaged in bettering their country. Toso is a great citizen in that he loves Venice, and he loves sharing it with the people he sees everyday in his shop. However, he said that he did not think about Italian history much, and though Italy is suffering economically today he says that it is something that no one does anything about to change. By analyzing Toso’s responses to my questions concerning Italy and his citizenship, I have also reflected upon a few other articles and sources to get a sense of concepts of citizenship and what it means to be Italian.
When considering the ideal citizen one must first ask the question: who is a citizen? What makes someone a citizen of a certain state or country? In his work regarding politics, Aristotle defines a citizen as: “one of whom both the parents are citizens; others insist on going further back; say to two or three or more ancestors” (Aristotle, 2). Aristotle makes the argument that to achieve a perfect society, people should not be citizens of a place in which they were not born, unless they were to be slaves or something else that would be of help to the greater society. I disagree with this perception of citizenship. To only consider people born natively to a place as citizens, even with minor exceptions, would be much to narrow of a view of citizenship. There is far too much mobility, global communication and cross-cultural encounters existing in the world to consider a model of citizenship such as this one. This then brings into the question the role that outsiders play as citizens. Immigrants, visitors, foreigners- all of these must be taken into account when considering the role of a citizen.
When I asked Davide in my interview how you knew if someone was an Italian citizen, he said it was easy to tell, they have a Latin personality, they are smart and friendly. When I asked him what role he thought tourists and immigrants played in Italy, he replied that tourism and immigration were two completely different things, that they were not something that should be described together. “In Venezia, il turismo è importante per l’economica, e ance per me.” (Toso). He continued that he didn’t mind the tourists, they brought him business, but that immigration is causing a big problem in Italy; immigrants don’t have documents, and Italy gives them 1000 euro per month to live there, so it is a good deal for them. Although I know immigration poses a large threat to Italians, I personally believe that tourists and immigrants play a great role as citizens of Italy, thus they should be acknowledged and expected to perform the same duties to the nation as the natives. I think it is one’s duty to act as a good citizen wherever they are living in the world, and to help and support that nation. I believe this is important in order for a country to promote their ideals and stay unified. This is not to say that I am not in favor of diversity, I absolutely am, but I think it is in the hands of the foreigner to respect the country they are in as if it were their own. In Paola Gambarota’s book Irresistible Signs, which discusses the genius of Italian language and it’s effect on nationalism, the author writes: “In a story of Italy’s path to nationhood, this awareness of Italy’s multi-ethnic identity must be accounted for. But how do we account for the gap between these long-standing perceptions and the image of the monolingual nation?” (Gambarota, 12). Gambarota addresses that Italy has had a long history intertwined with many nations, and to stay unified it must hold true to its national ideals using only the Italian language. Thus, I think that it is the role of the tourist or the immigrant to participate in a nation by adopting its national ideals, even if for a temporary time, to withhold nation intact and independent so that it may, as Gambarota put it, fill the “gap” between perceptions and reality of a monolingual nation.
The L’inno Nazionale d’Italia contains many of the ideals that Italy would expect from its citizens. I think that when considering the ideal citizen, one should know their national anthem and believe in what it stands for. Davide Toso said that he absolutely knew the national anthem, along with all of the words, specifically because he worked as a firefighter for a year in 2006, when every man of a certain age was required to serve in the military in some way. He is at boat school now studying to become a firefighter again. Davide is an excellent citizen, needless to say, as he is working to serve his country and believes in what his country stands for. Part of the National Anthem in Italy states:
Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte;
Italia chiamò.
Uniamoci, amiamoci;
L'unione e l'amore
Rivelano ai popoli
Le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero
Il suolo natio:
Uniti, per Dio
Though the Italian national anthem is moving, I think it overemphasizes and over-glorifies the unity of Italy and the sacrifices it’s citizens are willing to make for their country today. Oriana Fallaci, a well-known Italian journalist, wrote in regards to the national anthem and Italy today that: “Naturalmente la mia Patria, la mia Italia, non è l’Italia d’oggi” (Fallaci, 35). The act of citizenship needs to be an active process between the individual and the state. It’s a matter of knowing a country’s history and actively being involved in its preservation and wellbeing. Many people born in Italy, like Oriana Fallaci, have relatives who have fought for Italy, and who have sacrificed themselves for their country. Davide Toso said that his grandfather had fought for Italy. It is clear to see that for many generations, people have made sacrifices for their country, which coincides with the spirit of the national anthem and an important level of patriotism in Italy, as well as an ideal model of citizenship. However, I find it important to bring into question whether this devotional sentiment still rings true in Italy today. Gambarota claims that “For a long time, political interests, intercultural encounters or various sorts, and rhetorical strategies together contributed to the creation of narratives that linked language and national character and eventually transformed elements of poetics into national essences.” (Gambarota, 22) I think her statement brings up an important concept about the depth of public national sentiments, and their perhaps political undertones. I think the national anthem of Italy might have elements of propaganda looming over it’s melodic and proud verses, and might create a false view or a false hope of Italy. Fallaci argues that today Italy has become a place where each person fends for themselves; ‘Non fidarti a nessuno,’ many Italians would say. Though I cannot attest to the truth that this rings throughout Italy as a whole, I think that there is definitely room for improvement in many areas in Italy today – economically and politically. According to Fallaci, the ideal Italy that she dreamed of as a girl was intelligent, dignified, and courageous. “E quest’Italia, un’Italia che c’è anche se viene zittita o irrisa o insultata, guai a chi me la tocca. Guai a chi me la ruba, guai a chi me la invade.” (Fallaci, 35-36) The idea of an ideal Italy calls attention to the ideal citizen, and what they can do for their country to achieve this ideal Italy.
An ideal citizen should participate in bettering the country the live in, and creating an ideal state. Davide Toso served as an excellent example of an ideal citizen by selling Murano glass. He enjoys having the opportunity to show what Venice makes to all ethnicities, and to all cultures. When I asked Davide if he had pride for his country, he replied: “Sono contento di essere italiano…non lo so… si…ma, non e bene di vivere in Italia oggi. Io penso che Italia oggi non va bene. [Because of complicated political and economic situations].” (Toso). When I asked what he would change in Italy, if he could, his reply was “Non lo so, Tutti dicono che l'Italia deve cambiare, ma nessuno fa qualcosa per aiutare gli altri” (Toso). I think that the ideal citizen would do their best to change this. They would do their best to help people and to trust people and to improve situations in Italy as best they can. This is not something that should be restricted to the duty of Italian born citizens. Even though I am only temporarily living in Italy, I feel that this is my duty as well to act and fulfill the role of an Italian citizen. I feel very strongly that you must adopt the culture of the place in which you are living, even for some time; to become a citizen and to get involved.In De Vulgari Eloquentia, Dante claims:
For whoever is so misguided as to think that the place of his birth is the most delightful spot under the sun may also believe that his own language - his mother tongue, that is - is pre-eminent among all others; and, as a result, he may believe that his language was also Adam's. To me, however, the whole world is a homeland…and I will weight the balance of my judgment more with reason than with sentiment. (Dante)
I think being a citizen is relevant to so many things, there are so many factors that go into it thus you cannot rely on ethnocentric views; one’s role as a citizen has more to do with reason. Where one lives and how they participate, protect, and improve the place in which they are living. Citizenship is a collaborate process between a person and the place in which they are, all over the world. Mobility will cause people of all ethnicities, of all generations, and of all nations to mix, and it is important to understand how to act as an ideal citizen wherever you are.
Sources:
Alighieri, Dante, translated by Steven Botterill. “Opera Omnia - De Vulgari Eloquentia."Liber Primus. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://alighieri.letteraturaoperaomnia.org/translate_english/alighieri_dante_de_vulgari_eloquentia.html>.
Aristotle, translated by Jowett, Benjamin. "Part II." Politics Book 3 Written 350 B.C.E. Los Angeles, CS: Indo-European, 2009. Print.
Fallaci, Oriana. "Io Sono Italiana." Corriere Della Sera 29 Sept. 2001: 34-36. Print.
Gambarota, Paola. Irresistible Signs the Genius of Language and Italian National Identity. Toronto [Ont.: U of Toronto, 2011. Print.
Mameli, Goffredo. "Fratelli D'Italia." Italian National Anthem: Italian With English Translation. 1 Jan. 1847. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
Toso, Davide. "Italian Citizenship." Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2014
“Tutti dicono che l'Italia deve cambiare, ma nessuno fa qualcosa per aiutare gli altri.” (Toso). The above quote was taken from my interview with an Italian citizen, Davide Toso, who described the present economic struggle in Italy and how few people are doing something to change it. My interview with Davide explored the notion of what it means to be Italian, to be an Italian citizen, and the role that non-citizens play in Italian culture, economy, and politics. Davide Toso works selling Murano glass, a family business, but is also studying at school to get certified to drive a firefighter boat in Venice. In my opinion, Toso exemplifies a good citizen; however there were some of his responses that I felt did not fulfill the role of a passionate citizen engaged in bettering their country. Toso is a great citizen in that he loves Venice, and he loves sharing it with the people he sees everyday in his shop. However, he said that he did not think about Italian history much, and though Italy is suffering economically today he says that it is something that no one does anything about to change. By analyzing Toso’s responses to my questions concerning Italy and his citizenship, I have also reflected upon a few other articles and sources to get a sense of concepts of citizenship and what it means to be Italian.
When considering the ideal citizen one must first ask the question: who is a citizen? What makes someone a citizen of a certain state or country? In his work regarding politics, Aristotle defines a citizen as: “one of whom both the parents are citizens; others insist on going further back; say to two or three or more ancestors” (Aristotle, 2). Aristotle makes the argument that to achieve a perfect society, people should not be citizens of a place in which they were not born, unless they were to be slaves or something else that would be of help to the greater society. I disagree with this perception of citizenship. To only consider people born natively to a place as citizens, even with minor exceptions, would be much to narrow of a view of citizenship. There is far too much mobility, global communication and cross-cultural encounters existing in the world to consider a model of citizenship such as this one. This then brings into the question the role that outsiders play as citizens. Immigrants, visitors, foreigners- all of these must be taken into account when considering the role of a citizen.
When I asked Davide in my interview how you knew if someone was an Italian citizen, he said it was easy to tell, they have a Latin personality, they are smart and friendly. When I asked him what role he thought tourists and immigrants played in Italy, he replied that tourism and immigration were two completely different things, that they were not something that should be described together. “In Venezia, il turismo è importante per l’economica, e ance per me.” (Toso). He continued that he didn’t mind the tourists, they brought him business, but that immigration is causing a big problem in Italy; immigrants don’t have documents, and Italy gives them 1000 euro per month to live there, so it is a good deal for them. Although I know immigration poses a large threat to Italians, I personally believe that tourists and immigrants play a great role as citizens of Italy, thus they should be acknowledged and expected to perform the same duties to the nation as the natives. I think it is one’s duty to act as a good citizen wherever they are living in the world, and to help and support that nation. I believe this is important in order for a country to promote their ideals and stay unified. This is not to say that I am not in favor of diversity, I absolutely am, but I think it is in the hands of the foreigner to respect the country they are in as if it were their own. In Paola Gambarota’s book Irresistible Signs, which discusses the genius of Italian language and it’s effect on nationalism, the author writes: “In a story of Italy’s path to nationhood, this awareness of Italy’s multi-ethnic identity must be accounted for. But how do we account for the gap between these long-standing perceptions and the image of the monolingual nation?” (Gambarota, 12). Gambarota addresses that Italy has had a long history intertwined with many nations, and to stay unified it must hold true to its national ideals using only the Italian language. Thus, I think that it is the role of the tourist or the immigrant to participate in a nation by adopting its national ideals, even if for a temporary time, to withhold nation intact and independent so that it may, as Gambarota put it, fill the “gap” between perceptions and reality of a monolingual nation.
The L’inno Nazionale d’Italia contains many of the ideals that Italy would expect from its citizens. I think that when considering the ideal citizen, one should know their national anthem and believe in what it stands for. Davide Toso said that he absolutely knew the national anthem, along with all of the words, specifically because he worked as a firefighter for a year in 2006, when every man of a certain age was required to serve in the military in some way. He is at boat school now studying to become a firefighter again. Davide is an excellent citizen, needless to say, as he is working to serve his country and believes in what his country stands for. Part of the National Anthem in Italy states:
Stringiamci a coorte!
Siam pronti alla morte;
Italia chiamò.
Uniamoci, amiamoci;
L'unione e l'amore
Rivelano ai popoli
Le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero
Il suolo natio:
Uniti, per Dio
Though the Italian national anthem is moving, I think it overemphasizes and over-glorifies the unity of Italy and the sacrifices it’s citizens are willing to make for their country today. Oriana Fallaci, a well-known Italian journalist, wrote in regards to the national anthem and Italy today that: “Naturalmente la mia Patria, la mia Italia, non è l’Italia d’oggi” (Fallaci, 35). The act of citizenship needs to be an active process between the individual and the state. It’s a matter of knowing a country’s history and actively being involved in its preservation and wellbeing. Many people born in Italy, like Oriana Fallaci, have relatives who have fought for Italy, and who have sacrificed themselves for their country. Davide Toso said that his grandfather had fought for Italy. It is clear to see that for many generations, people have made sacrifices for their country, which coincides with the spirit of the national anthem and an important level of patriotism in Italy, as well as an ideal model of citizenship. However, I find it important to bring into question whether this devotional sentiment still rings true in Italy today. Gambarota claims that “For a long time, political interests, intercultural encounters or various sorts, and rhetorical strategies together contributed to the creation of narratives that linked language and national character and eventually transformed elements of poetics into national essences.” (Gambarota, 22) I think her statement brings up an important concept about the depth of public national sentiments, and their perhaps political undertones. I think the national anthem of Italy might have elements of propaganda looming over it’s melodic and proud verses, and might create a false view or a false hope of Italy. Fallaci argues that today Italy has become a place where each person fends for themselves; ‘Non fidarti a nessuno,’ many Italians would say. Though I cannot attest to the truth that this rings throughout Italy as a whole, I think that there is definitely room for improvement in many areas in Italy today – economically and politically. According to Fallaci, the ideal Italy that she dreamed of as a girl was intelligent, dignified, and courageous. “E quest’Italia, un’Italia che c’è anche se viene zittita o irrisa o insultata, guai a chi me la tocca. Guai a chi me la ruba, guai a chi me la invade.” (Fallaci, 35-36) The idea of an ideal Italy calls attention to the ideal citizen, and what they can do for their country to achieve this ideal Italy.
An ideal citizen should participate in bettering the country the live in, and creating an ideal state. Davide Toso served as an excellent example of an ideal citizen by selling Murano glass. He enjoys having the opportunity to show what Venice makes to all ethnicities, and to all cultures. When I asked Davide if he had pride for his country, he replied: “Sono contento di essere italiano…non lo so… si…ma, non e bene di vivere in Italia oggi. Io penso che Italia oggi non va bene. [Because of complicated political and economic situations].” (Toso). When I asked what he would change in Italy, if he could, his reply was “Non lo so, Tutti dicono che l'Italia deve cambiare, ma nessuno fa qualcosa per aiutare gli altri” (Toso). I think that the ideal citizen would do their best to change this. They would do their best to help people and to trust people and to improve situations in Italy as best they can. This is not something that should be restricted to the duty of Italian born citizens. Even though I am only temporarily living in Italy, I feel that this is my duty as well to act and fulfill the role of an Italian citizen. I feel very strongly that you must adopt the culture of the place in which you are living, even for some time; to become a citizen and to get involved.In De Vulgari Eloquentia, Dante claims:
For whoever is so misguided as to think that the place of his birth is the most delightful spot under the sun may also believe that his own language - his mother tongue, that is - is pre-eminent among all others; and, as a result, he may believe that his language was also Adam's. To me, however, the whole world is a homeland…and I will weight the balance of my judgment more with reason than with sentiment. (Dante)
I think being a citizen is relevant to so many things, there are so many factors that go into it thus you cannot rely on ethnocentric views; one’s role as a citizen has more to do with reason. Where one lives and how they participate, protect, and improve the place in which they are living. Citizenship is a collaborate process between a person and the place in which they are, all over the world. Mobility will cause people of all ethnicities, of all generations, and of all nations to mix, and it is important to understand how to act as an ideal citizen wherever you are.
Sources:
Alighieri, Dante, translated by Steven Botterill. “Opera Omnia - De Vulgari Eloquentia."Liber Primus. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://alighieri.letteraturaoperaomnia.org/translate_english/alighieri_dante_de_vulgari_eloquentia.html>.
Aristotle, translated by Jowett, Benjamin. "Part II." Politics Book 3 Written 350 B.C.E. Los Angeles, CS: Indo-European, 2009. Print.
Fallaci, Oriana. "Io Sono Italiana." Corriere Della Sera 29 Sept. 2001: 34-36. Print.
Gambarota, Paola. Irresistible Signs the Genius of Language and Italian National Identity. Toronto [Ont.: U of Toronto, 2011. Print.
Mameli, Goffredo. "Fratelli D'Italia." Italian National Anthem: Italian With English Translation. 1 Jan. 1847. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
Toso, Davide. "Italian Citizenship." Personal interview. 23 Sept. 2014