March 17: Anniversary of the Unification of Italy
March 17: Anniversary of
the Unification of Italy
March 17th resonates with pride in the heart of every Italian, marking the Day of Italy's Unification. This day celebrates the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, a pivotal moment that established the birth of the modern Italian state.
But, beyond looking back with respect, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the universal values that the Italian Risorgimento shares with the history of the United States of America.
The Risorgimento, or the process of Italian unification, was a period of great changes and revolutions, characterized by a strong desire for freedom and independence.
These ideals were not unlike those that guided the American Revolution, where the desire for self-determination and to govern one's own destiny led to the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The heroes of the Risorgimento, such as Giuseppe Garibaldi and Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, embodied values of courage, sacrifice, and vision that resonate with American figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Both movements fought against foreign domination and sought to create a united nation based on principles of freedom and democracy.
Many phrases testify to this:
Giuseppe Garibaldi
I am for international arbitration, that is, for the absolute abolition of war between nations and nations.
The republic is the government of honest people, and its proof was seen in all epochs. They last while virtuous, and fall when corrupted and full of vices.
Work will make us free, freedom will make us great.
Let us unite, then, and our voice sound powerful to shake the thrones of all despots.
Giuseppe Mazzini
We want the homeland, the homeland one and quickly. We can give up everything; on this no.
Property should not be abolished because today it is of few; the way must be opened so that many can acquire it.
Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour
I am a son of freedom, and to it I owe all that I am.
Free Church in a free State
One could continue for pages and pages, books could be written and one thing is certain: the Risorgimento was a cry of freedom, a war to the bitter end against tyrants (and there are always new ones), a sprout of Republican Italy.
Furthermore, the Risorgimento emphasized the importance of education, culture, and innovation—themes that found an echo in the intellectual and industrial fervor that characterized the United States in the 19th century.
The same American Constitution, with its commitment to individual rights and representative government, influenced the Italian founding fathers in the creation of a united and modern Italy.
As we celebrate the Day of Italy's Unification, we also recognize the deep ties that bind our history to that of the United States.
This sharing of values and aspirations continues to inspire future generations of Italians, Italian-Americans, and Americans, reminding us that, despite geographical distances, we are united by common ideals that transcend national boundaries.