Italian Representatives Come To Mason

By Broadside Staff Reporter Sonya Hudson

The religious studies department, the modern and classical language department and the Center for Global Education sponsored a panel presentation featuring two ambassadors from Italy. Ambassadors Paolo Janni and Luigi V. Ferraris discussed the relationship between Italy and the United States in the 21st century.

Janni’s book titled, “The Plural West: Italy and the U.S. in the 21st Century,” served as the basis for the discussion. “The Plural West” refers to the two Wests of Europe and America. In the book, Janni investigates how America’s relations with Italy were affected by the new post Cold War world.

The discussion focused on immigration and how the two countries handle it. The ambassadors noted that America is based on immigration and has a history of immigration. Americans are of many different cultures, religions, races and classes. There are essential different Americas for each person, based on personal experiences.

Janni discussed the differences in the histories of America and Italy. Janni described America as a “nation of nations,” because of its foundation of immigration.

Italy, on the other hand, has a shorter history of immigration. Because of the minimal immigrants, Italy is dominated by Catholicism. Religion plays an important role in Italian politics. Unlike Italy, America likes to consider itself a secular country. A separation of church and state exists in theory, but this does not always play out in practice. Religion plays a role in all aspects of Americans’ lives despite the separation of church and state.

Janni argued that religion is one of the differences between Italy and America. Another difference is the nature of threats and how to handle them. But after WWII, America and Italy tried to reconcile their differences by focusing on commonalities. Both countries felt threatened militarily and ideologically by the Soviet Union.

One difference Janni seemed bitter about was the Enlightenment and who was credited for it. Janni explained that “the Enlightenment was born in Europe, but implemented in America.”

Though Italy and the United States have their differences, Janni and Ferraris try to understand America from within, as if they were Americans.

Both of the ambassadors encourage Italians to try to understand America from within. They encourage people to try to look past prejudices and consider the perspective and history that Americans have. Janni says he tries to practice and teach people to “try to understand experience from within America, not outside America.”

Janni made the point that there are many Americas.

Americans have different ideas of what America is and what it means to be an American. America is based on personal experiences. The idea, “that’s America for you,” alters with each person.

Ferraris focused on the influence of ideologies of immigrants on cultural and political life in America and Italy. Ferraris highlighted the importance of tolerance and understanding different cultures. Ferraris explained the commonalities between Italy and America.

Italy and America have the same roots in a European vision of a democracy and a free market system. Ferraris discussed immigration in both countries. Many people think America and Italy are in “danger of drifting away” from their roots with the flood of immigrants and their influence on the culture.
Ferraris discussed the intolerance in Italy for immigrants. Italy does not have a history of immigration and does not know how to cope with the different cultures and influences in their country. From a religious perspective, immigrants bring different religious beliefs that Italians are not used to, such as Islam.

Italians don’t have a set coping mechanism for the influx of immigration. Immigration is not something to be feared, but rather embraced. Tolerance should not only be taught, but also practiced.

Italy is linked with the United States by a shared destiny. Ferraris ended his discussion by saying that America and Italy are “linked by a destiny that we cannot escape.”

The idea that Italy and America share the same roots and the same destiny was interesting due to the discussion. Ferraris discussed how humans share the same roots in birth and the same destiny in death. The life in between the roots and the destiny can be different, as is already witnessed. People, as well as countries, walk different paths and make different decisions which make them unique.