150 years. Does she wear it well? Does she need a lifting?
Does everything need to be redone? We are talking about Italy, a young
nation and yet with such a glorious past that few other nations can
compete with her. Then the story went on; dark periods alternated with
others of great splendour, periods in which people of this country felt
close to each other and others where sectarianism prevailed. Even our
daily life has changed: we are healthier, even if the deadly cancer and
cardiovascular diseases have increased, we live longer. We are now
literate and much more cultivated, even if numerous children are convinced
that chickens have four legs. Families have changed: from patriarchal
families, "extended" because full of adults and children, to extended
because they are now blended with stepfamilies. From the hard work
performed by muscular strength, to the efforts exerted into thinking about
what buttons to invent and press. From travelling great distances with
little means, to compensating with machines in gyms for the lack of
physical efforts. There are few differences among Italians in relation to
this, but for other ideologies there are differences. We are more
individualistic, protecting the frontiers of our mind, jealous of our
geographical borders, bound to what unites us and divides us or are we
instead observing a sense of common belonging? In search of ties or
protecting one's own traditions; outward-looking attitude or
mistrustfulness towards those who do not think the same way? Unity or
parochialism? This test certainly has no intention of raising
philosophical or political matters; it simply calls for a little
introspection. There could also be a third option: to be neutral or
even indifferent.
Winston Churchill said: "Italians lose wars as if
they were football matches and football matches as if they were wars". Do
we feel united only when the Italian soccer team is playing? To you, Italy
is made up of 11 men in shorts or of 60 million men and
women?
Test: what king of patriot are
you?
1) I would like to know
a) how to ride
a horse
b) how to pilot an airplane
c) how to do fencing
2) The horse race held in Siena is a
source
a) of joy
b) of money
c) of confusion
3) A person is honest when
a) he or
she respects the law
b) he or she follows his or her own
conscience
c) he or she wants to assert his or her own rights
4) A new neighbour does not see
anyone
a) he does not interest you
b) you think: he is very
reserved
c) you think: he is a suspicious type of person
5) You hear the words: "to recommend"; you think
about
a) a favour someone is asking
b) entrusting someone
into the care of somebody else
c) registered mail
6)
About religions:
a) you need to know a bit about all of
them
b) it is necessary to know well the one you practice
c) it
would be better if they did not exist
7) Some people are teasing you
a) you
play along
b) you get annoyed
c) you tease them too
8) A pleasant Sunday is
a) an
excursion in another city
b) a bicycle ride with someone else
c)
eating out and dancing
9) When people have different ideas than
you
a) you avoid talking to them
b) you like to confront
them
c) if the occasion arises, you exchange a few words
10) Who would you like to
interview?
a) Napoleon
b) the mayor of your city
c) the
winner of a Nobel prize
11) You travel outside of the
country: in the touristic destination you chose, you find another
comfortable lodging and new places to see
a) you stick with
your plans
b) you give up your travelling plans and stay put in the new
lodging
c) you give up the comfort for further travels
12) Concerning the future
a) what will
be will be
b) you are optimistic
c) you are pessimistic
13) The universal language is
a)
music
b) computer science
c) English
14) A weekend that does not thrill you is
a) an excursion in an off-road vehicle
b) a hike up a
mountain at minus 15 degrees
c) when everything goes wrong
15) A friend of yours often changes his car; you
think
a) it's find to try quite a few
b) he is always
exaggerating
c) he is the undecided type
SCORE
Question A B
C
| Question | A | B | C |
| 1) | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 3) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 4) | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 5) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 6) | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 7) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 8) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 9) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 10) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 11) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 12) | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 13) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 14) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 15) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
EXPLANATIONS
FROM 45 TO 36 POINTS:
ITALIAN
BROTHERS (MAMELI)
You feel the notion of unification in your blood
and not only in regards to the nation. When you think unification you
think of Europe as well as Italy and you would like to imagine some sort
of unity in the whole world. You like to learn about people and new
customs, you like to innovate and renovate. To you, borders are meant to
be surpassed, they are not a place of arrival, but rather a point of
departure.
FROM 35 TO 25 POINTS:
ITALY HAS
BEEN MADE, NOW IT REMAINS TO MAKE ITALIANS (D'AZEGLIO) About the idea
of a united Italy, you are neither favourable nor unfavourable. You think
that despite the 150 years, the road towards the consideration of Italians
as one single people has not ended. You listen to the various arguments,
those in favour and those that are not. Sometimes, immersed or submerged
in your thoughts, you think this is not at all a problem or, at least, not
one of yours.
FROM 24 TO 15 POINTS:
ITALY IS
NOTHING MORE THAN A GEOGRAPHIC EXPRESSION (METTERNICH) You think that
people in the various regions of Italy have their own roots and ways of
thinking and you believe it must remain this way. You give a lot of
importance to the protection of traditions, to the history of your city or
your country. You like to get involved in the organization of events
relating to the typical aspects of your area and you are a bit uncertain
in regards to change. You are convinced that tradition is important and
that is why you found your own reason of being and, so, why change
things?
