German director Oliver Hirschbiegel, who directed Adolf Hitler’s masterpiece “Collapse,” was among the first to sign the petition. In addition to him, Stefano Bises, the screenwriter of “Son of the 10th Century”, Parisian publisher Liana Levi, Salvatore Borsellino’s lawyer, Fabio Repici, Nils Hartmann and Sascha Rosemann, producers of successful films and TV series, are also present. Images of the fascist parade held in Rome on Sunday, January 7, 2024, spread all over the world. Therefore, support for the call comes from far away. The idea put forward in an editorial by Fabrizio Gatti on Today.it is to turn Benito Mussolini’s birthplace in Predappio into a monument dedicated to all victims of political hatred. From the fascist regime to the Red Brigades, from the massacres in the civil war to the massacres of far-right terrorist organizations during the Cold War. A place where Italians can finally confront their history, but take the side of the victims.
The house where Benito Mussolini was born on July 29, 1883 in Predappio, Forli-Cesena province, is today a museum hosting historical exhibitions about fascism. Despite the opposing intentions of the municipality and much of the population, periodically this place becomes the target of meetings of black shirts, who later meet in front of the Duce’s family tomb for the fascist ritual of salutation: “Now!”.
Austria prevented the building where Adolf Hitler was born from becoming a pilgrimage site by using it as a police station. For the town of Emilia Romagna, a place of memory could instead be created, where the names, photographs and small personal belongings of the thousands upon thousands of victims of the hatred that has bloodied Italian history would be collected.
Sign the petition here or write to fabrizio.gatti@citynews.it.
The petition, which did not want to take on any party colours, received consensus from both the centre-right, with the support of Lombard representative Daniele Cassamagnaghi, as well as representatives of civil society and Today.it readers. and from the centre-left, with former Rai journalist Sandro Ruotolo, now responsible for culture and memory at the national secretariat of the Democratic Party. Today.it’s call was also picked up by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet (in the photo below, actor Bruno Ganz in Oliver Hirschbiegel’s film “The Fall – The Last Days of Hitler”).
Among the readers who signed is Silvia Bazzocchi, daughter of Giorgio, a partisan fighting from Forlì. Instead, Eugenio Vedove writes: “I thank you for this initiative, in which I fully participate, based on the Austrian experience of Hitler’s areas. As a free man, I am ready for any other activity to avoid indifference and sterile ideological opposition”. Daniele Cassamagnaghi, representative of the Lombard centre-right, believes that “a monument of political hatred should be built in Mussolini’s house”. An idea also shared by former Rai journalist Sandro Ruotolo: “I support the proposal to turn Benito Mussolini’s birthplace in Predappio into a monument where all the victims of political hatred in Italy can be commemorated – says Ruotolo. I want to confront the past and turn Mussolini’s birthplace into a monument “This may be the right opportunity to think against all forms of political violence.”
Not all readers agree on the aims of the petition: Eugenio Manzella writes: “No, I am not in favor of this initiative”, because it is “more political than humanitarian. You should not take the side of a political party so blatantly.” “. In fact, the monument dedicated to the victims of political hatred, precisely because it stands on the side of the victims, can break down the barriers and positions that still divide Italy and its history today: “I think it is important to realize this, because A reader notes that the house where Benito Mussolini was born He says he has restored his memory function. And then this will be a peaceful response of civil society to the fascist parade in Acca Larentia in Rome. And to all the others who will follow”.
Sign the petition here or write to fabrizio.gatti@citynews.it.
Source: Today IT
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
