Dear Director Feltri,
I read that Russian Minister Maria Zakharova said that Russophobia was imposed from above to Italians not coming from their hearts and souls.
Perhaps it would be appropriate to make a small review of history and remind you that we Italians attentive to our history, our culture and the boundaries with all our hearts and with all our soul have always fought to remain simply Italian and we are very proud of our prime minister who has always fought with us and for us for our roots.
Am I wrong Doctor Feltri?
Silvana Fabiani
Dear Silvana,
In reality it is not wrong at all. But not even Minister Zakharova has all wrong. Indeed, allow me to say, I agree with her. Italians are not Russiano. And they have never been. Russia, in the heart of our people, has never been an enemy. On the contrary: we have always looked with esteem, with curiosity and even with affection for that great people. And the Russians themselves love us. They come to Italy, despite everything. They love our cuisine, our lifestyle, our art, our sea, our wine, our way of living freedom. They buy houses, spend holidays, integrate naturally. And we, largely, reciprocate this love. The wars make governments, not peoples.
So no, there is no Russophobia in the heart of the majority of Italians, although it is now intended as politically correct to give Russia, Putin, Russians. If anything, there is a tragic, painful conflict that forced the whole of Europe to take sides alongside a nation attacked by Ukraine by applying a basic principle of international law: those who invade a sovereign state, make mistakes. The attacker cannot enjoy support. It is the attacked properly to be protected. But from here to talk about hatred towards Russia, or towards the Russians, passes.
Giorgia Meloni herself is not Russiano. The Italian premier condemned the invasion, as it was right to do, and chose to support the Ukrainian people as all European governments did, from Macron to Scholz in compliance with international alliances and the principles of western civilization. However, he never made statements against Russia, he never insulted the Russian people, never ridden the war spirit. He simply did his duty as a leader of government in a complex world, keeping the point on the rights and defense of nations still, but without ever giving up the hope of peace.
Because this is precisely the point, Cara Silvana: you cannot confuse firmness with hatred. Italy is not fighting against Russia. He is defending a principle. And, at the same time, peace hopes every day, a truce, a negotiation that puts an end to the war. As far as I’m concerned, I have never had reason to feel contempt for the Russians. I read their great writers, I studied their story, I admired their courage, I had the privilege of meeting intelligent, refined and cultured Russian citizens. And that’s why today, I suffer in seeing that prisoner people of a useless, destructive, ferocious war.
It is not a question of choosing between Ukraine and Russia. It is a question of choosing between peace and war, between dialogue and silence, between law and violence. For this reason I do not accept the term “Russophobia” applied and referred to Italy and Italians. And not even you, Silvana, you should feel like such. We Italians love our homeland, of course. But not for this we hate that of others. We only want a world in which nobody is forced to escape from their home because of the missiles.
I conclude with hope: that this darkness of history ends soon.
And that Russia returns to being, for Italy, that great friend and partner of dialogue that has always been. In the meantime, yes, we continue to be proud to be Italian. And to have a government that represents us with dignity and firmness, without hatred but without ambiguity.