japanese maple

The stereotype of stereotypes about my country goes: “Italiano, pizza, pasta, mandolino, Mafia”. Personally I’ve never taken it badly. First, because it’s kind of funny. Secondly, because it’s well-known that cliché only touches on reality.

Even so, it’s a blow to remember that there’s an element of truth in it. And I’m not referring to the gastronomical/entertaining part. An article in last week’s The Economist reminded me that the Mafia issue in Southern Italy is still an open wound.

In regions such as Campania, Sicily, Calabria, honest people and mafiosi live and work side by side. The former in the daylight, the latter in the darkness of a criminal underworld. Sometimes they run into each other like when the Mafia broke into the workshop of Cooperativa Valle del Marro, in Gioia Tauro.

If at first sight, it seems that the Mafia rules without interference, a closer look reveals that a number of people refuse to remain idle.

Cooperativa Valle del Marro is a good example. A group of young people have gathered and seek to establish a legitimate business in Calabria with assets seized from the Mafia. Racketeers attack it because no one should defy the criminal organization’s power. Even so, the co-operative’s answer is to double the cultivated area and increase the production of olives.

Southern Italy is not only about Mafia. This might sound rhetorical but there are also brave people who challenge the Mafia’s widespread power. Racketeers try to crush any attempts of rebellion. Yet, these persist, silent and stubborn. A sort of non violent – in this case – farming struggle.

In the light of this reality, will Italian stereotype ever change to “pizza, pasta, mandolino”, and olive fields?

References
The Economist- “Taking on the mob; Business in Southern Italy”, February 3rd 2006 (p.66)