"Sorry.." "Italiano?"

The Christian roots in the Irish Constitution

2009-10-15T16:23:00.001-07:00

Maybe it's a gift of Celts that the Irish are very religious (the Celts weren't ever conquered by the Romans, which could have facilitated their spontaneous conversion to Christianity), but certainly the Christian roots of this people are vigorous in their Constitution.

The "Bunreacht na hÉireann" (literally, the fundamental law of Ireland) was enacted by the Irish people with a referendum and came into force in 1937. After that first referendum, many others followed to consent amendments of the Constitution itself, such as the one to join the European Economic Community and the last one, just few weeks ago, to approve the Lisbon Treaty.

Since my first approach to the Irish Constitution and the Irish legal system I've been founding out that some major cases discussed in the High Court and the Supreme Court have concerned topics where the catholic influence is strong: from time to time Irish citizens have challenged the act which forbade the importation and the distribution of contraceptives in Ireland (Mc Gee v. A.G., 1974), the law that criminalized the homosexual relationship (Norris v. A.G., 1984, action not successful before the Irish courts, but just before the European Court of Human Rights, that substantially forced the Oireachtas, or the Irish legislator, to change the law).

In 1983 the Constitution was amended to add a Pro-life provision:

The State acknoledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.

Previously, in 1972, another amendment had been made to remove the special position of the Catholic Church recognized in the Constitution, but, despite this change, its influence continues to be very strong.

Just few examples:

- the Preamble:

In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred,

We, the people of Éire,

Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial,

Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation,

And seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations,

Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution;

- article 6

All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people...;

- article 40

...The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law....;

- article 41

...The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home...

- article 44

The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion...

Also in the concept of the Family, recognized as the primary and natural educator of the child,and in the respect for the parents' inalienable right and duty to provide for the education of the children (article 42), the catholic teachings are clearly perceptible.

So the question is: how does an atheist, a muslim, or a hindu live in Ireland?

I don't know English, but I know Latin!

2009-09-18T05:22:00.000-07:00

One of the courses which I'm attending at NUIG is Media Law.

On Monday there was the first lecture. The professor was going to explain what media were and specially what media law was. Before the lesson started, a girl next to me asked me something that I didn't exactly understand... when she understood I didn't speak her language very well, she turned herself and started speaking with the mate on her right...

Suddenly the professor began her lecture. Immediately she made a question to the class: "Do you know where the word "media" comes from?". Silence for few seconds. She asked again, but no one answered.

In an unforgettable moment, arose my Latin pride. The pride of whom studied Latin for five hours per week and English for just three. I said "Latin!".

The teacher said "Yes" and continued speaking about the latin term "medium" and its meaning. Maybe for the fist time during my Law studies, I was so proud . I wasn't able to say "From Latin" or "From medium, that is Latin". I said just "Latin", but I was the only one to know it.

Now I can say: "Hi, I don't know English very well, but surely I know Latin!"

The choice to join the army

2009-09-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

Today six Italian soldiers are dead and other four are wounded.

It's awful for the victims' relatives. I can't minimally imagine their pain.

On the other hand, I have to underline the hypocrisy of what the newspapers write, of what the politicians say and of myself, too.

No one (except some web sites, maybe) talk about the CIVILIANS WHO DAILY DIE in Afghanistan. The mission should have brought the peace, but in Afghanistan there is still the war. The talibans have cut the fingers of men and women who have voted in the election day. The US and Europe have permitted all this: WHY? In favour of the saint ideal of democracy? The wars, already before the Ancient Greeks attacked Troy, had been always done only for one reason: ECONOMICS. The US and Europe have permitted innocent people have been cut the fingers (and obviously not only this) because of their own economic interests.

Now, after the Italian deaths, the Lega party suggests to pull out our soldiers. Just now, because "ours" are dead. From Italian government, again only hypocricy, racism and indecency.

These men are dead and now they are called heroes. I don't see anything heroic in their death, and even if they were heroes, they would be, however, dead heroes. What can they do wich such a title by now ? They are dead in a war made to have the control over the oil, though no one wants to admit this fact, and they are dead serving someone (the government, the army, the country?) who'll never die for them.

These persons are not heroes. They are just someone who has done a wrong choice as all in lifetime because of political, economic or social reasons: a choice that could have, and it has had, irreparable consequences: the choice to join the army.

P.S. This is my modest opinoin. I hope it's clear I don't want to offend anyone.

Why another useless blog?

2009-09-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

There are several reasons which have led me to create a blog, where I can only write in English.

1. I'm in Erasmus in Ireland; I have four written exams in December... I need to write!!!

2. If my Erasmus friends want to, they can read this blog, while they cannot read the other one in Italian language.

As usual, I'm going to tell you something I say almost all days here in Galway: I don't know English very well... so try to forgive my mistakes: I'm here to improve. You can help me, if you like it.

3. This blog is about my experiences here in Ireland and about my homeland, viewed abroad. I'd like to share my opinion about Italy with people coming from different countries and my opinion about Ireland with Italians, too.

4. I like writing. After months I've founded again the desire of writing... so I'll write, I'll write and I'll write, I hope for all the days of my life.

Surely the blogs are useless for the world, but not for whom writes.