Comments on: Venetian secessionists seek independence from Italy

By: VirginiaCavalier

VirginiaCavalier — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 20:57:22 +0000

Thank you so much for posting this Michael. I’ve been a long-time supporter of Venetian nationalism and I’m glad to see the movement is gaining even more traction in Veneto than they have traditionally. I dislike how the article seems to imply that Venetism is new to the region though. Venetian nationalism as a modern movement dates back to before WWII and secessionist organisations have long been popular in Venice and Northern Italy as a whole.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 20:46:49 +0000

VS, good point. The language used in a lot of these articles is sloppy. Secessionist-related articles frequently refer to attempts to create a ‘new nation.’ They mean states, not nations. Nations are organic bodies of people. States are independent governments. But in the US media ‘country,’ ‘state,’ ‘nation,’ etc. are used in a very sloppy manner. I think much of this is due to the Enlightenment-based origins of the USA, which have been taken to a new level of absurdity in this era of universalism.

By: Virginian Secessionist

Virginian Secessionist — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 20:40:07 +0000

I do find it odd (and historically incorrect) that the quoted article claims the Venetians wish to create a “new” country. The Republic of Venice predates pretty much every modern nation in its claim to independence, a right which was granted to it by the Roman Emperors themselves. The same goes for Scotland, which also has a long history of independence. With the Catalans, the question is merely whether the Kingdom of Aragon would be restored or not. “Catalonia” has never existed as a full-fledged country, and therefore would be a “new” country, but Aragon has an ancient and prestigious history. So even the idea of Catalan independence is not a “new” notion.