Gianni 1900
My dear friend Giacomo,
Much has oc
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Much has occupied my mind since we last corresponded six years ago. The local officials here in Calabria keep me busy with various matters, ranging from relations with the local peasants to dealing with pressures from the national government in Rome. The family has been healthy, thank the Lord, and doing well. Marcella sends her love. We hope everyone in your family is doing as well. The general mood among the populace down here is rather agitated. Although there is little in the way of violence, as there had been twenty years ago, the peasants are not content. They seemed to have expected that unification would have brought about tremendous changes in their lifestyles, all for the better. Unfortunately, Calabria remains almost as poor as it had been prior to unification. Industrialization has yet to reach us in any real sense. Residents of Calabria have had to accept the reality that the region remains agricultural in nature. Those who wish to enjoy the higher wages of industrial employment have had to move to the northern regions and compete with the locals up there, or use all of their resources to make the move to America. At least the rampant crime of previous years has abated. Travelers can at least expect some reasonable degree of safety while moving between towns. In spite of our proximity to Sicily, the mafia does not control the countryside of Calabria. The improvements made to the roads in our region has had s
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trong and capable of fighting England. The Germans have already defeated France and there presently appears to be no country capable of defeating Germany. Maybe we can recreate the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean, since only England stands in our way. But how many of our young men will die in the process? I often times wonder if the rewards will be worth the eventual price. I wonder if we really need to physically control all of the Mediterranean. Maybe it will help our country become more prosperous; I don't know. Maybe I am so fearful because all of my sons are in the military and at risk in the coming battles.
At least I hope that this war will be nothing like the last war. Many of the families in Calabria lost men in that war. Over the years, I heard the tales of survivors, who seemed unable to adequately convey the horrors of the battles. They told of whole units mowed down by German fire, of being unable to advance on German positions. Of course, they had no armored vehicles or advanced airplanes. The Germans have showed the world what can be done with such equipment. I dearly hope that Italian forces will be able to do the same.
How much have I changed since my youth! I remember coming out of the univers
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Christian Democrats, Calabria Conditions, Calabria America, Vincenzo Guiseppe, Residents Calabria, World War, Mediterranean Maybe, North South, Air Force, Dear Vito, national government, peasant families, government assistance, left calabria, positive changes, rural nature region, nature region, education family, future country, italy left, completed studies, completed studies law,
Approximate Word count = 4200
Approximate Pages = 17 (250 words per page)
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