Article 2
In response to the rising waves of hate speech, Liliana Segre has appealed to the Italian parliament to increase its efforts to combat such speech, including the establishment of a specialized committee. She, of many, have been subjected to direct anti-Semitic messages from Mussolini and Fascism sympathizers. Ms. Segre has reportedly received as many as 200 hateful messages a day. Even so, she is not afraid, but rather "shocked by these tensions and by this entire situation."
To make matters more solemn, Ms. Segre is an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor, who was sent to Auschwitz at the age of 13. Prior, she and her father fled to Switzerland in 1943, but were arrested and given up to the Nazis by Italian border guards. The two were sent to Auschwitz, immediately separated, and her father shortly died thereafter. Ms. Surge survived long enough to be moved to Ravensbrück in Germany, and finally one last time where the Soviet Red Army liberated the interned.
In the end, the proposal for an increased effort to combat hate speech was ultimately successful, however fearful that this would be the start to an extremist movement of censorship. League Party head, Matteo Salvini, also stated that he might seem racist to the proposed committee, since he has made a stance of keeping "Italians first" by curbing migrant entrance by sea. Regardless, Salvini and the party firmly stated that such speech and taboo nationalism were always worrisome.
This proposal is a right step towards suppressing toxic nationalism, arguably stemming from WWII Italy's Fascist movement. For sure, it would discourage this kind of mindset, but to an extent. It all depends on how the new committee conducts itself and its combatant techniques. Considering Salvini's intent on immigration, the Italian parliament would self-evidently have lasting turmoil throughout this war.
1 comment:
I would also agree that the proposal was a commendable move in the struggle to reduce hostile fascist / nationalistic hate movements in Italy, but I wonder if whether the measures Segre established with the parliament were really effective. Looking more into this issue, I found an article stating that the Segre's proposal led to the establishment of "a commission to combat all forms of racism and hatred or violence toward ethnic and religious groups" in Italy, but shortly after the passage of the proposal, Segre started receiving up to 200 hate messages per day. Some of those messages were so threatening that Segre has to be accompanied by two law enforcement officers for protection whenever she goes out in public. The article also brought up that an investigation is being opened on the hate messages. However, this reaction from the public, as well as the noticeable nationalist presence in the Italian parliament that did not choose to vote on Segre's proposal, shines light on how significant a problem this is for Italy and how difficult it will be to change it in the future.
Link to the article I found:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/holocaust-survivor-italy-liliana-segre-gets-police-protection-after-89-year-old-senator-for-life-200-threats-a-day/
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