A Call for Caution: Reflecting on Language and Leadership in Warren County

I am writing in response to Mr. Marazzo’s comments at the Board of Supervisors meeting this Tuesday past. Mr. Marazzo used the results of the recent presidential election in our county as evidence that the creation of a separate library board by the county was the democratic will of the people. In no way do the votes for the presidential election show a political cohesion in the realm of agreement on public policy. There are residents of Warren county who voted for the president elect, but at the same time fully support the library in its traditional operational structure, opposing the formation of a new library board.

Further, his use of language in speaking of “a new era” and “linking arms and locking shields” with a nationwide movement has troubling authoritarian overtones. As the daughter of an Italian immigrant, whose family was uprooted as a result of the economic aftermath of the second World War, engendered by the fascist takeover of Italy by Mussolini I have both personal and historical reasons to be nervous of such language.

I have other reasons to be particularly sensitive. Fascist governments of Europe in the 1930s and 40s were careful early in their rise to power to ally themselves with the outward trappings of religion, in order to manipulate citizens towards their own worldly ends. In the spirit of this season of the year, I will relate that the National Fascist Party in Italy even went so far as to create their own Christmas character. Taking the traditional folk character of La Befana, an old woman who missed out on seeing the Christ child and so she must forever wander bringing gifts to the children of Italy on the night of Epiphany — the party created La Befana Fascista, (Fascist Befana) in effect taking a character linked in Italy to the Catholic religious tradition, and subverting this charming character to the political aims of the Fascist party. Mussolini himself adopted La Befana Fascista and even further politicized her by calling her “La Befana del Duce.” (The Leader’s Befana) in reference to himself.

I relate this obscure bit of history to illustrate how manifestations of religion or cultural tradition can be easily manipulated by politicians. As a Catholic, I am acutely aware that our rich and beautiful patrimony of outward symbols and embodied actions is particularly vulnerable to being subverted by ideologies in our time. It is because of this faith that I cherish so deeply, that I want to send up a warning flare in my county against any language that smacks of authoritarian ideology. While I in no way think this was conscious on the part of Mr. Marazzo, and fully believe him to be acting in earnestness and good faith, it is important to pull into the light the way language can manifest in our society for the betterment of mutual understanding and the promotion of the common good of peace.

Merry Christmas,

Anna Maria Hatke
Warren County

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