July 29
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini's Birthday
 

 

In 1922,  there was a general strike in Italy. Benito Mussolini, one of  the founders of Italian Fascism, addressed crowd  in Naples and declared that unless the Government put an end to it, the fascists would do it for them. He subseqently came to power after a coup d'état shortly thereafter by which Mussolini's National Fascist Party came to power in Italy and was appointed Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel. He personally took over the ministries of the interior, foreign affairs, colonies, corporations, defense, and public works. Sometimes he held as many as seven departments simultaneously, as well as the premiership. He was also head of the all-powerful Fascist Party and the armed lfascist militia, called Blackshirts, who terrorised all dissenters., beat them mercilessly, and prevented opposition newspapers from publishing.

Mussolini began using the title Il Duce  (the leader) in 1925 and soon transformed Italy into a fascist state. He remained popular with the Italian public with a variety of ublic works including the improvement of job opportunities and public transportation, By 1935, Mussolini claimed that three quarters of Italian businesses were under state control. That same year, he issued several edicts to further control the economy, including forcing all banks, businesses, and private citizens to give up all their foreign-issued stocks and bonds to the Bank of Italy. In 1938, he also instituted wage and price controls.

On 10 June 1940, Mussolini led Italy into World War II on the side of the Axis, In April 1945, with total defeat in sight, Mussolini attempted to escape to Switzerland with his mistress Clara Petacci, but they were captured and executed near Lake Como by Italian partisans. Their bodies were to taken Milan and hung upside down on meathooks from the roof of an Esso gas station and were stoned

While we do not recommend celebrating Mussolini's birthday, it may be appropriate to reflect on the warning of Georgi Dimitrov

  “Fascism is able to attract the masses because it demagogically appeals to their most urgent needs and demands. Fascism not only inflames prejudices that are deeply ingrained in the masses, but also plays on the better sentiments of the masses, on their sense of justice and sometimes even on their revolutionary traditions…
Fascism acts in the interests of the extreme imperialists, but it presents itself to the masses in the guise of champion of an ill-treated nation, and appeals to outraged national sentiments…”

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and be wary of its reemergence under any disguise as a new political movement. While reflecting on this challenge, we suggest renting a copy of the film Mussolini: Ultimo atto (Mussolini: The last act, 1974) while esting a bowl of Spaghetti Mussolini and recalling his famous quote, "A nation of spaghetti eaters cannot restore Roman civilization!"


Spaghetti Mussolini

 

Ingredients
 
1 lb spaghetti
2 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying
1 medium eggplant peeled and cut into large cubes
1&1/3 lb chicken livers, cut into cubes
1 lb ground beef minced beef
2 cups commercial pasta sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
 

Instructions
 
  1. Boil spaghetti in salted boiling water for 10 minutes, cool under cold water. Drain and set aside.
  2. Reserve 2 tsp of oil aside and heat the remaining oil in a pan. Deep fry the eggplant cubes and then the chicken liver, set aside on a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb the oil.
  3. Heat 2 TB of vegetable oil in a large pot, sauté ground beef until cooked.
  4. Add  pasta sauce Bring to boil and cook on low heat with occasional stirring for 10 minutes. Add the fried egg plant, fried chicken livers and the cooked pasta. Stir all in the sauce and pour in an oven tray and flatten evenly.
  5. Sprinkle the top with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
  6. Cook in preheated oven on a 325º F for 20-25 minutes or until cheese becomes golden in color.

Serves 4

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes

 

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