Italian Culture; North or South Italy? [Ulyaoth vs KnightOfSicily]

[Ulyaoth]

Well, my opening statement shall be simple, that all that made and makes other nations care about Italy is due to the north. Glory in war, social reform, hot women, automobiles, etc. All from the North. I mean, how could a region controlled by a foreign culture for hundreds of years with its people simple peasants or criminals have contributed anything worthwhile to the whole of Italian culture?

----

Link to Commentary Thread.

[KoS]

Your mistake is to stereotype all Sicilians, Neapolitans, Calabrians, Campanians, Apulians, or natives of whatever region south of Latium that you wish as either criminals or peasantry. Sure, Naples has its Camorra and Sicily its Mafia - but name one civilization that has been completely devoid of a criminal organization of some sort. It cannot be rid of, only accepted and attempted to be controlled. But it is simply unfair to judge one society by its criminal notoriety or the low economic class of some of its people. All nations have both poor people and criminals, so why hold it against Sicily and no other region?

I'll leave that up for a response before continuing.

[Ulyaoth]

yes, every area has poverty and crime, but no other area in the world that comes instantly to mind that is known mainly for it's crime syndicate controlling the area completely. And how could the South have contributed more to Italian culture when said crime syndicate tried to break the region away from Italy and fought the Fascist regime simply so it could conduct it's criminal business with impunity again? It shows they have no loyalty to Italy, they don't see themselves as Italians.