Jun 19, 2009Vicenza - US Army on the run

By now, every aspect of city life in Vicenza is touched by the ever growing US military presence.

We got used to it of course, almost without realising it. Since childhood, many of us have seen Camp Ederle as a common part of Vicenza, like Monte Berico, the Station, Corso Palladio.

We got so used to it that we almost failed to notice how, year after year, Camp Ederle was enlargedarged, eating up our land right in front of us. Camp Ederle doubled in size and the buildings got bigger, and taller. And now we witness another round of growing volumes of town space occupied by a foreign military.

And it doesn't stop there. We also witnessed the gradual growth of "Villaggio della Pace", the ironic name given to the ever growing neighbourhood where the US military lives, near the centre of our town.

For many of us, american cars with "AFI" plates were normal, just like we know now - when we see a car with a "ZA ...." plate - it is likely to have an american driver.

We are used to US soldiers jogging in the streets. And used to meeting US soldiers in everything we do. And we  almost stopped noticing them. Almost

For a long period of time we tollerated (with some protests) the noisy sound of the helicopters' rotors, a noise that will soon be heard more frequently unless we stop it, now.

At a certain point, after months and months of drunkenness on "Dal Molin", not forgetting Pluto - Fontega - San Rocco - COESPU - AFRICOM ... and trying to reason with the local government and with the national government, it feels like we have reached the limits of our tolerance.

When you start to feel that the U.S. military presence is bothering even the fresh early morning walk, you start to say: "Hold on a minute, what's going on? We must say STOP IT". This is why the spontaneous early morning protests of citizens around Monte Berico, as already experienced a few months ago, have come back.

The need to give them a clear message that comes from deep inside:

"U.S. soldiers, this is for you: GO HOME".

U.S. citizens did something similar with the British 233 years ago. Fed up with tolerating the every day presence of a military might that was foreign to the American citizens of that time, they sent ALL British troops home, and declared independence.

We now claim the same right. We are past tolerating US military forces in our town. We declare independence from the US military. Now!

Watch the video Vicenza, Army on the run


 

 

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jimm wrote on Jul 07, 2009:
I was happy in my home state before orders were given to move to Italy. I'm still happy. I do sympathize with the community of Vicenza, if a majority of the populace don't want Dal Molin here then they should do what they have to do to make it's disapperance happen. However, there are puppet strings being pulled in and around the Vicenza area. This is where dissent should be aimed at. Not the Americans who are sent here. I can only speak for myself, but I've tried to learn the language and for the most part people are friendly towards the fact that I have tried to fit in. I will never fit in totally, because I am an Americano. That's fine, I accept it. However there is a xenophobic type of people that will accept nothing but pure Italiano in their region, and I accept that to. To the Italians I say that 98% of the Americans that come here respect Italy and their graciousness. Please don't judge us on the 2% of retardo's. Also to the Italians I request that your unhappiness about Dal Molin be directed to your elected Vicenza/Venetto regional leaders and to Rome. Americans will only take what is given to them and if you raise the price, and we want it, we will pay for it or find someone else to buy it from.
frances funning wrote on Jul 02, 2009:
US sodlers cannot leave until they have orders from their superiors. Demonstrate at your government offices and the US Embassy. Leave the soldiers alone. Your citizens do make money from their presence. They buy your goods. They employe some of your ciitzens. If you don't want the soldiers there demonstate at your government offices and at our government offices. The soldiers can do nothing. They have no power politically.
Jane Stewart wrote on Jul 02, 2009:
US Soldiers can't go home. They work for their government. You have to talk to the US government. Your government has to deal for you. You hae to fuss at your government for not doing what they should for you. Our soldiers are victims of you. You are victims of your government and our government. You got to fight with the governments. Our soldiers have families there with children.
Fred Jakobcic wrote on Jul 01, 2009:
Our we to be like the British holding on to the vestige of an empire...N. Ireland...to pretend these bases are needed...that we have to keep bases for refined our weapons, to make bigger and "better" weapons, weapons more destructive than that before, weapons of mass destruction that we condmen others for having and having the potential to use...who has the most potential to used weapons of mass destruction...the USA or the rest of the world? Who is to be feared most? Who has the most weapons and the worst foregin policy, a policy based on the fear of others who fear us for our fears? Only warmongers needs bases to control the world to our desires, such is our foregin policiy which is a catalyst for hate and we wonder why they hate us and fight us but we do not condemn our foreign policy...we condem those who fight back and call them terrorists...who is realliy doing the terrorising?
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