MCorte - National Identities - What being Italian means to me

If I have to talk about what being Italian means to me, I would have a lot of things to discuss.
When I present myself, I don't think I would present me immediately as Italian but this doesn't mean I don't give importance to my patriotism. Instead I have always feel proud to be Italian especially when I heard someone saying the opposite.
Nowadays some Italian people probably are ashamed to be Italian due to some reasons, maybe because they would like to be English, French and so on(everything but not Italian);in fact reputation of the Italy is quite decreased recently. I always feel angry when I heard this comments mainly because I hate when a person can't appreciate to be Italian that is not to appreciate something of himself. I always believe that own national culture is one of the most important features of a person.
I don't want to say that people are distinguished by the nation they belong. Opposite I believe that this behavior drives to some kind of racism. Being Italian is just being Italian as part of yourself but this must never consist in hostility to other nations or cultures.
Moreover being Italian doesn't mean you have to know everything and only about Italy because this is only an obsession. I repeat that being proud to be Italian means simply you are Italian and that is enough. You can also love some not - Italian aspects.
Italy is quite very bad considerated for a lot of reasons and it could be true that it depends from the culture but everyone has to fit in the context he lives. This shows his true behavior in the life. It is too easy to complain about own difficulties accusing the situation where he lives. This also demonstrates that each of the people in the world has an own life to make and to face; nation and culture can make different conditions, probably difficult, but you have to make your own life.
Concluding I am surely proud to be Italian because it is an important feature of my identity(and I am proud to be myself). This is not to show something to prove it but simply you are Italian and this is enough. If someone hate his own nation, it is obvious that he has to go away in another place.