European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Anything you did, or whatever you might have needed,
Anything you did, or whatever you might have needed,
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you were always expected to have your Fascist membership card with you.
you were always expected to have your Fascist membership card with you.
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I did not believe in this and didn’t want the card,
I did not believe in this and didn’t want the card,
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so I was forced to use alternative methods, those I had learned from my family,
so I was forced to use alternative methods, those I had learned from my family,
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my parents and my two older sisters.
my parents and my two older sisters.
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During the first three months of school we did writing exercises and we learned to count up to fifty.
During the first three months of school we did writing exercises and we learned to count up to fifty.
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Our teachers were not like the ones you might find today.
Our teachers were not like the ones you might find today.
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I remember that my teacher was from Casalgrande and walked all the way to school and back, poor woman.
I remember that my teacher was from Casalgrande and walked all the way to school and back, poor woman.
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Going to school was not considered too important.
Going to school was not considered too important.
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Just take my case: as soon as I finished primary third grade, after I had failed second grade,
Just take my case: as soon as I finished primary third grade, after I had failed second grade,
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I stopped attending school.
I stopped attending school.
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It’s not like someone stopped me from going, it’s just that it was enough to learn the basics of reading and writing.
It’s not like someone stopped me from going, it’s just that it was enough to learn the basics of reading and writing.
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Later, in the army, I used to write letters for a fellow soldier from Guastalla and two more who were from the mountains.
Later, in the army, I used to write letters for a fellow soldier from Guastalla and two more who were from the mountains.
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They were my age but didn’t know how to write: I was not better than them, but I had gone to school until third grade.
They were my age but didn’t know how to write: I was not better than them, but I had gone to school until third grade.
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Reflecting history
Reflecting history
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I care about these stories.
I care about these stories.
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Not so much for myself.
Not so much for myself.
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Rather for the benefit they convey to those who listen and want to think about them.
Rather for the benefit they convey to those who listen and want to think about them.
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It was real life.
It was real life.
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I’m not exaggerating things, even those episodes that are quite sensational.
I’m not exaggerating things, even those episodes that are quite sensational.