John Baird: Canada's freedom agenda - Diplomat Magazine

ctic CircleMICROSTATES|Di spatchesBalticSeaorth SeaDreamstimeFor centuries, San Marino has maintained its political independence in the face of ambitious aggressors, such as the Borgias of the ItalianRenaissance, Napoleon and Mussolini.4. San MarinoItalySan MarinoMediterranean SeaOfficially known as the Most SereneRepublic of San Marino, thisprosperous enclave of 60 squarekilometres in the Apennine Mountainsof Italy has often served as a safe harbourfor persecuted groups who were seekingshelter from the countless storms ofhistory that have swept over this part ofEurope. According to legend, this traditionas a place of refuge from the powerfulforces of oppression dates back to 301A.D. when a stonemason named Marniusfounded San Marino as a sanctuary forChristians who were trying to escape thereligious intolerance of the declining RomanEmpire. Over time, their descendantshave granted asylum to Italian nationalistGiuseppe Garibaldi and his Red Shirtsduring the unification of Italy in the 19thCentury and some 100,000 Jews who weretrying to escape fascism during the 20thCentury.While San Marino could not entirely escapethe devastation of the Second WorldWar, over the centuries it has stubbornlymaintained its political independence inthe face of ambitious aggressors, such asthe powerful Borgias of the Italian Renaissance,Napoleon, the Austrian monarchyand Mussolini. San Marino has managedthis diplomatic balancing act withoutsacrificing its republican traditions, whichdate back to its founding days. But SanMarino is not just the oldest republic. Italso possesses the oldest constitution,which has been effective since 1600, wellbefore the United States would adopt itsconstitution to become the second-oldestconstitutional republic.It is therefore more than appropriateto give Black the final Sea word on San Marino tothe man who eventually freed the UnitedStates from the tyranny of slavery, U.S.President Abraham Lincoln. Writing inMay of 1861, after he had received anadmiring letter from the Regent Captainsof San Marino on the occasion of his firstinauguration, Honest Abe penned thisstill-fitting sentiment. “Although your dominionis small, your state is neverthelessone of the most honoured in all history.”diplomat and international canada 51