Bene Grande

From IxWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Bene Grande, meaning "greater good" in Acirian, is an Acirian cultural value which was first coined in the late 18th or early 19th centuries. The phrase and value rose to prominence following the fall of the Free Republic and the emergence of the Grand Empire of Aciria to justify the reduced civil and political rights of the masses in return for stability and prosperity. Some consider Bene Grande to be descriptive of the Acirians, describing Bene Grande as a core cultural value and part of the national character of the people.

History

While commonly associated with the period of the Grand Empire of Aciria, the phrase's origins generally are thought to have been in the 1665 satirical novel Il Regista, where the author Giacce Carbiero used the term "Tenere Duro", meaning "hang in there" to describe the response of politicians to the widespread suffering of the country at the time, suggesting the citizens to "hang in there" instead of rising against the state. The connection made between Tenere Duro and Bene Grande lead to a limited ban of the book in Aciria due to its contrasting view of the phrase.

Applications

Politically

The Imperial Seat has extensively used the phrase since the late 19th century, particularly during times of conflict, such as the First and Second Great Wars. The phrase was extensively used by state outlets to encourage people to limit their lifestyle to support the war effort, and to justify the large casualties taken in the conflicts.

As long as the Acirian state has used the term, their political opposition has also used it. Left-wing organizations and their supporters, such as the Social Renovation Movement, has long used Bene Grande, and its root Tenere Duro to ridicule the state and bring forth discussions regarding whether or not the sacrifices the people have to make are worth it.

Culturally

Bene Grande is used differently in everyday usage compared to its political application. Bene Grande, despite meaning "greater good", often is used as a wish of good luck, often given to those facing particularly difficult or important tasks, such as job interviews or university entrance exams.

Online services have given the population access to a censored version of Il Regista, which has given Tenere Duro newfound popularity among the youth of Aciria, who often use Tenere Duro in place of Bene Grande. Tenere Duro can also be used in a sarcastic manner.