To get out of it

Perhaps it is time to keep a cool head amidst global horizons marked by worrying traits: with the crackle of weapons dominating the scene, with media stages crowded by so-called powerful figures, and with uncertainties about what might happen... Even international law seems optional, to be broken without much remorse, in political logics that send chills due to the scenarios that could unfold and the fate of many who seem to have no more protection or shields. Meanwhile, everything becomes commodified and postponed to whoever shouts the loudest, whoever is most unscrupulous, whoever tramples the rules. In short, an unpleasant climate, perhaps even a bit distressing. The alarm is raised by the reappearance of tensions, violence, extremism, racism, fanaticism, to the point of darkening the picture of humanity in which we struggle to find light. The most sensitive are somewhat disheartened, seeing terrible ghosts of a not-so-distant past re-emerge — ghosts that seemed to have been erased forever. The hour is delicate, certainly. But we are not without footholds to get out of this, by putting in a lot of clarity and a good deal of effort.

Never more than now, perhaps, is it time to put back on track what seemed consolidated and instead risks being uprooted by crude blows, as if we had nothing behind us; as if we were forgetting everything that the very recent past has taught us in terms of suffering, tears, and courage. Fortunately, on the geopolitics front so in turmoil, we can count on the words, convictions, and warnings of President Sergio Mattarella, who never misses the chance to remind everyone of what is at stake.

He reiterates the mature and important experience of “democracy”, in which we are “protagonists” and not just “protected” or... “provoked” by new rising neo-feudal lords. With the goal of the common good always kept in sight, with human rights in front of our conscience, taking on shared responsibilities in tolerance that respects the dignity of all and each individual, adopting a critical and humanizing view to grasp and stem the drift that can arise from today’s abuses, so exaggerated and blatant. Democracy is neither outdated nor “surpassed.” It is the most mature environment in which to recognize ourselves as citizens with equal rights and duties, called to co-responsibility, driven by the goal of peace for all, ready for the daily effort to create social justice.


NP March 2025
Corrado Avagnina