Desire for legality

How to be able to be responsible for your own happiness, transforming difficulties into opportunities

People really need the state to start doing its part, concretely, in defense of those who denounce, in aid of those who are afraid, in support of those who believe that legality is synonymous with freedom.

In June I had the honor of participating in an important demonstration on legality. It was an award ceremony for those who distinguished themselves for deserving actions, and which took place in a beautiful hall of the Campidoglio in Rome, in the presence of numerous political and military authorities and various guests in evening dress.

The Legality Award was established in the name of a famous general, who died a few years ago, and his memory continues to live on thanks to his son who organizes this award every year.

At the beginning, the mayor of Rome wanted to emphasize the importance of the state in the fight against mafias, corruption, illegal work, drugs, and anything that by definition does not respect the usual rules of law. The applause of the hall dismissed him and he, without waiting for the intervention of the other guests scheduled in the lineup, left. Then, it was the turn of a councilor who with a voice set as an actor exalted the projects in the field of legality of the administration of which he was a part and, after receiving yet another applause, left the room. Two other politicians spoke below and, finally, the organizer of the prize, everyone agreed on the enemy to fight: illegality in every field. It is difficult to tell what I felt while they were talking, everything came to me fake, prepared at the table, far from the reality we are used to living. When I heard my name I got up and tried not to show my annoyance.

The presenter, face of Rai 1, read the motivation for the award, which was obviously intended for the television program where I have been working for twenty years now, and then he left me the microphone. To tell the truth I hadn't prepared anything and for this I let my emotions speak.

You should know that a dear friend of mine was also present in the room, a Sicilian entrepreneur who for years has been pressured by the mafia, and he too was there to receive recognition for his courage. I met his gaze for a few seconds just as I was starting to speak and I could not help but tell the story of our first meeting when, with the company still black with ashes, destroyed by debts, he had been waiting for repayments from the State for years and years. that would have allowed him to leave with dignity. The bureaucracy was killing him more than the mafia. Not only that, he hadn't even gotten an escort for his family and had been forced to invest the last money he had to buy an armored car that would make him feel a little safer.

The State, the same State that had asked him to have courage by denouncing the mafia abuses, that had recognized in him merits, honors, words of esteem, and that through his spokesmen in suits had promised him important reassurances, in reality they had literally left alone.

Striscia tried to help him in every way and several services were needed before his rights were recognized, and perhaps even just because someone must have thought that the media fuss would not bring consensus. As I spoke to the attentive audience, I was aware that my story would offend some of those present, but I did nothing to avoid it. I concluded by emphasizing that people really need the state to start doing its part, concretely, in defense of those who denounce, in aid of those who are afraid, in support of those who believe that legality is synonymous with freedom. But who knows if I'll ever be lucky enough to see such a big change.

Max Laudadio

NP Giugno-Luglio 2022