Ombre d'autunno

The autumn shadows advance. They are so many. They are inside and outside of us.

It is not true that "everything went well". We see now that a generation, the one that fought, built and cried for us is no more. Then, as a result, we realize the wealth of the "welfare" of the grandparents that is evaporating in the last days of full sun. Thus the fear of not doing it alone grows and selfishness grows. Vo¬lontari? Yes, but the risks and the lines of outstretched hands are thinning out. Solidarity? Yes, but with many ifs; and the offers, except the 5 per thousand which costs nothing, are decreasing everywhere: in the church, in associations, to treat rare diseases, for cultural and human growth initiatives, for missions. Cozy? Yes, but frightened by the idea, which remains so, that immigrants bring the epidemic. In fact, the cases of racism increase as much as the self-defense courses and the desire to be a gym. Poors? They are more and more alone. Caritas and the associations are doing the impossible but, if sincerity wins, it must be said that the times in which we were moved by a drowned dead black child or children homeless and without everything are, unfortunately , passed for many.

There is a slow, continuous, almost unconscious return to private life that does not bode well. It will cause a "close ranks"; it will multiply the alarm systems and railings; it will raise invisible but true walls that will keep away from us the unwanted, the fragile, those who are part of the culture of the "waste". How many times has Pope Francis warned us and again with the latest encyclical on brotherhood. The pandemic has tickled what is worst in us. No one would ever admit it, but unfortunately it is. The "curfew" that is triggered, especially in the evening, has almost completely canceled the meetings, discussions, book presentations, the "ludi historici", which have favored the human growth of all. Humanity, in fact. The tendency is to become badder "inside". This is why we are no longer available to open the door to anyone: anyone can carry the infection.

Right concern that, paradoxically, is transformed into a weapon of defense and isolation: immigrants do not come, the over sixty-five-year-olds do not enter, the guests of the RSA remain isolated ... They are the shadows. Many, right at times, but which become screens of our selfishness.

Except for the days of almost obligatory vacation to which one believes obliged, an unnatural silence falls on the roads, especially in the villages at certain times of the day. It is our cars that move much less: so normal social relationships fade and jump, old friendships cool down. The quality of life is affected, but also the economy: some jobs are better not done now, better to postpone them, many purchases too. Thus the working platform changes, modifies, shrinks like a wet blanket. And it shows!

Schools have become, in spite of themselves, the litmus paper of our level of civilization. They do it with so much effort, great commitment but also unforgivable delays. They turned it into a political battle.

These are hard days, at risk for everyone, days in which the construction of our values ​​and sensitivities and emotions are changing. Perhaps it is better, at times, in front of the shadows, to stop to understand where they are taking us. They are long, very long shadows.

Gian Mario Ricciardi
NP ottobre 2020