The sages say that the historical process is an eternal return. And we sometimes feel that reality tends to confirm “the truths” of the sages.
100 years ago, we came out of a war that, in addition to immemorial mortality, left incurable wounds in the great countries of Europe. So incurable that, using the infestation caused by the various extremist ideologies, after 20 years, two atomic bombs sprung with force.
And it seems like a long time ago, but only 100 have passed since that moment when radical thoughts led to death, misery, separation of millions of Europeans for decades.
These are the same extremist ideologies, with the same message only wrapped in outdoors colorful and comical, revealed in attractive and dialogic videos through the social networks most used by young people, very communicative and close, who want to re-configure and control the world. The same demagoguery present in ideals that lead to war, separation, struggle and, if need be, death and oppression.
Now, however, we don't have humorous, skilful Democrats like Churchill or shrewd ones like Roosevelt. We have countries like Austria, Hungary and, more recently, Italy, which, in democratic elections, have seen their population, tired of corrupt leaders, elect demagogic, authoritarian leaders, who have far-right governments, with which they have no place. and space for those who do not think alike and, above all, there is no place for those who are not of their “race”.
We have a president in the United States of America who falsifies news to accuse others of falsifying news about him.
And close to us? Next door, we have a Spain divided between autonomies and independence, with a weakened government, which probably “sells its soul to the devil” of the extreme left of “Podemos”, to fight the devil of the extreme right of “Vox”.
And, in Portugal, we have a certain André Ventura, who first said “enough” and now says “enough”, but who, when he opens his mouth, just reveals the ideological and personality excrement that dwells within him.
However, at the moment it is the movement that generates the most monetary donations, in the always un-medial European elections.
And, in the midst of all this, we are witnessing a possible resignation of the government because of partisan quarrels masked by the interests of fragile professional groups, in a pseudo-crisis for televisions to watch and film, which only helps to promote this excrement-ideological broth.
And not to mention Mature and reckless Guaidós hustles, or others like that, which in different continents, generate waves of migration promoted by hunger, insecurity, fear, as it was not imagined to see in the XNUMXst century...
Do you know? We need more Pope Francis, who at this moment seems to be the only world leader who defends the common good and a healthy life, who defends the dignity of the human being and the health of the planet and speaks clearly, so that this can be heard .
Francisco said in his 2019 “World Day of Peace” message: “As we know, the pursuit of power at all costs leads to abuses and injustices. Politics is a fundamental means to build citizenship and human works, but when those who exercise it do not live it as a service to the human community, it can become an instrument of oppression, marginalization and even destruction».
And he continued, quoting another Pope, St. Paul VI: «to take politics seriously, at its different levels – local, regional, national and world – is to affirm the duty of man, of all men, to recognize the concrete reality and the the value of the freedom of choice afforded them, in order to seek together for the good of the city, the nation and humanity».
Words such as responsibility, service, protection, respect for life, freedom and dignity of people are always present in his speech, as attributes that must be intrinsic to any politician and to his activity, because only in this way, for Francis, will they be able to «work to create the conditions for a dignified and just future».
This should be the gale that would shake our lives and our consciences, a promising and smiling wind that would bring spring...
Instead, there seems to be a strong but charged wind soon to arrive, which spins like a dark and destructive tornado. And what do we, all of us do?… Do we believe that our individual strength and our convictions can be generators of change, or are we afraid and we sit idly by, silent mouths and let everything happen, because everything is inevitable? ?
The truth (it teaches us History and justifies us – to believers – the Faith) is that the great changes began with individual voices, but very courageous and firm, who knew how to fill with light and the capacity to believe all those who good conscience and good heart, wanted to work for change: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Mandela…
And all the individual voices together are truly power, a power for good and good.
It is this hope that we need, but only we can build it, and I want to believe that we are capable of it. Why only on the moon there is no wind.
Author Father Miguel Neto is director of the Information and Pastoral Ministry of Tourism of the Diocese of Algarve, as well as parish priest of Tavira.
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