“It will soon be April 25th. A date that is an essential part of our history: this is also why we can feel free today. A certain resistance is never over ”. (Enzo Biagi, "My Italy that does not give up". Corriere della Sera 2007). They have passed 76 years from that 25 April 1945 in which the Upper Italy National Liberation Committee (CLNAI) incited the partisan forces of the North to insurrection against theGerman occupation in Italy. The Second Word Warwinding down, he had left behind only death and destruction. That nightmare should have ended soon, with the resumption of freedom by that Italy that has never surrendered to Nazi-fascism. Just on that day, Sandro Pertini he exhorted Italy to a general strike with the historic proclamation "Surrender or perish”From the microphones of Radio Milano Liberata. Since then, April 25 has become a symbol of hope for Italy.
Thus was born the Liberation Day, to remember how the "worst of democracies is better than all dictatorships"(Again to quote Sandro Pertini). In 1946, with a decree signed by Alcide de Gasperi it was established that April 25 would become National holiday (The reads 269,1949 formalized the date). Unfortunately, however, the wonderful meaning of April 25 has not always been grasped. Over the years, in fact, many have considered this day as "divisive". There is nothing divisive in the freedom won with the blood of the many partisans who loved this country, to the point of sacrificing their lives to free it from the oppressors. There are many themed speeches that regularly return every year (such as whether to teach or not "Hello Beautiful"To school children). Fortunately, however, they already die on April 26, when the controversies over the Liberation Day return to oblivion (until the following year).
April 25, 2021: another Liberation Day still under the sign of Covid-19
This year, just like in the 2020, the Liberation Day will be celebrated a bit "subdued" due to the restrictions to stem it Covid-19 pandemic. As always, a laurel wreath will be placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier In presence of Sergio Mattarella (in his senior year as President of the Republic). Unfortunately, solemn celebrations cannot be organized in the rest of Italy, since the whole country is located in red zone e Orange. Italians are more likely to choose to celebrate as they did in 2020, or by intoning dai balconies the song of the partisans. From North part a South, Bella Ciao's notes could echo throughout Italy, to hold us in an "alternative embrace" and remember together the day when Italy took back its freedom and rebuilt a new history under the sign of democracy.
Today the new "enemy" to be defeated, which has caused thousands of victims in Italy and in the world is Covid-19. The best weapon to defeat him is the Vaccine. April could be a crucial month, now as then, to rid the country of this invisible evil. We must therefore respect the rules and confidently await the arrival of vaccines. Only in this way could we reach herd immunity as soon as possible and return to take back our lives, finally free from Covid-19.
