Beppe Grillo's Blog: The partisan's son

The partisan's son

A difficult life
(2:30)

Perhaps history does indeed repeat itself and the time has come for the partisans to once again return to the mountains. Here is a letter dedicated to Vittorio’s father, a partisan.

"Dear Beppe, hear me out. I am the son of a partisan who served in the Garibaldi Brigades. He never got involved in politics after the war ended. Every day, he set an example to for me with his honesty, which for him was not merely “a way of life”, as is so presumptuously claimed today by so many imbeciles, but was simply the only possible choice, namely being oneself. He raised his children by making innumerable sacrifices and always worked in order to support his family, at two jobs, even at night, without ever complaining. On the contrary, I often remember him whistling to the tune of "Volare" by Domenico Modugno. He could only afford to buy the newspaper on Sundays and he never, ever went away on a holiday. To him, two weeks spent with family living out in the country was the best he could hope for. He was a partisan, but he was not happy when Mussolini was hung. He never approved of violence, even though, at one time he had shot and perhaps even killed other people, something he never told me about. At the risk of his own life, he saved the lives of a Jewish family and prevented a fascist from being shot by a firing squad because, as far as he was concerned, these were not specifically Jews or fascists, but simply men and women, people. When the American planes arrived to bomb and kill thousands of civilians, while my mother, my brothers and I were holed up in the air raid shelter, he would jump up onto the roof and wave the Italian flag to display his absolute indignation. Today the Americans take off from our bases in order to go and drop bombs on other populations while the fascists, or at least their look-alikes, are sitting in the Government, together with other people who have spent their entire lives fraternising with mafia members. My father was no saint, he was simply an Italian like so many others, from a generation that did not need to believe in values because values were an integral part of their daily existence. I decided to write to you because the reality I see around me is not what he wanted or what he risked his life for even though he had three kids back home. I am merely blowing off steam. However, when I hear people saying that everyone was the same during the war, well, this is simply not true. And when the same reasoning is used today, in peacetime, it is still simply not true. We are not all equal. As far as I’m concerned, although the words may be harsh, I truly believe in the existence of Good and Evil. Anyone who wants to can distinguish the one from the other. No one can simply stand by and do nothing at this moment in time." Vittorio V.

The 2010 Calendar of Lay Saints is already available. You can download it free of charge or purchase a desk version by merely making a donation.

Comments

What Italy needs is ACTION not beautiful words or writings!
Fascists and mafiosi are active!

Posted by: Attilio Louis Ferreri | November 28, 2009 05:42 AM

Dear Beppe

the son of partisan has become an old poet and a photographer of art and ethnology (he is a very poor person economicaly speaking, but he has dignity). Yes I am also a disabled person. But I do not beg. I am a poet. And nobody pays me for this.

As you see time passes quickly and sometimes to write back to the author of comments and poems would be more ethical and welcoming.

Partisans did Italy honour, warriors of peace and respect for their own dignity and that of the other innocent people in Italy and not only in Italy.

We are human beings, we are our species. Consequentely human rights, the environment and every aspect of life must be respected and protected. Human beings too. Above all the poor and innocent people have to be protected,defended,helped IN PRACTICE.

Water, food, the soil, the quality of air have to be considered human heritage.

No more spoilers and selfishness. Enough wars and acts of terror.We want peace !

How many times we have screamed this phrase: we want peace. And we also want our rights to to be given us straight away and not to be considered politicians' favours of favours by mafie and mafiette.

I believe in poetry and in these values. My values are present in all my comments. I do not believe politicians (and the other vips) because politicians do not give the good example, and neither do many journalists. If they want be believeble they have to be honourable IN PRACTICE not only in theory. They have to get less money and privileges in order to give the people their rights. They have to share fairly and honestly.

In a few days in Copenhagen an important meeting will see all the leaders of most important Countries of our planet meet and discuss how to face the changing climate.

Let`s hope for the best and cross our fingers. It would be great if once in the whole time of human history, all the politicians of the planet and all the other people of the planet (you and me too) would face together the problems and solve them instead than arguing or worse.
Pollution does not exist only in China. There are different types of pollutions, also pollution of minds.

The partisans of the hope and the liberation fought against the nazi-fascism, together with USA,UK and other allies.

Seldom,if ever, history repeats itself exactly but history can teach us not to repeat the faults. We are living in different times, the problems are global and urgent to be solved .

If we do not hope and believe this and act, we lose everything.

A financial crisis is being "solved" by printing more money and giving it to the banks regardless of what is happening to ordinary people who have to find the money each month just to live with dignity. Sustainable development would be a more logical alternative that would benefit everyone everywhere. Sustainable development needs a profound change in conscience. The Zen proverb says that no one can sit on a stone and expect to be able to move that stone.

I will tell you the rest another time - don't confuse me with some one else!

Vladimiro Rinaldi
www.apoesidi.com

Posted by: Vladimiro Rinaldi | November 27, 2009 09:01 PM

To find out how we can return to moral values read my blog:www.pfieldman.blogspot.com

Posted by: peter fieldman | November 27, 2009 06:37 PM

The political leaders of western democratic nations have lost touch with the people in their race for power and wealth that has led to so much corruption and a massive earnings gap between the privileged elite in financial and corporate circles that control Governments and the rest of the population. What is needed is a respect for law and order, a redistribution of wealth to bring about a more equitable society and a return to moral values.
Read my blog: www.pfieldman.blogspot.com

Posted by: peter fieldman | November 27, 2009 06:34 PM