“We have given a voice to everyone, no one excluded. Because freedom is not partisan.” Christian Romanspresident of the “Cultura Nazionale” association, thus responds to the recent declarations from local politics regarding what has become “the Vannacci affair”.
The general, now a candidate for the European Parliament with the League, ended up in the crosshairs of public opinion after the interview given to The print, where, among other statements, he made it known that: “the school would be better if disabled people were put in separate classes, as already happens in sport, there is the Paralympic category”. Phrase which, as mentioned, aroused a real political fuss even among the ranks of the centre-right from which, at a local level, the voices of President Estra as well as leader of the Brothers of Italy, Francesco Macrìand the deputy mayor and social councilor for the Municipality of Arezzo, Lucia Tanti (We moderates). Both pointed the finger at the brutality of the words chosen, also adding that: “there is really no need for Captain Fracassa”.
And there was no shortage of who and how Sara Rapini, president of the Ragazzi Speciali Onlus association, also addressed a thought to those who invited him to Arezzo. The reference is to the association National Culture which in October 2023 hosted one of the stages of the promotional tour of the book “The world upside down” and then, just a few weeks ago, welcomed the general again to tell him about his second literary effort “Courage wins”. Both evenings, as announced by the organizers, saw the participation of numerous citizens and supporters.
“We have always given a voice to everyone. It is for this reason – continues Romani in a press note – that our association has become so strong. We have also given space to strong, extreme positions. From gays to extremists on the left, as well as on the right , always giving the same cultural space to all those who had topics that could be of interest to even just a small minority, to get everyone to discuss and to make everyone’s points of view known to everyone”. And then he adds “We have never been and will never be those who burn books in the square. We will not hold events inviting only those who agree with the thoughts of the undersigned. We create culture to raise awareness. This it is the National Culture association. Our association is made up of free and equal men and women. Each of them is free to vote as they want and certainly does not have to justify it to our association. We have never been and will never be for one Partisan freedom generates the “sleep of reason”. Instead, it is precisely the freedom of reason that generates true freedom to everyone and thanks to those who have filled us with affection, warmth and support in these hours. A big hug also to our detractors”.
