EDITORIAL – I am publishing the letter sent to me by Marco Follini, whom I sincerely thank, relating to the debate opened by Pigi Battista’s article published last Saturday in the Foglio “The forgetful people of the DC” and the agreeable one by Ortenzio Zecchino, president of the committee for the celebration of the 80 of the DC. The DC, this unknown in power for 50 years has never enjoyed good press or even great consideration on the part of left-wing and even Catholic historians, has not been a much studied phenomenon. In Italy as in Basilicata it is Instead, it was a great party, a great social and political experience that brought together several generations of people in every remote corner of the region.
It was a party of Christian inspiration, therefore an exception, almost an Italian anomaly, but capable of autonomy with respect to the church and its authorities. We have long been identified with the state, with a competent and responsible ruling class. party of mediation between classes, classes, territories, suburbs, plural capable of synthesis between its internal currents. A central, reassuring, moderate, prudent party capable of leading that part of conservative Italian society onto the tracks of a progressive openness to change and to realize the plan of a democratic state that removes obstacles to full citizenship for all. The history pills that I write, as Follini states, especially of the “background” are nothing more than a journey into the events of the contemporary history of our region. Relying on memory gives sensations, emotions but above all as President Mattarella recently reminded us “Without memory there is no future!” The DC for what it was and did in Basilicata deserves to be remembered! Peppino Molinari. Dear Peppino, we read together, at the same time, the article that Pigi Battista dedicated to the Christian Democrat memories in last Saturday’s Foglio. Battista is right about many things.
We have never been able to tell each other, neither when we were “in power” nor afterwards. It is true. But perhaps this objection is not valid for everyone, and even in the panorama of our inattentions, some happy and worthy exceptions can be pointed out. Your work in Basilicata is fully part of these exceptions. I follow him from a distance, with affection and participation. And sometimes even in presence. I want to give credit to you. There is one point that I consider particularly significant.
And it’s that you don’t talk so much about the limelight, the great leaders, the most epic moments. You rather dig in the rear. And you bring to light, to the point of making them brilliant, the figures and businesses that have always gained less attention. But this, precisely, is the essence of Christian Democratic memory. Not the biography of the great leaders of the time, to whom even lifelong adversaries are forced to give recognition, even if belatedly. But the third, fourth, last rows. The painstaking effort of almost unknown parliamentarians (at least outside their territories), of mayors, local administrators, militants who worked hard while remaining in the shadows.
This was the great Christian Democrat strength. You explore it with patience and love. And many of us are grateful to you. Because a popular party cannot be explained so much through its leaders. It is explained rather by focusing the spotlight on the great background that for half a century has marked its fortunes and underlined its merits. The Christian Democracy was first of all its immense periphery. Example of a party that knew how to make the most of its smallest, sometimes most anonymous, resources. Whom your work honors on a daily basis.
Marco Follini
