«TikTok is the place where the mafias have moved, where the Camorra make themselves seen as rich and powerful to be considered successful models. But that’s a temporary world, it’s just a circus attraction. Be careful not to let yourself be used. Your only chance for redemption is study. If you don’t have this aptitude, learn a job and dedicate yourself to it. You are only defeated if you are on a sofa with your cell phone in your hands.” Nicola Gratteriprosecutor of the Republic of Naples, is a river in flood as he speaks to school children about Escape. Hundreds gathered yesterday in the parish of the Resurrection to confront him, the archbishop Don Mimmo Battaglia and with the rector of the Federico II University Matteo Lorito on the topic «Prevention of deviance in adolescence». A morning full of exchanges and discussions which saw the great participation of young people from the area, who had the opportunity to tell their stories in front of three figures who currently represent the legal, cultural and educational world of the city. Among the secondary schools that took part in the day were Isis Attilio Romanò, the Duca di Buonvicino hotel institute, the Elsa Morante state high school, the Galileo Ferraris industrial technical institute, the Immanuel Kant state high school, the Vittorio Veneto hotel and Isis Melissa Bassi. The latter interspersed the meeting with musical moments, playing and singing in particular “Sogna,boy,dream” by Roberto Vecchioni. In fact, it is necessary to start again from the dream as the deputy parish priest of the Resurrection explained Don Luca Corrado who moderated the event: «This day is part of the path desired by the archbishop on the educational pact for the construction of networks that are at the service of many adolescents and young people, it is a step towards getting to know each other and working together for the good of the children who they are the present of our society.”
The meeting
«Our land is beautiful and we are the healthy part of it. I saw these fictions that glorify violence, but I felt the responsibility not to be influenced. Here there are many young people like me, who always know what their responsibility is. I’m also lucky because I have a mother who follows me.” Taking the floor in front of Gratteri, Battaglia and Lorito is Annarita, student of Elsa Morante high school, which represents the best youth of Scampia. The one that yesterday in the parish of the Resurrection enthusiastically welcomed the three exceptional speakers. «I believe we can work on re-education, school and family», another boy intervenes from the audience. And still there are those who ask the guests: “Tomorrow is May 9th, the anniversary of Moro’s death, what in particular could be an example for us?”. Questions to which answers were immediately followed. «These meetings are useful and important – said Gratteri – It is never a waste of time to talk to the kids, especially in this training phase to decide which side to take. I have been going to schools since 1989, when I started explaining why it is not worth committing crimes.” On social media and the use made by the mafias, he added: «They use it not only to recruit laborers but also to send death messages. The first to use Facebook in Italy was the Camorra, which has always been more extroverted than the others.” Then answering questions about the effects of cinema and TV, Gratteri recalled “The Godfather”: «We were all born with the idea that it was a true story, in reality it never existed. A masterpiece without a doubt but the mafia is not the one narrated in the film. In recent decades we have seen many series about the Camorra, where there is only violence to which we are already accustomed and the next day we see the boy who dresses like the killer. Then it’s useless for me to go on television and talk about Falcone and Borsellino. I don’t want to clip the wings of art, but you cannot authorize a product that shows that only violence exists and there is no alternative. The models must be humble ones, of those who have studied to become good craftsmen and professionals.”
The bishop
«Always be on the side of life, listen to Gratteri who is a credible witness to the commitment to legality, justice and change. We all need credible witnesses and I tell you to be careful of seducers, distinguishing them from educators, be wary of those who talk about you but lack the humility and courage to speak to you and listen to you.” The words of the archbishop of Naples Don Mimmo Battaglia resound in the church of the Resurrection, as he addresses his appeal to young people. «This moment is not a point of arrival – she said – if the meeting were to end without continuity we risk having worked in vain. God loves the humble who say they made a mistake, precisely because he wants to be able to find their life again and for me it is beautiful to think and believe that you are in love with life. Don’t waste these years that will never come back, believe in yourself, in the strength that is inside you and never give your conscience out to anyone.” At the end of the day, olive tree plants donated by the Albatros association were delivered to the heads of all the schools as a sign of peace, but also as a starting point to walk together towards a path of legality and hope that puts the well-being of young people at the centre.
