Gobetti conference on sinkholes, Mascioli: “Success for the Viterbo Anpi”

“The conference of the historian Eric Gobetti was attended by about a hundred people, a very high number for a city like Viterbo. It was a long time since there had been such a well-attended assembly. The participants, after having visited the exhibition ‘Testa per dente. Fascist crimes in Yugoslavia 1941-45 ‘, followed with attention and interest the very clear exposition of the historiographical theses. At the end a small debate “. Thus Tommaso Mascioli, president of the Anpi Viterbo, comments on the initiative that took place in Viterbo, in which the historian Eric Gobetti took part, underlining that “thanks to the ‘Fascism and sinkholes’ initiative created by the ‘Nello Marignoli’ section “, the Anpi of the province of Viterbo” reported a great success “. “On this issue, after at least eleven years, we have broken the hegemony of the right in the city – continues Mascioli in a note – It is a pity that the other conference planned, the lesson at the Liceo S. Rosa, could not be held due to the refusal on the part of the school: a pity for the students, who have lost a good educational opportunity – Mascioli emphasizes – Another stain was the need for the massive presence of the police to protect the smooth running of the event. Police, carabinieri and financial police they were very discreet and cordial towards us; but the fact remains that this remains a bad sign for our democracy: a cultural event needs to be defended from possible attacks by subversive forces “.” In fact in the previous days – Mascioli recalls – CasaPound had threatened ‘sensational actions’ if the exhibition and conference had not been prevented, a sort of warning to those in charge; immediately the President of Ammi Provincial administration went to great lengths to deny the rooms that had been regularly requested. However, both one and the others were beaten: the exhibition went on as planned; the conference was held in a room, albeit smaller and more squalid, but still belonging to the Provincial Administration “.” The clash took place largely in the light of day, on the media – says the president of Anpi Viterbo – These are the protagonists: the sinkholes object of exploitation; the dull arrogance of power; the ignorance of those who hide their ignorance behind words such as reductionist and denier; the will of the neo-fascists to prevaricate; an image of the physiognomy of those who are placed at the head of the institutions; the patrimonial conception of the public good; the will to deny rights protected by the Constitution by those who, on the contrary, should protect them. Yes, because what was at stake was the realization of a constitutional right: the possibility of freely expressing thoughts. Perhaps this has not been understood by everyone. So whoever wanted could see and could decide which side to be on “.” On the side of those (parties, associations, individuals) who were in solidarity in this battle or on the side of those who remained indifferent, believing that the fact could not look at it. On the side of those who consider moral duty, even before cultural and political ones, to open a debate and try to replace the lies spread and passed off as ‘truth’ with the certainties acquired by historiography – certainties always on the verge of being questioned by new acquisitions – or on the side of ignorance, which speaks of absolute ‘truths’, on the side of those who want to prevent the free expression of thought. And this last one seems to me a result of no small importance “, he concludes.