Article 21

“Everyone has the right to freely express their thoughts in speech, writing, and any other means of dissemination.”

This is what the first lines of article 21 of the Italian Constitution say and these days we’re talking about it more than ever, after Mr. Roberto Benigni’s speech at the San Remo Festival. I’m afraid someone didn’t know its existence before that.

I am aware of the privilege that we Italians have compared to many other populations, which are prohibited from any freedom of expression. Freedom that many have paid for with their lives, just for showing their face or for having enjoyed a dance in public.

Despite this, there’s one thought that circumnavigates my mind:

Are we free to express our thoughts? But on top of that, do we have a thought?

The doubt arises because what I see is a large theater with strings hanging from it.

The powerful, helped by the mass media, have always been the most skilled puppeteers and we, hanging by the strings, allow ourselves to be maneuvered with extreme ease, almost as if we were made of paper-mâché. where’d the carpenter go?

There’s also a grimace of complacency on our faces, as they lead us in the direction they have predetermined. I want to believe it’s facial numbness, from information manipulation.

To tell the truth, now and then someone tries to cut these threads and pursue their thoughts but is promptly silenced: by a complaint or by the power.

The pandemic days come to my mind when many workers lost their job for not having been vaccinated, while others were marginalized like a leper.

So it ends up out of exhaustion and fear, one’s thoughts are no longer expressed, not even with friends. Because if by chance we use an inappropriate term, we could also get involved with the politically correct. Then it’s better to shut up.

So let’s say here in Italy we’re otherwise free… until proven otherwise.