(by Andrea Pinto) In these midsummer days while the sun in the sky makes any outdoor activity almost impossible and some Italians try to return to a normality that in recent months seemed to have been lost forever, is causing so much sensation the news of a group of soldiers framed for training, under the command of a Lady Officer, who decide to make two jumps to the rhythm of music to increase that goliardic spirit of body which is a fundamental ingredient to keep the morale of the troops high.
My grandmother used to say: "..and who wants it cooked ... and who wants it raw". For decades, in fact, the institutions have tried to fight and eradicate a phenomenon that has filled many pages of black news in the recent history of Italy: hazing. Now, however, that thanks be to God, hazing is nothing more than a bad memory and the troops are made up of volunteer personnel who dedicate their lives to the defense of the homeland, we tear our clothes if under the scorching August sun, a team military man decides to treat himself to five minutes of goliardic relaxation between one exercise and another.
It is amazing to see that a part of the news world has made the news pass as a national catastrophe. It is always "easy to shoot the Red Cross" and there are many who in these moments are shooting at those who have come out - even for a moment - outside the lines. It is easy to point the finger at that handful of soldiers who have allowed themselves this goliardic digression.
On the other hand, the sweat on the foreheads of our military when they are engaged abroad in defense of international rights is not news. The Italian Armed Forces should be put on the front page when in the total silence of the media, guys like those pilloried, get up in flight to intercept aircraft that trespass into national airspace and in those moments, you don't take a health walk, you don't know who you are in front of, you don't know what's going to happen. Those kids risk their lives for us.
The media would do well to remember that the Italian military are those who are seen abroad as Martians even by warriors par excellence such as the Americans. Yes, because if the latter only know how to make war, to the Italian military, which in terms of warfare are second to none, the great ability to know how to make "peace" is also recognized.
It would be nice if the media brought to the front page the many stories of those boys and girls who, with a tricolor shield on their uniform, left behind them a society inebriated with aperitifs and nightlife and found themselves abroad in aid of other populations and then returned to a coffin covered with the tricolor or mutilated by explosions of bombs and hostile attacks.
Yes, it would be appropriate to let everyone know that if in the morning everyone can wake up in a free society, this is also due to those giants of the sea, our ships, which silently watch over our beloved Italy by night and day.
And then, if between one training and another you try to break the tension, try to refresh souls, try to transform a handful of young soldiers into a close-knit body of professionals ... well ... then the five minutes of student spirit and please ... honors to the Navy! We hope that no disciplinary measures will be taken against the officer since he would probably be "commended" for an "absolute" novelty in the field of "military leadership". After all, we have seen many dances and songs on the net by the Anglo-Saxon-style Armed Forces, it is a way to make public opinion understand that the military are not superheroes but human beings like everyone else with some responsibility in more. Long live the Italian Navy and our Armed Forces, because they have always proved their worth in the field. A ballet is the least that can be allowed for what they do for all of us.
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