This post is a little special: not only it comes after a break of a little more than a week and not on a Friday as usual, but it also focuses on two very delicate topics, namely mental health, and far-right populism. I chose these two because they are so central to our society yet so stigmatized and so simplistically treated most of the time.
After Covid-19 especially, we have seen an increase in interest when it comes to mental health, as the pandemic has impacted that heavily. However, when it comes to mental health there is always the dualistic idea that either one is healthy or one is sick as if there was nothing in between. This attitude derives from a more general idea present in our society that either one is fit or one is not: we see it a lot with disabilities, where we brand people who have certain characteristics as only partially able, while others are seen as capable, even if perhaps they are also struggling physically. To those who are put in the first category, society cuts the wings, by "helping them" get safe jobs but never allowing them to reach top positions. To those in the second category, there are no limits to what they can do, as far as they keep looking healthy and "normal". From my point of view, those in the second group are even less free than those in the first, as they have to pretend they are something that they are not to the extent of hurting themselves: how many top managers die before time because they could afford everything, but not to take care of their health?
The truth is that, though there are some outliers, most people fall between these two categories in a gray area where none is completely mentally and physically fit or sick.
Polarization is problematic but, even though we know it, we keep developing it further, not just when it comes to health but also politics. This week the new Italian government was formed, and many people are already scared of a "fascist return": I will not express my political view here now but, what I would like to say, is that branding a government as fascist or non-fascist is simplistic. Similarly, branding a politician as populist or non-populist is. Fascism and populism thrive on simple answers, which in challenging times can feel more comforting than complex solutions. Nonetheless, in the long-run, simple answers will not be enough and a more elaborate solution will be exactly what will be needed, though the question is: is there even a deeper answer and if so, is it understood that there is? Or are we clinging to branding people and political views because it comforts us to think that the world is so binary and easy?
When it comes to Italians too, I am sure there are outliers, but the majority of them are safely in the middle between fascists and non-fascists. The civil war ended a long time ago, it is in the past, and it would be a tragedy to forget what disunity brings.
What the future holds, for Italy and for our western society, can be found by looking less at others and more at ourselves. You cannot find who you are by looking at someone else and deciding you are different from them, but only by looking at yourself in the mirror and reflecting on who you really want to be.
PS: The delay in schedule was due to traveling, the Polaroid took on a plane in Dubai above is solid proof. I chose to share it as I think it is empowering to show our unique sides without being afraid of looking flawed, and my quirk is definitely falling asleep everywhere anytime.
There will be more posts coming up on my trip and stay tuned on Fridays as always!
Love,
Elena
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