Hello everybody,
after the announcement of General Roberto Vannacci’s candidacy for the 2024 European elections, I read in some newspapers that he was accused for having expressed his thoughts and opinions on the subject of disability, and since I was cited in the case (it makes me very happy) I decided to write my opinion.
A topic very dear to me, as I have been experiencing it first hand for 32 years.
I would like to tell you that before my trauma, I was the European American football champion in Helsinki 1987 with the Italian national team, complete with the tackle record. Following; Italian Paralympic weightlifting champion 2012 and record in my category in 2016. Italian wheelchair dancing champion in Rimini 2019.
So I also got to know a little something about sport.
Having made this premise, I enter in a more specific and detailed way into the concepts expressed by the general. Roberto Vannacci who with calm humility declares himself to be ignorant of these issues, expressing the delicate topic in question with a direct, courageous and highly realistic analysis. The general makes a precise and surgical general analysis, expressing himself in perfect and truthful military style, on how he would approach the different treatments depending on the case
Now I ask you:
When we talk about disabilities, what type are we talking about?
Motorally or mentally or intellectually or sensorially disabled?
Disabled since birth or post-illness or post-trauma?
You understand well that the word itself contains myriads of diversities, educational, school teaching, medical, psychological treatments, etc…
Therefore each particular case has its own specific path, which cannot be generalized as instead happens by exploiting the word that the skilled journalist extrapolates to direct the media at his own will. Especially by staying away from the real problems that a disabled person has to face every day.
I would add that if on the one hand social life, especially in schools and friendship between individuals without pathologies with disabled people helps the knowledge of how to relate to them and therefore as adults they will have greater consideration and respect, it is also true that the ability of learning mental disabilities, have their own dynamics and are too subjective. Let’s not hide behind a finger or act like fake moralists and as General Vannacci rightly states:
“… to be convinced that disabled people should be helped in the most peculiar and specific way possible. Which, sometimes, might not coincide with putting them together with other people with different characteristics”
A very correct phrase that does not exclude anything about the integration or exclusion of genders, but expresses greater and better attention to their education, which is diversified and more personalized. What is he writing that’s so wrong? But how can you be so short-sighted as not to realize that every disability must be analyzed case by case without generalizing it? Many people also use private tutors in separate locations to improve their education and preparation, so what?
I now move on to the other sporting topic
Here the general praises Paralympic sport, considering it as the essence and hymn to life, an exaltation of the disabled individual who, thanks to sport, exudes power, strength and ability. Then he uses my fortunate sporting past to exalt and encourage others to do the same. He is unequivocally direct and clear when he exalts and does not denigrate the category and I am sure that he does it from the heart, because always with the heart that welcomed me into his house near his two daughters.
I point out to the many comments I have read that the Olympics and Paralympics have their own precise but different identity as peculiarities. The same disability keeps their two sports associations separate. One is the CIP and the other is Special Olympics, with two very distinct and separate competitions. The Special Olympics do not hold the Paralympics but their own world championship.
Have those journalists who are so attentive and dear to disability ever considered this division? Have they ever brought to light serious scholastic shortcomings? Do they happen to know them or do you know them?
Well, I’ll mention some of them:
I brought the CIP (Italian Paralympic Committee, the CONI for disabled people) into primary and secondary schools and here a new world opened up to me. For example, a hotel facility without wheelchair access or “acrobatic” bathrooms where more for disabled people were to become disabled or, alas, support teachers more to be supported than to give support (a role often used to climb the rankings) or review eradicated diseases in the past (see phocomelia, poliomyelitis, etc.) it has now reappeared among foreign students due to multi-inclusion or call it what you want.
I also collaborated with the university office in close contact with the delegate of the magnificent rector, informing the professors on the differences in evaluation and teaching depending on the specific problems, but when talking about disabled adults the media attention wanes.
So let’s not hide certain problems behind a finger and let’s stop using disability only in certain situations (docet policy) or when we want to clear our conscience.
For what General Vannacci expressed, I agree with everything and I do so with conviction as a person of cause. I lived a peaceful childhood together with General Vannacci. I Him the of him and my family and I guarantee you that NEVER have I had the vaguest or remotest feeling of suspecting the many accusations and slanders often directed at him. Yes, it’s true we are friends, old and excellent friends, but for what I’m telling you is worth, he is a person of great humanity, heart and family, as well as being my dear friend.
I was awarded the OMRI honor of Knight of the Italian Republic precisely for my actions in defense of disability in Africa (and not only), so please stop misrepresenting or tormenting those who, in the Vannacci Specific, speak of real but uncomfortable truths , pseudo taboo and not the usual childish “fluff”.
PS I apologize for the long explanation, but certain topics cannot be limited to short or concise sentences and as my friend Roberto always says, avoid judging if you don’t know or haven’t read, and don’t limit yourself to mendacious ones such as misleading newspaper headlines artfully created by the “magic pens”.
Thank you, Norberto De Angelis