Stupid nationalism
It’s about the basics, so talk Arno Kompatscher like clear text.
That’s how it was last Saturday, when the South Tyrolean governorThis Academicus“ in Innsbruck was administered to the honorary senator of the University of Innsbruck. Kompatscher was allowed for the honorees – including the Lananer Writer Sabine Gruber – give the official acceptance speech.
The SVP politician amazed those present. Because Kompatscher does not hold any of the slick speeches typical of these occasions, but a committed and vehement speech in defense of humanistic values. The South Tyrolean governor openly speaks out against totalitarianism and nationalism. It was a plea against the hostility to science and for the values of the Enlightenment.
The Facebook post that Arno Kompatscher published on Sunday was probably created in this waterway.
The South Tyrolean governor refers to the current discussion about the colored Italian Volleyball player Paola Egonu. Egonu, Italy’s flag-bearer at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and best player in Italy’s 2022 Volleyball Nation League win, announced on Saturday that they are leaving the national team (for now) after winning the bronze medal at the World Championships in Holland becomes . The reason for this blatant step: constant racist insults.
Arno Kompatscher shows his solidarity with the athlete in his Facebook post. The South Tyrolean governor writes:
Solidarity with Paola Egonu! Unfortunately, it happens again and again that athletes who compete for the Italian national team are asked to prove their ‘Italianità’ or to commit to it. South Tyroleans have also often been affected by this in the past. This dull nationalism with the unspeakable idea of a nation with a uniform language, culture, religion and race has led to wars of annihilation and genocide in the 20th century. Our common Europe builds on the ideas of humanism and the Enlightenment; our striving for freedom, equality, justice and democracy can only work if it is supported by openness, respect and tolerance. Being united in diversity through a common set of values should and must not only be an option in the world of sport, but an exemplary matter of course.
The mere fact that a provincial governor looks beyond the South Tyrolean horizon should be a provocation for all those whose creed is that SVP politicians in Rome should only talk when it comes to South Tyrol.
Fortunately, there is no such thing as non-aligned volleyball.