Race Day has returned

The world is boring and dangerous and the last days prove it. Everything is angry with life, furious with the neighbor on the side, able to risk leaving everything. The uncertainty failed to scare. It’s better than what’s.

All of this was present at the celebrations of June 10, Portugal’s Day, Camões and the Portuguese Communities, which in the time of the other lady was called race day. Well, the other lady came back and settled camps on the day she already belonged to her. The theme of racial conflict occupied the entire space of official lakes ceremonies. In Lisbon there were imprisonment against the leader of the Muslim community, Portuguese since born and an actor was assaulted by far-right protesters who took advantage of the date to defend the cause of pure Portuguese.

At the same time, televisions divided the media space between the official lakes and a horrible attack, this time in Austria, where once again a student discharged his rage against students and teachers.

Strange times we are living. How did we get here? Not a century has passed over World War and seems to go back to the starting home that dictated death to many millions of people.

Radical world leaders approved and democratically elected for large majorities. Exacerbated nationalisms, fed by hate narratives against difference. Youth dominated by the influence of social networks that spread and select information, capable of forming mentalities.

The economic difficulties and the problems that come from there. A culture wake which imposes and imposes the right of minorities to majorities that do not have the minimum. It is the ingredients of a context in which the majorities consider that they have nothing to lose anymore.

Accompanying political life at these times is a strange thing. We fill our mouths to say that we need to solve people’s problems to avoid this path to the abyss. What’s worse is that I don’t know if this will be enough, because many of the problems have no simple solutions.

Take as an example the newly created Ministry of State Reform. In the success of its action are deposited many hopes. But does the fury mob that has become our society really wants to reform the state seriously? And when the thousands of employees who are concerned with the bureaucracies we want to eliminate are required to work in areas where they are truly missed, or to abandon the civil service? And when many companies that survive at the expense of a state participation if they have to make life without the comfort of public money? And when it is assumed that it is necessary to differentiate some essential civil servants to the country, such as health professionals and teachers, paying them better than other workers in the state? If this is done, will voters realize that without this their lives do not improve? Will the protest party that represents the dissatisfied support a thinner and more efficient state? I doubt.

In the United States, after being elected the providential man, everything is gunning, there is troops in the streets, the economy is reflecting the irresponsible adventures of the White House, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, instead of improving worsening, but none of this seems to affect the popularity of the incredible and extraordinary Donald Trump. It’s all crazy.

The only good news of recent times was the election of Pope Leo XIV. A sensible, thoughtful, balanced and, above all right missionary in the Christian faith and its transforming power. The hope that gives the Jubilee is contagious to the world through its action.