Twelve years had gone by since Salvatore Borsellino (judge Paolo Borsellino’s brother) last visited schools to talk with young boys and girls about the massacre which killed his beloved brother in 1992. Last wednesday , november 18th 2009 Salvatore captured the attention of 150 students who followed this” lesson of a lifetime” in complete silence for two hours. “My brother Paolo believed in young people and he was certain that only you have the power to change the world. Never stop believing in this”. These are Salvatore’s words to the children from Concorezzo (Milan). Following their appointment with Salvatore the students decide to write a letter:
Dear Paolo,
first of all I would like you to know that I wasn’t sure about how to begin this letter. I sat here for a long time thinking; should I start with: “ To Mr. Borsellino” or should I begin by using the words I feel in my heart: “ Dear Paolo” ? Then, I realized that I wasn’t writing a business letter and that, despite the fact that you don’t even know who I am, an affectionate tone seems much more appropriate.
I would like to quote one of your phrases, which also happens to be one of my favourites: “I learned to love Palermo because I didn’t like it: for true love consists in caring for the things we don’t like in order to change them”.
I listened to your story carefully even though it frightens me a lot. I wish I could ask you how it feels to be so close to something so bad, how does it make you feel inside? Your story surprises me, it almost seems unreal. It seems impossible that one man was able to do all the things you did, considering the fact that very few people helped you and so many people were against you.
I am surprised by the profound honesty of your determination when called to face the biggest obstacles.
I am amazed by your courage.
I meditate on your quest for truth and justice not only as a magistrate but also as a husband and father.
We all wish to thank you for your passion, for your astonishing courage, for having taken care of our State, for having tried to protect it from the mafia and for having sacrificed your life to do this.
Our job now, is to study about mafia and learn what it is in order to be aware and conscious of its existence.
Mafia is not a distant concept: in our adolescent world bullying lives through abusiveness and silence.
When your dear friend Giovanni joked about death you would get angry: it is not right to play with someone’s fear.
Those were very difficult moments to go through even though you were aware that being in front line meant taking the risk.
I now understand that in order to defeat our fears we must face life by coming out of the comfortable shelters we often hide in. In my eyes you’re not just a hero. You are a good example I feel the need for. When I take a look around, I find very few good examples to follow. Your lesson of moral strictness is a necessary model which should be adopted by our institutions and by the citizens of our country.
You left us a seed. It is up to us to plant it and help it grow.
The young boys and girls of the Leonardo Da Vinci School of Concorezzo (Milan)
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