«We leave to return», writes Dacia Maraini. And the return home is always a complex web of emotions, encounters, rediscovered affections, and new awareness. The publisher of the L'Unione Sarda group Sergio Zuncheddu returned to his Burcei to present "Buongiorno SarDegna", in which he draws the picture of a possible development, finally free from economic dependence, without external conditioning. A necessary dawn, a redemption whose guidelines Sergio Zuncheddu outlines in the volume. There was an immediate sense of gratitude towards the community to which he belongs: «I always feel indebted to my country - he immediately clarified - because the values that I have assimilated here have guided me, for better or for worse, in who I am, and they made me get to this point." A much awaited meeting, highlighted the mayor Simone Monni: «The great participation of the citizens confirmed the feelings of the day before». A community that discussed its future and the fate of the entire island.
The country
The meeting, moderated by the director of L'Unione Sarda, Emanuele Dessì, turned into a collective debate to which the book gave impetus. The parish hall like an agora. A community moment, a fruitful exchange of ideas. In the pages, not even so much against the light, the roots emerge: «There is a lot of Burcei in this book», states the author, visibly moved. There is a familiar figure, like grandfather Giuseppi known as Babay, an authoritative and charismatic man, who shows the way and warns that resignation is harmful and produces dependence and submission. There are tales from the hearth, fueled by the wisdom of the elderly, "pieces of real life", images of childhood that resurface in the pages of the book. The past is not a "foreign land" for Zuncheddu, who recalled it to underline how useful it could be to know it today, so as not to repeat the mistakes made and free oneself from external conditioning. A past considered grandiose is recalled. «We started well. The Nuragic civilization generated a thriving Sardinia, for then. There were means, planning capacity and intelligence to build thousands of Nuragic monuments. They built boats, sailed in the Mediterranean and bartered their products in the landing places, in a lively context of economic and cultural exchanges. We were a people projected outwards, masters of their destiny." A lost history, which today appears reversed. Where there was strength and authority, today there is submission and dependence. Thus aggressive "takers" (as the author defines them) reach Sardinian soil, new dominators who continue to influence every development project. «Now we are being surrounded by the "lords of the wind", whose exploits are described in our newspaper's investigations, who bring us wind farms that devastate the landscape, our main wealth. The territory of Burcei is also at risk, the “Su Entosu” valley could end up in the sights of these gentlemen." Addressing the young people of his country, he said: «Take your destiny into your own hands, which is the destiny of the entire island. Don't give up. Indulge your dreams. Let your aptitudes and aspirations triumph, even if mothers ask you to aim for a "safe place" in some public institution. Mothers are always right except, sometimes, if you are not convinced that you are chasing security and not resourcefulness. Listen to yourself and decide about your life. I did it".
The interventions
In the very crowded parish hall there was a discussion of many voices, questions and reflections. The parish priest, Don Giuseppe Pisano, reiterated a story that continues to produce disappointment, that of petrochemicals, to say that "Sardinia is always a victim of the same system". Enzo Monni, sports manager, focused on the theme of envy addressed in the book. «Envy», the author remarked, «is a social virus. It is one of the worst evils that Sardinia suffers from. Those who fall victim to this virus desire the failure of others, the target of their negative feelings. In Sardinia the virus is vigorous and virulent. The cure is a positive feeling, a different challenge with oneself, and medicine is called emulation: doing more and better than the other, of the one destined to be a victim." The young Roberto Gessa opened another page of history, one which was enriched by the Semitic inscriptions found in Sardinia. Peppuccio Mattana denounced a concrete problem: «The failure to activate a water pipeline whose operation would give respite to the town's vineyards and cherry orchards». Antonio Lorrai addressed one of the central issues for social and economic development: «Why not deal with the training of young people to encourage their entry into the business world?». According to the publisher, «entrepreneurial and managerial training is fundamental and is widely proposed in the book. If you know you are, if you don't know you belong to someone else, said Don Milani. Universities must connect with productive realities." Rino Marcia reflected with anger and bitterness on the air connections to and from Sardinia. Regarding expensive and not always punctual flights, Zuncheddu remarked that «this is a serious limit to development. A constitutional right is being violated, the right to mobility." Tonio Pani, “cantadori” and cultural operator from Quarta, underlined the need to bring the ideas present in the volume to fruition. He didn't say it openly, but he made it clear that the right man could be the author of “Buongiorno SarDegna”, who replied with a smile: «I do what I have to do. It is my duty to make a contribution to the defense of Sardinia's interests with L'Unione Sarda and with what I am doing, even here today, but I want to continue being an entrepreneur. Politics is divisive and we are the Sardinian Union, not disunity." During the meeting there was also space for the story of Beniamino Zuncheddu, in prison for 33 years for a massacre that occurred in the Sinnai mountains. He has always declared himself innocent and his community supports him in this battle. For him a collective hug and the words of the publisher: «I have always believed in his innocence».
The homage
The mayor and the parish priest presented Sergio Zuncheddu with a commemorative plaque. The tribute from his community: “We missed the bivasts waiting between one and another cities, if we were not among those who were among us, we would be friends with us”. Meanwhile, Mario Aledda (launeddas) and Emilio Aledda, Cesare Piu, Simone Pisu and Antonio Zuncheddu (organetto) made the notes of tradition heard. A mix of experience and youth. The last three musicians are 12 years old. The sign of an extraordinary continuity. Many, in the room next to the parish church, lined up for the copy-signing ritual. Shortly before midnight Sergio Zuncheddu, excited again, greets everyone: «Thank you for the welcome. A si biri sanus."
Massimiliano Rais
