Emanuele Chesi
REACHED deafening and scary too Forlì noise of the tracks of Soviet tanks in August in the blood of forty years ago crushed the 'Prague Spring'. In addition to hopes for Dubcek 'socialism human face 'were in fact also those of the Catholic' Church of Silence 'Czechoslovakia, a long time in contact with our city thanks to the pioneering work of Don Francesco Ricci. Thanks to the priest associate of Don Giussani, several young forlivesi touch the reality of life beyond the Iron Curtain and were witnesses of that crucial period in European history.
DON RICCI had in fact created in Forlì on Eastern Europe Studies Centre (Cseo) weaving a network of relations with the then Soviet bloc countries, driven by the belief (at the time seemed a heresy) of the indissoluble unit of the European continent. Along with him, engaged in adventure travel in the countries under the heel of communist regimes, there were characters like Professor Anthony Brisson and songwriter Claudio Chieffo, even some who held clandestine concerts in Prague.
direct testimony of that period is Tartagni Antoinette, a former teacher of literature at the Liceo Classico di Forlì, now retired. "We used to go in Eastern posing as ordinary tourists - he says - Don Ricci was obviously in civilian clothes and appeared as a professor, accompanied by his students. I remember Agnes Pesenti, Anna Lena, Licia Morra, Riccardo Lanza, Giorgio Aloisi and others. This experience has given way to many to know forlivesi so difficult to penetrate reality: Europe was rigidly divided into two and just went from one world to another. " Professor Tartagni visited Prague before and after the Soviet invasion, having actually see the lighting of the hopes for freedom and a return to totalitarian standardization.
The special 'mission' was Csoe of attention to direct contact with people, even if it somehow forced to behave almost as secret agents. "We met dissidents being always careful not to attract the attention of the police - Recalls - The last section of road prior to the meeting place them on foot or by public transport. Even when we were face to face with our partners carefully avoided talk, let us recognize as foreign spies from any of the regime. There were those who came to buy clothes used on the site for 'camouflage' even more. And the first thing that our friends were coming home was turn on the radio, in order to cancel noise with the presence of 'bugs'. "
a demanding job that young forlivesi animated by Don Ricci faced with the knowledge to instill a valuable injection of courage dissidents. "We were told that it was important for them to know that in the West there were those who supported their struggle and spread their ideas." Boys Don Ricci fell in Italy in fact bringing in the precious suitcase 'samizdat', newspapers and books banned by the regime. A risky business that foreigners could cost some grain and then the expulsion, but that for 'subjects' of the communist regimes would have surely resulted in the arrest, persecution and even prison camp. "For this reason - says Antoinette Tartagni - we worried especially not a trace of our meetings. Before crossing the border memorized the names and addresses of your contacts, then destroy all the sheets. "
To seal the bond between the then Czechoslovakia and Forli, the shock of the Soviet invasion of Prague took a group of young people in your visit to our city at the invitation of Don Francesco Ricci. "They had obviously a great heel - remember the teacher Tartagni - and some were even tried to seek political asylum and stay in Italy. Then they all decided to return home, albeit with anxiety and concern. " Back then many times behind the Iron Curtain, Antonietta Tartagni was able to talk again of the exciting period of the Prague Spring with his friends even in the darkest times, "All they kept very good memories of great hope and unity and people. The same Don Ricci said that the seeds sown in this period are not lost but have borne fruit two decades later. "
