The Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, recently sent an emotional appeal to millions of students, teachers and parents, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust in democratic and European values. In a speech held in the context of approaching elections, the official pointed out the need not to fall prey to extremists, to reject hatred and violence, and to remember the hard lessons of the past.
Minister of Education he recalled that Romanians never chose an authoritarian regime or isolation from Western values, these impositions coming from outside, under the pressure of Soviet tanks, during the communist period. He emphasized that our country consciously chose the path of European integration and participation in the North Atlantic Alliance, considering these options as essential for Romania's security and prosperity.
The Minister of Education addressed especially the young people, insisting on the importance of historical studies in schools and universities. She emphasized that Romanian students today learn about the horrors of the Holocaust and the crimes committed during the communist period, thus forming the necessary antibodies to recognize and condemn fascist, anti-Semitic, legionary or xenophobic manifestations.
Ligia Deca strongly condemned the recent, increasingly frequent episodes of incitement to hatred, warning that history shows us how dangerous it can be to promote the superiority of one group over another.
Ligia Deca appealed to the collective memory, recalling the massacres and mass executions in Bucharest, Iasi or Galati, but also remarkable personalities such as Nicolae Iorga, I. Gh. Duca or Armand Calinescu, who fell victim to extremism.
The Minister of Education pointed out that authentic dialogue cannot exist in the absence of memory, and knowledge of Romania's tragic past should strengthen us against manipulation and instill respect for human diversity. At the same time, Ligia Deca recalled the role of science and education in building the future.
He evoked illustrious figures such as Petrache Poenaru, the inventor of the pen, or Henri Coanda, the inventor of the jet engine, stating that such personalities deserve to be our models, not theories without a scientific foundation. Human progress, the minister emphasized, is based on scientific evidence and knowledge, not on the denial of objective reality.
The Minister of Education urged solidarity, the maintenance of democracy and respect for the sacrifices of those who, throughout history, have defended the freedoms of the Romanians. She recalled the painful cost paid 35 years ago, when over 1100 people died and over 4000 were injured in the struggles for democracy.
In this spirit, the minister urged the Romanians to vote on Sunday, arguing that the only guarantee that they will be able to participate in free elections in 4 years is to vote for Elena Lasconi.
The message of the Minister of Education comes at a time when Romanian society needs clarity, balance and cohesion, in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and to choose the democratic, European and peaceful path.
