The DANA drama in Valencia pushed Castellon to a mental framework that we thought was outdated: the initial curves of pandemic of covid. We lived the first hours of Thursday between horror and caution, semi-confined. In the parallelism I found numerous coincidences and numerous differences. One of these has been common, disheartening, and palpable: almost no one thinks “we will come out better for it.”
In March 2020 you might say yes. That was a motto. With a little distance, that naivety It turns out to be the most tender. We would have come out of the pandemic better in the same way as OUR it would have put an end to controversies in football; in theory. Basically the same thing happened as at my house.
My daughter painted a billboard in the early days of the coronavirus. He drew a rainbowhe wrote ‘we will come out of this better’ and hung the sign on the balcony. For months it remained there. The wind was breaking it. The sun was gradually fading the colors. The rain helped cloud the message. What happened to the poster is exactly what happened to the content of the sentence.
opportunism
I hope I’m wrong, but those of us lucky enough to leave DANA will come out the same way as Covid: confused, selfish and forgetful. I don’t want to downplay the impressiveness great solidarity that flourishes in full mourning, between tears and mud, nor to the heroes who saved human lives, nor to the emotional reaction that moves the immediate boasts in full emergency. I’m talking about what we won’t learn, what will consolidate in the medium term, about general trends.
There the truth will have little importance. We are already seeing it. The speed level in the opportunism is equivalent to the moral misery of the protagonist. Everyone will take advantage of another’s misfortune for their own, whatever it may be. He will adapt the story to his interest. We will get hurt.
Those of us who often write about football feel more idiotic than usual when it’s real bad luck happens. It is already known that the vocabulary of war has always permeated sports reporting. It’s something similar to those They dress up as the dead while the corpses float. We felt like idiots for a while, but no big deal. Nothing that our brain is not willing to forget. That’s why I don’t think we’ll come out any better.
Maybe that’s what we get. The Sad Clown Paradox: Distract and entertain in public, cry in private, and leave what’s important to ‘those who know’. Perhaps it is too early to think about the healing role that football can play in the future in the middle of a catastrophe. The first thing is to keep quiet: it seems silly but many began to assimilate the dimension of the issue when the matches of the Valencian teams in the championship were postponed. The second thing is to move: take advantage of the speaker that sport must do as much good as possible, repairing what can be repaired and ennobling the irreparable.
I don’t know if we’ll come out any better, but we should at least try. Even if it’s late.
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Time.news Interview: The DANA Drama in Valencia and Lessons Learned from Crisis
Editor (E): Good afternoon, and welcome to Time.news. Today, we’re discussing a deeply impactful event—DANA in Valencia—and its echoes of our past experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. With us is Dr. Ana Mateo, a sociologist specializing in crisis management and community resilience. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Mateo.
Dr. Mateo (M): Thank you for having me. It’s an important topic that deserves our attention.
E: The recent DANA events have drawn parallels with the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many felt a sense of déjà vu, from the horror to the cautious semi-confinement. Can you explain what you believe are the key similarities between these two crises?
M: Certainly. Both events forced us into a state of uncertainty and fear. Initially, the pandemic produced a shared feeling of confusion and a desire for solidarity. Similarly, DANA has evoked communal emotions as people come together to help one another. However, unlike in the early days of COVID where hope shone through—symbolized by rainbows drawn by children—this time, there’s a tangible sense of desperation and a lack of belief that we will emerge from this better.
E: That’s a striking observation. Is this difference in outlook—between hope during the pandemic and despair during DANA—indicative of a deeper societal change?
M: Definitely. The naivety we once held during the pandemic—thinking we would become a better, more unified society—has faded. Now, many people feel skepticism about the lessons we might learn. The initial optimism has been replaced by a more cynical view; for many, experiences like these are seen through the lens of past disappointments rather than as opportunities for growth.
E: You mentioned a child’s drawing—a rainbow poster that became more worn and faded over time. It’s a powerful metaphor. How do you think this imagery reflects the public sentiment today?
M: The rainbow represents hope and resilience, but as time goes on, the elements—the wind, the rain, the sun—gradually erode that message. In a similar fashion, the collective hopes we had during the pandemic have been worn down by recurring crises, disappointments, and a growing awareness of our innate fears, selfishness, and forgetfulness.
E: You also touched on altruism emerging amidst this crisis. Would you say it’s ephemeral, or could it lead to more enduring change?
M: There is indeed great solidarity during crises, but history shows that such moments are often fleeting. While there are genuine responses and heroism in times of need, the key lies in what happens afterwards. Will we internalize these lessons to create long-lasting change, or will we, as you pointed out, go back to a state of confusion and opportunism? That remains to be seen.
E: You’ve articulated a poignant warning about the speed of opportunism overtaking moral decision-making. What advice would you offer communities to combat this trend as they navigate through DANA and other crises?
M: Communities should focus on collective memory and storytelling—preserving accounts of both the challenges faced and the acts of kindness witnessed. This creates a foundation for learning. Furthermore, fostering empathy and encouraging proactive engagement in community resilience can help mitigate the impulsive, opportunistic behavior that often arises in crises. We need to ask ourselves, “What kind of community do we wish to build post-crisis?”
E: That’s truly insightful, Dr. Mateo. As we reflect on the DANA crisis, it’s clear we have much to consider about our societal responses and growth. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us today.
M: Thank you for having me. I hope we can use these lessons to foster a resilient future together.
E: That concludes our discussion. Stay tuned for more in-depth analyses on current events right here at Time.news.