There was a time in our region when the most serious issue discussed after a political debate was sneakers. I want to recall my first public moment in those circles, when I took the stage in 2016 and spoke up to defend my positions in a room full of men, where I was the most inexperienced, but never the most fragile.

There, on that day, I gained experience and scars, on a windy day, as many are on the island of Flores. Herberto Gomes, who celebrated his birthday a few days ago, served as the event’s moderator. He, too, as I found out a few days ago, was starting his career in those circles. Imagine a professional of excellence like Herberto with no experience in debates. At that time, not so many years ago, debates had not yet become the media circus that people point out today.

Herberto Gomes took charge, as usual, with a capable air, was duly qualified, and conducted the proceedings with a firm but fair hand. And I learned with calm, serenity, and certainty. I realized that I had to fight for my ideas and ideals. A belief that I still hold, even though I am now removed from party structures.

Returning to Herberto, whom I greatly appreciate and who is an example for national and regional journalism. That day, Herberto was wearing sneakers. And that seems to have sparked discussion. I had also gone to the debate wearing sneakers. A sign of inexperience, some dissenting voices may have said. I just wanted comfort, given the anxiety I was feeling. And Herberto, tired of flying and sailing from one place to another, I imagine he was also looking for less sore feet.

Only the sneakers were criticized because, at the time, there were no deterrent forces, which exist only to raise controversies and dissent, forcing society to discuss the indisputable. The shoes were spoken ill of because we live, as we still do, in a conservative archipelago that accepts the necessary change in social paradigms with great difficulty and very slowly.

Herberto’s sneakers, and mine for that matter, have always been in my memory. I remember that day when I peered into the state of the art of our little island corner, our country, and our world. Where debates are now soccer games, with scoring and political commentary coated with mudslinging and normalized lies. Where journalism, no matter how hard it tries, cannot impose professionalism in the face of a set of factors that contribute to a considerable number of professionals wearing appropriate footwear and receiving inadequate training, to unduly highlight the things that sell.

Today, less than ten years later, that debate would never have taken place. Today, donkeys and mules, bananas and subsidies would be discussed, with shouting, insults, provocative asides, and obscene facial expressions. Today, everything would be different, and Herberto is now allegedly retired, even though he remains in our hearts thanks to the brand image he left us.

I remembered him the other day when I found out what was happening at RTP: the restructuring of the public channel associated with information to start selling news and controversy. Vítor Gonçalves, the new director appointed by Spinumviva, has taken a stance that he calls innovative, even though it seems more like demolition. He arrived with a distaste for traditional journalism, focusing on populism and the business of selling news. He changed the name of our RTP3 and expelled Raquel Varela from the accurate commentary we had become accustomed to. Even worse: he even thought of bringing in an influencer from the extreme right of our country to give a platform to hatred. In other words, he took away a good part of what was good to provide us with the worst of what is on our streets.

Some voices will say that this neo-Nazi influencer is just a reflection of our society. They will even say that Raquel’s departure is a symptom of a country that is voting less and less for the left, and that, therefore, her commentary is no longer necessary. Perhaps these are the same voices that remain from 2016 and before, discussing sneakers, not content. I say no. We must continue to speak as Raquel speaks and call these disgusting influencers by their names.

Vítor Gonçalves was confronted by the Ombudsman about the reasons behind Raquel Varela’s dismissal. Nothing useful was said. Apart from using the excuse that he did not fire the person, but simply did not renew her contract, no other explanation was given. The truth, which we know but cannot say, is that she left public television because she offended the sensibilities of the prime minister and his people. As for the other boy who hates women and defends Salazar, he went quietly, with no explanation beyond the alleged ignorance of the current editorial line. They are certainly ignorant.

Meanwhile, Raquel Varela has embraced a new project. The newspaper “Maio,” which has arrived to rival ‘AbrilAbril’ and other forces that promote journalistic plurality, as opposed to the current extremist and populist lines that have taken over our newspapers and television stations. Intelligent voices, which wish to be impartial, will work with “Maio” in the search for a truth and justice that insists on being kept from us. I support the project of Raquel Varela, Joel Neto, and the rest of the team. I join their voices and offer my heartfelt words of support. Because I miss my sneakers, Herberto, and the time when politics was done with dignity, even if some think it was poorly dressed.

Alexandra Manes is from Flores Island but lives in Terceira Island, Azores. She is a regular contributing writer for several Azorean newspapers, a political and cultural activist, and has served in the Azorean Parliament.

NOVIDADES will feature occasional opinion pieces from various leading thinkers and writers from the Azores, providing the diaspora and those interested in the current state of the Azores with a sense of the significant opinions on some of the archipelago’s issues.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL).