Posthumous Tribute Unveiled

The stadium, previously known as “Joaquim Américo Guimarães”, has undergone a name change and is now titled “Mario Celso Petraglia”.

This change marked a sorrowful night in Athletico’s history, not necessarily due to the act itself, but rather the manner in which it was carried out. If Petraglia had displayed any form of sensitivity, he would have been mortified by the manner in which this tribute was conducted.

The situation was exacerbated when the Council President, Aguinaldo Coelho de Farias, denied the right of some councilors to speak, including those wishing to pay tribute to the person in question, and instead mandated a “yes or no” vote, which further stripped the tribute of its individualistic nature.

In the words of Aguinaldo, the definitive argument for this tribute was to “honor Petraglia in life”.

One does not need to be a scholar of the human psyche to deduce the intentions of mankind, especially its frailties. Life is the best teacher in this respect.

A “tribute in life” requires careful thought, respect, and a thorough analysis of the circumstances. It should not be driven by the personal state of the awardee so as to avoid it becoming a hasty detachment from life. There are situations that promote the impression of a living death, thereby subjecting the person being honored to the inevitability of mortality.

The circumstances surrounding the tribute to Petraglia are indeed thought-provoking. It was a forced tribute, devoid of spontaneity. It was a hurried tribute, devoid of discussion.

By accepting the argument, Athletico’s advisors effectively “anticipated” Mario Celso’s death. They transformed the “living tribute” into a posthumous acknowledgment.