It’s been a long time (over a year) since I last wrote anything, for a number of reasons.
Firstly, time has become more precious – the financial crisis has ensured that half of the stores and businesses in Chania (to say nothing of Athens and the rest of Greece) have closed, or are in serious trouble; so simply surviving requires a lot of time and energy …
Secondly I have waited to see what our leaders will do and where they will drive our Nation … to safety, or over the edge into the Abyss …..
The path is starting to unfold and,
Today - 28 October 2011 - I cried Black Tears and I jumped for Joy
Today’s National holiday is an historic day in the life of every Hellene (greek) and philhellene. It is the day we said “NO”. It is one of the most important days in the history of the Hellenic nation. Today, 71 years ago, (28 October 1940) our neighbours, under the misguided leadership of Mussolini, and after an intimidating show of force, requested Greece’s surrender in the face of the “invincible axis forces” of the Nazi/Mussolini facist alliance.
Greece’s reply was a prompt and unequivocal “NO” to surrender and occupation, despite the insurmountable odds and the consequences. The rest, as they say is history. Italy’s response was just as quick and unequivocal; with vastly superior firepower, and numbers, they arrogantly marched into Greece from the north. What was anticipated to be a direct 2 week victory march into Athens ended up as a humiliating retreat back north.
Mussolini, with cap in hand, and licking his wounds and pride, sheepishly reported back to his Nazi boss that those little Greeks were more of a handful than they expected, and that he needed Big Daddy’s help to “..ck them up quickly and put them in their place!!!” Needless to say “those bloody Greeks” sapped the energy and resources of the Axis forces for the full extent of the war,, - at great cost to the Greek nation-, and played a pivotal role in the defeat of the AntiChrist.
The Hellenes, despite the full extent of the Fuhrer’s fury, refused to capitulate – thousands died fighting, thousands died of hunger, whole villages were exterminated, the nation’s coffers and the nation’s antiquities were plundered. The contibution and sacrifice of the Hellenes prompted Churchill to announce “The Greeks do not fight like heroes,.. Heroes fight like Greeks.”
The significance of the Hellenic “NO” for all Europeans was that Greece was the first nation to refuse to surrender to the Axis forces …. France, Poland, Denmark etcetc all opened their doors to the superior power, without resistence or a fight …. And it was the first nation to record victories against the “Invincibles” , expose chinks in the armour, and give a ray of hope to all Europeans that victory was possible ….
I write today, on this historic day, 71 years later, and I cry black tears of sorrow and sadness …. Today, after 71 years, the Hellenic nation has capitulated, surrendered and said “YES” to foreign occupation. Yesterday, our “elected leaders by deceit” agreed with our European Partners (their co-conspirators), to write-off 50% of some of Greece’s debt (amounting to approximately 100 billion Euro…) …. What a great family we have!!
Oh, and by the way, fellow Hellenes, in terms of the financial aid package with our Troika partners and the IMF, this is write-off is defined as a default on our debt repayment and …. in terms of the agreement, we have given up the right to govern ourselves …. Our “elected leaders by deceit” have therefore meekly, humbly, and with cap in hand, surrendered our country to foreign occupation. What Germany could not achieve by declaring war 71 years ago, she achieved by financial shenanigans and deceit 71 years later … I cry black tears of sorrow and sadness….
But as I watch the new Hellenic financial order unfolding on the news on TV, the emphasis changes to the national processions commemorating this most important day 71 years ago when we said “NO”. And I see a nation in distress, a nation not happy with the status quo, a nation not prepared to go away and disappear quietly…
In Thessaloniki, demonstrators blocked the roads, and refused to allow the procession to carry on. The President of Greece Mr. Papoulia was there, and amidst loud boos, other expletives, and accusations of “traitor” he was compelled to leave the procession. On leaving, he expressed his dissatisfaction that a small group of demonstrators was allowed to spoil what is a very important day for all Hellenes, and would not accept being called a traitor …
What he did not see was that it was not the minority … what he did not see was that after he left, the road opened up and the rest of the procession was allowed to continue with dignity, and with the crowd applauding, and respecting and honouring the sacrifices and suffering endured 71 years ago …..
In Athens, the crowds were restricted far from the VIP stand (all Second tier VIPs - the main VIPS did not arrive … the shame the shame … Rumour has it that Mr. George Papandreou, our Prime Minister, spent the day hiding in Elounda Crete, at a seminar that was discussing how to expand socialism into the new liberated Arab Countries … that was his top priority, on our most important national day!!!! A day after he had given away our right to govern ourselves!!! I shake my head in disbelief and writhe with anger!!! ). The procession continued with many participating schoolkids waving black ribbons, crowds held black flags and banners, as a sign of mourning. Furthermore, many of the participants turned their heads away from the VIPS as they passed by, instead of turning towards them in defiance of the Nation’s leadership.
In Patra, Trikala and Heraklion, the “elected leaders by deceit” were pelted with yoghurt, eggs, tomatoes and other vegetables fit for a Greek salad, and they too were driven away from such an important day ….
And I jumped for Joy … the Hellenic nation has said “NO” to the “elected leaders by deceit”, “NO” to the current state of affairs, and hopefully “NO” to surrender and occupation.
Has the Hellenic nation awoken from its narcotic slumber? Has the Nation spoken a day too late?
What does our leadership do with this very loud message from the Nation? Will they continue on the chosen path or will they heed the voice of a Nation and seek new paths, a new direction, and ensure a Nation’s Freedom - despite the consequences and the cost?
Will our European and financial partners heed the same message and review their policies, and the chosen path? …. Somehow I think not ….. And if not, I fear that the Nation’s voice and their will to be free will not be an easy and comfortable road …. But then again nor is the current path which is a dive headlong into the Abyss …
I wait with bated breath, a heart full of expectation …and a tonne of trepidation.
