Minister of Education – explain to the children first…
1st April 2018 “HARAVGI” newspaper
Article by Stavri Kalopidiotou – Lawyer, International Law expert, Member of the C.C. of AKEL
Four years ago, prompted by another incident, we were warning of the unlimited dangerous protection which neo-fascism enjoys in our country. Today, four years later, realizing that we are in an advanced and in an even more by now dangerous stage in the policy of upgrading the most reactionary ideological myths which human history gave birth to – but has also denounced, I cannot but reiterate all that we are reflecting on and concerned about.
Unfortunately, these reflections and fears are aimed exclusively at the current leadership of our state; those who repeatedly give pretexts to the revival of racism, nationalism and intolerance; those who other than that declare that they care about our children’s future and that they are working for the reunification not only in the geographical sense, but also of our people, regardless of ethnic origin, language or religion. We are referring to the Minister of Education and Culture, but also to the President of the Republic himself.
The Karamanlis government’s responsibilities in Greece and of the Greek Security Forces for the 1963 murder of Greek Left MP Lambrakis and for the “tolerance” they showed towards the rampant deep-state mechanisms were not cancelled out simply because Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis wondered, “Who is really governing this country?”, just as the responsibilities of the Greek Junta and its nostalgists can’t be excused. And of course, neither can the responsibilities of all those forces and circles here in Cyprus who all tolerated and cultivated hatred between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots be pardoned, nor of all those involved in assassinations and all those who overthrew Democracy with the execution of the 1974 coup d’état for us to be seeing today the Turkish flag on the Pendadactylos mountain range (Note: an enormous flag visible from the occupied areas), nor of all those who still have difficulty viewing Cyprus as a common homeland of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
I had written back then that “the statements, the refuting of statements and the public covering up of the anti-human phenomenon of racism…offends me as a human being.” Back then, and I recall them today too, I had cited a certain words from Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis, who from time to time were invoked by others as well in order to lambast and speak out against our human demise so that we can remind society about the terrible disasters and pain humanity suffered; to remind society about the death, genocide and absolute impoverishment suffered all in the name of Nazism, fascism, chauvinism and racism.
More specifically, in 1993, the Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis said: “Neo-Nazism, fascism, racism and any other antisocial or antihumanistic behavioral phenomena, doesn’t derive from an ideology, does not include ideology nor it composes one. It is an enlarged expression of the beast that lives within us, undeprived from its natural development, while social or political circumstances contribute, assist and empower its barbaric and antihumanistic existence.”
I subsequently concluded that he was absolutely right because when people who are in the centre of attention and take a public position, playing the role of those meant to provide leadership regarding any aspect of social life, repeatedly declare their tolerance towards such phenomena, this is indeed extremely dangerous. And it is dangerous because people start getting used to the “monster” of anti-human behaviour.
And “when you become used to the monster,” as Hadjidakis said, “you start to resemble it.” So when the state – and more specifically its custodians – not only are not worried or remain silent about such phenomena, but even worse adopt them, the question arises: Has the state and its guardians in fact began to resemble these phenomena? Maybe they aren’t bothered if we resemble these phenomena?
And one last thing, Mr. Minister of Education and President of the Republic. We repeat that the truth that a person brings with him/her is reflected through the game of small children who in multicultural societies, like ours, do not distinguish their friends according to colour, religion, ethnic origin or categories. Try, Minister, to explain to your children why you yourself said that “the values and principles [of ELAM] … are our own values and own principles as well.” I’ll say once again, “You won’t manage it unless you first poison their truth”!
