So, this is Hellas

In 1971 John Lennon released the single, “So This Is Christmas”.  It has nothing to do with Christmas; instead, it speaks to a war and to a year end.

At the time of writing I am in Athens, Greece. I last worked in Hellas almost 30 years ago. There is nothing Greek about me, yet everything here Greek to me.

It was a hot Sunday afternoon when I arrived. Within an hour I exchanged a cold, wet and windy Rome for a warm, even hot Athens – National Election Day.

The usual suspects were in run-off. The conclusion, a hung result, and the government cannot be formed.  Horse trading followed for three days; but no conclusion was in sight. Some say that the Greek temperament gets in the way.  Is this an anathema, I wonder? Seems like new election as are to be held during June should the last ditch effort of Friday, 12 May fail.  Will the next result be different?

Since arriving I continue to struggle in order to understand the issues. The Temple of Poseidon, a heap of stacked stones and some remaining pillars sits on a hill over-looking the sea, no different to what I saw back in the day when my eyes were brighter and baldness a fresh developing prospect. In an acerbic tone I tell all who care to listen, “I am not here to see heaps of stones, old buildings and the like”; in the same way I think that driving, adding to pollution, and crawling about tarred roads in a nature reserve so to see an elephant a complete waste. Pictures of the wild beasts, and pictures, stones, even broken buildings, have always been more beautiful to me. The Greek temperament may not smile upon my view, so my thought stayed in my head lest I give offense.

Then I do a night tour of the Acropolis and I eat my thoughts, bitter thoughts, unnecessary thoughts, thoughts entertained in haste and in ignorance!

The cradle of modern civilization beckons before my shifty eyes. Empires, the knowledge of which make for sit up straight action in the wagon-cart drawing some 50 people up against the hill, windowing in and between the seat of history and through the most arduous of curls and bends as he, the  seemingly can’t care-less skillful driver negotiates the route. Not once do I feel apprehensive afraid or concerned that this country is in crisis. The others on the little train-bus, children in their final year of primary school, they chant (Imaste apo K R I T I) [we are from CRETE]. The children wave at ones on foot and to those in the closely arranged cafés, restaurants and bars; others who stop to look at the funny little train-car transporting excited children under the deft leadership of their man teacher who proudly wore a moustache in the style made famous by American actor Tom Selleck, those people there too exchanged waves.  I am taken by the moment and too am waving; with both hands, waving because there is no reason why my Cape Flats temperament too cannot come from KRITI, for we come from any and everywhere, anyway. The Greeks, however, are not a disparate people instead they are a proud people.

My hosts and I stop to eat Souvlaki. I do not let on how the recent experience has caused a lump in my throat. I think of stuff; the stuff about Twelve (12) Gods in Greek Mythology that pre-date Christianity - the Goddess, Athena, the olive tree and Acropolis.  I think about religion and how it is made by man because man has this need to worship, give thanks and in part be worshipped. Maybe it is because man is too little, or man is not enough, but this evening my conclusion is that, like Greek Mythology is a myth, so too are these religions we manufacture.

My friends, whom I love and who love me, know where this comes from. I cannot have a good friend unless I am a good friend first. We have to continue to do to others what we wish to have done to us though.

I speak with the Greek friends and I learn that the Germans and the French, the strength of the European Union that Greece is a part of, that these nations are at odds with how the austerity measures are unfolding in Hellas.  The Greeks have not complied; they have not held their side of the deal. The Greeks signed the agreement, but no longer wish to comply with the provisions thereof.  The brothers and sisters here in Hellas insisting that their land, the land of Apollo, Athena and others, this land is not to be exchanged for money from Germany and France.  I learn that the interpretation of austerity measures is that it, the austerity measures, is a farce and a ploy to own this land.

A better solution must be in the offing because when a people feel that exchanging their land for money is due process then this is a wrong.  This is wrong and no different to the wrong requirement, which requirement is determined by my skin colour before gaining entry to certain courses at the University of Cape Town, as example. This, no matter whether the so-called commentators, like Pierre de Vos, directs me to read articles dealing with Substantive Equality before venturing an opinion – how pompous and vile can one get! De Vos accuses me of being racist because I dare express a view without first reading a paper of his direction.

Equal fit and proper academic achievement proves ability and not skin colour. I do not support the notion that because in South Africa we had apartheid 20 years ago that I continue to require a handicap as defined by admission policies to universities.  I need no handicap because my brain is at least comparable to other brains no matter what skin colour envelopes it.

The Hellas solution should be determined by the people of this country. Debates about withdrawing from EU and returning to the Drachma based economy, a stricter application of the austerity measures and even a coup d'état informs the discussions amongst the Seven (07) parties in their animated discourse to find the most suited way forward.

Greek temperament! All of us have our respective temperaments. Greeks strike me as being a people who prefer to do the opposite.  A solution is needed though.  The solution could also be found in identifying a group of people, preferably successful business people, international beings who understand that change is required before Hellas will work in its own interest, recover and again claim its independence.  This is where modern civilization began.  Democracy as we know it was born here.  That democracy is outdated is a view I subscribe to.  Outdated, because it has become a mere label.  Anything containing a smattering of “… people by people…” is deemed to be a democratic process. This is trite because the label is not more important as the process and the result.

The solution is not to access greater loans; more loans and more money because this will result in a deeper vortex of depression emerging.  This is no different to the plans put out in spurious and gentle tones by the Minister of National Planning in South Africa when he pontificates, via little cartoons, the dream that unemployment will resolve when 11million jobs are created by 2030. Meanwhile, 700000 jobs are required per annum, as is the requirement in 2012. At the time of writing the total inclusive unemployment figure in South Africa is again 36%!

We need draconian measures imposed on education.

Sustainable jobs are required, not the little tasks that absorb some and later discard many.

The talk of people dying of long-illnesses, instead of telling that the spectre of AIDS continues is exacerbating our dreaded crisis.  Are we already nothing at the hands of the government we deserve?

In Hellas there is a need for people who know and understand economic development.  Independent people with integrity are required to facilitate an understanding and emerge with a supported inclusive plan.  I am not going to speak in fancy terms. If the plan is to be complied with then ordinary people should understand it.  We cannot find the best solutions if only some people understand the jargon used to describe these solutions.

Hellas wants an economy that can reinstate need for self-determination and independence. In order to achieve this there is a need for renewed disciplines. Austerity se moer!

Facilitate a solution that all parties can comply with. Agree to implement and do so consistently.

Develop plans to grow the GDP. Marshal the application within the country and; let the Greeks do it for themselves.

Germany and France were in the same position and the German experience was more recent, therefore, what is their insistent beef with the people of Hellas, and why?

So this is Hellas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT08acQ86K0