Doing one’s job…
If we want to hold onto something, to trust each other, ourselves and life itself at least once in a while, we need only to focus on one precious thing: the altruism of pilots, doctors and nurses. We are well aware of all the bad things; those we have been complaining about in vain for years. We know there are people who will not hesitate to exploit the sick and needy, to sign profitable deals, sell faulty goods, neglect to repair boat engines, helicopters, aircraft – even spacecraft – in order to cut costs. We know there are politicians ready to fix competitions, accept bribes, get involved in shady deals, shirk their responsibilities. We also know that in our country the blessing of summer will always give way to the curse of winter. We know that some islands will continue to lack helipads, others will have them but may not have nighttime lighting, and still others will have lighting but no emergency generator. We know that the way public works are being carried out, the whole country has become inaccessible – even areas just outside Athens. We are aware of all these disappointing facts. But we also know something else – that however much we feel solidarity has gone and everyone is out for themselves, there will always be people – such as pilots and doctors who voluntarily put themselves in danger to save lives – who will prove us wrong. «They’re just doing their jobs,» some people may say. What could be more honorable than that?
