OPINION

Dying stars

Like all living beings, like the stars and the sun in the universe, everything has a beginning and an end, writes Giorgos Grammatikakis in the «Coma Berenices.» Like stars, we also make the same journey, save that our cycle from birth to death is much shorter. If all aspects of life are a scaled-down replica of universal workings, why would the political systems, the parties and leaders be any exception? On the contrary, one must reconcile oneself to the determinism of life and be prepared to accept, if not prepare oneself for, one’s departure. And when it comes to great men, this process is as important as their ascent during their robust and productive years. All this may sound metaphysical, yet it is directly related to domestic political developments. It currently seems that the star of the ruling party is waning, if not disintegrating. PASOK rose spectacularly in 1974 to win power in 1981. Ever since then it has led a turbulent existence, bringing about great changes in society and within the country. It has been a stormy course which has left its mark on Greece. The party itself has changed, veering away from its original face and character. Regardless of its past achievements, PASOK now appears fatigued and timeworn, lacking the glitter of its early years. The light that it now radiates falls short of touching the people’s soul, of warming their hearts and minds, and of mobilizing the masses who once placed their hopes on it. It’s like a dying star, a sun that has used up all its nuclear fuel and become a white dwarf. No one has ever escaped the determinism of life. The only way to escape final demise and marginalization is to seek a revival, to give birth to a new star, except that this would take a miracle. And the days of miracles are over.

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