Are we in the 21st Century?
Sometimes I wonder whether Greece has entered the 21st Century. Many things around us make me believe that we are stubbornly opposing change, that in many aspects of our political life and media behavior we resemble Algeria or some Balkan country more than we do France or Italy. For example, the annual show at the Thessaloniki fair does not suit a European country. The entire cabinet squashes into Thessaloniki for a fair that has no significance. One after the other, ministers inaugurate pavilions like scenes from old Greek films. In the party leaders’ debate, we journalists took ourselves far too seriously. I cannot imagine another country where journalists in a debate would themselves give interviews on national TV as if they too were political party leaders. Nor can I imagine another country where the panel discussions on election day include, in the best case, the comedian Harry Klynn. Our television is insufferably provincial and interests only those who never switch off their sets. I watch PASOK leader George Papandreou, the man who everyone thought was far ahead of his time for Greece, and wonder what happened. Instead of running a 21st-century campaign, I see Costas Laliotis representing the party and post-modern Papandreou being swallowed by the oldest bit of Old PASOK. I see the rallies and the plastic flags and wonder at how quickly we forgot the victims of the fires and the environment. And leftist parties, who are eco-friendly, stick posters and banners everywhere. More and more people are becoming angry with the peculiarities of Greek politics and media. They are losing hope and anger is turning into rage. But instead of consoling themselves with the hope that their children will study and live abroad, they should get involved and remember John Kennedy’s «Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.»
