George Picoulas
Correctly assessing reality, making tough choices, not repeating the mistakes of the past, getting rid of failed leadership, and working together is a must today. Is this too much to ask? What can we learn from the early days of the Greek Republic?
The conditions of the financial packages may be "unfair" and the foreign demands unreasonable, yet, the big question remains: Who is ultimately responsible for the deception, the lies, the inefficiencies, and the political leadership of the last several decades?
Do we have the right, indeed the duty, to evaluate the messages from our political and spiritual leaders? I argue that this is imperative. Blind obedience to dogma, or unproven claims shouldn't be the response of an enlightened people.
Systemic problems are harder to fix but why do they persist in advanced, democratic societies? What happened before, during and after the Olympiakos-Panathinaikos game? Why do reasonable people behave badly? Respect as a value has diminished and it shows in various relationships in society.
Either the gods must be angry or there are some underlying factors as to why Greece has been having so many and deep crises ever since the revolution of 1821.
The offensive slogans during the parade on the Greek Independence Day may reveal bigotry among elements of the armed forces and even the population, but the key question is how the rest of society deals with such bigotry.
The bad news: The bets are against Greece making it out of this financial mess. The good news: The government has nothing more to give. It might as well push back for serious reforms now.
The crisis goes beyond the current economic mess. There’s a dysfunctional system that encompasses all major institutions of the country. This is a threat to stability, lawfulness, and an obstacle to progressive reform.
Many beliefs and practices are being repeated without a second thought. But, in true Hellenic fashion of inquiry and doubt, we must re-visit them and re-evaluate their appropriate role for our times...
The UN General Assembly wants to make it illegal to offend religious dogma. This is an attack on free expression, and it impedes our humanity’s movement towards more freedom and intellectual progress.
