The shockingly unique history of the Greek Revolution, of the Greek National Uprising, is internationally known for having won great praise over time. After about 400 years of cold slavery, genocide, horrific crimes and bestiality, the Greeks managed, despite the terribly adverse conditions, with their immortal faith in God and freedom, with incalculable sacrifices and self-sacrifice, to be liberated and gain independence again. proportions - state entity and national status.
Certainly, in this sacred struggle, Philhellenes from various states with a democratic conscience supported them. However, some, with a Thucydides approach, bound it with transparent or opaque institutions, with vigilantes, and used it for their own exclusive interests. And this was proven by dramatic and tragic events. One of them was their methodical divisive policy. Those pure Patriots such as Kapodistrias, Kolokotronis, Nikitaras etc. took important positions trying to create a democratically viable state, were assassinated, imprisoned, etc. Thus was perpetuated the foreign dependence, which, unfortunately, to a certain extent, continues to the glory of, according to Demosthenes, "strangely happy".
One of the sad consequences, apart from the divisions, was the provocation of a gap between individual and collective-national interest, which is perpetuated in the context of unworthiness and its negative consequences, injustice, exclusion, discrimination, etc., which have imposed corrupt transparent or opaque circuits of power and speculation. And education still suffers and is unable to help.
And the disappointing result is that Greece, the cradle of democracy and culture, is shrinking, being "enslaved" politically, economically, culturally, and is in constant defense against neo-imperialist tendencies of neighboring countries resulting in lack of progress and prosperity. of its people other than the privileged "rulers".
An outline-selective review may help to draw useful conclusions.
1) Divisions, rivalries and destructive conflicts during the Revolution that almost undermine the victorious result. In particular, the assassination of Kapodistrias marked the tragic decline of the nation. Also, the imprisonment of Kolokotroni as well as the persecution of other Heroes.
2) Asia Minor Tragedy with about 80 thousand dead Greeks due to division and foreign interventions.
3) Xenotic genocidal civil war with hundreds of thousands of victims etc. catastrophic consequences that seriously decimated the nation.
4) Loss of Northern Epirus due to foreign interventions and continuous persecution against the Greek Minority in Albania.
5) Turkish military invasion of the Republic of Cyprus with the synergy of foreign Powers and the stay of the Turkish occupation troops for 47 whole years in violation of UN decisions, etc., with the behind-the-scenes tolerance and support of third parties. Continuous threats and provocations of the Turks and violations of the Greek airspace and sea in violation of the UN Charter, International Law, etc. with the tolerance of foreign Powers again. Conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque despite protests from UNESCO, etc. IMIA and tragic loss of Greek Military.
6) Expropriation of the Greek name "Macedonia" by an artificial pariah state, with the synergy of "friends" and "allies".
7) Non-payment of German Compensation despite the genocide committed by the Nazis and the financial etc. destruction of Greece. Other countries have been compensated.
8) The non-return or "reunification" of the Sculptures of the Parthenon, etc. which is a "cultural crime".
9) Uncontrolled migration and systematic bleeding of Greek brains with dramatic consequences for Greece.
10) Economic contraction with pre-planned memoranda, etc.
11) Demographic Shrinkage with tragic consequences.
12) De-Hellenization of the Diaspora with the first victim being the beautiful Greek language.
13) Increase of astyphilia and abandonment of the province with tragic effects on health, etc. The systematic decentralization, which could significantly contribute to the development of the country, to the calendars of indifference and party expediencies.
14) Increase of corruption at all levels, crime, even terrorism, moral decay by rape of minors, etc. However, the laws remain unacceptably lenient, even against terrorists, with all that entails.
15) Perpetuation of partisanship, client state, russet dictatorship, impunity in educational institutions, lack of holistic education, insecurity, anti-productive trade unionism, partisan intervention in institutions, e.g. Justice, Armed Forces, etc.
16) Cultivation from anti-Greek circuits of general accent for national issues. Suspicious NGOs etc.
17) Cultivation of cultural subculture by media.
18) Perpetuation of the division and unworthiness that so many sufferings have accumulated in the Greek Nation.
19) Even in the invisible "war" of the corona virus, the negative political confrontation continues instead of there being sympathy for its confrontation. There was a lack of comprehensive preventive planning for the effective treatment of coronavirus and the development of immunity. However, immunity in politics, etc. nonsense when will it be achieved?
This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the National Revolution and Committees etc. have been set up. for the projection of the Event. From the first signs there is success worldwide and well done! It is an excellent opportunity to promote our national goals, to resolve our just national issues.
However, in parallel with the commendable celebrations, it would not be appropriate, as a sign of honor, gratitude, but also apology for the mistakes, indifference and especially for not -by deeds- honoring the sacrifices of the Heroes and Martyrs of 21 and the disrespect to their sacred relics, to organize a Holy MEMORIAL throughout the Territory, in the presence of the Patriarch and Archbishops, State and Political leadership, in which all Greeks participate, and to promise that from now on, with unity, national unity and In cooperation with sincere friends and allies and international organizations, we will move forward in the future to solve our national problems and see a Greece worthy of its glorious history, which inspires respect for universal values and ideals and emerges as an Ecumenical Center of Culture and Democracy ; Also, shouldn't a Monument in a central part of the capital with all the names of the Philhellenes who were sacrificed for Greece in the Revolution of 21?
P.I.Karafotias
Former Managing Director of the UN Office for Greece, Cyprus, Israel
Professor of International Relations, author
