Racism is being judged for the color of your skin or your origin. Agreed. But… is that all racism is?
Isn't it racism when a Greek who worked his entire life now lives on a starvation pension, while next to him the foreigner has a survival card with benefits, allowances, housing and food for free?
Isn't it racism when you are forbidden from hanging your flag on your balcony — lest they be offended — while others march with their own flags at Syntagma Square, provoking?
Isn't it racism that our children emigrate, because they don't have the opportunity to study or work with dignity, and no facilities are provided to them?
Isn't it racism to wait in line at the OAED for a 380 euro benefit, while in front of you someone who just came from Pakistan will get 500?
Isn't it racism when you enter a public hospital and they ask you to pay for tests, while someone without papers is provided with everything for free, and with priority?
Is it not racism when a Greek has to pay to put his child in kindergarten, but an immigrant's child is enrolled for free — with extra benefits?
Isn't it racism to see a grandmother being fined for selling bunches of flowers or slippers, while foreigners illegally set up stalls, trade freely, and no one bothers them?
And all this in a country whose citizens were born and raised with one word: Pride.
The Greek has never been a racist. He has always opened his home, he has always offered. He has given, supported, tolerated, accompanied.
But when hospitality turns into injustice against you...
When they don't let you love your flag, your language, your religion...
When you become a stranger in your own homeland...
Then something is wrong.
No, it's not the stranger's fault. Nor should we turn against him.
But we must finally ask ourselves — Who is the victim of racism today?
And let's remember something simple:
When the native feels hunted, exhausted, marginalized, then the problem is not his racism. It is the racism that exists.
photo by coolboy, Image license by freepik.com
