A comment on the 2012 elections

To be honest, I haven't really thought about what to write. I'd like to make a statement on how confusing these elections have been. I'd like to comment against a Neo-Nazi party entering the Greek Parliament.

But...

I just can't. Let me clear out from the very beginning that I am certainly not in favor of people with the ideology of Χρυσή Αυγή (Golden Dawn) entering the Greek Parliament. 

The reason as to why I can't comment against them, to be honest, is a simple as Democracy. 

I reject their ideology on the basis of Democracy, but I can't forbid them from expressing their own, much less when they claim to represent the 7% of the population. 

I realize the above statement will piss off a lot of people... meh.

Forgive me though, I have gone too far, too soon (as always... in everything ;) ) so allow me to reiterate what has been going on here the past few days (... or years rather).

As most of you know (unless you have been living under a rock) Greece has been going through some, candidly speaking, rough patches. Two parties have essentially been in charge of the country's fate for the past forty years. Two parties run by three families, and someone who  always wanted to become a prime minister but I don't think he'll ever live to realize that dream.

To make a long story short, these two parties are responsible for the client based state we are in. This of course does not absolve us from our citizen responsibilities, nor does it provide an alibi as to why we never reacted earlier. 

These two parties are responsible for the millions undergoing poverty and all of us seeing our work relations being reduced to slave relations. This in turn brings desperation.

That's what this nation has become. Desperate in it's attempt to restore some dignity, and angry (mostly at itself I believe) for not acting against it earlier. And these elections have proven that desperation and anger, are bad council. 

Of course it was expected that the people would punish the two major parties... every sane person knew this. But how would they go about exacting this "vengeance"? Their only, peaceful, weapon to date, was expressing their dissatisfaction through voting. And voted they did.

As I mentioned already this was a slap to the two ex-major parties. However, there is no, single party that is capable of uniting all Greeks*. So the people that are now ex-voters of the two ex-major parties, have decided to give their vote, mostly out of spite, somewhere else... 

Now, I'd like you to take a moment and think of another time in history, another leader who rose up and took power when unemployment was really high, and his country was in a political dead end. People needed someone to turn to. Someone  that would tell them that, they are indeed worth saving, that they are better than every one else, and that all others are to blame since you are better than every one else... If you can't take a hint, I am referring to Hitler. 

As back then, just now we have seen a rise of all extremities here. From far left to far right... notably the far right which is the case of Golden Dawn (a party that praises the aforementioned political figure). Unfortunately this rise to the extremes, has been fueled by emotion rather than logic.

This is a party that was allowed to grow, because the people running this country never thought it was a threat. Of course it is also our fault for allowing it continue into existence, since we never isolated it.

Now, it has become a full fledged political party, reaping the benefits and utilizing the system to it's advantage. And since it got in the system the only way out of it is for the citizens to isolate it. Welcome to Democracy.

Now, once again, I am not arguing whether or not their message is right (to me there is no question about how i feel about it). I am arguing, however, something completely fundamental; Their right to express their message, as well as our right to reject it or accept it depending on its merit. And as I said earlier, it seems that 7% of our compatriots voted for them. 

I am surprised when people say they are shocked about this turn of events. Really I am. It's what befits a nation, that despite it's huge history, has learned nothing from it. It's what befits a nation that has zero social education other than everyone for himself. Are we such fools to really believe that we didn't push that 7% to that far right direction? 

This percentage, as i interpret it, means one of two things. 

Either the voters actually share the party (Golden Dawn) point of view, and are  therefore entitled to have their voice heard, or (and I think this is the most likely case) their vote is just a vote of desperation and anger. 

If it is indeed the second case, then it is a message, that we as a society, have to pay particular attention to. If we don't, then we can not raise arguments against it, as befits a democratic society, and we can't act to rectify what wrong has been made. 

If action is not taken place, then the voices will become angrier, and more desperate, and that my friends will lead to something quite logical and expected. A dramatic raise of people flocking to a party that they believe is a haven for their hurt and their rage. A false haven, as history has proven in the past. 

There is solace in history but also great agony, as it tends to repeat itself for the ignorant. I just hope that come June 17th, if we are called to go back to cast our vote, that 7% will open their eyes and reject such ideologies. Each one of us can have a role in that.. we do live in the same social constructs after all.

P.S. They say that the Devil never works against you. Instead he follows the current of your desires, slowly enticing you. Just food for thought.

* In my opinion there exists such a party, but their ideas would be considered "radical", and not feasible to implement.