Crisis : the shared experience

Crisis is- amongst others- the opportunity to act as one body. Occasionally cachectic and bad-fortuned, one that stumbles and fails to coordinate. An image entirely unsatisfactory. Attention! though, before we denounce this potential. Because, sometimes a magic synchronization is achieved, where we balance masterly juggling as individuals,

nations,

insignificant sections in history.

Before the dust of time is deposited upon us, before we are affected by the overlay in the news broadcast – always transmitted in that monotonous voice and that even more monotonous face through that machine with the moving images that trigger our deaths – it is required that we invent CHOICE in a context of NEED, which means: we should negate the state of emergency.

Only under this basic prerequisite that provides for freedom, can we stay human or finally find the human.

Until we define our step within a steady rhythm and construct the necessary ground – and above all because we lack all available options – we must try. To stop observing the other’s pain, as, it might be so, that we have reached the point where we turn from being the pain into being the other.

For Lili, Dimitris, Tassia who lost her sight due to sewing during the night without electricity, the father who stays awake counting, the mother who wears only old shoes, the boy who whispered in the bus “I cannot stand any longer, I am so tired, I am so very tired”, the victims of bombings in Gaza.

For the employee with a jacket that he wears not to be cold in a refrigerator-office due to the air-condition that he turned

on in order not to get hot, for the young member of the Chrisi Augi Party who is ready to beat a dangerous intruder

Old man’s girl The first thing Lili told was that it sounds better that way

“I was born in Ano Chora in 1917. When I was young, I came to Nafpaktos.

I built this house in 1950. My brother, Makarios who lived in America, and was wealthy, helped me. I worked at the bank and my salary was also good, so I managed.

Back then, we were all really close to one another in the neighborhood, like a family. It was very different. Now there are big buildings and no more gardens. That is why the old bonds have not been preserved. At least, no one has built back here and I can still enjoy the view towards the castle.“

“I like it here in Greece. There is more freedom. But, the people are so closed. There is no communication. I know only one neighbor and he is a foreigner. In Nafpaktos there is another woman drom Georgia. It is different to be with someone from your own country. We speak the same language, we have our own point of view.”

“We used to live in the capital of Georgia, in Tbilisi. There was a big financial problem. I was acrobatics teacher and my salary was about 70e per month. Work is very important. When you work you get to know life better.”

“When I left my daughter was 12 years old and my son 3,5. Today the daughter is 25, she is married, and the kid is a man. One can see a small moustache. I want to see him. I tell him to come to Greece, to find out if he likes it and he says “yes, I will”, but when I tell him “without your sister” he changes his mind “no, no mum, I am not coming.” He calls me mum, but he actually considers his sister to be his mother. Of course, now that my daughter has a child of her own, he begins to understand what is going on, because he is no more the center of attention. He stands aside.”