Yesterday I attended the Commencement at the College(s)*. This is the annual graduation event at my old school which is also my son's new school!
As a graduate and a parent (of a student, that is), I have the standing invitation to attend and parade. It is, of course, an event of some import, and Greece being what it is not (i.e. a country honouring institutions, decency, and self-respect), such happenings are all the more noteworthy and attend-worthy.
A man walked passed me, late (which in & of itself does not matter) and demanded to be seated. A lady rushed to help; she works at the college, part of the admin staff for 20 odd years and volunteers as many others, to make this event happy & memorable every year. She asked, "may I see your invitation, please" and received the gruff answer "Deputy minister of education here".
Eh what? Your parents give you a name, mite? Or is it that everyone should recognise you, because that is a school and you work temporarily at the ministry? To which one may ask, "what have you done to deserve recognition? Obviously not much, because no-one does recognise you." And finally, would it not be nicer if you simply gave your name?
You may have noticed His Beatitude spoke clearly, briefly and humbly, with imagery and friendliness. Remember, He, is an Archbishop. He does not flaunt it.
I am dismayed at this objectionable person representing, in his own way, the country of Socrates & others (for your benefit, that's a philosopher, lived a long time ago, now dead. Not the Socrates who has the Taverna).
Either too full of himself or too self-effacing, dismayed at not being recognised and angry at himself for being a nonentity. Clearly to his mindset, his (temporary) title provides his only raison d'etre. He disallows himself the right to be. Fine.
There are good analysts around, the aforementioned woman is not of them. She's just a volunteer trying to be nice and help make this a memorable event for the kids graduating, the parents, the graduates and all the friends.
I know I sound lame, but I do understand that these people, politicians, are enemies and as such dangerous to the school. They must be treated with great care... so I cannot describe this man in plain English.
Nevertheless, for a party that touts "the power of responsibility", it should perhaps choose its public representatives more responsibly -- or at least teach them manners and, perhaps, humility.
Whatever may be the case, that party also comprises serious and decent people. To these, I kindly request:
Please don't let your colleagues harm our school!
Just let us be, leave us alone.
(I promise to try to get you all invited and perhaps even, help to get your kids admitted so you can brag about it.)
*As in "Athens College & Psychico College", i.e. the colleges, as Athens College, the school, is wont to be now called, having split into two organisations following the request of a idiopathically psychotic past Prime Minister (he's now left us to greener pastures, having himself joined some such).
