THIS IS NOT MY COUNTRY

From the Athens News

MORE THAN 1,000 people became Greek citizens during a ceremony at Athens’ Sporting stadium on February 29. Athens Prefect Yannis Sgouros and Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos presided over the event, which was the first and the biggest naturalisation ceremony of the year. They led the 1,131 citizens through the oath of allegiance: “I swear to be true to my homeland, to obey the constitution and the laws of this country and to consciously fulfil my duties as a Greek citizen.” The vast majority (1,106 of the 1,131 people naturalised) is ethnic Greek from Northern Epirus, Albania. One Filipino, one Ethiopian, three Egyptians, one French national, two Americans, four Poles and three Turks were also among those naturalised. The vast majority of those naturalised is also Christian Orthodox. Only five said they are Catholics and two are Muslims.

I find the subject of the oath of allegiance very interesting. Some people here on this blog have told me that people should basically give up their own cultures if they want to become Greek. Of course, people can no sooner do that than give up their eye or skin colour. Their cultural backgrounds are as much a part of them as anything else. So when I read that part of the oath was

I swear to be true to my homeland

I thought… yes of course ! Right. Well. Hmm. What does that mean ? My roots are in England, as you know. I have never had to swear allegiance to my homeland. Only immigrants have to do that ! (Although there is talk that that is going to change and we might be introducing a more American approach to the subject of allegiance). I refer to being English rather than British (which is on my passport) because there are other more complicated issues in being British. (another post)

Be true to my homeland ?

I cannot, and do not wish to, undo being English. That was where I happened to have been born by some twist of something or other. But what does being true to my homeland mean ? That I swear that I will drink endless cups of tea (definitely liking this one) until the day I die or does it mean loyalty to the crown (definitely not liking this one) on pain of death ? Does it mean preserving my customs or traditions? If that is the case, which ones are necessarily English ? We are a multi-cultural society and what might be a natural custom or tradition for me might not be for the next English person.

I know I seem to be making light of this but I do like to question things. If being English was one thing, then it would be easy to say I accept or reject it. But it’s not. So if I was to swear to be true to my homeland what would that mean ?

I love many things about England. Its incredible greenness. Its vibrancy. Its humour. Its darkness and hidden passion. Its intelligence and innovation. Its frivolity and depth. There are also things I don’t like about England. Its propensity to violence. Its arrogance. Its delight in gossip and the misfortunes of others. Its consumerism and shallowness. And dare I say it… its weather !

So again, I ask what does it mean to swear to be true to my homeland ?

And why am I asking this question ? (How I love sticking my neck out…) If you are Greek and were swearing to be true to your homeland, what would that mean ? There are a lot of (humorous) posts out there based on stereotypes… you know you’re Greek if… 50 things English people like… etc. As it says in the article, there are many people who are now Greek but they might be very different from you. Some of them have different traditions and customs to you, some have different religions, different identities. They swear to abide by the constitution and laws of this country and to be good Greek citizens and they also swear (in some part) to be true to who they are.

Greece WAS a fairly homogeneous country but that is changing. What does being Greek REALLY mean to you ? For those who have become Greek citizens, what is important for you to hold on to ? What does the oath mean to you ?

I’m not going to post this.

Yes, I am.

Done.

Technorati: oath of allegiance, greece, england, mulitcultural

Civil Rights

Let’s not even mention same-sex marriage.

From the BBC website

The Greek Orthodox Church has expressed opposition to plans by the Athens government to give greater rights to unmarried couples.

The Church’s governing synod said it considered all common-law marriages to be tantamount to “prostitution”.

The government proposes to give common-law couples the same rights as those who have gone through legal or religious ceremonies.

It wants to harmonise Greek law to European standards.

The new law would allow unmarried couples to make their relationship legally binding, by signing a simple notarial contract.

In its statement, the Church said that the proposal constituted a “catastrophic bomb” under the foundations of Greek society.

The leader of the Church, Archbishop Ieronimos, who was elected in February, had last week refused to comment on the government’s plans, saying they came under the jurisdiction of civil authorities.

But the synod has now taken a different view.

The draft legislation is also opposed by Greece’s homosexual community on the basis of discrimination, as it only takes account of heterosexual couples.

Technorati: greece, marriage, common-law couples, orthodox church

Civil Rights

I am not a fan of fishing and don’t really understand the joys of this hobby/sport/pastime but did you know that in Greece, you cannot get a fishing permit if you are American, Canadian, Australian, Albanian or a non-European Union national (including tourists and permanent residents) ?

Genci Hoxha, who is from Albania but has lived here for 10 years, went to the Greek ombudsman to complain. He spoke to the Athens News:

I’ve always loved fishing and thought I would start fishing at the weekend. I went out and bought fishing gear and started asking about how to get a fishing permit. A friend of mine told me that it was very easy and issued on the spot. But officials refused to issue me the permit because I’m from Albania. I don’t think this is fair

The Greek ombudsman agrees with him.

It is a violation of article 4 of the Greek penal code, which says foreigners enjoy the same civil rights as natives, as well as article 5 (free development of personality) of the Greek constitution

For others who enjoy fishing but cannot do it in Greece, I think Mr. Hoxha sums it up:

It’s very discouraging. I’ve been living in Greece legally for 10 years and it’s been an uphill struggle getting my residence permit. It’s a disappointment that I have to fight to get something so simple as a fishing permit

Read the whole article at the Athens News

Technorati: greece, civil rights, ombudsman, fishing permit

Civil Rights

Every time I see Martin Luther King JR speak, I cry.

Every time I hear Martin Luther King JR speak his words, I cry.

Every time I think of what Martin Luther King JR did, and stood for and spoke out against, I cry.

Today I feel the need to keep his words alive. My only wish is that there was no need to remember him, other than that he was a good person.

As you know, I am not a religious person but whenever I read these words, I cry.

His last speech was delivered on the 3 April 1968 at Mason Temple, Memphis, Tennessee.

Thank you very kindly, my friends. As I listened to Ralph Abernathy in his eloquent and generous introduction and then thought about myself, I wondered who he was talking about. It’s always good to have your closest friend and associate say something good about you. And Ralph is the best friend that I have in the world.

I’m delighted to see each of you here tonight in spite of a storm warning. You reveal that you are determined to go on anyhow. Something is happening in Memphis, something is happening in our world.

As you know, if I were standing at the beginning of time, with the possibility of general and panoramic view of the whole human history up to now, and the Almighty said to me, “Martin Luther King, which age would you like to live in?” — I would take my mental flight by Egypt through, or rather across the Red Sea, through the wilderness on toward the promised land. And in spite of its magnificence, I wouldn’t stop there. I would move on by Greece, and take my mind to Mount Olympus. And I would see Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Euripides and Aristophanes assembled around the Parthenon as they discussed the great and eternal issues of reality.

But I wouldn’t stop there. I would go on, even to the great heyday of the Roman Empire. And I would see developments around there, through various emperors and leaders. But I wouldn’t stop there. I would even come up to the day of the Renaissance, and get a quick picture of all that the Renaissance did for the cultural and esthetic life of man. But I wouldn’t stop there. I would even go by the way that the man for whom I’m named had his habitat. And I would watch Martin Luther as he tacked his ninety-five theses on the door at the church in Wittenberg.

Read more…

Civil Rights