In the past week, two separate demonstration rallies took place in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens, showing once again the polarization of Greek people in such a critical time for the Greek economy and society in general. It is really unfortunate that in a time of crisis, Greek people chose, once again, to care more about political ideology than the future of Greece. Blinded by dogma, fed by propaganda, fueled by despair, the two sides seem to be ready to take position in the trenches. On Wednesday, a SYRIZA-led rally demonstrated against austerity, against a deal that might push Greece back into recession and poverty. In essence, though, the people demonstrated against the euro and the European Union. They refuse even the possibility that the European Union might not want to destroy Greece. They are convinced that this is the case. It is true that the creditors’ demands are harsh and call for more austerity. They are definitely to blame for their insistence. But our side, the Greek side, has not dealt all its cards on the negotiating table. When creditors asked for alternative measures, alternative reforms, alternative sources for state revenue, the Greek government answered with vague measures, nebulous macroeconomic theories and wishful thinking. All the theories were accompanied by lectures about democracy in Europe, people’s mandates and other Marxist slogans. At the same time, Greek representatives were telling different things in Brussels and different things in Athens. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was promising European partners that the country will implement reforms and simultaneously he was telling Greek people that he is blackmailed. In the past three weeks, as default and the subsequent bankruptcy loom large, the Greek government has started a war of propaganda against European allies and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Top European officials were again labelled “blackmailers,” “extortionists,” “blood suckers,” “loan sharks,” the European Commission President was called a liar. On Friday, a special parliamentary committee decided that the Greek debt is “illegal” and “odious” and should not be repaid. It is official: The Greek government has demonized the European Union. So, it is possible that the Greek government is preparing us for a rift with Europe and a Grexit, despite all contrary talk. This is what Wednesday’s demonstration was about. It was in support of a government that is ready to go to war with Europe. To say a brave “no” like when the Greek Prime Minister had said to the Italians when they asked to overtake Greece in 1940. On Thursday, the other side, the pro-Europeans, demonstrated in favor of Greece’s stay in the European Union and the common currency bloc. Again, there is a lot of propaganda going on that side, too. The main opposition party, New Democracy, supported the rally with several lawmakers attending and making statements to the press. The pro-Europe side is at fault too, at least because they want the euro at any cost. They have sanctified the European institutions, putting them above suspicion for all the things their opponents accuse them of. Ever since negotiations stalled, they prophesize doom and destruction. At the same time, they don’t like the fact that the new government does the exact same things as previous ones, the ones they supported: Creating an even bigger, labyrinthine state, while using the same methods of nepotism and clientelism, albeit under the guise of tackling unemployment and fighting the humanitarian crisis. By doing so, though, they deny that the political parties they support did the same things when in power. So on Sunday, the pro-government demonstrators will shout their slogans to their hearts’ content again. On Monday, their opponents, the pro-Europe Greeks, will reply. The two sides exchange hateful comments in social media. Those who polarize Greeks did a great job. One side will win, eventually. But it seems that the loser will be Greece.
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