That's democracy!
Greeks invented the democracy. The real one, the direct democracy. Several centuries before Jesus was born, thousands of citizens would gather in the central market places in order to rule their city. They would discuss, make speeches, vote, legislate, held political trials. Or they'd scratch names of unpopular politicians on potsherds, banning the elected "least desired person" for ten years from the city and the surrounding territory. The potsherds can still be seen in the city's museums.
2500 years later, Greece is a country, has new borders, experienced rise and decline, foreign rule and new independence. Athens has grown to a town of more than 3 million citizens, the whole country inhabits 11 million people. Direct democracy has been replaced by a parliamentary one. But the streets are still full with people voicing their opinion.
On my first day in Athens, I already come accross a demonstration for the right of immigrants - one of three public gatherings on that day. A large crowd of foreigners and NGOs activists moves through the heart of the metropolis, holding colorful banners in several languages and claiming more respect, rights and fair treatment of the large immigrant population, accounting for almost 10% of the country's inhabitants. They have been excluded from politics since ages - even in ancient Greece, only male local citizens were allowed to participate in democratic processes.
A few streets further, a swarm of cyclists suddenly passes the internet cafe I am waiting at - a bicycle demonstration! Tooting, ringing, screaming, tandems, mountainbikes, family vehicles, old and young people reclaim the street, protesting against the prohibition to transport bicycles in the Athens Metro. I can't help but join them on my good old Durden. The cycling crowd is an unusal picture in the auto-friendly city, where mad driving, big road and overflows make cycling difficult, dangerous - and rare. "I have never seen so many bicycles in Athens", a friend admits.
Two days later, I would have been happy to take my bicycle in the Metro on my way to the airport. But in this case, it's not the bicycle-unfriendly policy of the ministry of transportation that I can blame. Another form of democratic power is in place: Strike. No buses, trams and metros are leaving anywhere this day. Hurrying on my bicycle through the outskirts of the urban sprawl Athens to the airport in order to catch my atmosfair flight to Cairo, I shake in the wind gusts of cars and trucks rushing by as if I didn't exist. The democratic vote of the drivers tells me, that I am an undesirable subject on their road. Only the potsherds are missing. Democracies have always had difficulties in protecting the rights of minorities.
26.12.2005 21:56h
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