A fresh new start?

Walking downhill towards the sea, this almond tree stopped me in my tracks.
The tree's beauty both majestic and ethereal, its pink flowers sparkling in the sun.
This is P. Faliro, a residential Athens neighborhood, home to Greek immigrants from Asia Minor and a mix of young families, singles and retirees.  Coastal P. Faliro always feels calmly reassuring, in stark contrast to nearby Syntagma square, the staging ground of massive protests and infrequent but highly unsettling clashes between the police and masked youth.

Spring is here, after one of the longest winters Athens has seen in decades.
The word "spring" is full of connotations for Greeks at this important junction in their country's history. Irrespective of age, socioeconomic background and political allegiances, most Greeks agree on one thing: Something's got to give. However, in a country that has for decades worked from the top down, you'll find disagreement as to which group should lead the way and shoulder the burdens in the long, painful path toward large-scale reforms.

Should the political leaders lead the way through their example?   Or rather the citizens take matters in their own hands by effecting change in their daily lives, in their homes and on the community level? One commonly held perception among the public is that, while private and public sector workers experience unprecedented salary cuts, Ministers and MP's continue to be compensated as before.

The one clear cut opportunity for citizens to have their say in a democracy comes at election time.  Elections in Greece are likely to be called in Spring.  At this moment in time, one common aspiration unites Greeks to one another. At first, this feels like an empowering thought. However, will Greeks take advantage of this unique, even historical opportunity, to change the status-quo? The expectation for change is higher than ever, but there is no guarantee -come election time- that Greeks will put their money where their mouth is.

Will voters endorse parties and politicians outside the mainstream political establishment? As we all know, cultural factors play a significant role in voting patterns.  Greece is an aging population in which middle aged and older men command greater respect than younger, less experienced politicians. Greeks are generally skeptical of young people and political parties. Recently formed parties such as 'Dimiourgia Xana'  (Recreate Greece) might not muster enough support among older age groups.   Although many Greeks say they want new blood in parliament, sons and daughters of influential political families are once more running for re-election and there are even new candidates emulating this model.

We'll know soon enough whether Greeks decided to take a leap of faith, or  further endorse politicians from the two political parties largely responsible for the state of Greece today.


And so my blog begins with a picture of Beauty, Rebirth, Regeneration, and Hope.