Socrates, Christofias and the poisoned hemlock

When it comes to loyalty for one’s own country, a question can truly reveal plenty! The ancient Greeks simply asked: “What is your most valued asset or gift offered to others?” Today’s conditions beg the same question. When answered honestly, it unveils the inner true character of persons and weather the nation will survive or not – for it is a greater pleasure on giving rather than receiving!

Socrates, when found guilty by his Judges on the change of “corrupting the youth with revolutionary ideas”- he insistently drank the poisonous hemlock in respect of the Law of the Land. He refused to save his old wrinkled skin and lifted the goblet and drank the poison hemlock until he breathed no more. Long time ago citizens upheld moral values and dignity at high esteem and often committed suicide in the name of respect and honour – not so today!

Christofias’ intransigent and obnoxious behaviour on refusing to be cross-examined by the three inquiry judges (unless he received preferential treatment) exposed his cunning and true despotic character. It was that detestable attitude and his own incompetence that ultimately ruined the country; instead, he stormed out of the court showing no respect for the law of the land and shouted, ‘I am not just any witness’.

With such behaviour by persons purporting to be pillars of society, the nation will submerge into a deeper morass of dogmatism and corruption. The country is in a desperate need of a new benevolent leadership to clean out the stables and revolutionise the nation – a needle in the haystack but at least we can hope for a miracle.

Andreas C Chrysafis, Paphos

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