In a few days Canadians will pause to take time to remember those who bought their peace through their involvement in various wars. With each passing year, those whom we know who fought to make peace in the Second World War are becoming more frail and some have left only their memories of battle fought and victories won.
In a sense October 28 holds a similar place in Greece and Greek Cyprus. Yesterday there was a special assembly at the Academy in which I read a brief history of the challenge from the Axis powers asking Greece to merely surrender and allow Moussilini and his Fascist troops to occupy Greece. The response was immediate and without hesitation - OXI (pronounced o-khee) which being translated means NO! Although few of us have read the history of this part of the war, it is another example of a truly inspiring response by those whose lives and livelihood are threatened. Peasants joined the war effort and trekked through mountains carrying supplies to troops who were fighting in the mountains just south of Albania. Greece succeeded in driving the Italians back into Albania and as a result, Hitler was forced to send additional troops to the southern flank when his priority was to invade Stalingrad. This delayed his planned invasion and the onset of winter resulted in his failure in that battle.
The German troops were brutal in their occupation in Greece and ended up killing 400, 000 civilians because of their complicity in fighting the Italians. When the Allies arrived, there were few shouts of joy because living had become so austere. People were paying huge sums of money for a loaf of bread or mortgaging property in order to buy olive oil to keep families alive. But Greeks and their Cypriot counterparts feel that the day they said NO was instrumental in bringing the German juggernaut to its knees.
I know that stories can become greater with age, but as I work with some of the young men of Cyprus who face 25 months of military duty after graduation, I see in them, a determination to carry on the same spirit with which their forefathers were able to bring defeat to the greatest power they could have faced. Today the ‘enemy’ is only metres away in what is referred to here as the Occupied North of Cyprus. Will they be called upon to stand for their country and fight or will centuries old grievances be laid aside in order to bring hope and a future for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots? Time will answer that question. I know that retiring UN Secretary General Koffi Annan has said this is one of his failures and hopes his successor can devote sufficient time and resources to solve this intractable problem.
All of that as background. The last couple of weeks, about 60 of the Academy students have been practicing to march in the parade which was held today, representing the Academy. They made me proud to be involved with such a fine group of individuals - staff who take the responsibility to train new students who have no experience of marching in parade and students who are willing to practice and represent their country well!
Marian and I were ushered to a covered viewing area adjacent to the dignitaries – government, military, religious leaders – and could watch, seeing the groups as they passed, all to the tune of military band. To our right, were the military personnel who were ranked below getting a seat on the raised dais so we felt privileged to be between them and the president! Fortunately, I did not make the mistake of my predecessor who showed up in jeans and a golf shirt! I always ask before any ‘occasion’ what acceptable dress is so I do not purposely offend.
There was a school dance last evening and I was impressed that most of the students dressed up and looked quite special even though it was merely a dance!
After the parade, the students returned to the school for some snacks and drinks and returned their uniforms. A job well done!
Marian and I then returned home to change and then set off on a walking tour of the Northern part of Nicosia - read Turkish occupied Cyprus! But that’s for another entry, perhaps tomorrow!
David
posted by David & Marian Sloss @ 11:21 AM
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