Απάντηση
του κ. Βασ. Θωμόπουλου, σε σχόλιο ανώνυμου, στο χθεσινού άρθρου του, ως εξής:
Here's the issue. We have tens of dozens of young Greeks throughout Canada who are subject-matter experts on international law and national security who right at this very moment are working for the PMO and other federal and provincial government agencies. We also have Greeks in the highest offices in politics, military, the judiciary and and on media.
Yet, we have zero coordination to bring these folks together to come to a community-wide consensus on how we will put forth our issues of concerns via our policy positions for a given issue (be they domestic or international in nature). Everything we do is reactive and always haphazard, and childish at best. However, the Greek government likes that this is the case and that we are in disarray because that means there is less effort on their part to do anything and no real need to even attempt to act professionally as well. Believe me, the Greek government does not like lifting a finger. I have multiple stories, one of which I recently forced the Greek foreign ministry's hand by having to embarrass them via the Canadian government to take action regarding the repatriation of a dead body (yes, a dead body lying in a morgue for over 4 months). By the way, the Archdiocese also proved to my friend that they have ZERO clout with the Greek government when it came to this issue. They told her they tried their best, but the Greek government would not take action. The Archdiocese failed her and cleaned their hands after that. Further, we also have Greeks in Canada who may actually be subject matter experts in Greek national security and national concern topics, but are ostracized and kept aside by the self-annointed "leaders." In my personal case, and I'm not trying to show off, although I often speak on Montreal Greek radio about certain Greek issues, I have been blacklisted by Toronto's Greek media via a group of Pontian Greeks since I started opening my mouth back in November 2018 in regards to the fact that we are essentially clueless on the lobbying front. What triggered my being blacklisted by the larger Toronto Greek media was the issue of the Greek Genocide, which some Pontian Greeks lost their mind. I was specifically told by said group of trouble makers that I'll never get my message across in Toronto. I was also threatened by a few major big-whig Greeks in Toronto. And, they indeed got me blacklisted. I have never been able to get my point out anywhere in Toronto (except randomly via Antipodas blog). But said Toronto Greek media all know me very well because they keep tabs on the Montreal radio stations and media. But, who loses in the end? Not me. That is for sure. If our youth are our future (as we keep hearing from our "leaders") has anyone "in power" in the Hellenic Congress ever sat down with any of the Greek University Students Associations throughout Canada to bring them on board for a vision of the future and to explain to them that their future expertise will be needed for certain key issues that matter to Hellenism both from a Canadian context, but also in an international relations and legal context? No! Those Greeks in Canada who actually do care about Hellenism have to first start volunteering their time with large Jewish and Armenian think-tanks and lobby groups to see how the PROFESSIONALS do it and then take those skills, transfer the skills to a Greek-Canadian context and formulate policy for various key topics of concern so that when we do reach out to government, instead of every group going to Ottawa with their OWN SUBJECTIVE and poor understanding of a topic, we do so in unison with one voice from coast-to-coast in an OBJECTIVE, professional manner. If you all did not participate on the Greek Genocide discussions with the federal government, I'll tell you this, it was an absolute gong show with everyone pushing their agenda
The Greeks who are in senior positions in governments etc, except a couple of them, want nothing to do with the Archdiocese or the Greek communities because it’s a gong show. Sotirios is a grade A asshole and the Greek communities are run as well as the Archdiocese —unprofessionally. The only time this will happen is if we ever get an actual spiritual smart and LIKABLE Archbishop who can build bridges instead of burn them to the ground like Sotirios does. You can’t rely on the Greek communities because they have their own drama and don’t have savvy leaders either.
ReplyDeleteBTW the repatriation of a dead body is relegated to government and not an Archdiocese issue. There are protocols that need to be followed between the governments. Sotirios has no good relationships with our governments because any goodwill he had he burned to the ground during the pandemic.
It’s because there’s not one real leader at the top of any of these organizations and they’re more concerned about turf wars than actually doing useful work. Also why would you ever go to a hierarch to repatriate a dead body when they have no jurisdiction. The body needs to pass through the Canadian Border Services, how’s Archbishop Sotirios going to show them that the body doesn’t have any communicable diseases? You just go to the Government of Canada website and it gives you all the steps. Have you not heard of Google?
ReplyDeleteIt was not the Canadian government that the issue was with. It was the Greek government. The Archdiocese was a last resort that the family tried before I got involved. The point is not the Archdiocese, the point is we have no one to turn to in issues such as the one I described.
Delete“the Archdiocese also proved to my friend that they have ZERO clout.with the Greek government when it came to this issue” well that’s just a cheap shot then and a dumb one.
ReplyDeleteIt would have made far more sense to go through the Ambassadors or through the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association which Ontario MPP Effie is the Vice President of or even through the bureaucrats at foreign affairs.
The Greeks aren’t remotely unified like other ethnic groups in Canada. Until the old school horio mentality Greeks put their egos aside there will never be a national unified group like say how the Jewish people have B’nai Brith Canada which is taken seriously by all levels of government. Our Greeks spent the entire pandemic reporting on its churches and fighting over a piece of metal. One’s stupider than the next.
The family had exhausted all political avenues at the very highest of levels for over four months.
DeleteWhy cant you φακεν greeks sort your shit out without blaming everyone under the sun? Is it really everyone's fault for you not knowing what your doing?
ReplyDeleteExactly. If you've exhausted all political avenues and got nowhere it means you were ineffective. It means you had “ZERO clout.” It's not everyone else’s fault. If you wanna blame the Archdiocese, there's lots and lots to criticize them about starting with Sotirios, but do it about things that are actually in their purview.
Delete2:59 pm: Ya if you're gonna blame Sotirios at least do it for him being a pedo, thief, abuser, and not having a spiritual bone in his body. The actual important things.
Delete11:25 AM LMFAO! True true.
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