Redux
Every journey circles home
To tell you the truth, I still haven’t understood why, in Cyprus, our national priorities continue to revolve around monuments. I’m even surprised they haven’t made it into the Presidency’s list of priorities, though, on second thought, perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. I also won’t pretend to be shocked that, once again, women monuments are still under scrutiny and discussion. I’ve said it so many times I fear I’ve become repetitive. I won’t be silent, of course, but today is not the day for that discussion.
After all, women are not the celebrated heroes, the political giants, the commandos. They aren’t the ones killing during the war. They are simply the ones collecting the dead, left behind, widowed, assaulted, deprived of their children, who carry on quietly, like our island’s humble donkeys. But, again, I won’t tire anyone today with this topic. Nor even with the question of why, with so many burning issues, Cyprus patriotism remains fixated on stones.
I say this with full respect for those who lost their lives because they believed in something. Yet I find it both interesting and, admittedly, a bit amusing how monuments (and hotels, through an impressive series of “relaxations”) keep popping up while the so called “procedures” are supposedly still underway.
Take Larnaca, for instance. Recently, there was a tree planting ceremony in honour of Donald Trump, yes, Donald Trump, celebrated as a peacemaker of the Middle East and as a tribute to Israeli hostages. The mere announcement sparked reactions. The municipality of Larnaca quickly claimed it had been misled, that it believed the event was purely environmental, and that no permit had been granted. And yet the event went ahead exactly as the organisers intended. Now we are left with the trees which, for me personally, will forever symbolise one thing: in this country, no one listens to us.
More recently, a monument by the Reserve Commandos Association was inaugurated to honour individuals who turned their weapons against democracy and legality, those who died on 15 July 1974, including names of commandos who took part in the coup. Understandably it has triggered intense public debate.
sparking intense public debate.
The Pan-Cyprian Organisation of Families of Fallen Resistance Fighters condemned it as a provocation to democratic sentiment. It then emerged that the monument had appeared illegally in Strovolos without the required permits. The Local Government Agency of Nicosia added that the artistic approach did not match the approved design, while the Municipality of Strovolos confirmed that the marble plaques, were entirely unauthorised. The latest reaction came in the form of a large banner hung on the memorial reading “There is no crime without criminals and no treason without traitors”. It is such a shame, this continuing division in a society facing so many real problems. A display of cunning, if you ask me, that honours no one.
And so you wonder. Every Cyprus resident seems to want their own corner of the world: a parking lot in the neighbour's plot, an extra floor on the building, rules conveniently ignored, licences conveniently forgotten. In the end, it’s far easier to nod, smile, and do what you want than to do what’s right. Against all logic, it works!