The Voice from the Pavement – Peter Adamis 10 MAY 2014.
A copy of the article may be downloaded by clicking on: GOLDEN DAWN IN AUSTRALIA. IS IT A THREAT TO AUSTRALIA SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY
Does the Greek political party Golden Dawn pose a threat to Australia and to Democracy is a question being discussed in the coffee bars, restaurants, social media, the young and the old. Golden Dawn in Australia boasts of having increased its membership base but only through social media outlets does this appear to be a reality.
Recently it created a minor stir when it appeared public with the Australia First Party which appears have similar policies and aspirations based on nationalistic goals. Social Media is assisting Golden Dawn and its supporters are realizing that to attract more members to its cause it appeals on an emotional level that supporting them also supports those living in Greece.
Australians of Hellenic origins like their Anglo Saxon brethren will always have some emotional attachment to their place of origin. Is it any different to Australians of Anglo Saxon heritage who took up arms in support of Great Britain and its struggle against the Hun’ in WW1 and against the “Nazis’ in WW2. I say that there is and at the present moment the fault lies with the founding fathers of Golden Dawn.
The founding fathers in their misguided wisdom to attract members towards their cause went beyond the right wing views of the majority of the Hellenic people. A people who lived a life of conservative values respecting the democratic principles and family values that Western society has been built upon. The founding fathers to increase their membership base took a leaf out of Hitler’s book and like him selected the Hebrew race as being the cause of all their misfortune. This hard line approach attracted those seeking fame, fortune, media publicity, patriotic acceptance and acknowledgement from a people who had enough of war, hostility and strife.
What assisted the Golden Dawn to achieve their goals and aspirations was the Global financial crisis, the Austerity measures that were forced upon them, the mis-belief that the race of Hebrews (Jewish people) were responsible for all of their ills and most of all failing to take responsibility for their own failings which included greed, not preparing for the future and accepting handouts by the EU knowing that at one stage these handouts would eventually come at a price and payments would need to be made.
Golden Dawn supporters quickly latched on to the heart strings of a people who had worked hard to create a superannuation fund for themselves and to live out their lives in comparative luxury without having to worry financial concerns anymore. Golden correctly identified those responsible, the architects of the Hellenic political system that brought upon Greece the austerity measures. In addition, they correctly identified that illegal migration was becoming a major problem Greece and felt they had to do say something to reverse the trend in light of a government that was nothing more than a paper tiger in the eyes of the European Union.
These early victories earned the respect of many of the Greek people who secretly and silently respected what Golden Dawn was accomplishing, but abhorred their methodologies and practices. Practices such as targeting the Jews people, public attacks on migrants in the streets, stopping migrants from obtaining jobs, being selective about providing food, resources and support and security. Public marches that were reminiscent of a Nazi past, with torches, slogans, logos, public gatherings, poor online media coverage.
By some quirk of fate, Golden Dawn was able to attract sufficient voters towards their cause by winning at the polls a reasonable amount of seats to become a threat to the major parties at the time. This alone should have been awake up call to the law makers of Greece that the people had had enough of the political mismanagement of the Hellenic economy.
On reflection one can say that Social Media has propelled the Golden Dawn party to the forefront of every newspaper in the world and attracted right wing parties that are having similar problems in their own country for different reasons. One could say with some degree of certainty that these right wing groups are united in one form of another and one could hazard a guess, have an unwritten agreement to share knowledge and resources in their struggle to gain power. This is also reminiscent of the PLO and the IRA unwritten agreements in past conflicts.
In Australia, one could without prejudice say that the positive aspects of Golden Dawn is that they continue to highlight the plight of the Greeks in Greece. They do this by collecting non perishable food, clothing and other resourceful material to be sent in containers back to Greece for distribution presumably by Golden Dawn supporters to selective markets (the voters). Admirably as this may seem, it is the negative aspects is their methods which reduces their effectiveness in attracting good people to their cause. Their methods are attracting the wrong type of members who lack the skills set to propel Golden Dawn into a credible force work wide.
If Golden Dawn is to be taken seriously, they must review some of their administrative and political policies as well as reviewing the methodologies. Some of the paradigms of the past need to be shed in order for Golden Dawn to be taken seriously as a political party. They must work within the Australian legal system and abide by moral laws that are acceptable in a democratic society. Their attacks on the Hebrew race is not going to win them any friends, their attacks by use of force against illegal migrants will not attract any new members, their selective distribution of resources to non Greeks will not bring them any additional votes, their poor online media coverage by their lawmakers is not appealing and the intimidation and harassment on social media leaves a lot to be desired.
I am of the belief that many would support Golden Dawn if the reviewed their policies on the Hebrew race (Jewish nation), lessen their activities in public with peaceful protests, stop attacks on illegal migrants and allow the law enforcement agencies to do their job, review their political objectives, win the hearts and minds of the Hellenic people with a vision that brings hope prosperity and a secure and stable life style. Enhance their online media public image, stop the social media harassment, build up a support base based on positive policies and discard the negative paradigms of the past. To do this they need to take a hard look at their membership base and what their core values are in order to move forward.
If they can achieve them, then I would be the first like many others of my kind to support them. However, that is something of a dream and it is unfortunate because a few of the policies that they do have are appealing to me, Western values, democratic principles, freedom, a clean environment, respect for one another, family values and freedom of choice.
This should not come as a surprise to many who are following the progress of Golden Dawn in Australia. For whatever reasons they are doing so, one cannot accuse them of not standing up for what they believe in, even it goes against the grain of the many.
As my father would often say: “It’s easier to attract bees with honey rather with vinegar” He should know for he fought as a right wing irregular with the much feared ‘HITTES’ during the Greek Civil War and in the post Hellenic Defence Force. He in his vast wisdom is not fooled by the policies and practices of extreme left and right wing parties in Greece. He believes in the rights of man, his faith, western ideals and democratic principles which he has passed onto his children.
My question therefore needs an answer is Golden Dawn in Australia a threat to Australia society and democracy? I think not for there are sufficient democratic safe guards in place to ensure that everyone has the freedom to speak out against any force that does not respect our Western ideals. To ensure that our ideals are enshrined in our laws, we must be vigilant at all times to ensure that democracy prevails in a political maelstrom.
The Voice from the Pavement – Peter Adamis is a Journalist/Commentator and writer. He is a retired Australian military serviceman and an Industry organisational & Occupational (OHS) & Training Consultant whose interests are within the parameters of domestic and international political spectrum. He is an avid blogger and contributes to domestic and international community news media outlets as well as to local and Ethnic News. He holds a Bachelor of Adult Learning & Development (Monash), Grad Dip Occupational Health & Safety, (Monash), Dip. Training & Assessment, Dip Public Administration, and Dip Frontline Management. Contact via Email: [email protected] or via Mobile: 0409965538