2nd December 21.
Sadly, the 38-year-old that I referred to in IMLiNG #25 has died. Her name was Parthena “Patty” Koutmeridou. Even while the poor woman’s corpse is still warm, a huge row has broken out. And in these circumstances the favourite weapon of choice is the blame-thrower. Some say it was her gynaecologist who advised here not to get vaccinated. He has denied this and threatened legal action against anyone who maintains that he did. Others say her widower is an anti-vaxxer and pressured her into not getting the vaccine. In today’s paper, one of her friends has claimed that she herself did not want to get vaccinated. It is not clear if this reluctance was based on fears about the welfare of the baby or some other reason.
Earlier in the week the government announced that from January 16th 2022, unvaccinated over-60s will pay a fine of €100 a month. Since the beginning of the pandemic Greece has been largely ignored, but this measure has resulted in the country making headlines internationally. Indirectly, it has also led to the suspension of my Twitter account! Apparently, for advocating suicide. Twitter also gave me the number of a suicide-prevention helpline. I was in bed at 6:30 this morning, still stupefied, when I read that. In a debate with anti-vaxxers I said the new measure might be necessary because unvaccinated over-60s are using up all ICU beds. I added that it wouldn’t be so bad if they quietly accepted the consequences of refusing, but they expect to be treated thereby denying stroke and heart attack victims access to ICUs. Then I recalled my throwaway comment: “Kill yourselves if you want, but don’t kill others.” In context it is not advocating suicide but who can argue with an algorithm!
14 December 2021: This morning a prominent journalist and TV personality called George Trangas (Γιώργος Τράγκας) died. He was an anti-vaxxer, 72-years-old with at least one underlying condition (diabetes). On entering hospital, he announced that he would put his trust in the Highest One (στον Ύψιστο). As his condition worsened, going from oxygen to intubation, other issues kicked in. He was fitted with a stent and his kidneys developed complications. I read articles in www.kathimerini.gr and in its English sister edition www.ekathimerini.com It is interesting to note some of the cultural differences between the articles. The Greek one made no mention of age or the fact that he was an anti-vaxxer (though it did say he was unvaccinated), whereas the English version gave information on both.
Greek: https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/561629137/pethane-o-dimosiografos-giorgos-tragkas/
Cut from the same cloth as Trangas, who skirted with the extreme right, is another bunch of home-grown fanatics who call themselves The Guardians of the Constitution (Οι Θεματοφύλακες του Συντάγματος). Towards the end of last week about eleven of these merry men conducted a civil arrest on a middle-school headmaster, handcuffing him and dragging him off to a police station. At the station the police released the headmaster and detained the so-called guardians. Since then, three continue to be detained pending trial. Needless to say, they are anti-vaxxers. The story is covered here: https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/14/greek-anti-vaxxers-jailed/
Unfortunately, there seems to be a growing number of attacks on personnel in schools and elsewhere by organised groups like the Guardians and off-the-wall, science-denying lone-wolves. Looking further afield, it will be interesting to see how many people in the UK will follow the new guidelines designed to fight the Omicron variant.
On Sunday (12th) we gathered for our third session in the Dubliner. We peaked at 12 musicians including our new “junior section”. It is still too early to say, but I think and hope we are gradually taking root. The manager spoke to me at the end, saying that several customers commented positively on the atmosphere we created. Hopefully, one day they will comment on the excellence of the musicianship! Actually, looking at some of the videos, we are doing OK.
Now a couple of flashbacks to the 70s. The wonderful Bothy Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v5nGq7e8KA
As a kid, in my part of Glasgow it was seriously uncool to be seen with a fiddle. Even at school it was an object of no interest if not disdain, but I gained considerable kudos because I could play the Drowsy Maggie bit of the attached – a big hit in 1971. My teacher not only taught me the melody but also double stopping on the D and A strings to drag out the modal E chord. Great stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1QlNpiyBm8