Homo Sapiens Abstractus

In Greece, there is a term for under-developed countries: “Banania”. It is funny we have devised a term, for which the very first representative - you could call it a “reference representative” as in “reference implementation” in computer science terms - is our own: Greece.

The other day, a close friend of mine had an accident with his bike. We had arranged to meet for a coffee early in the afternoon and when I arrived at the meeting point, I was informed of the accident by others. Fortunately, my friend was in (seemingly) good condition and went to the LAIKO (”ΛΑΪΚΟ”) General Public Hospital himself.

Unfortunately, the situation in the Public Hospital was dramatic. Although doctors could see him only after half an hour’s waiting time (!), we had to be patient enough for another five hours to do the needed X-rays ordered by the doctors. The friend had burns in his arms and legs and one of his knees, although walkable, was swollen. A couple of people were near death and a girl with a broken elbow (that is what all people in the waiting room were speculating) kept screaming, in apparent pain, for more than three hours. Shall I go on? Shall I speak of elder people, alone and helpless in wheel chairs, trying to find the correct “spot” in the Hospital were they could show their exams? Shall I speak of the lack of breathing air in the Hospital corridors and the bad smell floating around?

Now this was a situation that made a lot of the people waiting in the line very angry. It had an effect on me, too: I wished I had in front of me one of these walky-talky super-Greek politicians we have, and …. But, of course, these folks do not go to public hospitals, so I had no chance finding one right there. But then what? Would I burst against some doctor, who tried to do his job? Fortunately, my Shotokan sensei, had done his job extremely well in the past years. Situations like this are really bad instructors. You must absorb the pressure and cool off.

I did. Maybe another time. In the right place. With the right means. Against the right people…

I met Anthony during two or three frappe sessions with bkarak and saiko a few years ago. He was fun to hang out with and talk to. Today, bkarak informed me of the news: This young fellow is not among us any more. Farewell Anthony.

I think this is a very nice opportunity to comment on the general fact that people who come very close to death, if they survive, they view life from a different perspective afterwards. They usually tend to seek essential qualities…. And this makes me wonder: Do we need to come close to death in order to look for quality in our lives?