Guardian
May 11, 2012
In Greek Orthodox churches light plays a dramatic part. Candles burn in the shadows, while sunlight from high windows makes mosaics glint. In this photograph the spiritual power of light has been stolen. The religious becomes political. No god is being worshipped here. Instead, the flares held aloft are offerings of light to a nation, in a gesture that evokes the pompous, histrionic rituals of the fascist political tradition.
These men lighting up the night are members of Golden Dawn, the far right party that has won 21 seats in the Greek parliament. The 7% it got among a splintered array of parties may not look much but it is a massive leap from a 2009 election share of just 0.23%.
Images of extremist parties strutting their stuff – this display celebrating the election result took place in Thessaloniki – have a certain apocalyptic fascination. Especially when Golden Dawn activists also reportedly yelled "Blood and honour" and sang martial anthems. They are not exactly hiding any echo of 20th-century political darkness – they also flaunt a symbol that unmistakably resembles a swastika.
More
No comments:
Post a Comment