many, small, naked kings

 Many Small, Naked Kings

The more primitive a society, the more it covers up its problems and pretends they don’t exist.

“The Emperor’s New Clothes,” the well-known fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, is timeless but varies in intensity and scope from country to country. 

It tells the story of a king deceived by two swindler tailors who convinced him they were sewing a splendid garment, invisible to those who are incompetent or foolish. 

The king, afraid to admit the truth, paraded naked through the streets, while all his subjects admired him, too scared to speak the truth—until a child shouted, “The king is naked.”

In all Arab Middle East countries, social and political criticism is so restricted that stepping slightly beyond vague boundaries can get you swept away. For example, in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, there are very few influencers, and they face imprisonment for the slightest misstep. And in Turkey too.

…And in Europe and the USA, until recently: people were imprisoned for saying there are two genders.

From this perspective, things are better in Greece: yes, the justice system is a mess, but freedom of speech exists, and you can openly curse the injustices done to you. 

That’s something, at least.

However, there are many small, naked kings we don’t easily notice. 

For instance, nobody talks about the fact that the medical profession is under persecution and that practicing medicine has become a form of abuse. 

Neither medical associations, nor medical schools, nor scientific societies speak out. 

Nor do unionists or political parties address it properly: they muddle it with political and ideological tricks to an excessive degree. 

General denunciations of capitalism and the right wing are not enough.

The fact that the population of Greek citizens, as well as visitors to the islands, is essentially medically uncovered is not specifically commented on by anyone. 

And, most importantly, the necessary international complaints and legal actions have not been pursued. 

Every brain aneurysm in Crete that isn’t embolized and remains there waiting for a miracle to avoid paralysis should be followed by an international complaint and a compensation lawsuit against the Ministry of Health.

This happens in some countries: for example, in Denmark, where they privatized the radiology process in some hospitals, a patient sued the ministry and was compensated because a misdiagnosis worsened their condition.

Every parent whose child isn’t operated on at the Children’s Hospital due to a lack of surgeons should file a compensation lawsuit, with legal support funded by political parties and social organizations.

Doctors have reached their limits with overwork and exploitation. Their incomes are being cut and plundered: a classic example is laboratory doctors. And nobody speaks out.

In my last post, where I wrote that doctors in Greece are insecure, stressed, and persecuted professionals, it gained huge traction within 24 hours. From doctors themselves and the public alike. 

Doctors need to stop pretending to be relaxed, cool, classy, or successful and face and speak the truth about what’s really happening to them: 

that they are constantly deceived, exploited, and abused.

No more many small, naked kings.