Utopian obsessions of a Professor

Για ελληνικά:

~ Ουτοπικές εμμονές ενός καθηγητή

By Yannis Tsiamitros

We are surprised to see the serious Professor’s late interest in ‘Vlachica’ (Aromanian/Vlach number of linguistic idioms). Now that you have closed your sixties, dear professor, it has come to your mind to be the leader of a group to save ‘Vlachica’? Who told you that ‘Vlachica’ was banned by the state (in Greece)? Nobody forbids anyone to speak it. If you go to Metsovo, you will find out (you already know) that everyone speaks it both in family and in public. No one has banned it from doing scientific work, doctoral theses, conferences, etc, here in Greece. Much work has been done on ‘Vlachica’ during recent decades, and no body, neither state nor institutional etc, has been against it. So, you are not the only one to be the leader of a group or as a person for such a purpose, for the first time, nor you and your group do make up any particular 'sparkles of life on a beautiful tree'.

It's really interesting to see you being involved with this subject, it raises our interest and it really doesn’t make us get bored. However, we are impressed by your interest in 'breaking' (not you) Balkan peoples into ethnic groups, more ethnicities, differences, minorities, etc. But, doesn't this kind of 'breaking' weaken the Balkan states and doesn’t help economic and political Great Powers of Europe and World exploit their (of Balkan peoples) natural resources? Aren’t all these situations against our nation, which may make our weak State not even now ‘stand on its feet’? Don't we have borders and don't we know it? Don't we have a state? Dear professor, don't you want a nation-state? Say it straight! But, that's the way things are around the world today. Isn’t it better for us to say that the Greek language, the mother of all languages, is the one which is in danger? After all, if we ‘dig deeper’, Latin language (‘grandmother’ of ‘Vlachica’) comes from Greek language. Believe me, sir, I am neither a ‘nationalist’, nor an extreme, nor evil, nor 'toxic' - a word familiar to you. Of course, I don’t consider you a nation-‘nihilist’ (/εθνομηδενιστής/ in Greek), or anything like that, all these things are far away of my concern.

I really wonder, dear professor, why do you always see people, especially Vlachs/Aromanians (Αρμάνοι/Βλάχοι/Έλληνες in Greek), feel oppressed for their rights? We (Αρμάνοι/Βλάχοι/ Έλληνες) don't feel oppressed! The people of the vast majority of the Panhellenic Vlachs’ Cultural Associations Federation (ΠΟΠΣΒ), made up of more than 100 Associations (the largest in the Balkans, I consider), don’t feel oppressed for their rights! You see?

It is not the first time that you publish on Facebook opinions of other people, who express their satisfaction that there has been found at last one (e.g. you) who is talking with courage about Vlachs and makes them feel not oppressed! You are their Great Liberator! Bravo! Maybe you remember you did this 5 years ago (in 2014) again in Facebook, after a presentation of a book in Veria, we talked to each other in Fecebook, I disagreed with you in a noble way, you couldn’t afford my different opinion and you deleted me, writing to me with disdain at the same time that I cannot ‘stand your level’. Of course, I can’t stand it. You are a professor!

Well done, sir! Have fun and be always good at health! However, I wouldn't raise you on the level of Don Quixote or Robin Hood, as they really express true rebelliousness. Indeed, you are a man with talent and dreams, but let me tell you my humble opinion: I would like to inform you know that the real and traditional world of Vlachs has run its course without return. It does not come back with ‘poems and scarves’. I think you are wasting your artistic talent on the wrong level. Vlachs can no longer live their lives with horses and mules and be ‘Kiratzides’ /Κιρατζήδες/-greek word (there are cars now), they don’t learn ‘Vlachica’ the traditional way (young people learn other languages because that’s the way they will make their living), they do not build traditional houses any more (modern buildings and skyscrapers are constructed), they do not eat traditional pies from the hands of our tender and overworked mother (they get them ready) etc…

Finally, I can accept that there is real emotional value in ‘Vlachica’, but remember: the people, who will decide about it, will be Vlachs themselves and their majority. You have to accept this, as a Democrat you are. Am I right?

However, as I personally assume, you have every right to fight and live with your own utopia and your obsessions.