Diomedes Komnenos : 16 years old; one of the youngest victims of junta crackdown, killed Nov 16, 1973
For many Greeks of older generations the Anniversary of the Student’s uprising revives memories of deliberate arrests, physical and psychological torture,, military courts, imprisonment and heavy torture, exile in remoted Greek islands, suppression of political freedoms and civil liberties, oppression and fear.
The Slaughterhouse
I believe the best way to transfer the atmosphere is through art. That’s through Music first of all…
I found this song called “The Slaughterhouse” (Το σφαγείο), transmitting the desperate feeling of tortured and imprisonment
Music/Lyrics Mikis Theodorakis …. the per se resistance composer
Lyrics: The Slaughterhouse
At noon they are beating up in the office
I count the beatings, the blood I count
I am a fatling, shut in a slaughterhouse
today you, tomorrow me
In the evening they are beating Andreas up in the terrace
I count the beatings, the pain I count
behind the wall we will be together again
“tock, tock” from you, “tock, tock” from me ”
Which means, in this mute language
I am holding strong, I am holding on
In our hearts the festival begins
“tock tock” from you, ‘”tock tock” from me
Our slaughterhouse smelt of thyme
and our cell of red sky
Video M. Theodorakis/Vassilis Papaconstantinou
Start of the struggle (Πάλης Ξεκίνημα)
The lyrics were written by Alexandros Panagoulis (1939-1976), Greek politician and poet, long time companion of Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci.
On trial by the junta
Alexandros Panagoulis, a tragic figure of the resistence against the military junta (1967-1974), became famous through his attempt to assassinate dictator Georgios Papadopoulos on 13 August 1968 , but also for the torture that he was subjected to during his detention. He was killed on May 1, 1976 during a car accident. Many raised suspicion that he was murdered in order to prevent him for publishing his files about the military police.
Lyrics: Start of Struggle/The First Deads
Start of Struggle
New Fights
Leaders of Hope
The first deads.
No more tears
Graves are closed
Freedom compost
The first deads.
Fire Flower
comes out of tombs
sent message
The first deads.
Tey will get answer
unity and struggle
in order to find rest
The first deads
Video– Music: M. Theodorakis, Lyrics: A. Panagoulis, Performance: Theodorakis/Maria Farantouri
Footage: Pictures from Students’ Uprising
information sources and links: wikipedia
Now you went beyond talking Greece, you are also singing to the country and student´s legacy of freedom to us all. Bravo sou!
Jan
http://athenspassion.blogspot.com/2011/11/students-legacy-nov-17th.html