Greece marked the Armed Forces Day on November 21 with a video projected on the Hellenic Parliament facade on Saturday evening. The controversial video triggered reactions, several media described it as kitsch, and it was mocked on social media.
The video projection on the Armed Forces Day highlighted several battles in the Greek history. One of the projections had a religious theme with saints and church bells featuring Virgin Mary who is the patron of the Greek Armed Forces.
Among the projected historical battles was the Battle of Marathon, the Independent Revolution of 1821 and frigates of the Greek Navy apparently ready to meet the Turkish challenge.
Greeks in lockdown and closed in their homes after 9 o’clock at night found a cheerful way to spend a Saturday night. Dozens of posts on Twitter mocked the video projection.
Αυτό προβάλεται στη Βουλή την ημέρα που η Τουρκική NAVTEX είναι στα 6 μίλια απ τη Ρω. pic.twitter.com/Qv9iAeAWZw
— Andreas Kallioras (@AKallioras) November 21, 2020
“This is projected on Parliament the day the Turkish NAVTEX is 6 nautical miles off [the island of ] Ro.”
Στις σύγχρονα κράτη ο διαχωρισμός εκκλησίας-κράτους έχει ολοκληρωθεί χρόνια τώρα
Ελληνική βουλή: hold my beer 👇 pic.twitter.com/gQvWdBJY80
— DestroGrenadier (@destroxiii) November 21, 2020
“In modern countries, separation between state and church has been concluded since years. Greek Parliament; Hold my beer.”
“Greek Parliament amidst a pandemic”, Europe AD 2020. Get us outta here, now!🆘 pic.twitter.com/5LQJNHmhUg
— mͭoͣrˢfˢiͦsˢ (@TassosMorfis) November 21, 2020
How it started How it's going pic.twitter.com/f61d0xpEoT
— Goodbye Sober Day (@Stelarklas) November 21, 2020
Να την πίνεις τώρα στο Σύνταγμα και να βλέπεις αυτό το πραμα και να λες πω ρε φίλε τι κεφάλι έχω κανει pic.twitter.com/To04pPN0XT
— Λυκομπαλος (@paizwmonoover) November 21, 2020
“Imagine you have a joint at Syntagma and you see this and you think man, am I stoned!”
Older generations described the video as “creepy” then they recalled the times of military dictatorship and its main slogan “Homeland – Religion – Family.”
Το σύμβολο του εφηβικού εφιαλτη μου στη βουλη.
Το σύμβολο της μισαλλοδοξίας και του φονταμενταλισμου. Το συμβολο του ΣΚΑΣΕ, ΜΗΝ ΜΙΛΑΣ, το συμβολο της μαφίας και της ανδροκρατίας, το σύμβολο του ΦΟΒΟΥ, το συμβολο των αρνητών.Το συμβολο της ΣΑΠΙΑΣ πιστης σας, του γιδοτοπου αυτου— Τζιριτζάντζουλα (@biologisttobe) November 21, 2020
“The symbol of my teenage nightmare in parliament. The symbol of intolerance and fundamentalism. The symbol of SKASE, DO NOT SPEAK, the symbol of mafia and masculinity, the symbol of FEAR, the symbol of the deniers. The symbol of your rotten faith.”
“The logo of General Staff on Greek Palriament after ban on gatheirngs and movement. Happy 1967!” somebody wrote ironically.
Others found “inappropriate” the projection of “warmongering, national-christian kitsch” the day Covid-19 killed 108 people. “The names of the dead should be projected,” wrote an Twitter user.
Μια μέρα που 108 άνθρωποι έχασαν τη ζωή τους, η Βουλή φωτίζεται με πολεμοχαρές εθνικοχριστιανικό κιτς. Τα ονόματα των νεκρών έπρεπε να βάλουν. Να τους θυμίζουν το έγκλημα που διέπραξαν με τις πολιτικές τους εις βάρος της δημόσιας υγείας. pic.twitter.com/ijnQw4Ubpu
— Maria Louka (@maria_louka) November 21, 2020
Another one wrote:” With 108 dead, you project Virgin Mary on the Parliament, and you’ve fullfiled your duty as government.”
Με 108 νεκρούς βάζεις μια Παναγία να φωτίζει την Βουλή και έχεις κάνει το καθήκον σου ως κυβέρνηση.
— Βελζεβούλα (@velze_voula) November 21, 2020
Responding to criticism, Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis told Skai TV on Sunday morning: “those who don’t like to see Vigrin Mary, they should drink some Holy Water.”
''Μεγάλη ημέρα υπερηφάνειας''… με 108 νεκρούς .
''Και σε όσους δεν αρέσει να βλέπουν την Παναγιά να πάνε να πιούν λίγο αγιασμό''
Υπουργός ανάπτυξης. pic.twitter.com/9uFho6J117— Ιερώνυμος boss (@JeronymoBoss) November 22, 2020
At least, one news website. Newspaper efsyn wrote “the junta kitsch came back with Mitsotakis.”
I think the people who made those comments need to feel a bit more patriotic and alot less decadent.