Απάντηση του Γιάννη Καψή στη Daily Mail για Αλαμουντίν και Mάρμαρα

Θα διαβάσατε, ίσως, το άκρως επιθετικό άθρο της βρετανικής Daily Mail για την επίσκεψη της Αλαμουντίν στην Ελλάδα και την προσπάθεια για επαναπατρισμό των μαρμάρων του Παρθενώνα.

Στο λίβελο αυτό απάντησε ο Γιάννης Καψής, με επιστολή που έστειλε στην εφημερίδα.

Διαβάστε εδώ το άρθρο της εφημερίδας.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2793354/robert-hardman-clooneys-stick-posing-hello-stop-kicking-britain-elgin-marbles.html

Και

Dear Mr Hardman,

Having read you article “If only the Clooneys would stick to posing on Hello, and stop kicking Britain in the (Elgin) marbles”, I cannot help but think that the combination of sensationalist journalism and right-wing cynicism is a powerful kick – not in the (Parthenon) marbles – but in common sense.

Truth be told, I do not have an opinion on the legal arguments of neither the Greek, nor the British side. I would not have taken the time to respond to your article, had it been a critique of the Greek Government’s judicial rationale. Besides, “possession is nine-tenths of the law” and as we speak the marbles are laying in Bloomsbury and not in Athens.

However, you did not stick to the judicial side of the issue at stake. Your – completely legitimate – argument that the marbles belong to the British Museum, evolved into something of a socio-political critique of contemporary Greece.

You see, the reason the crisis-stricken Greek citizen is paying for Mrs Alamuddin’s luxurious hotel, is not her husband but the cause of bringing back the Parthenon marbles. I realise that 3000 euros per night might seem a little over the top to you, but it is nothing compared to what the UK citizen is paying for flashy royal weddings and Prince Harry’s state visits to Las Vegas. Personally, I would never criticise your country’s devotion to the Monarchy because I know that this institution has helped you get through thick and thin. What you must understand however, is that our classical heritage has helped us exactly in the same way – and we are entitled to such harmless manifestations of national pride.

Similarly, your argument that Lord Elgin saved the marbles from an Ottoman dystopia is rather problematic. Although the Ottoman authorities were not particularly famous for their interest in archaeological conservation, the Parthenon had stood – pretty much undamaged – for two thousand years prior to Elgin, and had survived numerous wars and occupations. With this in mind, I doubt that Lord Elgin violently removed the marbles only to protect them. Even if this was the case however, I can assure you that contemporary Athens is perfectly safe and we can now take care of the marbles ourselves.

Although I realise that these days nationalist feelings are running high in Britain, I was appalled by your neo-colonialist and didactic tone. “But was Elgin wrong? After all, Greece as we know it today did not even exist at the time”, you say. I’m not asking you to embrace the Greek Independence movement of the early 1800’s, but you could at least respect the countless British sailors who fought alongside my ancestors in the Battle of Navarino. Ever since that, our two countries have a long-standing friendship that leaves no room for such cynical comments.