Europe? Do you hear me? Your border is calling!

Evros - Kastanies
Athina Krikeli Ellopia Press Magazine 
It’s time we draw this line onto the map. A crisis here in Evros, on the border between Greece and Turkey, began on February 29, 2020.
Turkey opened its borders with Greece, encouraging the passage of immigrants and refugees across the border into Greece. Seven days later, the situation has deteriorated.
Daily, attacks have been targeted by Turks and immigrants against the Greek Police and firefighters
trying to keep order at the border. Hundreds of canisters of toxic chemicals and tear gas
have been hurled onto the Greek side of the border.
The Greek border patrols stand steady, guarding the European border, guarding against invasion
as did the Ancient Hellenes at Thermopylae. Greece is forgotten by “Mother Europe,”
a Union that had been created to defend the borders of every member state.

       In 2016, Europe closed its borders to refugees, closed its border with its own member state of Greece, trapping human pawns of foreign wars and poverty within the borders of Greece – a small country,
a population of only about 10 million people, yet it has hosted two million immigrants and refugees.

      Greece has bravely tried to bear the humane responsibility towards these people but can do so no longer.
The burden has become too much for the Greek people and for the entrapped refugees. Now – the Turkish state has opened its own borders, encouraging immigrants that they can pass the Greek border safely into Europe.
​       The response of Europe – is to bow to Turkey, allowing this behavior as a “sultan’s” boisterous geopolitical response. At least, as long as the immigrants and refugees don’t pass through Greece into Mother Europe. There are Germans rubbing their hands at the opportunity to keep Mother Europe “clean,” fascist groups envisioning a new need for Nazi culture, and sending their representatives to Evros to … help? This is a photo op for the far right of Europe! The rest of United Europe has delivered only a few statements of solidarity with Greece.
      As shots are fired in the air with this attempted invasion of European sovereignty, the absence of support from member states is like a gaping hole in the front lines. There is a complete absence of back up, an eclipse of solidarity. We are told that diplomatic consultations may take place in parallel with the actions at the border. “May take place.” None have yet to “take place.” i In the meantime – This is Greece. Our guards remain at the border, a handful of Greeks protecting the interests of Mother Europe from uncontrollable invasion. The landscape becomes clear – who are friends, and who are enemies? If anyone has doubts about the dedication of the Greeks, let them come to Evros and take a walk along the Greek European border with Turkey. Let them come and look upon the Greek army police and fire man guarding the sacred land of “Hellas”: let them see the local residents forgotten by “busy” Athens, declaring that Greece is theirs, to protect and fight for if need be: let them judge the actions of our patrols, police, and firefighters – let them remember that this is the country that was forged in the fight of a few to keep Thermopylae and Hellas for the many