Do you think hellenes exist today? where are they located?

[Lesley Madytinou]

Any excuse for a toast Mano, eh?

Seriously, I don't see it is as isolation.....its solitude. Peace and quiet....far away from the milling crowds and traffic and crime and riots, (etc, etc).

A sense of belonging to absolutely anything, absolutely anywhere is a state of mind. One can be in a room full of people and still feel alone. Belonging to and sensing the presence of a community, especially a religious one is more about how aligned one is with the community spirit than it is about how many people you surround yourself with.

If one is working toward the goals of the Ethnikoi, one is not ever without the kinship of Hellenes (both living and long gone). It is only when one is working towards one's personal goals (rather than the goals of the collective Ethnikoi) that one could ever doubt the presence of Hellenes or feel isolated.

Just my opinion, of course

[Elektra]

Hello all!

This is my first post here. After looking through the great range of posts for a couple of days now, I thought that its time I should post a piece and make a small introduction of myself to get warmed up a little. So here goes...

My name is Elektra and I have been living in Lesvos for the past twenty years (I was born overseas and came to Greece at the age of 10). My native language isn’t English but Greek, however, I plan to write sometimes in English as well, so please forgive me if I commit any mistakes.

Many times in my life I have had that very familiar feeling that Lesley mentioned in her post, of being in a room full of people and feeling alone.Sometimes, being alone, is good. This reminds me of a story that I read once, about a boy who was sitting one day in the desert alone. He could'nt see anything. He could'nt hear anything.......but he felt something sparkling in the silence. Then he said to himself:"What makes a desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well".

I had to go all the way to India a few years ago to realize this, and beleive me, I felt alone even though I was in a bunch of people who thought they were close to god... It was then, after I came back, when I heard for the first time in my life about Socrates and Platos teachings. My life changed since then.

Elektra

[Lesley Madytinou]

Hi Elektra

Its great to see you here

What a beautiful story. Another amazing thing about a desert is how much life there actually is in such a seemingly desolate place. Life that hovers outside of plain sight. Deep in the sand, just below the surface. This is my point about solitude.....it may seem like one is alone but really there is so much life below the surface and just because we can't see it doesn't mean to say that it isn't there.

We must have that kafe soon :)

Lesley

[Elektra]

Hi Elektra

Its great to see you here

What a beautiful story. Another amazing thing about a desert is how much life there actually is in such a seemingly desolate place. Life that hovers outside of plain sight. Deep in the sand, just below the surface. This is my point about solitude.....it may seem like one is alone but really there is so much life below the surface and just because we can't see it doesn't mean to say that it isn't there.

We must have that kafe soon :)

Lesley

Lesley and Mano, its great to see you here too.

Yeah we must have that cafe... perhaps this Sunday if its ok with you.

I'll contact you via email to arrange it.

[Hiketes]

Welcome Elektra.

[Elektra]

Welcome Elektra.

Thank you Hiketes.