I read on the news (in Greek; “Τρομοκράτες” ετών 6…) that Greece will start recording the finger prints of all children from the age of six.
Hellooooo, that’s old news already, as I recall reading about it some time ago for the UK (MIllions of children to be fingerprinted). It was only a matter of time to spread over Europe. The rationale, as pointed out, is that everyone could be considered as a potential criminal. However, such centralized gathering of information, as it will take place under EU legislation, it will most likely result into the largest database of personal information for all EU citizens. This will most likely will be against the local constitutional rights of the country members like Greece (that’s my estimation, I need to look it up ), and it also raises several concerns regarding several issues(who will be managing such sensitive information, what will be the level of access to the local governments, and for which reasons, etc.).
If we also consider the fact that long time ago, in 2003, the EU Commission has given the permission to the US authorities to have access on personal information of all EU citizens traveling to the US by airlines (Commission agrees US access to EU citizen personal data), the handling of such personal information database becomes extremely important and critical.
Definitely the issue is not so simple as there are benefits as well, like a unified identification system within the E (after all we are trying to become a real union, right?) and many more aspects. I will definitely have a closer look and post again in the near future I hope.
Today, I got an email/reminder from a man I respect, which included a quote of Isocrates. Despite the fact that it dates almost 2500 back in history, it’s still true and will be true. It is up to modern Greeks to prove him wrong. The English translation is mine .
“Η Δημοκρατία μας αυτοκαταστρέφεται διότι κατεχράσθη το δικαίωμα της ελευθερίας και της ισότητας, διότι έμαθε τους πολίτες να θεωρούν την αυθάδεια ως δικαίωμα, την παρανομία ως ελευθερία, την αναίδεια του λόγου ως ισότητα και την αναρχία ως ευδαιμονία.“ Ισοκράτης (436 – 338 π.Χ. )
“Our Democracy is destroying itself because it took advantage of the rights of freedom and equality, because it taught citizens to consider insolence as right, illegality as freedom, impudence of reason as equality and anarchy as bliss.“ Isocrates (436 – 338 B.C.)
[thanks Harry]
*****
I recently (Dec. 2008) found out the above quote is not properly phrased when translated from ancient Greek and does not reflect Isocrates’ words as spoken, nevertheless, I still believe and support the misinterpreted statement and the messgae it conveyes as to me is representative of today’s status quo in Greece.
I came across an interesting observation in an article about the upcoming generations in the US. The author, among others, is claiming that “…we are essentially churning out ignorant teens who are becoming ignorant adults and society as a whole will pay dearly, very soon…”. The future doesn’t look so bright…
I consider the following video to be a fair and mild demonstrative reflection of the future according to the article. This video has been online for sometime and I’m not aware of the conditions under which it was produced or how was it prepared, etc. Therefore, fake or not yours to decide and embrace or criticize it! I thought it’s an interesting, and maybe indicative, video for the US and many other countries as a future prospect. Enjoy…
), and it also raises several concerns regarding several issues(who will be managing such sensitive information, what will be the level of access to the local governments, and for which reasons, etc.).
Posted by Cωνσtantίnoς 
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Posted by Cωνσtantίnoς 
Posted by Cωνσtantίnoς 
