Don’t be discouraged if there are criticisms at this time. You are doing a job that is a fundamental stone in the history of our society. I don’t know you all but I thank Todd, Nicole, Dorota, Guido, Davide, Adrien, Ian, Sebastian, Rinigus, Angus, Mohammed, Tobias and all the others whose name I don’t know for your work. I’ll wait for the phone and send it to me when you’re ready.
Good job.
Speech to the Athenians 461 a.c. Pericles -
Here in Athens we do so.
Here our government favors the many instead of the few: and for this reason
it is called democracy.
Here in Athens we do so.
The laws here ensure an equal justice for all in theirs
private disputes, but we never ignore the merits of excellence.
When a citizen stands out, then it will, in preference to
others, called to serve the State, but not as an act of privilege, as a reward for merit, and poverty does not constitute an impediment.
Here in Athens we do so.
The freedom we enjoy also extends to everyday life; we do not
we are suspicious of each other and never bother ours
next if our neighbor likes to live in his own way.
We are free, free to live just as we like and yet
we are always ready to face any danger.
An Athenian citizen does not neglect public affairs when he is waiting at
own private matters, but above all does not take care of the public
business to solve his private matters.
Here in Athens we do so.
We have been taught to respect the magistrates, and we have been taught
also to respect the laws and never forget that we must
protect those who receive offense.
And we were also taught to respect those unwritten laws that
they reside in the universal feeling of what is right and what is
common sense.
Here in Athens we do so.
A man who does not care about the State we do not consider harmless,
but useless; and although few are able to give life to one
politics, well, everyone here in Athens can judge it.
We do not consider the discussion as an obstacle on the way to
democracy.
We believe that happiness is the fruit of freedom, but freedom
be only the fruit of value.
In short, I proclaim that Athens is the school of Hellas and that every
Athenian grows developing in himself a happy versatility, self-confidence, readiness to face any situation and that’s why our city is open to the world and we never hunt a foreigner.
Here in Athens we do so