Open letter by Nelly Katsoulis (Greek and English)

Dear Readers,

My statements below are entirely my own. This letter has been translated into Greek as best as I could as an English speaker.

To the current administration of Kythera: how is it possible that the mayor «missed» the news that the community of Kythera suffered a catastrophic loss? Has he not heard that our beloved Kosmas has passed away? That a village president under his administration is no longer with us? I ask because I cannot understand why, forty days since the loss of Cosmas, no statement has been made by the mayor's office. How can we explain that he never addressed a family that is completely devastated? How has he never addressed a grieving island that he is supposed to be running?;

Of course, the mayor knows. He was present at the hospital the night we lost our friend, not, it seems, to support a community that was devastated - but, it seems, to protect a particular person. Was there satisfaction that Cosmas was ultimately driven to react in a way that was completely incongruous with his personality? This good, kind, socially conscious, hard-working man, this beloved brother, son, companion and friend.

How long did it take for them to decide to contact the media to publish the article? Was there any thought about how someone would be affected by reading something like this? Do any of them feel even a little remorse now that they know that this article was published before Cosmas ended his life? I hope the reason they have not made a statement is out of shame. Otherwise, the only conclusion I can draw is that the mayor's entourage is heartless and callous, cowardly, and unfit to govern this island. What excuse do they have?;

And to the man who accuses Cosmas: I hope you have the shame to stay away, to stay hidden. I hope you are thinking about how a bully and torturer can affect people with good and open hearts.

Over the last few years, I've had many conversations about the current administration and one common theme was: “We don't agree with them, but we are afraid to criticize them. ”In a small community like Kythera, is it acceptable that those with the most power are not free to criticize when necessary?;

However, the climate is changing. People are fed up - they are angry and tired of the bullies. They are turning their support to the younger generation, becoming more active in politics and watching your moves closely.

I am emotionally attached to this island because I love it, the place of my great-grandparents, the place of my dear friends, a place where I feel the incredible love and kindness of the people here. I have spent the last two decades getting to know this island and its people.

Cosmas was our best.

Kosmas was part of a movement of young people who decided to stay here, to get involved in local politics and in their community.

Why does this move seem to threaten the current mayor's administration? Why haven't they embraced the younger generation who want to improve this island, which remains despite the last ten years of administration that have resulted in homelessness, sick infrastructure, teacher and health staff shortages, water supply problems, boat problems and unemployment outside of the summer season? How can they not be embraced? Not to protect them? Not celebrate when a community elects them? Not to work with them instead of being against them?;

This community has rallied around Cosmas' friends and family. The hundreds of people who attended his funeral, the hundreds who were there for his forty-day memorial service. This community will support and lovingly embrace his family.

And where are you? The «leader» of this island? The protector of the bully.

Shame, shame, shame.

Nelly Katsouli

ENGLISH

Dear Readers, my statements below are my own entirely. This letter has been translated to Greek to the best of my ability as a native English speaker.

To the current administration of Kythira: Has the mayor somehow missed the news that the community of Kythira has suffered a devastating loss? Has he not heard the news that our beloved Kosmas has died? That a president of a village under his administration is no longer with us? I ask because I cannot understand why, in the forty days since Kosmas was lost, there has not been a statement made by the mayors office? How can we explain why he hasn't reached out to a completely broken family? How have they not addressed an island in mourning that they are supposed to govern?

Though of course, the mayor does know.

He was present at the hospital the night we lost our friend, not to give support to a community reeling - but, it appears, to surround and protect one man. Was there a feeling of satisfaction that Kosmas had finally reacted, in a way completely uncharacteristic of who he was a person? This good, kind, community driven, hardworking man. This beloved brother, son, partner, and friend.
How long did it take to decide to contact the media to publish an article? Was there consideration to the effect reading something like that would have? Is there a single feeling of remorse now knowing this article was published before Kosmas ended his life? I hope that the reason they have not made a statement is from shame. Otherwise, the only conclusion I can draw is that the mayors office is a callous and unkind one, a cowardly one, not fit to govern this island. What excuse do they have?
And to the man accusing Kosmas: I hope you have the shame to stay away, to stay hidden. I hope you consider the effect a bully and a tormentor can have on people with kind and open hearts.
In the years past I have had many conversations about the current administration and a very common theme has been ‘we don't agree with them but we fear to criticize them’ In a small community such as Kithira is it ok that the people who have the most power are not freely criticized when appropriate? The tide is changing though, people have had enough, they are angry, sick of the bullies they are turning their support to the younger generation, they are interested in politics and they are watching you.

I am invested in this island because I love this place, the home of my great grandparents and the home of my cherished friends, a place where I feel the incredible love and goodness of the residents here. I have spent the last two decades knowing this island and her people.

Kosmas was the best of us.

He was part of a movement of young people who decided to stay, decided to involve themselves in local politics and their community. Why does this seem to threaten our current mayor's administration? Why have they not embraced a younger generation who want to better this island, who stay despite the last decade of the current administration yielding a lack of housing, poor infrastructure, a teacher shortage, hospital staffing shortage, water shortages, unreliable ferry schedules and a lack of jobs outside the summer season?
How could they not embrace them? Protect them? Celebrate when a community elects them? Work with them instead of against them? This community has rallied around the friends and family of Kosmas. The many hundreds of people that arrived to his funeral, the hundreds that were there for his memorial. This community will hold tight to Kosmas’ family, they will support and they will wrap their love around them. And where are you? The ‘leader’ of this island? The protector of his tormentor.

Shame shame shame.

Nelly Katsoolis