To the Editor:

A lot of fuss was made around a flag that was part of an art exhibition at the Consulate General of Greece in New York. The artist touched on a very serious issue: domestic violence and the abuses and murders in Greece!… Yes, in Greece!

To give emphasis and weight to such a serious Greek – and not only – issue, they chose an equally serious and heavy symbol, the Greek flag. The cloth used was scraps of women’s bedsheets in shades of pink. The work is artistically inspired in conception and execution! Flawless! The problem for some was why use a symbol like the flag and why display it in the Consulate!

As a cartoonist – even an amateur – I answer why not? The use of flags does not change their value, but it gives value and weight to what you touch.

At the Consulate? Again why not? The art exhibition is one of many that take place there. In the end it is a work of art with a very serious message.

The Consul General, being an open-minded man gave the OK. However, after the reactions of some and under pressure from the expatriate media, the decision came from the Greek government and the work was taken down from the exhibition with the hypocritical justification that the flag was being insulted and the presence of this work in a government building is not appropriate.

Again, I see something else behind the decision: the pressure from the right in ND (also call me Samaras) not to upset the extremes – but there is also the subliminal message of the project to the Greek state that it is not doing enough to protect women.

All flags always have something to tell us.

Thanks.

George Sarafoglou

New York, NY