During the 1980s in Greece, one particular advertising slogan was considered very effective. “Give and Save” was used by the Anti-Cancer Foundation to advertise its fundraising campaign. The slogan sounds even better in Greek as it rhymes (doste kai soste). The slogan came to mind when I first heard about the initiative of the speaker of the Greek Parliament, Filippos Petsalnikos, to establish the so-called “Solidarity Account for Greece” where Hellenes from all over the word could contribute funds to help with the repayment of the nation’s exorbitant public debt.

The initiative was also quickly embraced by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias, and thus enjoyed even more prominence. Here in Australia, however, it was received with mixed reactions by the Greek-Australian community. The leading Greek Australian publication Neos Kosmos wrote in one of its editorials that the idea was “unrealistic”, which even “if it was stemmed with success would not solve any problems”.

The editorial further points out that if Greece wants to solve the economic and financial problems, it needs to take those necessary measures to restructure its economy, to curb the squandering of public funds and create the appropriate entrepreneurial environment that would attract investments.

Most of the Greek Australians I spoke with were also a bit sceptical about the usefulness of the Solidarity Account initiative. It wasn’t because they didn’t care about Greece or the magnitude of the crisis. On the contrary, they were more than genuine when expressing their distress about the situation. Yet, they felt that by committing funds to this account they were merely throwing money into a black hole.

Inherently mistrustful, and for good reason, of the Greek bureaucracy’s ability to manage even the simplest of tasks they believe the idea to be a paradox in terms. “It’s like letting the wolf guard the sheep,” a good friend, Con, said to me encapsulating the oxymoron of it all.

It’s also a bit strange to hear a high level politician of a country arguing for charity. I can’t help but imagining a person on the street asking you: “Can you spare some change, man”. I don’t think this is an image of a country that Greece wants to portray even during these dire times.

Nonetheless, it should not escape our consideration the fact that many things in politics are all about symbolism. Throughout Greek modern history dating from the Independence struggle against the Ottoman rule in 1821, which we will be commemorating on the 25th of March, the role of the Greek Diaspora has been instrumental in the foundation and shaping of the Modern Greek state. There is a common belief among all Greeks that although we’re characterised by constant squabbling among different groups and especially among antagonising egos, during times of crisis we all unite as a fist for the good of the nation and eventually overcome any adversity.

In this sense that is probably, I believe, what the idea behind the establishment of the “Solidarity Account for Greece” is trying to achieve. It is sending a message loudly and clearly that Greece is in the midst of a tremendous uphill battle that requires all Greeks joining forces and becoming again one tight fist.

At least one Greek Australian woman living in Sydney was caught up in the symbolism and announced to the Greek Australian media that she was committing some of her savings to the solidarity fund.

The undisclosed sum that 88-year-old Dorothy Buckland is contributing was amassed, according to my information, through years of collecting spare change that she would only use for charity purposes. So quite literally this Greek Australian woman can certainly spare some change and I’m sure many others will follow suit.