Enablers

It was so still today that the flags on the promontories heading the harbour hung limply and there wasn’t even a ripple on the sea.
I swam after rowing and now that the temperature of the water has dropped slightly it is much more refreshing. The tourists are all but gone, and the locals are all out in the mornings, walking and swimming, greeting each other and filling in the gaps since the beginning of the season. Some shops are already closing the doors as it is no longer profitable to keep them open with the clients gone.

The local news mentions the case of the priest with the sexing/ texting problem – the word on the street is that he has gone into hiding in a monastery on the coast, not so far from here. Someone I know knows the someone who is in charge of the monastery, and when approached by the media the official response is that the priest in charge is visiting in Roma – which he is, on a school staff trip. As he is on ‘official church business’ he hasn’t taken his 23 year old girlfriend. Interesting that this is acceptable in the community, a pill that I would struggle with as he moralizes at the school about other people’s behavior. The general dictum on this is that he is ‘able’ to behave in this way. My thought is that there are a lot of ‘enablers’ here, people who accept less than acceptable behavior, bullying behavior, corrupt behaviorand thereby let it continue.

Huge news a few weeks ago in the paper was a situation where a journalist from Zagreb contacted the local mayor here - (aside- To put it in perspective, this position is not a community job (as in apolitical) but very much an overtly political one. As such, this man wields a certain amount of power when it comes to ‘who does’ and ‘who doesn’t’) so…

Zagreb journalist contacted the local mayor, recimo, ‘disguised’ as an ‘Arab’ and representing ‘wealthy Arab investors’ who would be interested in investing in property in this community. As told by the journalist, within a very short discussion at a meeting with the ‘Arab’, the mayor had offered to sell numerous community assets – all sorts of bargains to be had around here especially with the coffers a bit empty!

The journalist left, promising to be in contact again shortly with the funds. A day or so later, he called again and suggested that his ‘colleagues’ would be coming to visit this fair town, but, um, they would like some ‘ladies’ arranged for ‘entertainment’. ‘No problem’ says the mayor, my friend * who is director of the local hospital can arrange that for you..’…

Oh, the local paper had a field day, they dined on it for weeks! There were even suggestions that this mayor may have to resign- (in which case he may slide back into the role as director of the hospital..) but of course he didn’t, what were you thinking!

And my fascination with all of this stuff is the fact that the guy made an idiot of himself, should resign, but because he is ‘able’ to do this, he will be protected and will survive. Because at all sorts of levels, there are ‘enablers’. Naturally, some of this stuff is harmless (priests with lovers - who cares) but some of it isn’t. A huge amount of it affects who gets jobs, permits, support and funding. Which if you choose not to align yourself with those wielding the power, leaves you impotent - again, at so many levels.

That’s my rave for today. I’m going to jump on a bike tomorrow and go and take photos of two amazing derelict hotels at beaches on either side of me. Fascinating. Watch this space~!