There is a very small country in the Mediterranean sea, that ihereted to our world thousands of words used in all sciences and everyday communication. Music and Democracy are two of these words. Today they are intricately connected, through a personal sacrifice that reflects all free thinking people, despite origin, race, religion or gender.

Every living entity on our planet, human beings, animals and plants, seem to respond to the magical frequency that is music. I do not think that a single person exists that has not surrendered to music. The origin of the word is from the ancient Greek word ‘mousiki’ from the Nine Muses, goddesses of music and the arts. ‘You are my muse, my inspiration’, an expression we are familiar with. Democracy, a combination of two words, is self-explanatory; ‘Demo’, the ancient Greek word for ‘people’ and ‘cracy’, ancient Greek word for ‘state’. Here we have it, democracy or people’s state. I can not help but think of a phrase in the American Constitution; ‘created by the people and for the people’.

Today is both a joyous and sad day for our world, as the personal sacrifice of one musician reflects not just what happened to him, his family or country but to our world; the detrimental effects of abuse of power. We saw this before in history; Nazi members burning books, knowledge, music; challenging our freedom to exist. How we, as people, have not learned from WWII and other reflections of our own human atrocities, is beyond my understanding.

Today the Greek judiciary system, through its democratic process, ruled against Golden Dawn, the Neo Nazi group in Greece and declared it, what it actually is, a criminal organization. The murder of musician Pavlos Fyssas and his mother’s pain and sacrifice, will not be in vain. His life was cut short. His voice never will. Today, we are sad because a young life was sacrificed on the altar of hate, prejudice and fanaticism. We are happy, because Democracy can work, if we, as people, stay informed, active and emotionally connected. Today, because of Pavlos’s sacrifice, MUSIC and DEMOCRACY have a pulse. Even though his life’s pulse was brutally terminated.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

Evelyn Beatrice Hall, *The friends of Voltaire”.