Downloads : RS 2010 Conference Report (1.43 MB) - Regents School

Before I begin my narrative, imagine that you look out
of the window; then look out of the same window with
another person; look again with a crowd. The view will
remain the same but your perception of it, the resonant
feeling the same view will induce, will vary each time.
Since we exist and live together, this example is part of our
daily lives. We unintentionally affect the others’ view of
the world.
So, about a month ago, the Queen and I found ourselves in a
less than welcoming environment. Whilst in Athens, after
my son’s wedding, and in an effort to go from one end of
Syntagma Square (which translated, means Constitution
Square) to the other, we had to go through what most
people would consider ‘big trouble’. Hundreds of enraged
truck drivers, angry at the new austerity measures, were
threatening to enter the Parliament building. Not the
best place for a former Head of State to take an afternoon
stroll one would think… It turned out that it was in fact a
very good place to be when the afternoon stroll became a
lesson in life and a lesson I hope, for all the future leaders
in this audience.
I was questioning my decision as I was nearing the crowd,
when I heard whispering and then a cheer. Angry faces
were turning into smiles, waving hands were now shaking
ours. After days of agitation the men and women stood
still. It did not matter whether I agreed with their presence
in Constitution Square nor did it matter if they agreed with
mine. But as my wife, the protestors and I walked together
around our nation’s symbol of Democracy, talking about
things other than truck licenses, I was reminded that there
are times when one needs to express anger and there are
moments when we all must stand still. Together. All that
we had done was to give, unintentionally, the opportunity
to an angry crowd, to look ‘outside their window’ for a few
moments, with different company.
My ‘line of work’ entails walking together with the largest
variety of people: poor and wealthy, friends and foe, the
most interesting and the truly boring.. What luck! I t made
me realize at the right age that no matter how we label our
co-walker.. we cannot avoid the walk itself. You wake up
each morning without knowing who will be joining you
on your journey or what you are about to see together.
I have talked about walking with a person, (in my case
my wife), walking with a crowd; I would like to take a few
minutes to talk about walking with a nation.
all ideological and political beliefs. That was my parents’
mission for me – service to the people was my true
education, so much so, that I wanted future generations to
gain this experience. I grasped the opportunity by helping
to make Round Square a vehicle to that end.
As Head of State, I continued to explore Greece: Every
single village vibrated with echoes of our great history; the
eminence of my parents and forefathers had marked the
land with brilliance; around me I saw exceptional men
and women who had fought, starved and lost in the name
of our country.
I kept seeking these unique experiences until I felt I could
truly say, ‘now, I walk with my country.. she leads me as
much as I lead her’. We lead each other, we lead together.
The moment that I felt that my presence could
unintentionally harm my country, my family and I left.
The track changed but we were still walking it together.
And so, we survived together.
The journey - it has been longer than a walk…resembles
a sailing voyage: you may have the best intentions and
skills, but if the winds are against you, it will not be an
easy ride. Every experience that the journey has given
me, good or bad, made me humble. Those trips in my
childhood, getting to know my country, having to move
away for some time and finding the right time to return;
Greece still humbles me.
One of the keys to humbleness, as condescending as this
may sound, is not to wait for it to show itself to you. We
need to seek it, we must remind ourselves of it. We all
need to bow to something: a symbol, a God, an idea, our
history or the night-sky, whatever makes one feel small,
bow to it.
That is my understanding of walking together and that is
why I started this speech by confessing, that I feel I am just
at the beginning.
All of us who have committed ourselves to the purpose of
Round Square are eager to make it a means for the next
generation to take as many walks together as possible.
Thank you, Regents’ School for so effectively making
this a reality for yet another year and for hosting a truly
motivating and successful conference.
That is how I have always faced my duty to my country:
as a young Crown Prince, I was taught to take in all kinds
of experiences and I was encouraged to meet people from
all backgrounds, from every corner of Greece, people of