{"id":367122,"date":"2010-02-26T17:00:48","date_gmt":"2010-02-26T22:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/globalvoicesonline.org\/?p=124334"},"modified":"2010-02-26T17:00:48","modified_gmt":"2010-02-26T22:00:48","slug":"greece-germany-and-the-middle-finger-of-venus-de-milo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/367122","title":{"rendered":"Greece, Germany and the middle finger of Venus de Milo"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the continuing drama of the financial crisis plaguing Greece and the eurozone<\/a>, a row erupted<\/a> last week because of a German Focus Magazine cover<\/a> that depicted ancient Greek statue Venus de Milo<\/a> flipping a middle finger<\/a> at the European Union.<\/p>\n

The magazine also published an accompanying article<\/a> reportedly describing Greeks as the ‘crooks' of the European family.<\/p>\n

The media in Greece elevated the story to a level of popular public scandal, evoking indignation by Greek politicians, and engendering a new round of fierce public discussion on issues of national identity and sovereignty, racism and European integration.<\/p>\n

Indignation and bitter humor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some saw the incident as an instance of “anti-Hellenism<\/a>” or dislike of Greece. On Twitter, sotomi<\/a><\/em> angrily proposed a boycott action<\/a>,<\/p>\n

\n

Boycot German products and German stores in Greece. This should be the answer to Focus cover and German publicity. #GRanswer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

… while Nikos Roussos<\/a><\/em>, echoing a popular recurring theme, focused on war reparations<\/a> allegedly still owed to Greece:<\/p>\n

\n

the best answer would be, if we could finally demand from Germany to pay their debt to us for 2nd World War<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

pascal_<\/a><\/em> bitterly proposed a reaction in kind<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

\u039d\u03b1 \u03b2\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b5\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc Focus \u03bc\u03b5 \u03b5\u03be\u03ce\u03c6\u03c5\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03cc \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03a7\u03af\u03c4\u03bb\u03b5\u03c1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03af\u03c4\u03bb\u03bf: \u03a3\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c7\u03c1\u03c9\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The next issue of the greek Focus magazine should have Hitler on the cover and be titled: We owe you a lot<\/div>\n

Perhaps as a conciliatory gesture, radio producer Antonis Vlavogelakis<\/a><\/em> responded to the cover with a Venus de Milo photo manipulation of his own<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\""Prost<\/a><\/p>\n

"Prost Venus!" by vlavo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Veteran comedian Harry Klynn<\/em><\/a> threw a punch line back at the crisis<\/a>,<\/p>\n

\n

\u0388\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c6\u03af\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b1\u03b3\u03cc\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 600\u03ac\u03c1\u03b1 \u039c\u03b5\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03c1\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03af\u03c2. \u03a4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b2\u03b5\u03bd\u03b6\u03af\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c1\u03ac\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03b4\u03cc\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A friend of mine paid cash for a Mercedes 600cc; but he's paying for gas in installments!<\/div>\n

… while FivosV<\/a><\/em> speculated on the statue's usually unseen fingers<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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\u0395\u03c0\u03b9\u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b5\u03af\u03b4\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf -\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03ac\u03c7\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd- \u03c7\u03ad\u03c1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u0391\u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03b4\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u039c\u03ae\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5. \u0388\u03c4\u03c3\u03b9 \u03ae\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03ac. \u0393\u03b9'\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c3\u03c0\u03ac\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5. #FOCUS<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Finally, we saw one of Venus de Milo's hands. That's how they were originally. That's why they were broken.<\/div>\n

Reflection and social critique<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blogger alepouda<\/a><\/em> weighed the public indignation against the more serious economic crisis<\/a>,<\/p>\n

\n

\u03ad\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03b7 \u03b4\u03b9\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c0\u03b9\u03bf \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03cd \u03c9\u03c2 \u03bb\u03b1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03ba\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b6\u03cc\u03bc\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b1\u03bc\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ae\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03b1 \u03ad\u03c7\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03ac\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c3\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03ac<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I'm pissed that, as a people, we get more angry at getting badmouthed than about messing things up<\/div>\n

…while web designer Cyberela<\/a><\/em> angrily refocused the argument on those responsible<\/a> for bringing Greece to a state of decline:<\/p>\n

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\u039d\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c0\u03ae \u03c3\u03b1\u03c2! \u0395\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03b2\u03ac\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b3\u03b5\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u03cc\u03c2 \u03cc\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b2\u03ac\u03b6\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03ce\u03c3\u03c9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b1 \u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03bc\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b7\u03b3\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03ba\u03c5\u03b2\u03ad\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Shame on you! I'm offended at having to pay for a crisis engineered by others and recoup the loot of the previous government<\/div>\n

kaltsovrako,<\/em> also entreated Greeks to focus on the most important issue<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b3\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03cd\u03bd \u03ad\u03bc\u03bc\u03b5\u03c3\u03b1 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03be\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5 \u03bd\u03bf\u03bf\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c0\u03af\u03b1 [\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9] \u201c\u03b5\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03c2\u201d \u03b2\u03bb\u03ad\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03ac\u03c7\u03c4\u03c5\u03bb\u03bf \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5 \u03b5\u03bd\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 \u039e\u0391\u03a6\u039d\u0399\u039a\u0391 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03a7\u03af\u03c4\u03bb\u03b5\u03c1, \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03bc\u03b9\u03ba\u03ad\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03b6\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9\u03ce\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2, \u03c4\u03bf \u0394\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bc\u03bf \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b1 \u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac\u03b2\u03c1\u03c5\u03c4\u03b1. \u03a1\u03b5, \u03c0\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

they're reproaching us to change our mindset [and] “we” focus on a finger [pointing at the moon] and suddenly<\/em> remember Hitler, the war reparations, Distomo and Kalavryta. What's the matter with us?<\/div>\n

E-Lawyer<\/em> blogger Vassilis Sotiropoulos focused on legal aspects of the controversy<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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\u03c4\u03bf \u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03b5\u03c1\u03ce\u03c4\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03ac\u03bd \u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03af\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1 \u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03bd\u03b1 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c6\u03ad\u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u03c1\u03cc\u03c0\u03bf \u03c3\u03b5 [..] \u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c3\u03cd\u03bc\u03b2\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03bf\u03cd. [..] \u03a4\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae\u03c1\u03b9\u03ac \u03ad\u03c7\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03ad\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03af\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03c1\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b5\u03c2, \u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03c3\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b4\u03bf\u03c3\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03ac \u03c5\u03c0\u03ad\u03c1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03ad\u03ba\u03c6\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2. [..] \u0393\u03b9\u03b1 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ad\u03c8\u03c9 \u03cc\u03bc\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc, \u03c0\u03c1\u03ad\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03ae\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5 \u03cc\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2 \u03b5\u03bd\u03b4\u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b9\u03ba\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b5\u03ba\u03c4\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2. \u03a4\u03bf \u03b5\u03c1\u03ce\u03c4\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03ac\u03bd \u03b7 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ad\u03bc\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b6\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03b5 \u03b9\u03b4\u03b9\u03c9\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ac \u03bc\u03ad\u03c3\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b1\u03b6\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae\u03c2 \u03b5\u03bd\u03b7\u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ae \u03cc\u03c7\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ad\u03bc\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03af\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The legal question posed is whether a magazine has the right to treat a symbol of Greek civilization thus. [..] Courts have ruled out such misinterpretations, traditionally siding with freedom of expression. [..] The political handling of the issue can also potentially have legal ramifications. The question is whether the intervention on private mass media requested [by the government] constitutes an obstruction of freedom of speech.<\/div>\n

(\u0391 day after this opinion was posted, Reporters without Borders reprimanded the president of the Greek parliament<\/a> for requesting that the German government discipline the press.)<\/p>\n

In his blog, Dog Day Afternoon<\/em>, music producer Stathis Panagiotopoulos proclaimed the assertions in the Greek translation of the German article to be true<\/a>,<\/p>\n

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\u201c\u039f\u03b9 \u0388\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03c9\u03c0\u03af\u03b6\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03ad \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd\u03ac \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b2\u03bb\u03ae\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b5\u03bd\u03c3\u03c9\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2. \u03a0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03cd \u03bd\u03bf\u03b9\u03ce\u03b8\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf \u03c3\u03c0\u03af\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2. \u03a4\u03bf \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03b1\u03b8\u03b7\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc \u03bc\u03b9\u03ba\u03c1\u03cc \u03ad\u03b8\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03ac\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b7\u03bd \u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ad\u03b3\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03c7\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u0391\u03bb\u03ad\u03be\u03b7 \u0396\u03bf\u03c1\u03bc\u03c0\u03ac. \u039f\u03b9 \u0388\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03c5\u03c0\u03cc\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9\u03c0\u03c9\u03bd \u03b5\u03c5\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03b1\u03ca\u03ba\u03ce\u03bd \u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03ce\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b5\u03bd \u03b8\u03b1 \u03b5\u03af\u03c7\u03b1\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03bc\u03af\u03b1 \u03b4\u03c5\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03af\u03b1 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03b6\u03ae\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c7\u03c9\u03c1\u03af\u03c2 \u03ba\u03c5\u03b2\u03ad\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b7. \u0393\u03b9\u03b1\u03c4\u03af \u03bd\u03b1 \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03be\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03ac\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ae\u03b4\u03b7 \u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2;\u201d \u03a8\u03ad\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9<\/em>;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“Greeks never -and nowhere- face integration problems. They feel at home everywhere. This sympathetic little nation looks like it has no worries, always dancing like Alexis Zorbas. Greeks feel like fathers to the rest of the European states and would scarcely find it difficult to live without a government, even. Why change perfection?”
\n Is that a lie<\/em>?<\/div>\n

He unleashed a righteous fury of his own at the more simplistic counter-arguments<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

\u039e\u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03c1\u03c7\u03b9\u03c3\u03b5 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03b3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03bc\u03b9\u03ba\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03ca\u03ba\u03cc \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u03c1\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 “\u03cc\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd \u03b5\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03c2 \u03c7\u03c4\u03af\u03b6\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5 \u03a0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd\u03ce\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03af \u03ad\u03c4\u03c1\u03c9\u03b3\u03b1\u03bd \u03b2\u03b5\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03af\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1 \u03bf\u03c0\u03cc\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c0\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03bc\u03bf\u03cd\u03bd \u03ba\u03bb\u03c0” [..] \u03b5\u03bd\u03ce “\u03b5\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03c2” \u03be\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c5\u03c1\u03af\u03c3\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b2\u03b5\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03af\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc\u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u03be\u03b7 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03cd \u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03b3\u03cd\u03c1\u03c9 \u03bc\u03b1\u03c2, \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u03c1\u03cc\u03c0\u03bf \u03bc\u03b5 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03af\u03bf\u03bd \u03b2\u03c1\u03c9\u03bc\u03af\u03b6\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b1\u03be\u03b9\u03ce\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5 \u03c4\u03b7 \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b1\u03c2, \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ad\u03bb\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03c8\u03b7 \u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b4\u03b7\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2, \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf \u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03c3\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc \u03bc\u03b1\u03c2, \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u03b8\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The smallminded argument about “us building Parthenons when they were eating acorns, so how dare they etc.” resurfaced [..] but it's “us<\/em>” that returned to acorns, and the proof is all around us; in the way we pollute and devalue our country, the lack of social conscience, our racism, our national autism.<\/div>\n

Writer and translator Nikos Sarantakos engaged in professional critique of the article's translation<\/a>, focusing on an obvious but overlooked aspect of the controversy:<\/p>\n

\n

\u0395\u03b3\u03ce \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf \u03ac\u03c1\u03b8\u03c1\u03bf \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b5\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c6\u03c9\u03bd\u03ce \u03cc\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03b5\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc, \u03cc\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03c5\u03c3\u03c6\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03b1 \u03c4\u03ad\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03b1. \u03a6\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03ba\u03ac, \u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03b5\u03cd\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2, \u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03b2\u03b5\u03b9\u03b5\u03c2, \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03ba\u03ac \u03c7\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03af\u03b6\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c7\u03b9\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03bf\u03c1, \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03b7\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03c4\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1, \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03ae \u03b3\u03bd\u03ce\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u0388\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2. \u039f\u03b9 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03c4\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf \u03ac\u03c1\u03b8\u03c1\u03bf \u03ae \u03ad\u03bc\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u03b1\u03bd \u03b1\u03c0\u03bb\u03ce\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7 \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03af\u03b1;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I've read the article and don't agree that it's anti-hellenic, defamatory etc. Of course it contains generalizations and inaccuracies, but overally it displays humor, observation, good knowledge of Greece and sympathy towards Greeks. Did it's detractors read the article or did they just fixate on the photo?<\/div>\n

Blogger mindstripper<\/em> published an impassioned letter from a friend<\/a>, tormented by perceptions of Greece abroad and a, perhaps uniquely Greek, kind of grief:<\/p>\n

\n

\u0395\u03b4\u03ce \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03af\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ad\u03c7\u03c9 \u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c3\u03c9\u03c1\u03cc \u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd\u03af\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c0\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b2\u03b3\u03ae\u03ba\u03b5 \u03b7 \u03b4\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03af\u03b1 \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03bc\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1 \u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1, \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u0388\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03bd\u03bf\u03bf\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c0\u03af\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2. \u0391\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac \u03ad\u03c7\u03c9 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03c1\u03cc \u03c4\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1 \u03bd\u03b1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03b8\u03ad\u03c4\u03c9 \u03c3' \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03b6\u03b7\u03c4\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7 \u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae \u03b3\u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03be\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b7\u03bb\u03af\u03b8\u03b9\u03b5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03c5\u03b2\u03b5\u03c1\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03cd\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c0\u03b1\u03af\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c3\u03cd\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9… \u0395\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03c2 \u03b5\u03af\u03bc\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5 \u03cc\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03af.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I've heard all sorts of ironies here about how democracy sprung from a country like Greece, about Greeks and their mentality. But I've long since stopped adding to these conversations the familiar nagging about unworthy politicians and stupid governments and graft takers and the system and… We<\/em> are all those.<\/div>\n

And blogger Roides<\/em>, nicknamed after an iconoclastic and witty Greek author, challenged the perception of who should be affronted<\/a> by the article:<\/p>\n

\n

\u0394\u03b5\u03bd \u03c5\u03c0\u03ac\u03c1\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bc\u03af\u03b1 \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1, \u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03ad\u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c5\u03c0\u03ae\u03c1\u03be\u03b5. \u0386\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7 \u03b7 \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5\u03c1\u03b3\u03af\u03b1\u03c2, \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b1\u03bb\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03bf\u03cd, \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u03b3\u03cd\u03b7\u03c2, \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03ba\u03b1\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ac\u03c1\u03b7 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03a3\u03ba\u03ad\u03c8\u03b7\u03c2, \u03ba\u03b9 \u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7 \u03b7 \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03cc\u03b3\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5 \u03b5\u03af\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03b1\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ce\u03bd. \u03a4\u03bf \u03b5\u03be\u03ce\u03c6\u03c5\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 Focus \u03b8\u03af\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There is no one<\/em> Greece, there never was. Greece of creation, altruism, camaraderie, wage workers and Thought is another thing entirely from the Greece of crooks and all kinds of predators. The Focus cover offends the second kind.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the continuing drama of the financial crisis plaguing Greece and the eurozone, a row erupted last week because of a German Focus Magazine cover that depicted ancient Greek statue Venus de Milo flipping a middle finger at the European Union. The magazine also published an accompanying article reportedly describing Greeks as the ‘crooks' of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5906,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-367122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5906"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=367122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367122\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=367122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=367122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=367122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}