Having recently read an article on the Australian "Daily Telegraph" by Joe Hildebrand ( http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/joehildebrand/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/exclusive_the_rise_and_fall_of_civilisation/ ), it would be appropriate to make a few remarks on it, seeing from both sides of the same coin.
Mr. Hildebrand is indeed right for the most of the article. He came to Greece to do research and research he did. He discovered the facts that have led the Greek people down this road, or at least SOME of those facts.
It would be quite a false statement if one were to say that the Greeks were cautious and careful people. No. This would be a lie. They have a deep seeded need for expenditure, even if they know that it is beyond their reach. They have a saying that "poverty demands a good time", which translates to spending every little dime they are able to get their hands on since they won't be able to do anything useful with it anyway.
Greeks are like this for a number of reasons. Firstly, because of their vanity. They do not want to be called stingy. They give to others even if they don't have for themselves. Second, they like having a good time. There's a reason this place is known as a paradise for holidays. People here know how to enjoy themselves, no matter the cost. And lastly because they don't like to think about tomorrow. Greeks are lazy. They do not want to think about going to work the next day or any other responsibilities they may have. And the unemployed ones just like to leave their worries behind them.
As for Mr. Hildebrand's example, yes many stores do this. They try to keep the few customers they have so that they may approach other customers as well. So they end up wasting a lot of their provisions just for one or two tables (since in this case we were talking about a restaurant).
But when we say that Greek people are big spenders, we mean all the Greeks. From the common folk to the ones in charge. And it is mostly because of those people's never ending love for expenditure, that the country is in the sorry state that it is in today.
The few Greeks remaining that actually have jobs though (and this is worth remarking) are among the most hard-working people across Europe. They are forced to do the labor of their colleagues that the companies had to let go (because they weren't making enough profit), so they end up doing 11 and 12 hour shifts and getting next to nothing for it.
So, yes, Greeks are lazy, frivolous and financially unstable, but when it comes down to it and they have to work, they get the job done. All this country needs is some better guidance.
Mr. Hildebrand is indeed right for the most of the article. He came to Greece to do research and research he did. He discovered the facts that have led the Greek people down this road, or at least SOME of those facts.
It would be quite a false statement if one were to say that the Greeks were cautious and careful people. No. This would be a lie. They have a deep seeded need for expenditure, even if they know that it is beyond their reach. They have a saying that "poverty demands a good time", which translates to spending every little dime they are able to get their hands on since they won't be able to do anything useful with it anyway.
Greeks are like this for a number of reasons. Firstly, because of their vanity. They do not want to be called stingy. They give to others even if they don't have for themselves. Second, they like having a good time. There's a reason this place is known as a paradise for holidays. People here know how to enjoy themselves, no matter the cost. And lastly because they don't like to think about tomorrow. Greeks are lazy. They do not want to think about going to work the next day or any other responsibilities they may have. And the unemployed ones just like to leave their worries behind them.
As for Mr. Hildebrand's example, yes many stores do this. They try to keep the few customers they have so that they may approach other customers as well. So they end up wasting a lot of their provisions just for one or two tables (since in this case we were talking about a restaurant).
But when we say that Greek people are big spenders, we mean all the Greeks. From the common folk to the ones in charge. And it is mostly because of those people's never ending love for expenditure, that the country is in the sorry state that it is in today.
The few Greeks remaining that actually have jobs though (and this is worth remarking) are among the most hard-working people across Europe. They are forced to do the labor of their colleagues that the companies had to let go (because they weren't making enough profit), so they end up doing 11 and 12 hour shifts and getting next to nothing for it.
So, yes, Greeks are lazy, frivolous and financially unstable, but when it comes down to it and they have to work, they get the job done. All this country needs is some better guidance.
