Greeks
May 25, 2007 | 4:04 am
#1
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Greeks
Why is it that whenever I dine with Greek friends I get a "lecture" at least once during the meal. The lecture is usually about how bad America and 'American values' are, but the lecture usually starts off like this, "Do you know the root of this word?" Then,they tell me it's a Greek word. Then, they usually come to a part in the lecture where they tell me how advanced the Greeks were when other Europeans were still living in caves. This last lecture started off, "People don't respect Greece, people don't respect my country..."
Why do Greeks tend to do this? I've never met people who do this as much as the Greeks. These are people I've know for 10 or 15 years, friends. I do not need the lecture, I've heard it many times before. Last night it finally got to me, "It is not just Americans who don't know about culture", he said, "there are many Europeans....", he continued. Then I had to listen about how cultured and sophisticated the Germans,Austrians and Swiss are. Greeks always seem to think very highly of Germans, Austrians and Swiss people
At the end of the conversation I said that people are people,and that at the end of the day (deep down inside), there's not much difference between a Dane and a Greek or a Belgian and a Greek. Well, you can imagine the outrage this statement caused. They told me that northern Europeans are cold, they don't believe in family, they are immoral and would let their own brother die in the street, etc. etc,
Has anyone else had similar experiences? After last night I'm beginning to think that people who do this are not proud but have an inferiority complex .
Why do Greeks tend to do this? I've never met people who do this as much as the Greeks. These are people I've know for 10 or 15 years, friends. I do not need the lecture, I've heard it many times before. Last night it finally got to me, "It is not just Americans who don't know about culture", he said, "there are many Europeans....", he continued. Then I had to listen about how cultured and sophisticated the Germans,Austrians and Swiss are. Greeks always seem to think very highly of Germans, Austrians and Swiss people
At the end of the conversation I said that people are people,and that at the end of the day (deep down inside), there's not much difference between a Dane and a Greek or a Belgian and a Greek. Well, you can imagine the outrage this statement caused. They told me that northern Europeans are cold, they don't believe in family, they are immoral and would let their own brother die in the street, etc. etc,
Has anyone else had similar experiences? After last night I'm beginning to think that people who do this are not proud but have an inferiority complex .
May 25, 2007 | 6:48 am
#2
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I watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" again last weekend. I assumed it was all a joke, but maybe it presents things as they are. If so, it's just a case of nostalgia for past glory and a need to still have something to be proud of.
BTW, I don't run into any Greeks on a regular basis. For that matter, I don't run into any on an irregular basis. Last Greek I met was 2nd generation and that was 30 years ago.
BTW, I don't run into any Greeks on a regular basis. For that matter, I don't run into any on an irregular basis. Last Greek I met was 2nd generation and that was 30 years ago.
May 25, 2007 | 7:14 am
#3
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MisterNice
May 25, 2007 | 8:30 am
#4
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Wow. Somebody has a 4,000 year old chip on their shoulder.
May 25, 2007 | 8:35 am
#5
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Please continue to follow this thread in our Travel->Europe forum, Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TBuzz.
May 25, 2007 | 9:09 am
#6
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Art is Indian!
The Queen? Indian!
Christianity? Indian!
Father Christmas? Indian!
There are plenty of Brits who do the same -
Jesus? Englishman!
The Queen? Indian!
Christianity? Indian!
Father Christmas? Indian!
There are plenty of Brits who do the same -
Jesus? Englishman!
Last edited by LapLap; May 25, 2007 at 9:18 am
May 25, 2007 | 9:28 am
#7
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Oh well, i've been working with Greeks for the last seven years or so within the framework of projects across Europe. In my personal experience, they have been the most reliable partner and among the most friendly ones. Although they sometimes remind me forcefully that while my "ancestors were still climbing trees", their ancestors were "building the Acropolis". For me, it is just another way of telling me "Hi, it is good to see you again" 
and I tend to be disappointed when I don't get this treatment.
Of course, being French, I tend to give them back as much and usually thank them for giving us the Victory of Samothrace and the Parthenon marbles to Lord Elgin and the British Museum
.
and I tend to be disappointed when I don't get this treatment. Of course, being French, I tend to give them back as much and usually thank them for giving us the Victory of Samothrace and the Parthenon marbles to Lord Elgin and the British Museum
.
Last edited by JOUY31; May 25, 2007 at 9:41 am
May 25, 2007 | 9:43 am
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Two historian, one Chinese, one Jewish, are comparing notes.
Says the Chinese historian: "You know, we have the world's oldest culture. It goes back 4,000 years!"
"Sorry, we have that beat," the Jewish historian. "Our culture is 5,000 years old!"
The Chinese historian's mouth gapes. "Wow! Where did your people eat for the first 1,000 years?"
Says the Chinese historian: "You know, we have the world's oldest culture. It goes back 4,000 years!"
"Sorry, we have that beat," the Jewish historian. "Our culture is 5,000 years old!"
The Chinese historian's mouth gapes. "Wow! Where did your people eat for the first 1,000 years?"
May 25, 2007 | 6:29 pm
#9
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In some cultures their education seems to focus on whatever period in history their particular country or culture was dominant. So the Greeks learn all about the period from the Iliad to the Roman Conquest, while the Turks like to focus on the Ottoman rulers (especailly Suleyman) and the Hungarians and Danes think back to around the year 1000, etc.
When they compare the historic situation with which they are so familiar with today's world it just doesn't seem right.
Another old saw I always used to hear was "America has no history". People from Western Europe don't trot that one out so often any more, but I still get it from people from the former Soviet Bloc.
May 28, 2007 | 6:50 pm
#10
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As a Greek, I just could not help but laugh at the initial post
You will find that the more traveled and educated you are the less you fall into that category who feel they must do this crap...I know what you are talking about...Tell the ones who do it that this Greek can find many many fellow country men who have no culture at all...
As previous posters indicated...it happens in many cultures...we Greeks seem to do it particularly well...considering that the world owes it to us for being civilized...LOL
at the same time, we Greeks seem to have a sarcastic sense of humor...are you sure they are not pulling your leg
You will find that the more traveled and educated you are the less you fall into that category who feel they must do this crap...I know what you are talking about...Tell the ones who do it that this Greek can find many many fellow country men who have no culture at all...
As previous posters indicated...it happens in many cultures...we Greeks seem to do it particularly well...considering that the world owes it to us for being civilized...LOL
at the same time, we Greeks seem to have a sarcastic sense of humor...are you sure they are not pulling your leg
May 28, 2007 | 7:29 pm
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May 28, 2007 | 7:36 pm
#12
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Actually I can name about a dozen groups of non-american and non-British folk with similar dinner-time and post-drinking session conversations to that described in the first post.
Jun 2, 2007 | 1:45 pm
#13
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My answer is "Yes" I know. Don't forget also that they discovered democracy.
Jun 2, 2007 | 6:06 pm
#14
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Why is it that whenever I dine with Greek friends I get a "lecture" at least once during the meal. The lecture is usually about how bad America and 'American values' are, but the lecture usually starts off like this, "Do you know the root of this word?" Then,they tell me it's a Greek word. Then, they usually come to a part in the lecture where they tell me how advanced the Greeks were when other Europeans were still living in caves. This last lecture started off, "People don't respect Greece, people don't respect my country..."
Greece is a small country bordering today on political unimportance but with a rich and fantastic cultural and political history. Maybe it is simply their defense against the "how superior the US is" type of conversation?
Sep 19, 2007 | 10:56 am
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Well, I have some Greek friends, amongst them a very good friend whose wedding in Greece I just attended (he has been living in London and Paris for the last six years though, but misses home so much that he has to move back now! ), so...
...at the wedding and the party the night before, where 95% of the guests were Greek, none of them hinted at any superiority of their country in any shape or form.
...here in London, they have also never displayed such behaviour.
CURIOUSLY though:
- I constantly get reminded how the ENGLISH (note: NOT the Scottish, Welsh or Irish) are the best at everything, especially when it comes to sports and a sound mind (explain that to me, please! )... I can warmly recommend a great book "Watching the English" in this context, btw!
- I lived in China for a year, and was almost daily reminded then how the Chinese were the cradle of mankind, culture, and all other things pink and glittering or generally admirable
- I am half-German and half-Polish myself, and continuously get tremendously entertained and join in all sorts of comical bickering about other countries (including my own ones, after all we are terribly punctual, perfectionists and never laugh or soppy, romantic car-thieves), cultures and their "superiority" over others...
I just think it is a great laugh!
), so......at the wedding and the party the night before, where 95% of the guests were Greek, none of them hinted at any superiority of their country in any shape or form.
...here in London, they have also never displayed such behaviour.
CURIOUSLY though:
- I constantly get reminded how the ENGLISH (note: NOT the Scottish, Welsh or Irish) are the best at everything, especially when it comes to sports and a sound mind (explain that to me, please!
)... I can warmly recommend a great book "Watching the English" in this context, btw!- I lived in China for a year, and was almost daily reminded then how the Chinese were the cradle of mankind, culture, and all other things pink and glittering or generally admirable
- I am half-German and half-Polish myself, and continuously get tremendously entertained and join in all sorts of comical bickering about other countries (including my own ones, after all we are terribly punctual, perfectionists and never laugh or soppy, romantic car-thieves), cultures and their "superiority" over others...
I just think it is a great laugh!