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ב"ה
12 Tishrei 5771 September 20, 2010

Scholar's Gloom Does Not Make Greece's Doom Inevitable

With the Federation of Hellenic Societies, the associations of Athenians, Arcadians, and from Limnos, along with the monthly bilingual NEO Magazine as sponsors, the eminent Greek Orthodox theologian, philosopher, and writer Dr. Christos Giannaras appeared at the Stathakion Cultural Center, Astoria, NY to lecture on The Greek Economic Crisis: An Ethical, or Basically a Political Problem? (While a previous teaching obligation made this writer's presence impossible tonight, the guest's comments were heard in a complete video clip provided by the daily National Herald, its extensive published coverage, along with that of the weekly GreekNews.)

The inescapable impression is that the speaker was in a stream-of-conscience mode, dispensing prescriptions for Greece's serious ailments that were little more than bromides insufficient to be applied to a modern civilization. His anticipation of a social explosion, the result of increased Greek poverty, is both premature and historically unsustainable. America's 1930's Great Depression had, at its nadir, a quarter of the population destitute; yet, the nation held because the distress was widely-shared, FDR's leadership inspired people to believe that "happy days" will be here again.

Greece's social net is frayed not only because of gross financial disparity; it reflects the estrangement of a populace viewing their politicians as scoundrels, part of a class who have used, misused, and ultimately abused their honored perch for personal gain --- to advance dynastic and personal interests and agendas. Giannaras cast the answer in the electoral realm, not touching the ethical rot that cumulatively has brought the country to this impasse.

Ethics, if relevant, is an issue only in his disquiet for perceived eclipse of the Greco-Christian-Orthodox ideology since the military junta's overthrow in 1974. One must be incredulous that one of such attributed stature can pine for the days of the colonels' dictatorship with its puritanical and intolerant motto: Ελλάς-Ελλήνων-Χριστιανών, Greece for Christian Greeks! Such allegiance can only be viewed as part of the problem, not the solution, for in a heterogeneous Greece, becoming so unwillingly but inexorably, the resultant xenophobia and discrimination directed to racial and ethnic minorities in the short term can indeed presage coming convulsion.

As to the notion of a political convergence, a marriage of convenience, where the political parties would form an interim broad coalition government, the professor again lacks the vision to detect the obvious: Greece is in distress, in part, due to the mismanagement of the previous administration. An election decisively brought the other Party to power, as the wont of democratic norms. A return to gridlock, a political stalemate that will preclude radical reforms, will be a disservice for a suffering people. Likewise, and without merit, is his call for a new Constitution; it would embroil the country in more strife, just as it is trying to extricate itself from the economic morass.

The notion that Greece has lost control of its borders, and sovereignty, is a canard: is it not within their purview of responsibility for donors and creditors of the huge sums advanced to Greece to expect and demand a measure of control and oversight through periodic examinations and reports that the program of recovery is properly implemented? It is foolhardy to think otherwise, or that the nationalist solution is to withdraw from the European Union and the Eurozone. More, it is dangerous and unkind to believe that Prime Minister Papandreou is an anti-Hellene who should face prosecution, or worse. He is the quintessential democrat and patriot, of whom Greece needs more --- Messrs. Papaconstantinou and Lomverdos are two exceptional ministers --- doing his difficult duty to bring Greece into the modern age, while shedding practices that date to Ottoman rule, and even the Middle Ages!

Regretfully, this septuagenarian's talk ended in a pessimistic note, and that is too bad, in my assessment. My optimism is anchored in the belief that this Greek crisis is not a tragedy; rather, it creates an inherent opportunity to progress and strengthen democratic institutions, even as society rids its regressive features: rampant nepotism, endemic corruption, and the anti-Semitism, anti-Americanism, and anti-Israel geopolitical positions that have stymied public discourse, continuing to be reflected in the ill-served Greek polity.

Given the creative assistance of Western nations, continuing the welcome opening to, and future collaboration with, Israel, and, always, the good will of the expatriate Greek community, our native land will again see sunny economic days, in congruence with its incomparable physical beauty!

Sincerely, and with fraternal affection,
Asher Prof. Asher J. Matathias
312 Longacre Avenue, Woodmere, NY 11598-2530
516-374-2958 Mobile: 369-5799 AsherJmat@Aol.com