The Greeks are rioting in front of the Parliament building. From a recent report, about 200 people are furiously fighting the police. While there may be some question as to the significance of the size of the crowd, there is much more of a question as to the cause of their discontent. Why are they so angry and at whom is their anger directed? Certainly this is not just vague and antisocial animosity toward the police--unless they are just nondescript malcontents and witless troublemakers disguised as anarchists. One gets the impression they are objecting to the economic changes like lengthening the work week and delaying retirement to the range of other Common Market countries but, if that is their complaint, what is their alternative? The rest of Europe is furious at the Greek early retirement and short work week and it is doubtful they will underwrite the debt if these disparities continue; what do the rioters propose?
Are the rioters angry at the politicians who are cutting the benefits? Are they angry at the politicians who, in the past, promised benefits the nation--indeed, Europe--could not afford? Are they angry at the other Europeans who refuse to pay for the Greek benefits they themselves can not afford?
One often hears people remark as they look at their passport, "What an awful picture!", as if what was pictured had some other, subtle, occult explanation.
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When I married nearly thirty years ago, my bridegroom and I went to Greece for our honeymoon.
I still have the photos of the crowds marching in the street with flags flying, shouting chants and comments that I couldn't understand.
Looks the same now.
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