Greek Drama with Euro-Neuro
June 18, 2012
Greek Drama with Euro-Neuro.
The unity of Europe with a common currency was a dream that was destined to become a nightmare. It was conceived in good faith but the genes were so diverse and far apart that the result could not have been but a mule, neither a horse nor a donkey, a sterile disambiguation at best.
The United States of America has at least a common language and common culture. Going from north to south there is a common architecture, language and common goals. Through work and credit card they hope to ‘make it’. A simple philosophy of materialism that more or less, (lately a bit less,) that has stood the test of time. And with Hollywood and Gridiron thrown it they have somehow achieved a kind of unity that by and large seemed to have worked for its population.
Just look at Europe and its diversity. The question should be asked; why this need for commonality? If anything, its diversity should have been encouraged and maintained instead of it artificial made homogenous with the push of the Euro.
The Greeks should have been allowed to remain the architects of democracy. Let them sit around cafes, it worked very well in the past. There is a need for the Greeks to do their own thing.
What would a common European culture be like? Should it be like the British, a hotchpotch of chasing something forever obsolete with their love of complicated tradition and dislike of the new? Should it be the simplicity of the Scandinavians or the thriftiness of the Dutch? Or should it embrace the German method with its icy emphasis on order and meticulous organizational qualities? Perhaps the French way, with its food and love of fashion and truffles. Spain with paella. Oh, Portugal with its deliciously char-grilled sardines. Unforgettable.
The different work ethics, the different languages and above all the different cultures cannot make for a united Europe with all ambitions and its entire people being the same. Europe should celebrate its diversity and share the good but not at the cost of differences.
Years ago, train travel on the Continental express Genoa- Stockholm was an unforgettable experience, not least with all the pass-port controls and different currencies. Why did we ever think this needed weeding out? What is the benefit of this Euro efficiency when it all ends up being boring and monotonous? What are we alive for? Remember the custom officers (Douanes)? They all wore different caps and showed such different idiosyncrasies. Some would look you in the eye and try and determine levels of honesty, or, if capable of smuggling rare cheeses or African diamonds. Other would just nod and walk on. In Genoa you bought a small bottle of wine and half a chicken passed through the train window for 500 lire. In Germany, a Brodchen mit Kase or Bock-wurst.
What’s the point of going to Greece or any European country and not use a different currency? I went to Melbourne last week-end and ended up landing in a different kind of Sydney. Not one Iota of difference. I could just as well been in Perth. The same Harvey Norman frontages, the same large car parks with Big Macs golden arches. The sameness of a stifling all encompassing ennui of dreary monotonous architecture. Is that what the Euro-Visional behavioral architects envisaged? Surely not!
From Rambo Amadeus;
Euro skeptics, analphabetic, try not be hermetic. Euro-Neuro, not be skeptic, hermetic, neurotic, pathetic and analphabetic.
Forget all cosmetic, you need new poetic etc.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnqF5PLP2w
Tags: France, Spain, Greece, Europe, EU, US, Greeks, Euro, Bockwurst, Truffles, Genoa., Amsterdam
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
The Euro can only work only if Europe becomes a federated state. To have a country who is economically conservative like Germany with the more cavalier states like Greeece, Italy and Spain and sharing a currency where they have relaxed their rules for entry was a recipe for the disaster that is now unfolding. I see Greece’s exit from the Euro as inevitable.
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I can see the appeal of a single Europe, like one big country without borders. I never thought it would work. It seemed go along fairly well back in the eighties, when it was a sort of token EU, with less than a dozen members. Now it seems they want to include nearly everyone from Greenland to Siberia, and, surprisingly, not all of these countries seem to get on.
My Irish friends reckon they’ll never move back to Ireland, because it’s full of enclaves of people from the Eastern Bloc, who are not particularly liked by the Irish, but they have no say! I think there is plenty of resentment amongst the rank and file of much of Europe towards those who are receiving an economic bailout. Perhaps there will be no Eurozone soon, it will be part of China!
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It’s going to a rough ride BigM. The Europe continent instead of becoming a federation has actually created new countries s.a.Kosovo, Herzegovina and more. They used to be part of Yugoslavia have now become countries in their own right, all wanting a slice of Euro and ‘free this and that’ without having gone into efficiencies and taxation revenue equalling expenditure to income.
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My German friend tells me that the ordinary Germans are not happy about the bailouts, same goes for the Finns according to my Finnish Correspondent…
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Some years ago the Rotterdam council provided the home-less with sturdy card board boxes that folded out as temporary shelters. There was an outcry but still better than sleeping in the open. Nothing seems ever good enough. In Amsterdam they utilised shipping containers as student homes. 8 stories high with balconies, heating and showers etc. Have a look at the link:
http://www.tempohousing.com/projects/keetwonen.html
I have seen those small cubicles stacked on top of each other in Japan with a TV on the side. Just big enough to cralw in and have asleep. You wonder though about human noises etc. It’s sometimes very tough but shelter and food is a need while friendship is bordering on a ‘want’.
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Yes it is good that the Dutch and the Japanese are so uncomplaining. Perhaps there is a better way to ensure global co-operation, than just a geographic way. We could group countries according to size, as the smaller ones would be less likely to become claustrophobic.
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Oh, the Dutch complain but they do it in public forums and on radio, TV etc. Boy, do they complain. However amongst each other they have learnt to co-exist well. They have to, seeing they have millions in one of the smallest countries in the world. They still maintain a bubble around themselves though. I mean it is not as if they rub against each other in queues or at tram-stops. None-the -less, on beaches or almost anywhere it is neck-on-neck. In the cities it seems miraculous that traffic is very much bicycle driven with 3 or 4 riders next to each other. I remember getting my handle-bar locked into another bicycle and about a dozen bikes went down. They all got up and resumed their trip without too much consternation…..I thought it remarkable.
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The Japanese too are fond of necks. Not as fond of bicycles, I think, though many larger Asian countries appear to be.
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Why not let them try seeing what it’s like to be America. That way we all might not have to do it.
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How’s the Japan going? Still 80% below the peak of 30 years ago. People need food and shelter and friendship.
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Yes, the Pan Asia Accord. Perhaps they’re thinking twice about it now. Food and shelter is good, friendship is nice but sometimes gets in the way of common sense.
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Oh, but then sometimes common sense gets in the way of friendship, too. At those times it’s good to sit down together for a brief repast out of the wind.
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Probably because it seemed a good idea at the time to try for a bigger stronger currency to counter the US dollar. Then they let too many join the club and it got out of hand.
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Mind you, the real malaise started in the US whereby banks got bailed out and the crooks allowed to continue. The malaise has started to spread out and instead of allowing the banks to go broke it is being shoved onto the masses. (like always).
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