Greece is neither a (truly) capitalist, nor an industrialized society. So in a sense, it's one of those societies that some would call <<retarded>>, or <<inferior>>. A society that remained outside the major historical, political and technological evolution of the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th centuries, for various reasons. It belongs to those nations, to those <<loosers>> that didn't participate in this specific historical context of colonization, rise of the urban democracy, industrial revolution and capitalism. And also to those parts of the world that never became someone's protectorate for oil, or diamonds, or gold. Yes, different histories lead to different cultures, mentalities and (our favorite word of course) economies! Greece is a very small and feeble (financially) country, with a long history of mistrust and disobedience towards the political system and its representatives. One of those places that have a hard time catching up with the strong, self-assured guys. In our world, that so much resembles a primary school yard, some are forced to play the role of the victim, for the good luck and, let's say it, the sadistic satisfaction of the strong guys. Who can safely disagree that large-scale societal structures differ so much?
But for all these reasons Greece is still a somewhat humanitarian corner of planet earth. Not a cynical shit. One of the few left where still, people are not just numbers. Where, simply put, you're more than your income. Where phenomena such as abandoning old friends because they're << under-achievers>>, social stratification based on the price of clothes you can afford to wear and competition on who owns the fanciest car and visitits the Maldives more often are not hypocriticaly ignored, but genuinely disregarded, as aspects of human shallowness, by the vast majority at least. Where banners such as "faster, better, stronger" and "push yourself to the limits" and "are you beach-body ready?" are considered ridiculous. What makes someone human is something far more than his flesh and bones on a Cartesian level of <<cold logic>>, and what gives value to that very person's existence is something far more than the content of his pocket. Yes, it's something unfathomable. A mystery. And "mystery", is a greek word.
Now this neoliberal menace that degrades people into <<great-achievers>> who sell out whole people's destinies and then celebrate by drinking and vomitting and having emotionless random sex is the necessary threshold that could lead to societies such as those envisioned by Orson Welles. Profit and power deification have long played their roles, implicitly forming and shaping consciousness in the north-western world, to the degree that many people in NYC, London, Berlin and elsewhere literally wander around in a constant state of panic, chasing the big money, like walking cash-machines. Supporting fanatically this very system that uses and destroys them, unconscious carriers of the long monarchic and oligarchic ideologies deriving directly from the medieval kingdomship tradition of western europe, the historical background aforementioned and this always lurking, inherent lust for superiority and power of human ego (call it agressive instincts, if you like Freud). In other words, the situation in the north-western world, is the perfectly fertile soil for the rise of this dystopia.
In my opinion, what has really come to the surface in Europe, is a very interesting reflection of the constant battle between the <<weak>> and the <<strong>>, that has never really ended on this continent (or anywhere else?). A quest for the imposition of one on another. It's a blatant revelation, whether we like it or not : political union, compassion and collaboration between the people of Europe were superficial, wishful thinking. It's all about power and money. At this point it is interesting to remember that EU traces its origins from the "European Coal and Steel Community". Coal and Steel. Pretty much the way Christine Lagarde and Wolfgang Schäuble address the speech to Greek prime minister and minister of economics. Cause left-wing paraphonies that question the neoliberal status quo and dare to ask the question <<is there democracy in Europe today?>>, <<what's going on with all those unelected technocrats moving the strings?>> must be silenced at once.
For that reason, an elaborate narrative, a one-sided propaganda predominates on mass media and politician speeches : << Greeks are immature, they borrowed money, spent it, never payed taxes and now the strong must punish them>>. (How protestant, really?!) It's interesting, how easily and blindly it is assumed that the European creditors are the right ones vis-a-vis Greece. It's very interesting, and even amusing, perhaps, how whole nations are seen as nothing but businesses (successful or not) and treated accordingly. Black and white moralities. Vertical. Abrupt. (Reminds me of another era of eu history, and of early childhood psychoanalytically). Interesting, how visions of even development and political union were so deeply infested by neoliberalism that today their very thought leads to a spontaneous smirking.
We are experiencing moments of truth, we are observing how human nature evolves (or degrades) throughout the years, as things inescapably change. They ought to, everything is a circle in life and political systems can be no exception. Prevailing systems are reflections of prevailing human consciousness. Individualism has played its highly addictive role and has borne its fruit. Now a collective consciousness must eventually rise. Otherwise, no one guarantees that your kids won't be microchipped, one day, and that day may actually arrive pretty soon. In the meantime, this is one of those moments of birth, at the rise of the new Millenium. Something is desperately trying to be born, this occasion here at the Medi-terranean basin is simply one to accelerate the process of labour. Even if it fails to awaken a fast asleep humanity, more such <<coincidences>> will occur in the future. Hopefully, something will move. Let's see what the future holds.