Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Why do we love being Greek?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU
 
Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:32 AM
Original message
Why do we love being Greek?
* Because we buy whole watermelons and not in slices
* Because we buy whole lambs and not in pieces
* Because nights in Greece finish in the morning
* Because we take our coffee slowly, while smoking and not in "shots"
* Because flirting is our national hobby
* Because sex is our national sport
* Because we always moan about the public sector and everyone seeks to get a job in it
* Because we are not puritans
* Because we are not racists
* Because we cheat openly, without trying to hide it
* Because we go out almost every night even if we are penniless
* Because we know how to spend better that we know how to save
* Because we never visit others empty handed
* Because there is no way to explain to foreigners what is "kapsoura"
(burning desire for someone)
* Because in Greece family is still something valuable
* Because we do not share the petrol with those we take in our cars
* Because we always make it, albeit in the last moment
* Because we were slaves for 400 years yet never bring that up as an excuse for our current state
* Because for the sake of a woman we made war for 10 years (Trojan war)
* Because we are everywhere around the planet
* Because we love and hate with passion
* Because "filotimo" (friend of honor, helping someone because it is a shame not to) does not exist in any other language
* Because whenever foreigners cannot find a word, they use one of ours
* Because we spend our bad and low times with our friends and family, not with shrinks
* Because Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were Greek
* Because we invented theatre
* Because we gave birth to Democracy
* Because we discovered logic
* Because we jumpstarted science
* Because we are proud of our culture, not of our wars
* Because when others were discovering meat, we already had cholesterol
* Because when we were building the Parthenon, the others were still sleeping in trees
* Because we gave the light to all these leaders who are "striving" for peace by making wars
* Because we can give anything up just to make love
* Because Hundreds of women travel to Greece every summer just to get laid
* Because we have a distinction between Eros (falling in love) and Agapi (innocent love), while we feel both of them passionately
* Because Eros was a Greek God
* Because when others used to be clothed with wolf skin were weaving see-through linen
* Because "Greeks do not fight as heroes, heroes fight like Greeks"
(Winston
Churchill, 1941)
* Because we don't use ketchup with our food - it tastes good anyway
* Because we gave our ancient alphabet to the Romans and our Medieval alphabet to the Slavs
* Because we converted all of eastern Europe into Christians
* Because we get angry quickly but we forget all about it even quicker
* Because we are not ashamed to cry
* Because we dance when we are sad
* Because we work to live and we do not live to work
* Because 97% of the stars' names are Greek
* Because although we know danger well, we dare
* Because when you shout "brother" in the streets everyone turns around
* Because we always talk about getting in a diet after we had our meal
* Because we speak loudly and laugh even louder
* Because we do not know what anxiety is
* Because, although we smoke more than anyone in the world and eat the most red meat in Europe we live the longest in Europe
* Because we are starting with "just a coffee" early afternoon and end up off our heads in the morning
* Because we walk in the streets at 2:00 in the morning and there are traffic jams
* Because we walk in the streets at 4:00 in the morning and there are traffic jams
* Because girls are not scared to walk alone in the streets at 2:00 or 4:00 o'clock in the morning
* Because the inside of all our churches are not dark, but full of light
* Because we are direct
* Because we know how to cheat
* Because we never report people who cheat
* Because we always have a solution to problems, even if usually indirect or illegal
* Because we have tendencies to extremity
* Because our parents do not forget that we exist when we reach 18
* Because when we want to sunbathe, we go to the beach, we don't crawl on grass or jump into fountains
* Because we confront every difficulty with humor
* Because the Olympic games were born here
* Because, with our (Olympic) light, we unite the world and pass the message of peace
* Because we live permanently in the country that foreigners dream to visit for a week
* Because our sky is blue, not gray
* Because we have the cleanest seas on the planet
* Because 40% of Oxford dictionary is made up with Greek words
* Because we are a poor country with very rich citizens
* Because we know what "Kefi" (propensity to fun) means
* Because we like to spend money and eat fish while they are still fresh
* Because Homer wrote Iliad 3500 years ago and Hollywood turned it into a movie just recently
* Because in Greece nobody is hungry
* Because in Greece nobody is homeless
* Because we speak foreign languages - who learns Greek?
* Because Tsikoudia from Crete is the strongest drink in Europe (85%
alcohol)
* Because we grow hallucinogenic weed without biological engineering!!
* Because our "model for life" has many curves
* Because we wear sandals without socks
* Because we gave the oath "freedom or death"
* Because we are European Champions in football
* Because we have a small, poor country full of people with big hearts
* Because, only in Greece, the guy who prepares the souvlaki asks the young
lady: "What shall I put in?" And she happily replies "Please, everything!"

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
fudge stripe cookays Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:35 AM
Response to Original message
1. Why do I WISH I was Greek, you mean?
All of the above!

FSC,
3/4 Kraut, but would gorge every day on Greek food if I could
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:36 AM
Response to Original message
2. Don't forget the tzaziki!
Redstone
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:37 AM
Response to Original message
3. Sigh...I need to go back someday.
I left on my second birthday and haven't had the chance to go back. :-(

But, I'm Athens-born, baby!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:39 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. You should go back and visit.
It's one of the better trips in Europe. It's not terribly expensive and there are so many things to see. I'll help you plan. ;)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:41 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. It's on my list, trust me.
My mom always jokes that they'll draft me at the airport. :D
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:44 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. They might.
But it's unlikely. Make sure a greek speaking relative is there when you leave and you have all necessary papers. Remember, your passport has your country of birth.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:46 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. I travel on a US passport, and I have an "American" name.
I can always tell the truth: my dad was in the service stationed in Greece when I was born. I'll just leave out the part where I am native Greek, but adopted.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:49 AM
Response to Reply #7
8. I know a guy who lived in Greece until he was 12.
He was leaving when he was 19 and they grabbed him. They wanted to put him in the military. It took a couple days to prove he was right and he missed his flight and lost his baggage.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:51 AM
Response to Reply #8
9. That sucks!
I looked a bit at the Greek immigration website, and I think if you've lived abroad as of your 11th birthday continuously, you're exempt.

Ehhh...if a trip comes to pass, I'll zip down to the Greek consul in Houston to get everything straight before I leave.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rabrrrrrr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:58 AM
Response to Reply #8
11. A friend of mine is Greek (from Greece) and he refused to serve in
the military, so came to America. I believe he had to wait until his late 20s or early 30s before he could go back to Greece safely.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:59 AM
Response to Reply #11
12. I figure they wouldn't want me anyway.
I'm in my mid-30s, out of shape and I don't speak the language. I'd be worthless to them.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Renew Deal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 11:26 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. You should be proud to fight the bloodthirsty Turks
:headbang:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 11:28 AM
Response to Reply #13
14. One of my favorite MASH episodes!
Turk no eat, Greek no eat! :D
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rabrrrrrr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-30-05 10:56 AM
Response to Original message
10. I don't get "we do not share the petrol with those we take in our cars"
By having them in the car, isn't that sort of a de facto sharing of the petrol?

Or does this mean that you don't take people in your cars?

:shrug:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sat May 04th 2024, 07:18 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC