Friday, October 15, 2010

Living in Greece, Part 17

Sunday, 10 October

We went to St. Anthony’s again today. Wonderful! But I felt horrible. For a few moments, I truly thought I might die. We left as soon as it was over and after a quick brunch at a café in our neighborhood, came home, where I spent the day in bed.

It’s nice to have a doctor in the house! I asked him what was the slowest an adult heart ought to beat, and he said it shouldn’t go below 50. Mine was at 52.

He said both my medicines were slowing down the heart. We halved one of them and my heart began behaving normally again – after several hours.

In the evening, Demetrios, cell phone in pocket, went to another political meeting with Leonidas. It was a rally for their friend Stelios, who is running for mayor in next month’s elections. He’s the only honest politician we know — honest in the sense of not being corrupt, but he’s still not going to speak up about what’s really going on in this world.

Greeks are more awake to that than Americans. Brits are also more politically aware than Americans, but the Greeks even more than the Brits. That’s somewhat heartening.

A couple more political notes. Greece has recently held joint military exercises with Israel. The exercises involved flying bombers between the two countries. Apparently Greece is the same distance from Israel as Iran.

The once cozy relationship between Israel and Turkey has cooled considerably, and that, too, is heartening.

The Greeks know that if Turkey is admitted to the European Union, vast and growing numbers of Turks will be in Greece within a few days, more Turks than Greeks within a few years, and that will spell the end for this country unless God should intervene.

2 comments:

Anam Cara said...

When we moved to Germany in the 70's, we were amazed at all the gastarbeiters - mainly Turks, but also many Ethiopians. It was delightful to find all the ethnic food and Doner Kabob shops have sprung up in every block since then. But I think all in all, the Germans are a bit sorry they ever came.....

Why are you heartened that the "cozy relationship between Israel and Turkey has cooled?"

Dixie said...

I think it wouldn't be so bad if the Turks who move to Germany become "Germans"...if the Bosnians in Austria become "Austrian"...if the Turks in Greece become Greek. In essence if the immigrants are assimilated into the culture. If you look at the US, that usually happens by the 3rd generation. BUT the US is a behemoth of a country with scant few traditions. So assimilation requires little. I am not so sure that's the same in Europe. If anything...they will be a dilution factor and Europe will cast off her traditions, Germans will be less German, Austrians, less Austrian, Greek, less Greek, and they will all start to look like the US. Frankly...I think that would be a very sad thing.