My wife Linda and I recently
returned from a magnificent cruise through the Greek isles. This was one of the most enjoyable vacations
we have experienced, as well as one of the most enlightening.
Few people—least of all the Greeks—are
unaware of the economic and political crisis gripping their nation. With unemployment at record levels and chaos periodically
clogging their streets, it would be difficult to overlook the fact that
something is wrong.
Nonetheless, from a tourist’s
point of view, much remains business as usual.
The Parthenon still stands there in all of its tumbledown glory, while
the merchants in the Plaka continue to be as aggressive in marketing their
baubles.
Yet for those who look, there
is ample evidence of why Greece is no longer the cutting-edge force it was. This came to my attention during a long
conversation with owner of a jewelry story chain. Upon learning that I was an American college
professor, he was eager put his country’s plight in perspective.
Soon our tête-à-tête ranged candidly
across the historical and the contemporary landscape. Thus, we agreed that the ancient Athenians had
laid the foundation for modern Western civilization, whereas today’s Greeks have
accomplished little of which to boast.
The question was why? The Greeks are surely as intelligent and
vibrant as ever. They are also as
desirous of success. The problem is that
many are not as entrepreneurial as their forebears. Oh yes, the shopkeepers in the market remain assertive,
but where (save for a few shipping magnates) are the large-scale operators? They are largely absent.
Where then are today’s Greek
men (and some women) to be found. By
late morning it is plain that they are sipping coffee at street side cafes and
arguing about everything—especially politics.
Their ancestors, to be sure, were likewise a talkative bunch—think of
Socrates or Plato—but they were also out scouring the Mediterranean seeking
their main chance.
Nowadays many Greeks must leave
home to improve their lot. Vassili Economopoulos,
a buddy of mine at Kennesaw State University (sadly no longer with us) epitomized
this dilemma. He migrated to the United
States to obtain his Ph.D., then stayed because this is where the opportunities
were.
As Vassili explained, Greece
is a poor country, more mountain and rock than arable land. With a topography good for growing olive
trees, grape vines and little else, its people long ago learned to convert
these into oil and wine. Next they went
into the business of selling these to all and sundry.
The difference between then
and now is that the ancients thought big and exploited trade however they
could. Indeed, it was their commercial
dynamism that produced the glories of the Hellenic city states. Their fleets of hard-hitting merchants financed
the arts and architecture we still admire; their agoras teaming with innovative
artisans created the democratic politics we continue to venerate.
The direction of causality
has not changed. Free and dynamic
citizens individually in pursuit of economic success are the ones who generate
governments “of, by, and for the people.”
It is not governments that create their wealth, sophistication, or
freedom, but the other way around.
The Greek merchant with whom
I discussed these matters understood this.
As a result, he and I were distressed that many of his countrymen do
not. We also agreed that many Americans
are oblivious of this nexus. They too
appear to be looking to politicians, not businesspersons, for salvation.
Lest we forget: Greece fell when
its people could not unite to defend their institutions. Its glory did not last forever. Yet neither may the eminence of United States
if its people cannot coalesce to defend the free marketplace and decentralized
politics that made it great.
Glory and freedom go only to
those who possess the confidence to protect their traditions. So we must ask: Do we have this spirit? Do we have what the Greeks lacked? Time will tell.
Melvyn L. Fein, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Kennesaw State University
No comments:
Post a Comment