Myths

Once upon a time there was a girl named Europa. She was loved by Zeus, who abducted her and carried her off to Crete. They had had three sons who became judges of the underworld after they died. Europe, the continent, was called so at first time by Ancient Greeks. A rural, divided part of the World for many, many years. Still, despite the Union established after World War 2. There has been a nasty war recently in former Yugoslavia and political characters like Italian Berlusconi and Dutch Wilders make themselves caricatures with their behaviour. The current question whether  to cut off Greece from the Union or not, dubbed as “Grexit” made me wonder about contemporary civilisation.

Scientists suspect it won’t stop the crises spreading to other countries from the eurozone, like Spain and Portugal when Greece will leave the Union. All European countries are connected through loans and that seems to be the fundamental flaw of the Union, scientists say. The article in New Scientist speaks about “predatory” traders who take advantage of weak economies. Were there not also greedy traders who interfered badly with the prizes of food somewhere on this globe? Are predatory traders human?

Once upon a time, not very long ago, there was a European family. Husband, named Aristoteles, wife, named Penelope, and their average 2.2 kids. Both parents worked. They had a loan for their house, a loan for their car, and creditcards for occasional things like vacation. Life was good on them and they did not worry too much about financial matters. Then, unexpected, things went wrong. The man died in an accident and he had no life insurance. The woman, shattered with grieve, could not manage to pay the loans. She had to sell the house and the car and still it was not enough to pay off the debts. When she turned to the bank for another loan they refused it. She lost her job. Desperately she went to a loan shark. At first she seemed to cope with the weekly payments but in the end she was broke. She and her kids line up every day for free soup.

Greece is a beautiful site for holidays. White, picturesque houses contrasting with the azure blue sea. Nice weather. Lots of historical objects. Very view seem to want to spend their holiday there this year though.

Penelope is a beautiful woman. Long black hair curling over her shoulders, contrasting with her bright blue eyes. She is friendly and always willing to host a party. However, there are not many friends left to party with.

I do not know what to think of being a European. A union in my mind is “one for all, and all for one”. If I had money to spend on vacation this year, I would go to Greece. I have never seen it anyway and it may turn out not so beautiful if we will wait too long to go there. Crises is the best predictor of riots in a democracy as young as Greece, after all.

Santana jams his guitar with Europa in the background. As the last heavy notes fade away I stare out of the window to the grey Dutch sky. I am short for words today. Earth’s cry and heaven’s smile. When will we learn to behave civil? Is there any common ground in Europe?