The New Face of Greek Tragedy

Three, including a pregnant mother, died in rioting in Greece today. The drama in the southern European state has its roots in the financial crisis and the resulting austerity measures being embraced by the Greek government as a prerequisite for EU aid.

While this result is sad and unfortunate, it is easy to feel sympathetic toward the estimated 100,000 Greek citizens who have taken to the streets. Unlike so many governments around the world (whether realistically or not is a different matter) theirs is promising not prosperity, but belt tightening, and that for the foreseeable future. It is also difficult to throw stones from the glass house known as America where life-ending disturbances have been known to break out over events as trivial as a sports contests, seemingly as often in victory and as in defeat.

However, it is difficult to envision what could result from the ongoing riots in the Mediterranean other than more injuries and unfortunate deaths. Unfortunately, while Greeks don't like the idea that benefits are going to be cut, the country will likely cease to function without the aid money, leaving the nation truly stuck between Scylla and Charybdis. Though painful, the major budget cuts which are being protested, accompanied by aid monies, seem to be best of poor options.

The old heroes of Greek tragedy were God-like in power and had lives marked by epic deeds. Unfortunately, in modern times and in the midst of a financial meltdown, the new face of Greek tragedy is the common man. Hopefully Greeks, though understandably angry, will soon acknowledge the lack of options available to their government. This will ease the transition from reactionary rioting to the initiation of the rebuilding process. Austerity may be painful, but it unfortunately seems to be the only route to a brighter future.

UPDATE: It looks like there is no end in sight to the violence as resistence to austerity measures gains steam.