The crisis has exposed sharp differences between some Europeans. Germany is the most admired nation in the EU and its leader the most respected. The Germans are judged to be Europe’s most hardworking people. And the Germans are the strongest supporters of both European economic integration and the European Union.
Greece is the polar opposite. None of its fellow EU members surveyed see it in a positive light. In turn, Greeks are among the most disparaging of European economic integration and the harshest critics of the European Union. And they see themselves as Europe’s most hardworking people.
Hilarious, the table where they plot which countries thought which country was the hardest working has Germany the whole way down except for Greece, which nominates itself, but Greece is then the answer of 2/3 of the countries for the question ‘least hardworking nation’. Classic example of complete lack of self-awareness.
Germany just romped it through – most hardworking, least corrupt etc.
On a t-shirt for sale during my last trip to Italy:
[blockquote] In heaven:
The police are British
The chefs are French
The bankers are Belgian
The dancers are Spanish
The lovers are Italian
And its all organised by the Germans
In hell:
The police are French
The chefs are British
The bankers are Spanish
The dancers are Belgian
The lovers are German
And its all organised by the Italians! [/blockquote]
A recent visit to Germany had me amazed. After London, which is a city routinely trashed by its own citizens (overflowing bins, litter in the streets, graffiti, etc) it was amazing to find whole cities that seemed trash-free. Trains ran like clockwork. Several times, asking directions (alas I have no German) I spoke in English and was answered in flawless English by polite helpful people. Hats off to them.
Perhaps the root of the problem is the Greek education system specifically in Geography which has placed denial not in Egypt but as a river in Peloponnese.