I have to admit, I find surveys fascinating but I am very wary of statistics. As regular readers here know, I have had statistics thrown in my face since I started this blog. All of them from bigots, racists and self-professed nationalists. The lefties like me, tend to shy away from them because they can be so divisive. Having stated that, I do think the Eurobarometer is an INDICATION of what Europeans think and feel, but is NOT the final word. Human beings are far more complicated than ten questions on a piece of paper !

So, now I indulge my fascination (having NEVER been asked to take part in one!)

There are four pages of results for Greece with two questions on each. I will post one question per day (hopefully) with my comments…

Page 1.
Question 1:

Do you have friends or acquaintances who are..?

a: Of a different religion or have different beliefs than you
b: People of an ethnic origin different from yours
c: Disabled
d: Homosexual
e: Roma

The results (with the European average in brackets):

a: 37% (62%)
b: 51% (55%)
c: 36% (55%)
d: 16% (35%)
e: 10% (12%)

My thoughts:

(b) I am happy to see a “closing of the gap” (between Greece and other Europeans countries) of people who have friends/acquaintances of a different ethnic origins.
Why ?

Because it’s only by communicating and dialogue and, in the end, forming friendships, that we come to know each other.

Greece was a self-proclaimed homogenous society until fairly recently ( no longer an excuse) so I take this survey as a sign that the society is changing and that people are changing too. I refer back to (a still relevant) post of mine A Neighborhood Story and A Neighborhood Story 2, because we (my family) were some of the first obviously “foreign” people around my little neck of the woods and I believe our experience here has had a positive effect on us and our neighbors. This may sound arrogant but let me explain… for some of my Greek friends (real friends I should add), we were their first contact with foreigners. And they were my first contact with people that were foreigners to me. I had no Greek friends in London!

Overwhelmingly, the experience has been positive with few lows along the way. So yes, for this I am happy.

I am disturbed by ALL the other answers. I have asked myself for years about my own prejudices and my own racism ( yeah, just because I am mixed race, it doesn’t give me a “get out of prejudice free card” but I do believe that Greece is lagging in the discussion of these issues.

(a) Religion is a major sticking point here in Greece (that could be a whole post on its own). It is assumed that everyone is Greek Orthodox even though this is not true). Just to put a spanner in the works (and probably open up another can of worms) I think the Church and State should separate. The Church has enormous power here and it is not in the best interest of the citizens of Greece. I have total respect for those who have chosen their religion, through searching and thought, but I find indoctrination of children ( or anyone) quite sick. I find it strange that friends who have no religious beliefs, still baptise their children or get married in church, because that is what is done here. I get angry that priests expect money for providing a “good” religious service as opposed to a rushed, meaningless one.

(c) Disability issues. There is a big enough difference between the European average and the Greek response to be worrying. I believe that here in Greece, disabled people are hidden from society on the whole and that there are very little effort to enable them to be visible, active and vocal. I know nothing about the activism of the disabled community in Greece and would greatly appreciate any feedback.

(d) Homosexuality. I have to say, I am not surprised by the result here. Sad as that is. I will throw out a question… How can the Lesbian and Gay community even begin discussions here in Greece when it is perfectly OK for leaders of the state and church to condemn them ? While there are discussions elsewhere in the world about gay marriage, it seems that Greece is stuck on the first rung of the ladder: That homosexuality is wrong and that’s that….

(e) Roma. Well. You’ve read my posts. Roma people are the most vilified people in Europe and I am (sadly) not all shocked that only 12% in Europe could count any Roma among their friends/acquaintances. Do I have any in my parea? (group of friends?) NO. Not that I know of. I wish I could say otherwise but that would be a lie. The Roma people are marginalised and separated from the rest of the population and it is hard (almost impossible) to actually meet on a social and equal level. I have no doubt that given the opportunity we would find common ground, interests and friendships but how to achieve that is the question.

Interesting stuff and open for discussion…..

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