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Jen, is this you? Our Jen?

Yup, it sure is all very confusing. Which highlights my point that at some level we're all very closely connected genetically no matter where we live. The argument made by those researchers I mentioned earlier is that most people of European origin seem to have common ancestors only 1,000 years ago. If you go 3-4,000 years ago you'll certainly find connections and common ancestry with people from Africa or who know from where else. Trying to define one's ethnic identity based on genes is a futile exercise. Our gene pool is so messed up that even though certain ethnic groups do have some common traits and share more common genes than others, if you look at the bigger picture (and depending how far back in time one is willing to go) you'll find that we're all brothers and sisters sharing common ancestry not as far back as one would have thought.

Close in what sense? Genetically or culturally? Genetically you're most likely pretty close to them knowing full well that Greece (and Asia Minor) was invaded at various time by Romans, various Germanic tribes, later Venetians, Spaniards, Brits, Italians, French etc. and who knows who else in between. Especially the invasions/migrations of the Germanic tribes in the area of modern day Greece and Turkey between the 2nd and 5th centuries are well documented. Here's a map I found with a quick search, but I'm sure you can find much more info if you google about this: This article of course talks about genetics, not culture. Culture is a different question all together.

I don't think it matter how many is "many". It could be just a handful for all it matters. The argument still stands that this is still a really small world after all, and most of us are connected and share the genes one way or another. I was under the impression that this connection would be going back to maybe 4,000 - 5,000 years but if it's only 1,000 years or less this makes the argument even stronger and makes the argument of different races and ethnic groups even more stupid.

What makes you say that? Nature is one of the top publications of its kind.

This article doesn't make much sense to me either, but seeing that it's written by a German professor of economics with pretty strong credentials I'm assuming that he knows much more than I do around global finances. Either way, the next couple of weeks are going to be critical for Greece and for Europe.

Read'em and weep Merkel Taken from http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/varoufakis-ecb-grexit-threat-by-hans-werner-sinn-2015-05#kVcv1hqr6OAi4dLL.99

As I said, these are all related to religious beliefs. I do have a few Palestinian, Lebanese, Iranian, Afghani and Jewish friends who do eat beef, pork, seafood, you name it. Oh yes, they also drink alcohol and smoke too. We've had many a nights where we ate, drank and had a few cigars too. There's nothing in these people's cultures that stops them from enjoying all this. It's religion which places this type of stupid rules.

Eyo, you're describing issues arising because of religious differences, not because of cultural differences. Granted of course than in many cases religion is part of a people's cultural identity. Since most religions are so rigid they make it impossible for certain people to live in peace next to each other (see for example Jews and Palestinians). Saying this though, Jews and Palestinians live fine next to each other within a multicultural society (in Canada for example).

In a grander scheme, yes. I personally don't believe in borders and national territories. This world should belong to every human being who lives on this earth and we should all be free to travel anywhere in the world without having to worry about borders and nationalities. To me saying I'm a Greek national or a Canadian national doesn't mean anything. I'm Greek because culturally I associate myself with the Greek culture. Of course I also understand today's reality and I understand that the majority of people is not ready to accept a global community without borders. Thankfully I live in a society (Canada) which is the closest we've ever been to multiculturalism. Eventually the rest of the countries will have to learn, adapt and accept this reality.

These types of oaths? Sure they are. They're remnants of times when people's lives "belonged" to kings and queens. Is any of this relevant in today's day and age? Oaths are made by people who are afraid that their power will, at some point, be challenged. Like kings and queens, military leaders, dictators and so on. An oath is not the same things as your word to an individual whom you know and respect. Is your oath to respect and obey your military leaders while in the Greek army as powerful (and relevant) as your word to a buddy of yours to help him build a fence or repair his house or whatever? Oaths are enforced to you (and to the average individual) by those in power and by the power of the groupthink. They don't mean anything to most people anymore, yet we still take those oaths as we still eat lamb for easter and turkey for Christmas.

It depends. If the world wants to believe and pledge allegiance to kings and queens and gods, who am I to break their bubble? Do I have to believe in that too? No. My word means a lot to those who are relevant.

I do not believe in kings and queens, so that part of the oath doesn't mean anything to me, but I do faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen. I assume that as a Greek citizen you also faithfully observe the laws of Greece and fulfill your duties as a Greek citizen

Do you need to be an official "citizen" of a place in order to "pledge allegiance" to it (whatever this means - and I'd assume that it would mean different things to different people). I've lived most (if not all...) of my adult life outside Greece. Even though I've kept my Greek citizenship I do not really participate in Greek elections (as I'm assuming that you're not participating either) and I haven't been part of electing Greek officials. Yet, I still love Greece and I consider it to be my home, more so than I consider Canada my home. At the same time, I love and respect Canada and Canadians (and I'm a dual Greek/Canadian citizen). Do I ever call myself Canadian? Barely ever. Am I really a Canadian national? On paper yes, I am. But am I really a Canadian national? I don't think so... Even though based on my lifestyle most Greeks would most likely see me as a Canadian/American I will never really become a "true" Canadian national because I'll always remain Greek at heart. Canada is my adopted country, and as you said, a few years down the road I may be living in Japan or Sweden or wherever and call that my adopted country. Would I ever call my self Canadian or Japanese or Swedish? Not really. Would I love and pledge allegiance to my adopted country? Absolutely. If I chose to live somewhere for whatever reasons (be it financial reasons, or because I appreciate their political system, or because I like their culture etc.) then I become a part of the mosaic which defines any country I live in. I love Canada and Greece equally. Even though I chose Canada to be my home (while it was just luck of the draw that I was born Greek), I still have a special place in my heart for Greece. No matter how many years I live away from her Greece will always be home to me.

They're laughable...

Vancouver is a beautiful city, but it's not Athens (in terms of the nightlife) by any stretch of the imagination.

I thought to share this in this post, as we talked in here about European/Greek/German etc. ancestry. I guess we're all related one way or the other Read here: http://www.nature.com/news/most-europeans-share-recent-ancestors-1.12950 and also more info and answers to many common questions here: http://gcbias.org/european-genealogy-faq/

Are you serious? You're comparing Vancouver's nightlife to Athens'? You're in for a surprise.

I'd say the opposite about his lectures and interviews. He's usually very interesting and direct (unlike most other politicians). He also seems to work very hard these days to make things happen for Greece, what makes you think that he doesn't work much? That's a very unjust stereotype attached to all Greeks.

Very interesting interview of Yanis Varoufakis at the New York Times Magazine. I'd encourage to read through it if you have time (it's pretty long...). Here's an interesting piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/magazine/a-finance-minister-fit-for-a-greek-tragedy.html?_r=0 Even though I lately came to doubt Yanis I still cannot not like him. He's a character and he seems and sounds honest. I do believe that he got involved with all this because he truly believed that he could help Greece out of this mess. What I find hard to reconcile with is that after 4 months of Syriza in power Greece is in a worse negotiating position as compared to where we were 4 months earlier. To me this shows that Syriza (and Yanis as the finance minister) were very poorly prepared to face the Europeans. They had no clear plan or clear fresh ideas to suggest and they've been wasting precious time since. As it is right now Greece is a few short days from bankruptcy and at the complete mercy of the Europeans. It's completely up to them at this point whether they'll pull the plug and let Greece out of the Euro. The Greek government (Syriza) has absolutely no say in this decision anymore. They're just waiting for the Europeans' next move and hoping for the best.

No need for personal attacks ajax. I never liked generalization of any kind, be it positive or negative. As you can't say that all Greeks posses what we call "filotimo" the same way you can't say that all Greeks are "order takers" (whatever this means...). In fact, if anything - and maybe this is what has brought Greece to this situation today - is that Greeks, in general, are not order takers. We're individualists to a fault. Which means that more often than not we do not follow orders, even if those orders are to our benefit. To me this is a negative trait we have as a people. Our individualism and love for (what we perceive as) individual freedom leads many Greeks do all those things that are wrong with the Greek society today (ex. parking illegally wherever we want, throw garbage anywhere we want, disregard of our fellow citizen rights as long as our rights are served etc.).

Absolutely. Most people love the place they were born and raised. That's a given. What makes Greece special is that many people who were not born and raised in Greece develop a special and close connection to her.

This is exactly it. There's no perfect place (or country) anywhere in the world. Greece has a very ugly side (when it comes to government related services mainly...) but it also has a wonderful side as well. For my part, I love most of the people I associate with when I visit Greece. Friends, relatives or random people I meet in the streets. Most of them are great human beings and I love spending time with them. Most of all I love the land. I've visited many wonderful places in my lifetime (so far...), and I've lived in a few places outside Greece, but no matter where I've been Greece is always in my heart and it always feels like home whenever I visit. I don't think this will ever change. Sure, the Greece I knew as a child and teenager has changed, so what? It's still beautiful for what it is. The feeling I get when I sit down in some coffee place in Greece, grab a cup of coffee and look at the sea is priceless. I've done the same in the most wonderful places, like Hawaii for example, but it just doesn't feel the same. Even my wife, who's not Greek, says the same thing. No matter where we've been, in the most wonderful places, nowhere feels like Greece. There's something in this land which makes it so much sweeter being there.

Well said Dino (about the show too )

daman, please no more personal attacks. Let's end it here.