Why are Greek people so ungrateful and anti-American?

Question

Why are Greek people so anti-American? Don't they remember the Marshal Plan in the 1950s and how we saved them from hunger.

Answer 1

yes it it true!!if the americans hadn't sent food,then millions would have died from hunger!!!my father remembers people dying in the streets from hunger[especially in athens]in crete it was different cause people had some food[not everybody]my grandmother gave her gold rings to buy bread!!!many greeks are grateful,it's just that many also forget!!
greeks are anti-everything so don't take it personal!!
if you are panathinaikos[soccer team]then whoever is olimpiakos[soccer team]will not like you!
if you are pasok[political party]then you don't like nea democratia[the governing party]!!
even the greek government gives things to people[like a pay rise]..".no,not enough"they shout!!everybody wants more and nobody is happy!!the greeks are a people who are never satisfied!!
even though the american government has done wrong to many countries..it has also done right to many!!
so i will have to agree that whoever knows their history also knows how the americans helped millions of greeks,and without that help,many of them would not be here today!!

Answer 2

Europeans as a rule, including the greeks of course, are not anti-American as such. Whatever our views on US policies and so on, we tend to more often judge people on who they are, as you do. the only real threats or risks in coming here are behavioural faux pas and these are easy to avoid. Rudeness, raised voices and condescension are not well tolerated. Pushing ones way through a queue or complaining loudly is seen as a bit of an "ugly American" thing, whether this is justified or not. I assume you want to see Greece, and not be constantly carrying on about how much better good ol' USA is? Then you will have no issues and hopefully make great friends. Don't be flashy with money or overtly advertise your nation of origin as this is seen as rude in many countries especially as Americans seem to more often do this than anyone else for some reason. Should you choose to drive, go with the flow. You will find the islands to be arrestingly beautiful and friendly. I will note here: I am not Greek, but did work in the tourist industry there for a while and watched people a lot.

Answer 3

Well, my personal opinion is that Greeks are not anti-American-actually, not at all! The only thing they are against is war; especially towards people who are not that strong to defend themselves on equal grounds. You see, Greeks have been for more than 300 years under the Othoman Empire's Regime and they can easily empathise people that suffer from war. It is quite difficult to convince a Greek that a war is just when innocent people are dying. Yes, I know about the "war against terrorism"- but violence provokes violence. This is not about ungratefulness; however, if you study history a little more deeper you might understand that there was a reason why the Marshal Plan took place in the first place.

Answer 4

Are you grateful to Greece for democracy or philosophy or for Parthenon or for culture heritage that marks every part of your culture too?
I don't think so, and I also think that you don't need to, it's a normal thing in development of mankind. But, how can you even compare this with some food packages?
America has changed a lot from those Marshal plan days, and have different politics and different allies. No one who is normal person can support today's USA policy to many countries. And I think that is the problem.
You shouldn't ask for gratitude for saving somebody from hunger (if you did that). It is your human duty.

Answer 5

Well, before to say anything about you must be in deep knowledge of the Marshal plan. To refresh your mind, have to state that the Marshal Plan It aimed on one side in the reinforcement of the economies, in all European Countries.

(That was important loans financed thus the destroyed from their war markets) and by the other side immediately served the American exterior policy, that wished to avoid the danger of devolving this countries, (because of the poverty), into the influence of the Soviet Union.

The sponsoring of this help did not become with bilateral processes but, with terms that were placed by Washington

First recipients of that “help” provided by the Marshal Plan, were the countries that at the opinion of American leadership were in immediate danger from the spread of communism that is to say, Greece and Turkey. The American government was reacting so by considering that if Greece will fell in the hands of communists, then all the Middle East and a part of Northern Africa she would depend in the control of Moscow.

With the Greek civilian war we have the beginning of American interventionism that with pretext the communistic danger "offered" the complete support, (economy and military) in any country that was in danger to be included in the sphere of influence of Soviet Union.

This interventionism determined the American exterior policy for the next (20) twenty years, while at the same time it constituted also the corner stone of Pact (North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO) that it was founded on 4 April the 1949.

So for what we have to be grateful????? For being into NATO serving your intentions when you are not able (as the super force in which we are in doubt) to solve a common issue between two countries.

Yes you are not going to do that because you are in favour only to the allied country that serves your latelly intentions.

Do not try to pool our legs with such phrases. Some times try to remember that you have to be grateful to an allied that was fighting in your side, in “your Vietnam war”. And this is only one fact. If you would like we can state thousand facts.

And when you are talking for “help” talk for help not for “loan” that we paid back to you 1000 times.

Here would like to return your question to you.

Why American people are so ungrateful and anti-Greeks?

Answer 6

The Greeks I know are glad to be here..but LOVE their own culture, as they should! There are NOT anti-America, just anti non-Greek!! lol

Answer 7

Why should anybody be grateful !?
when you are "helping" somebody, you do not show it on TV, do not write about it and do not expect anybody to feel obliged...you do it because you feel you have to.what America is doing is not help. that is S H O W !!!!
did anybody ever ask you for help?
you just come in without knocking the door, throw few dry food packages, destroy everything you touch. collect the best into your pockets on your way out and then you ask from people to be grateful!!!!!!!
no sh@@
and you think you are clever to come after half a century to ask for "thank you"?Greece was here before you entered history ! And will be without your 'help"
As every other country will be !
No thanks, feed your people first and then "play friends" with others
You always clean your home first !!!!

Answer 8

What's wrong with being anti-American?!

Answer 9

Greeks are anti-everybody but Greeks. don't take it personally, It's just the way they are.

Answer 10

They are also anti Macedonian and very anti Turkish. That is because they want to prove they have heredity of Ancient Greeks, who had big culture, but that is not Truth, most of "Greeks" are arrogant village people, especially women.