Please, Somebody, Remind Us Why The Euro Was Anything But An Idiotic Idea: The Final Concert Of The National Orchestra And Chorus Of Greece

Yet another general strike in Greece, this time over the summary closure of Greek State Radio and Television, which means the orchestra and chorus are also shut down. 

The video below shows scenes from the final concert broadcast from the studio to the crowds outside, a performance of Elgar's 'Nimrod' followed by the Greek national anthem. The violinist in tears says it all. This is just one of the tragic outcomes of entry into the Euro, and the chaos that resulted.

As always, Greece is a mess, an ongoing tragic soap opera, with so many problems of its own creation that the list would go forever.

But nothing was helped, and so much was made so much worse, by the imposition of the Euro upon this messy corner of the world. Its economic, political and cultural woes have only been worsened by its continued participation. The well has been so poisoned, it will take decades to recover.

Some argue, 'Well, good riddance to the orchestra! Not the role of government to be funding this anyway!', and that point may be well-taken. On the other hand, even small governments like Grecce, if solvent, can easily scrape together 5-10 million dollars to run a radio orchestra, with even a chorus and small ballet on the side. They can be used to anchor arts education for the country, serve as public relations ambassadors, used to organize music festivals to draw tourism dollars.

In any case, it should be their choice, yea or nay. A solvent government in a stable society can spend a bit of discretionary money on this sort of thing with no harm done. The Eurozone has eroded and destroyed all that.

Time to exit, tell the Germans and the bankers where to stick it, and for the Greeks to take back their own country, and get to make their own choices. Who knows, they may even decide they want an orchestra that plays Elgar decently.