Jean-Claude Juncker Interview (and other observations on politicians, comedians and charlatans)

What Juncker had to say about Greece

Time for him to watch "The Greeks-Crucible of Civilisation"

But who are the attention-seeking charlatans? (Inside Greece, Nick Malkoutzis):

"That leading European politicians, not just attention-seeking charlatans, should be regurgitating banalities about Greece at this crucial stage underlines that too many decision-makers in the eurozone have yet to comprehend the Greek case".

Unfortunately, rather too many people, from top decision-makers to banal "charlatans", understand the Greek case and tactics only too well - or so it might seem to an objective observer.

On the other hand, I was not at all amused by the gag cracked by a sell-out German stand-up comedian, Michael Mittermeier, who is appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, even if he does "riff on stereotypes". This is one of his jokes, about "the lazy Greeks", quoted in The Sunday Times Culture Section, 5 August 2012, p. 14:

"The Greeks keep going on about how much money they owe us. But it wasn't a loan. We bought the place...it was certainly a lot cheaper than our last attempt, in 1939".

In spite of the fact that he is provocatively exploring many national characteristics (including the German and the British) and deconstructing or satirizing perceptions of our national characters in order to undermine prejudices, perhaps, in cold print this insensitive gag goes well over the borderline of acceptability. One could argue that it is a joke told against his own nation, not the Greeks.

For an unusual angle on the general situation, see this piece in The Slog