Live Free Or Die Hard

Anonymous
"... Marry a woman from among the descendants of your ancestors; do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father's tribe."

- Tobit 4.12

Compromise in Greece is not an option. When you're in this country, things will be done in the Greek way. Period. Enough said. The people here know the value of preserving their nation's heritage. They understand that if you don't fight to protect your history and traditions, they will eventually be lost. Pride in your nation, history and culture is everything. This notion defines the Greeks and the way they live their lives. Compromise in Greece is not an option.

In the book of Tobit, a dying man gives his son instructions on how to lead a righteous life. In his speech, Tobit stresses the importance of marrying within one's own people, so as to preserve one's culture and nationality. For Tobit, there is no compromise on this issue. You want to preserve your traditions for future generations? Then don't even think about marrying a foreigner. Stick to your people and keep your country's practices alive.

I think the people of Greece would agree with Tobit on this issue of national pride. Maybe they don't believe God will smite you if you marry a foreigner, but they certainly understand the importance of preserving your unique culture. After all, the Greeks have gone to great lengths to protect artifacts and archaeological sites that tell the story of their nation's history. There are Byzantine churches in the center of Athens that sit in the middle of bustling modern squares where shoppers scurry about with their iPods and cell phones in hand. It would have been so easy to knock the churches down and build a shopping mall on top of them. We've knocked down beautiful historic buildings in America, so why shouldn't they do it in Greece as well? Or consider Delphi, one of the most ancient and incredible sites in all of Greece. For years Delphi remained buried underground, unnoticed by people who passed by. But once the site was discovered and partially restored, the Greeks put in a massive effort to preserve the area. Today it is marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like Tobit, the Greeks have discovered the importance of preserving their national history and identity. Their uncompromising spirit is one of the things I admire most about this country.