Re: hungerstrikers in Greece

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, gogu 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>Ancient Greeks were considering anyone non Greek as a "foreigner".

This statement won a place in the soc.culture.greek Hall of Shame!

Do I need to explain why Greeks consider anyone non Greek as a
"foreigner", or Turks consider anyone non Turk as a "foreigner", etc?

Asteras

PS To clarify what he wanted to say: Ancient Greeks were calling
anyone non Greek "Varvaros" ("Barbarian"). The term had not today's
reducing meaning ("savage"). It just meant foreigner, as its etymology
is the incomprehensive sound "Var-var" (or "Bar-bar", if you accept
the Erasmian pronunciation) of foreign languages. Even today, the term
"Barbarians" is used in Rugby, when a national team plays another team
which consists of players of many other nations!

Did Athenians consider Spartans Greek, even if their societies were
very different from each other? OF COURSE! Because they shared the
same language, the same cultural heritage and the same religious
beliefs. The best proof of the existence of the notion of Greekness is
that Athens and Sparta, together with all other Greek City-states were
participating in the Olympic Games, while all Barbarian Nations were
excluded.