Who Is Aphrodite Flicking Off?

Greeks around the country are enraged over the cover of the German news magazine "Focus." They're pissed off to the point where the president of the Greek parliament, Mr. Petsalnikos, is asking for an apology/explanation from the German ambassador... Seriously?

The cover reads something along the lines of: "The rogue state (απατεώνας) of the EU family." And I ask: are they mistaken? Are they being unfair in calling us a whole bunch of apateones? We have been lying to the EU ever since we joined it. We have been milking the EU cow of its money for supposed public works, farmers' subsidies and so on, when we all know very well that most of that money has gone down the corruption drain. Lets not forget that Germany is the most powerful (financially) member of the EU and its mostly their money that's going into helping Greece, and other members of the union like us.

Of course, there are people, and journalists reflecting these people's opinions, that are very angry at the Germans for this cover, reminding the Germans that they owe democracy and the end of WWII to the Greeks! During the occupation, the Greeks suffered from hunger, the loss of archaeological treasures and other crimes by the German army. In fact, a few days ago, the president of the leftist party Sinaspismos, Alexis Tsipras, suggested that we ask the Germans to literally pay off their debt in monetary terms from the occupation. Others yet are pointing out that Greece's defense budget is spent in a large part on German weapons, we also buy their cars and so on.

Well, if you actually go there, then the Germans can say that they partially fuel our tourism industry and they have been doing so for decades. So, which side is right? Is Aphrodite's flicking us off or does she represent the Greeks flicking off the rest of Europe? For me, this is not really the question in this matter.

The question is: Why is a magazine cover given such attention and importance?

Aren't both Greece and Germany democratic countries? Since when is it a crime to state your opinion, whether you are an individual or a group (in this case, the magazine)? Why did the Greeks have to raise this to the level of a diplomatic episode, when the magazine that published this offending picture is not government owned? How much really should governments interfere in the mass media and free speech?

Μήπως τελικά όποιος έχει την μύγα, μυγιάζεται;

Image: http://www.yupi.gr/