Greek Jewish leaders denounce remarks by "Zorba" composer Theodorakis; calls Jews root of all evil

(AFP) ^ | 11/13/03 | (AFP)

[Pikamax]

Greek Jewish leaders denounce remarks by "Zorba" composer Theodorakis

ATHENS (AFP) - Greek Jewish leaders came down on one of the country's best-loved composers, Mikis Theodorakis of "Zorba the Greek" fame, for calling Jews the "root of evil", and reproached government ministers for failing to react.

Theodorakis "repeated in the 21st century opinions from the darkest Middle Ages and slogans used by Nazi Germany, fanning both inside and outside the country the winds of intolerance and racism," the Central Jewish Council of Greece charged in a statement.

The composer was flanked by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Education Minister Petros Efthymiou when he made the comments at a November 4 reception for the publication of his autobiography, an event covered massively by the Greek media.

Film footage showed neither minister reacted when Theodorakis said Greeks and Jews "are two peoples without kin, but they had fanaticism and self-knowledge and managed to prevail."

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"Today, we can say that these little people are the root of evil," said Theodorakis, 78, a committed leftist and political activist who was jailed under the fascist junta that held power in Greece in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas sought Wednesday to distance the government from his comments, which despite the number of journalists present were only repeated in one small right-wing daily.

"The government does not share and is not in agreement with the opinion expressed by Mr. Theodorakis," the spokesman said, but added that "despite the disagreement" the composer "is still held in high regard" by the government for his works.

[vbmoneyspender]

the composer "is still held in high regard" by the government for his works.

I think the Germans feel the same way about Wagner.

[Free ThinkerNY]

Further proof that Nazis and Marxists are two sides of the same coin.

[omega4412]

Add him to the list of outstanding musicians with abhorrent political views, like Carl Orff, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger...

[nkycincinnatikid]

How dare he say these things about the Greeks, his own people , the outrage will be overwhelming!

[Happy2BMe]

"Theodorakis "repeated in the 21st century opinions from the darkest Middle Ages and slogans used by Nazi Germany, fanning both inside and outside the country the winds of intolerance and racism," the Central Jewish Council of Greece charged in a statement."

It's not just in Iraq, Iran, Saudi, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, and 90% of the world. It's in Greece too ping! (Hitler would be proud)

[eleni121]

Theodorakis' venom is especially disgusting given what the Greeks have suffered under nazism, communism and worst of all - Islam.

He is a despicable creature whom I had the opportunity to meet and learn about 20 years ago.

[eleni121]

I will look for it but until then there is the NYT reference to the story. It has been published around the world and the Muslim press is having a field day. I don't know why the emotional response, given the level of anti semitism in Europe as a whole, given the age old philosophical battle between Greeks and Jews, and given that Theodorakis is a Communist. In fact, I would say that he is not Greek - he is a communist.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Israel-Greece.html