story behind the crying Greek man
Retiree Giorgos Chatzifotiadis had queued up at three banks in Greece's second city of Thessaloniki on Friday in the hope of withdrawing a pension on behalf of his wife, but all in vain.
When he was told at the fourth that he could not withdraw his 120 euros ($133), it was all too much and he collapsed in tears.
The 77-year-old told AFP that he had broken down because he "cannot stand to see my country in this distress".
"That's why I feel so beaten, more than for my own personal problems," Chatzifotiadis said.
The image of him sitting outside the bank, openly crying in despair with his savings book and identity card on the floor, was captured by an AFP photographer illustrating how ordinary Greeks are suffering during the country's debt crisis.
-----
Recounting how he had gone from bank to bank in a futile attempt to collect his wife's pension, Chatzifotiadis said when he was told at the fourth "that I could not get the money, I just collapsed".
Both he and his wife, like many Greeks in the north of the country, had spent several years in Germany where he "worked very hard" in a coal mine and later a foundry.
http://news.yahoo.com/crying-greek-pensioner-story-behind-poignant-photo-003339650.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
Chinese bubbles have been popping and trillions of dollars (with a "t"
have evaporated into thin air. At some point, they're going to want us to pay them back for all those loans Stupid floated his unwinnable wars on.
The IMF will likely step in and "help" us do it.
Not because the Greek gentleman is crying, but because the global banking elite put him in that situation while the assholes want more and more. Having 10 billion dollars is not enough, having 25 billion is not enough, having 50 is not enough, they want more and they're getting it from hard working people. The greedy pigs never have enough.
Image from a 2013 Common Dreams article, a progressive blog.
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2013/04/03/wall-street-hogs-still-running-wild
Kick in to the DU tip jar?
This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.
As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.