Disturbs in Greece

[Qkrch]

Been looking the news this week and the violence generated in Greece is not stoping in any way.

As Ben is living there, I'd like to tell him that "please, take care dude". Maybe the focus of those wars are not on the city you're living. But you know, the spanish civil war had a lot of students movements, and the world crisis is not really helping.

Damn violence, in any of its ways.

[Starlight]

*sigh* It seems like peace is in the lowest priority inside the todo list of human. 

[BenWH]

Thanks guys, I'm actually in Geneva on travels, but my family is still in Athens - though not in the centre. Greece has a tradition of protest/unrest, and unfortunately the political parties are all acting irresponsibly in their different ways. It's actually a small number of people, but disturbing nevertheless. We're hoping this will be stopped soon before it escalates further. It's really very sad to watch.

[sirchet]

Hey Ben, when someone says DUCK! don't look up for a bird.

In other words, keep your head down and stay safe.

[Starlight]

Thanks guys, I'm actually in Geneva on travels, but my family is still in Athens - though not in the centre. Greece has a tradition of protest/unrest, and unfortunately the political parties are all acting irresponsibly in their different ways. It's actually a small number of people, but disturbing nevertheless. We're hoping this will be stopped soon before it escalates further. It's really very sad to watch.

Wish you will be fine there and there will be no more death...

[Ashercon]

You and your family are in my prayers.

[BenWH]

*sighs*

It just seems to get worse. The power of the modern media is so depressing - or at least it is depressing when they act so irresponsibly. We have news channels frequently referring to the 'murder' of the teenager that set this all off, and politicians making comments about 'toppling governments'. What a shame that things always seem to get so far from reality. For example, some ballistics labs have demonstrated the killing was an accident (it's not very difficult to determine if a bullet has struck something else first - not least because the bullet would otherwise most likely pass through the body), but because of the politics involved, the bullet has been sent abroad so that no one Greek has to make a decision. Despite all this, over-excited journalists seem to be surprised that now anarchists are taking pot-shots at police. It's really easy to see how terrorist groups get born in the modern environment. I just hope it doesn't go that far.

Anyway, my little aside into politics. I'm sure that others will have different views and different information. Either way, it's really a shame after millenia of trying, just how poor we are as a species in preventing problems before they start.

[kookoo]

It is very true that the media has been excellent at sensationalizing and exagerrating issues lately.  There are real issues that need to be reported, but when you add drama and excite people to get a greater effect and sell more adds, you also contribute to the issue.  I don't doubt that there are serious issues and problems in Greece that truly need to be addressed, but it becomes harder to address these issues when the media intensifies them.  It is that way with the economy as well right now.  The problems exist, that is true.  The media did not create these problems, but they have been running around shouting that the sky is falling and are truly inciting chaotic panic on each issue.  It makes the problem even more difficult to solve when there is a third party promoting reaction and drama.  It is also very self serving of the media to exaserbate *big word for the day* the issue in order to get even more sensational news as a result.

It soon becomes a criminal act for the media to make the situation worse, regardless of whether or not the law defines it as a crime. 



That aside, my best wishes are with you Ben.  Stay safe if you can. 

[Tybae]

There has been protesting here as well over a shooting.  At the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, there was a guy who was shot by BART police while he was being restrained by another officer and he was killed in the process.  There was a cell phone video taken on scene that caught the shooting and it was the worst act of police brutality I have ever seen.  When the department tried to force the officer to talk, he resigned, so they can no longer force him to talk as an employer. 

There were protests that went violent, which I don't really understand.  Why do some protests have to do with blowing stuff up, flipping cars, lighting things on fire, vandalism, etc?  That's your neighborhood you're trashing.  Anyways, they have every right to protest because the shooting was completely out of line and should be criminal.  Now the District Attorney (head prosecutor) in Alameda County says he needs 2 more weeks to decide to press charges in the incident.  I don't really get it, but there are still protests going on and they are still violent.  Even when the mother of the slain 22 year old went on TV and said to stop and it was not what her son would have wanted, yet it still goes on. 

It's not as bad as your situation in Greece as that involves an entire government, but it's still hitting close to home. 

I live far enough away to not be affected by these riots, but they are headlining in the news.

[Starlight]

There were protests that went violent, which I don't really understand.  Why do some protests have to do with blowing stuff up, flipping cars, lighting things on fire, vandalism, etc?  That's your neighborhood you're trashing.  Anyways, they have every right to protest because the shooting was completely out of line and should be criminal.  Now the District Attorney (head prosecutor) in Alameda County says he needs 2 more weeks to decide to press charges in the incident.  I don't really get it, but there are still protests going on and they are still violent.  Even when the mother of the slain 22 year old went on TV and said to stop and it was not what her son would have wanted, yet it still goes on. 

I think that is because Human beings has a tendency towards violence while under rage. That's why there are a lot of Religions, Philosophies which try to reduce that and make us better. However, even the religion groups are being tainted by personal view. That's why there are so many wars (as in Israel and Palestine) and hate-bashing crimes occurs. I just wonder when does human kind really realise their error?

[BenWH]

Actually, I'm constantly surprised by humanity. How is it that some people can find the time to go out night after night and burn cars, but can't find time to get educated. Or on a different scale, how can governments find billions of <insert currency> to bail out banks, and mere millions to do something about saving the planet?

And then you turn the page of the newspaper to read about someone who has volunteered years of their life to clear mines from Cambodia.