On the Inside of the Riot: Thessaloniki
Trip Start
Sep 14, 2008
1
25
Trip End
Dec 15, 2008
Thessaloniki, Macedonia Region, Greece
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
So here's some basic answers as to what's happening, why it's happening, who the targets are, and our level of safety right now.
This whole situation was started by a police officer shooting a teenager in Athens after an alleged encounter involving personal safety. The two officers involved claimed it was an accident but fatally shooting a teenager no matter what the circumstances are, is going to cause a lot of resentment. Unfortunately for Greece, this couldn't have come at a worse time as a General Strike was scheduled for this Wednesday, which gives the rioters all the more reason to keep up the riot until then. A lot of people here disagree with the government and last night I thought that this was the stupidest way to get things done. People are torching Greek shops, destroying banks, hotels, and even burning down the McDonald's...but this is their city! It's the equivalent of a man destroying all his goods before a long winter. This riot will accomplish nothing, no matter how far it extends. The fact is that in this day and age, you can't rely on violence to get things done anymore. Governments have a lot more power than they used to. For true stability and change you need the power of a vote, the power of a voice that relays your best interests. Without the people of a country you have nothing but empty ideals. But rioting to remind the government of that? While I can see how it makes sense that, if a government is corrupt enough, you have to take drastic action but the truth still is that by desecrating YOUR national monuments, by destroying YOUR city, by rebelling for destruction, YOUR voice becomes that of madness. There is no reason in destruction.
You can't bring change on by demand or force, the backlash ALWAYS comes in time, and will hit twice as hard as the first incident.
This whole thing has been blown way out of proportion by everyone. By the anarchists, by the media, by the Greek Government. The failure in letting these riots continue for more than three days just so the police can keep a "positive" image is ridiculous.
But enough of that. The real reason I wanted to post this was to allieve your worries about Megan and I.
So here's the scoop. The fighting is between the police and these bands of college-aged to teen kids who call themselves anarchists. They throw stones at the cops, cops shoot tear gas, kids run away. So far the only big demonstrations have been in downtown Thessaloniki. If you have Google Earth you can search for Kamara or Galerius' Arch. This is where the demonstrations start. Last night 5,000 people gathered and went down that same street torching and breaking into shops. Like I said it's needless destruction. But after you find where that is Google Evangelistria, this is the area we live in.
As far as targets go, no one cares about us. As long as we don't interfere with their activities, they won't bother us. They just want to mess with the cops, that's it. Were tucked away in an older part of the city (a lot of elders live here) and were pretty much out of the radar. We don't have any shops right in our immediate area, and there is no reason for them to come bother us.
Megan and I are staying inside until this blows over. It sucks that this is happening around Christmas time, I really hope that this doesn't ruin things for the rest of the city that isn't involved.
Our main point,
DON'T WORRY.
Love you guys!
Jared and Megan
