Since December 6, Saturday the profile of Athens has changed...I can't believe how this Athens that I enjoy to be in became like this. I had heard so much about student protests, events, demonstrations, marches, etc. in Athens during the last few years, but now I have witnessed one of the biggest riots of the city, actually the country, since 1974, when democratization of the country is considered to be achieved. 
After the murder of 15-16 years old Alexis Grigoropoulos by a police officer in the most chaotic neighborhood of Athens, Exarchia, on Saturday night, thousands of Greeks started to voice up and events turned into a big riot, especially in the city center. This murder seems as a last point after the negative effects of economic crisis in the country and discontent of people from the governance of state.
Personally, I really appreciate Greek people and how they use their right to protest for anything that they are dissatisfied, against government, leaders, state officials, etc. because I think this is a human right and important element of democracy. Also, I think this is one of the significant things that we, as Turkish people, have missed decades ago and can not achieve today in our so called "democracy". However, the way how you use this right to protest, tools that you use to change the thing that you are discontent are also significantly important for the continuation of respect to human rights and democracy. Therefore, today Athens/Greece seems to fail in doing this. Moreover, it is important to note that even though the existence of huge damage in the city center; blasted buildings, shops, broken shop windows, ATM machines, a blasted Christmas tree in the middle of Syntagma Square (which was the symbol of the celebration events of Christmas in the city), looting, etc. there is not any murders or casualties. I can not stop myself to compare with Turkey and unfortunately, I can not imagine such a situation there after such a big riot.
It is pity to see this city, where people like to go out, have a nice night with their beloved ones in a bouzikia, club or have a nice day in a fancy restaurant, cafe, bar... where people like to walk in a lazy way but talk like in rush or a fight... where, people like to share with each other... blasted, ruined, fearful, like a ghost city after a war... Hope to have our old Athens back soon, where is alive, dynamic but in a contrast lazy again in its own way, happy, not fearful, safe and warmer than anywhere else...
1 comment:
Damlacim yaa.. bu olanlara inanamiyorum.. lutfen bu fotograflari bana senin cekmedigini soyle, bu kargasanin icinde hic kalmadigini ve kalmayacagini umuyorum.. Gecen hafta Istanbul disinda oldugum icin, televizyon, gazete, internet vs. butun iletisim araclariyla baglantim koptugu icin dunyadan neredeyse bir haberdim, yeni yeni ayrintilari ogrendim.. bu gibi durumlarda haberlerde gosterilen bir cok seyin abartildigini, hatta bazen saptirildigini biz yakinen biliyoruz ama, sen yine de bir daha soyle ve beni rahatlat lutfen.. bu koasun dibinde yasamadin degil mi?
Post a Comment