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NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > GREEK RIOTS SPARK GLOBAL REALIZATION THAT GREECE IS STILL A COUNTRY

GREEK RIOTS SPARK GLOBAL REALIZATION THAT GREECE IS STILL A COUNTRY

December 9 2008

Athens, Greece – The shooting of a fifteen-year old boy by apparently rogue police officers on Saturday has sparked massive riots throughout the country, affecting both the capital city and the northern city of Thessaloniki. As police and other emergency services work to quell the riots and treat the injured, Greek officials are finding themselves in a position they have not been in for a number of years, as the centre of attention.

The outburst of violence has left the country’s two largest cities, as well as the tourist islands of Crete and Corfu, in chaos as the mostly young protestors continue to run rampant. While rioting may have been the furthest thing from the police officer’s minds when they shot the teen, the idea that the entire country’s profile could be resurrected could not have even a dream.

“I know nothing can relieve your pain, but I assure you ... the state will act, as it ought to, so that yesterday's tragedy won't be repeated,” said Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. “Now is the time for Greek people to come together and unite and show the world that not only are we still a people, but that we are a great people.”

Greece of course was the centre of civilization for decades. Ancient Greece was the home of many modern conventions such as democracy, philosophy, religion, astronomy, and mathematics for centuries but has since fallen into disrepair. So far in fact have they fallen that history teachings routinely fail to mention that the country still exists.

“Like civilizations of the past such as Rome or Phoenicia many people simply believe that Greece only exists in history books. This rioting is a very clear sign to people that the country does indeed still exist and people still live there,” said Scrape TV European analyst Gillian Weismann. “It’s surprising to many people when they look at a world map and realize that there is this country tucked right on the northern edge of the Europe. It’s easy to miss especially with such high profile countries throughout the continent but it is there and a surprising number of people live there.”

The country of course is no longer the centre of any major discipline or global influence. That has been taken over by more modern countries such as the United States and European counterparts Germany, France, The UK, and Russia. Some see it as inevitable that a country thousands of years old would fade into obscurity, but others are less forgiving.

“Countries throughout Asia have been around for equal or even longer periods of time and still maintain a significant presence on the world stage. Syria, Japan, and the ever growing China are the best examples of that,” said Scrape TV International analyst Gustav Hander. “There’s been this sort of endless turmoil in central Europe of course and that has given rise to many great nations, but there’s little excuse outside apathy. Sure the Greek people were under Ottoman rule for 400 years but if that’s just whining. You don’t see the Germans or the English complaining about their troubles. They go out and achieve despite any problems that come up. Getting all uppity about a dead teenager shows there’s still life in the old girl, but they still have a long way to go before they prove to the rest of the world that they have something to contribute.”

Government officials though see this as a new opportunity for the once great nation to step from behind the shadows of history and into the modern world.

“Hopefully now that people realize we are still around they will take a fresh look at what Greece is,” said Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos. “Hopefully they will realize that we are not all Medusa and Hercules and Cyclops and that we have something to contribute to the world.”

Pavlopoulos also noted that the riots, mostly being conducted by young people, are proof that the nation has a vital and energetic young nation.        
“We are a young nation and obviously our young people have a great deal of passion when it comes to social issues. We just need to harness that into something other than burning cars and destroying shops.”

Emil Uliya, International Correspondent

NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > GREEK RIOTS SPARK GLOBAL REALIZATION THAT GREECE IS STILL A COUNTRY

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