A Day of Protest in Greece

I had some time before class so I thought I would update on the happenings of the past few days. Its been a nice week. We had visitors from some universities in the US visit so we had to be on good behavior and open to talk a lot about our experience. I can spin things well. Leave the negative out, really emphasize the good. But when I do it I am always thinking that what I am saying is true, but it doesn't feel like the truth. Anyway we got free lunch both days. We ravaged it like a pack of wolves. I kinda think study abroad is sorta like being homeless except you have a nice place to sleep. Its just hard to put that next meal on your table.

Yesterday, the 17th is the day that Greece commemorates..well a lot of things to be honest. In 1973, Greece was under a military dictatorship. Clearly things weren't good (they never are in dictatorships) so the students of the Athens Polytechnic University staged a huge sit in. This sit in was similar to the ones of Berkeley in the 60's but I think even large. For 3 days they took shifts, sitting, eating, sleeping, refusing to leave the building. But of course dealing with a junta it ended with tanks, guns, and teargas. I think about 30 students were killed and the country was devastated. A few months later the junta fell and Greece went back to a democracy. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Polytechnic_uprising)

But now 36 years later November 17th is the day that Greece commemorates those who were kinda martyred for their beliefs. Any of course 36 years later that message is..kinda pretty much lost. Okay I wouldnt say completely lost, there are plenty of people who marched yesterday with Greek flags and some with candles, families of those who died. But of thousands of marchers, I'd say the day takes on a whole new meaning. This day has become a day to protest (something the Greeks are already pretty damn good at) for students and adults like. The passionate individuals, usually of the far left parties take to the street outside the Polytechnion and march together armed with banners, chants, and flags. But when you look at the flag you see a ripped piece of fabric attached carelessly to a long big wooden plank. The flag is not the point, the weapon it can become is. The Greeks chant and drum and shout against Imperialism, America, and the Anarchists of course chant against government! They march about 2 miles to the American Embassy where people say it gets a little crazy.

We went with some of the administrators to watch and were advised not to bring cameras (Ben, my brother learned at the the hard way during his recording of a riot in Pangrati) or dress in ultra-American clothing. They knew we would go by ourselves and figured they should be there just in case and to help translate and explain the different groups.

I was like a kid on Christmas morning. The chance of seeing a huge full blown riot! Teargas! Molotov cocktails!! How fun!! We stood waiting for a few hours until the show came down the boulevard we were stationed at. Lots of Greeks came out to watch also. Show support and just watch the happening I guess. There were lots of radicals and lots of college kids, arms linked, faces flushed with shouting. It was beautiful really. The anarchists (the actually scary ones) were dressed completely in black with fabric over their mouths in case of teargas. As they marched the biggest men stood on the outside walking sideways to protect those within and to show the riot police (um who lined the sidewalk behind me) that they must pass through them to get to the crowd. Many many communists came out to march, they represent about 10% of the Greek population. I thought that was really cool of course too.

Anyway the march at our end, ended up being pretty peaceful. There were moments when it was a little scary, but nothing more then heart racing fear without any real escalations. It was very cool though. Great experience. Great day.

After Jayna Melissa and I saw Paranormal Activity. We all love scary movies but cant find lots of people in the US to see them with us so it was perfect. We screamed like little girls (me especially) but we loved it.

Have to go to class. Have a 5 page paper to write before the rents come at the end of this week. Very excited to ditch out on life next week!