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France, Belgium, Denmark, Greece - uh oh!

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Monday November 14, 2005 20:24

by Insurrection

the spread of revolt

It is never possible to see the outcome of a specific struggle in advance. Even a limited struggle can have the most unexpected consequences. The passage from the various insurrections-limited and circumscribed-to revolution can never be guaranteed in advance by any method.

In the wake of two attacks in 24 hours on French targets in Athens and Thessaloniki, police have been put on standby amid fears that youths expressing solidarity with rioters in France could try to cause trouble ahead of Thursday's anniversary of a 1973 student uprising.

http://upagainstthewallmotherfucker.blogspot.com/2005/11/france-belgium-denmark-greece-uh-oh.html

Comments (1 of 1)

they do it every year. "young people make trouble in Athens".

by hiccup yawn graft ribbid scratch burp and burbble

Tue Nov 15, 2005 00:39

But obviously not the same young people, because Greek kids like all kids "grow up". There are now many responsible adults and parents who in their day took part in the annual riot in Athens. There are academics teaching in the very university where the original riot kicked off. They changed not only their government but the very nature of their state as a result. It was "political". Taken therefore that the Greeks in general and the Athenians in particular observe an annual youthful ruck for historical, political and cultural reasons, the question ought be-

Will this year's batch of "young people" be any different? I sadly suspect they will. They've been conditioned out of political rioting into clowning around in front of the police against the backdrop of terrorists attacks. You're more likely to find the sort of "young person" who in previous generations "did it" in a social centre now colouring in maps with crayons and being all-in-all quite useful : considering the sort of society we have.

What can we do?
well the rôle of parental capital is important. No-one can underestimate the difference between "have to" and "must" in translation, especially to english. We could try rationalising with them. We could try giving them new technology. We could try ignoring them.
But whatever we try, it is time to finally accept that "young people" have changed. Utterly.

Increasingly in western European society at the very least, and most certainly the US and Canada what amongst "young people" is termed "radical" or "political" or "alternative" even (dare I write it) "anarchist" is now accompanied by quaintly conservative elements of social interaction and network building, as exemplified by (of a long list) favouring polite and decent dialogue and conversation over the destruction of private and municipal property. Jayzhus this is why the church is such an enemy they have the "social centre" thing wrapped up. ribbid ribbid. ribbid. "have to obey" is not the same as "must obey". yawn. night night. What's good for Athens is good for Tessalonika is good for Thalatta agapa:-)