Kent In Europe: Riots, Strikes, & Cigarettes-Oh My!!!

Kent gave me the honor of giving all the faithful readers out there a little update on the situation in Greece. Many of you are aware of the Athen's Police Officer's fatal shooting that has sparked riots that have spread across the country for the past five days. The groups have ranged in size from a hundred in the smaller cities and towns such as our own (Patra), up to thousands like the group that organized at the boy's funeral on Tuesday in Athens. No worries, however, we have remained safe and out of harm's way. In fact, if it weren't for the news, we would have no idea the riots were going on at all!

It seems that small concentrated groups of anarchists, named the "known unknowns," composed mostly of high school and college students, are using the boy's death as an excuse to express their frustration at the unpopular ruling government and the direction the country is going in. They have burned buildings and cars and have ground business to a halt in urban areas. Complicating the situation is a planned general strike to protest the ailing pension plans of government employees. As a result, Kent will have no class all this week and it has been very difficult to travel and visit areas within the country.

It is very interesting to experience this situation. The government seems unable or unwilling to do anything about the riots and it seems as if most of the protesters are just participating because they are bored. Most of the Greeks seem apathetic to the whole situation, assuming that it will all die down soon. In stark contrast, the Chinese students in Kent's group are appalled at the government's lack of control over the situation. What a clash of worldviews we have here! I believe that it perhaps stems from the Greek's passion for burning objects, especially cigarettes. It seems unlikely that the Greeks, the most smoking people in the world, could riot and protest without stopping for a coffee and cigarette every once in a while. Maybe the government should set up free coffee stands to quell their anger?

But we want everyone not to worry. We are safe and have not contemplated throwing any firebombs with Kent's fellow students. From Patra, this is guest columnist David Boaz saying good night.