Athens - Travelogue from the square of the indignant Greeks

The indignant Greeks are passionately denouncing political incompetence.The indignant Greeks of Syntagma square in Athens are divided into two categories. The only relationship between them is their opposition to the Memorandum's economic policy and the unsound Greek political system. The first and the most multitudinous group are being gathered at the upper frieze in front of the parliament's building and the second one at the lower space of the square.


Greek flags only
 

Crowds of demonstrators arrive at Syntagma Square by the subway.The indignant people, who gather before the parliament, do not resemble at all the protesters that used to know. They are more combative and confrontational group. They have already spent two weeks in the streets and despite their anger, there has been no injury. Most of them are young, and while it seems they are not led by political parties and it is also possible that they have never again taken part in demonstrations. They are holding Greek flags, and the most common slogan is the word "Hellas” which makes the ground quake.

In addition, there are many religious people among them or other people expressing patriotic ideas. Their speech is direct, without any rhetorical tricks and hints. At the same time, they have a great sense of humour and seem to be enjoying their time and making their mark in the political history of their country. Compared with the Greek reality, this is a really unconventional political stream that has nothing to do with political ideology. They booed all the politicians with no exceptions. In their eyes all politicians are grievously failed and are responsible for the misery into which Greece has sunk.

At the upper half of the square where the nationalists gather.

This group of apolitical "indignant" people is particularly threatening in today's fragile political system and is probably going to "bite" hard those who challenge it or attempt to take political advantage of it. It is mainly young people who detest the corrupted government, but they're also indifferent to the rest smaller parties' medley.

They don't intend to pay the price for the shortcomings of political mediocrity, which governed Greece from the political changeover until today. They left the country in the hands of loan sharks and financial predators. They had no experience of social conflicts, or elementary leadership, they are tenacious and they will probably never be able to manage the political tensions that will arise.


Inspirational messages

The "indignant" people of the second group gather at the lower half of Syntagma square have nothing to do with Greek politics. Their political origins seem to be leftist and ecological, but not at all compatible with the Greek left parties. "The square is pregnant, beware of the baby", "We are not here and just for fun", "Let us live or else we'll tickle you", "Yesterday is too soon, tomorrow is too late, the only moment is now", are some of the hundreds of slogans written on cardboards, hanging on the trees around the square.
Demonstrators have climbed on the tram stations.

People of every age are writing slogans on papers with multicoloured markers. Enormous crowds of citizens are sitting around the square's fountain watching the huge assemblies, where everyone can freely express their opinion with passion but not fear. Among the hundreds of people who speak almost no one uses rhetoric in their speech. They say quickly and bluntly what they have to say, in a way that isn't even reminiscent to the standard way of speaking of the Greek left parties.

There were no clichés such as "the local and the foreign plutocracy" or "the incorrect policies that pour water into the counteraction's mill". The image of this "new left party", the presence of which is not being felt via union and corporatist movements, but via exemplary assemblies and spreading of political messages value and quality, is accepted very positively by the thousands of indignant people who are thirsty for new and more modern political ideas and behaviours.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS 
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com

MORE PHOTOS

Popular assemblies joined by too many people at the lower “leftist” frieze of the square. Popular assemblies joined by too many people at the lower “leftist” frieze of the square.
Original actions at the lower frieze of the square. Original actions at the lower frieze of the square.
They were also beating pots to show that the austerity measures strike physically They were also beating pots to show that the austerity measures strike physically

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