Jaunted

Tags: Riots / Dangerous Travel / → All Tags

Tourists Reappear as Riots Abate in Athens, But Tension Remains

It's been eight days since the killing of a 15-year-old boy by police in Athens touched off riots across the country, and things are finally starting to calm down. The AP reports that open-topped buses filled with tourists have returned to the city's famous historical sights, while the bars and cafes in the Thissio district, with its sweeping views of the Acropolis, are once again packed with patrons. The scene was quite different a week ago, when angry youths clad in red-and-black - some of whom identified themselves as anarchists - took to the streets to protest the killing by overturning garbage cans, looting stores, and scuffling with police. While most Greeks deplore the violent tactics of the rioters, a significant number of citizens have legitimate grievances against the government, not only about the police shooting, but a host of economic and social issues as well. It's sad to think that the country that created the basic fundamentals of philosophy and rule of law could degenerate so dramatically. Perhaps the rioters and government officials both need to take a tour through the Parthenon and other ancient centers of Greek justice, democracy, and scholarship for a reminder of the heights their nation was once able to reach, and ought to aim for again.

[Photo: destination360.com]

Related Stories:
· Greece Calm After 8 Days of Riots [USA Today]
· Democracy in Athens Temporarily On Hold [Jaunted]
· Riot Coverage [Jaunted]