Commemorating the 1974 Politechnio riots

The celebration of the original, 1974 Politechnio riots which led to the eventual collapse of the 7-year military junta, the marches are a bold statement of the individuality of Greek culture. Greece, 11/18/2009.

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More than just an annual pilgrimage, more than just a celebration of the fighting spirit that has kept Greece the truly democratic cradle that it is, the celebration of the original, 1974 Politechnio riots which led to the eventual collapse of the 7-year military junta, the marches are a bold statement of the individuality of Greek culture.

This year everyone expected a massive blow-out, a sequel in a way, of the terrible riots which plagued the capital just over a year ago, last December. Even the new, opener approach, from a new, more willing to show its weaknesses government, were not enough to dissuade the Cassandras preparing - and, why not, hoping in their ways - for the worst. But, in yet another display of that amazing mix of courage, spirit, strength, power and compassion, love and freedom of thought that has always been the Greek soul, the people who marched from the centre of Athens all the way to the American embassy - a classic stage for so many riots the years before - displayed none of those ugly traits "neutral" observers expected of them. They were forceful, filled with passion and, in a lot of ways, justifiable anger at a world more focused on destruction than healing, but at the same time, they were peaceful - they were an image of civility and a model for marches everywhere. From kneeling in front of the police officers with a bloodied flag in their hands, to dropping a few carnations at the riot police's feet to forming a massive wall of joined hands, the people shouting "Bring an end to war" (all kinds of war) showed today that as long as we're willing to raise our voices and not our weapons, the message can always get through.

The celebration of the original, 1974 Politechnio riots which led to the eventual collapse of the 7-year military junta, the marches are a bold statement of the individuality of Greek culture. Greece, 11/18/2009.

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More than just an annual pilgrimage, more than just a celebration of the fighting spirit that has kept Greece the truly democratic cradle that it is, the celebration of the original, 1974 Politechnio riots which led to the eventual collapse of the 7-year military junta, the marches are a bold statement of the individuality of Greek culture.

This year everyone expected a massive blow-out, a sequel in a way, of the terrible riots which plagued the capital just over a year ago, last December. Even the new, opener approach, from a new, more willing to show its weaknesses government, were not enough to dissuade the Cassandras preparing - and, why not, hoping in their ways - for the worst. But, in yet another display of that amazing mix of courage, spirit, strength, power and compassion, love and freedom of thought that has always been the Greek soul, the people who marched from the centre of Athens all the way to the American embassy - a classic stage for so many riots the years before - displayed none of those ugly traits "neutral" observers expected of them. They were forceful, filled with passion and, in a lot of ways, justifiable anger at a world more focused on destruction than healing, but at the same time, they were peaceful - they were an image of civility and a model for marches everywhere. From kneeling in front of the police officers with a bloodied flag in their hands, to dropping a few carnations at the riot police's feet to forming a massive wall of joined hands, the people shouting "Bring an end to war" (all kinds of war) showed today that as long as we're willing to raise our voices and not our weapons, the message can always get through.