this is what americans should do when the police kill somebody.

[misombra]

[url]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_re_eu/eu_greece_riots[/url]

Violence breaks out during Greek teen's funeral

By DEREK GATOPOULOS, Associated Press Writer Derek Gatopoulos, Associated Press Writer

ATHENS, Greece – Rioters rampaged in Greek cities for a fourth day Tuesday in an explosion of rage that was triggered by the weekend police killing of a teenager — but has spread to an array of antiestablishment parties, threatening to topple the government at a time of deep anxiety over growing economic gloom.

Gangs of angry youth have looted and damaged hundreds of buildings, including banks and hotels, torched cars and shut down much of downtown Athens. On Tuesday, police fired tear gas at protesters after the dead teenager, 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, was buried in a funeral attended by about 6,000 people.

Overnight, gangs of marauding masked youths roamed the streets, erecting burning barricades and pelting riot police with rocks and bottles.

High school students joined self-styled anarchists — a group with a history of nighttime arson attacks on businesses and cash machines. But the protests also drew in a variety of left-wing groups, most of whom did not participate in the destruction.

Opposition Socialist leader George Papandreou called for early elections, charging that the governing Conservatives were incapable of defending the public from rioters.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is clinging to a single seat majority in the 300-member Parliament, meaning that just one defection would likely bring him down and spark elections that polls suggest the opposition would handily win.

The riots erupted at a time when the government is already facing public discontent over the state of the economy, the poor job prospects of students and a series of financial scandals that have badly rattled public confidence. However, the protesters have not articulated specific policy goals and the two leading parties are not far apart on the issues.

Greece is heavily dependent on tourism, which could decline as a result of the global economic crisis. It is, however, protected by its membership in the Euro-zone, meaning that it does not face a currency collapse like the one that engulfed Iceland.

Greece was torn by years of civil war between communists and right-wing nationalists in the wake of World War II, and was ruled by a military dictatorship from 1967 to 1974.

A student uprising succeeded in ending military rule but also left a legacy of activism and simmering tensions between the security establishment and a phalanx of deeply entrenched leftist groups that often protest against globalization and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere.

The groups have now evolved into various mainly youth factions that claim to fight trends ranging from globalization to police surveillance cameras.

Karamanlis, who came to power in March 2004, has faced growing opposition and occasionally violent demonstrations over unpopular reforms to the country's pension system, privatization and the loosening of state control of higher education, which many students oppose because they feel it will undermine their degrees.

But even if the Socialists came to power, they would likely find themselves implementing many of the same reforms which are essential if the economy is to progress.

On Tuesday, police fired tear gas to dispel dozens of youths throwing stones and sticks and setting trash cans on fire near the funeral for Grigoropoulos, whose death Saturday sparked the rioting. Dozens of local residents gathered on the streets, shouting at police to stop firing gas in the residential area.

The clashes were less severe than the rioting over the past three nights.

Schools and universities across Greece were closed on the day of the funeral and hundreds of teachers, university lecturers and students rallied in central Athens, where hundreds of teenagers threw rocks and scuffled with officers. Fighting also continued in Thessaloniki.

"Everyone has let our children down ... Every day I see that students are becoming more hostile toward us and figures of authority," said Christos Kittas, who resigned as the dean of Athens University after the rioting spread to campuses.

Police said rioters damaged or destroyed 200 stores and 50 banks in Athens overnight, while 20 buildings were damaged by fires, including downtown hotels that were temporarily evacuated late Monday. A further 100 stores were damaged in Thessaloniki.

There was also rioting in Crete, the holiday island of Corfu, and in other areas around Greece.

Riot police used tear gas when attacked by youths but stood back as they smashed windows and torched stores along Athens' main commercial streets.

Greece's interior minister insisted police had successfully protected human life, and Karamanlis said there would be no leniency for rioters.

On Tuesday, the Bank of Greece announced a 12-month delay on interest payments for loans by shopkeepers affected by the rioting. But the Athens Traders Association encouraged its members to sue the government, saying police had failed to protect them.

The circumstances surrounding Grigoropoulos' shooting are unclear, but the two officers involved have been arrested; one has been charged with murder and the other as an accomplice. A coroner's report shows the boy was shot in the chest.

[DoesntMatter]

No, it's now what we should do. Fucck social disorder. The Greeks should be embarassed by what's going on over there

[Lipp]

Submission? Well, that's a bit of a problem. See, rumor has it that the Athenians have already turned you down. And if those philosophers and … boy-lovers have found that kind of nerve …

[vashti]

Rioting is stupid. The communities that were subjected to rioters back during the Rodney King fiasco are still suffering because of it.

[Junket]

Rioting is the key to everything.

[doppelgaenger]

Sometimes I feel as violent as a riot cop.

[DoesntMatter]

Rioting should only be done at the end of a good party or celebration

[1averagejoe]

This is stupid. Why the hell would you say people should raid businesses and people's cars that had nothing to do with this?

I'm sorry, but that's ****ing stupid. Period.

Bunch of idiots that think anarchy is the cool thing to do.

It's a shame what happened to the boy, but shame on the idiots that are rioting like this causing damage to those who had nothing to do with this.

[Junket]

This is stupid. Why the hell would you say people should raid businesses and people's cars that had nothing to do with this?

I'm sorry, but that's ****ing stupid. Period.

Bunch of idiots that think anarchy is the cool thing to do.

It's a shame what happened to the boy, but shame on the idiots that are rioting like this causing damage to those who had nothing to do with this.

You don't understand.

This is like the heart attack after months of clogged arteries. Sure the pinky toe had nothing to do with the heart attack, but it's part of the body, and it's going too.

Tell me this, why would such a large number of normal people riot if there wasn't so much to be upset over?

Violence is the quickest way to warrant action, whether it be "good" or "bad". Something's gotta give, and that's all they're looking to do.

Who else is going to be upset now?

The people that had nothing to do with the riots.

Now the government has really got some shit on their hands.

You deem it as random acts of violence, which is sad because there's so much more to it than that.

[doppelgaenger]

That riot was rather pointless.

I think the murderers should instead be assraped without lubricant.

[1averagejoe]

You don't understand.

This is like the heart attack after months of clogged arteries. Sure the pinky toe had nothing to do with the heart attack, but it's part of the body, and it's going too.

Tell me this, why would such a large number of normal people riot if there wasn't so much to be upset over?

Violence is the quickest way to warrant action, whether it be "good" or "bad". Something's gotta give, and that's all they're looking to do.

Who else is going to be upset now?

The people that had nothing to do with the riots.

Now the government has really got some shit on their hands.

You deem it as random acts of violence, which is sad because there's so much more to it than that.

So two wrong make a right?

Plenty will agree it's retarded. Riots are stupid because innocent people get hurt and have damage done to their stuff. It's hypocritical of them. Especially since they're rioting because an injustice was done to someone that they feel was innocent, and what are they doing? Injustice to innocent. It's people like this that cause more problems in society than the police.

If it were rioters damaging my stuff I'd definitely be pissed the **** off and it wouldn't be at the police it would be at the rioters. And if I saw someone breaking into my house/business/car I guarantee you they will instantly regret it.

[vashti]

Having lived in an area where rioting has happened, I can tell you for sure that the vast majority of people rioting are simply opportunists with no political agenda. They are dumber than dumb because they riot in their own neighborhoods, and then whine a few years later when proprietors (other than liquor stores) won't rebuild there. That is what's going on in South Central LA. They may never recover. Who wants to build a business in an area where the locals will burn you down?

[Junket]

So two wrong make a right?

Plenty will agree it's retarded. Riots are stupid because innocent people get hurt and have damage done to their stuff. It's hypocritical of them. Especially since they're rioting because an injustice was done to someone that they feel was innocent, and what are they doing? Injustice to innocent. It's people like this that cause more problems in society than the police.

If it were rioters damaging my stuff I'd definitely be pissed the **** off and it wouldn't be at the police it would be at the rioters. And if I saw someone breaking into my house/business/car I guarantee you they will instantly regret it.

But specifically in this situation, the police were focused on preserving human life, not property.

Many of the owners are very angry at the government/police for not stepping in.

From what I've seen of you Joe, you're all about the status quo. You're in no rush for change. And why should you be? I suspect your life is reasonably comfortable.

Do you think anyone living a comfortable life was out rioting? Maybe some, but the majority of those people are pissed off. May not have much to lose. What do you think would happen if you lost your job, and couldn't find another? The state doesn't provide adequate support to buy food and pay your bills? You can't seem to gather enough money to pay for school to better yourself? You live in a city, so you can't farm.

I believe your viewpoint on this is naive. You're use of logic is misplaced because logic and rational have been set aside.

Think of riots as society's forest fire.

Will the riot last forever?

No, of course not, it'll burn itself out, and with it, rebuilding/revolution will follow.

[IndiReloaded]

Rioting is the key to everything.

Only if it isn't done half-assed, tho. They haven't read Art of War. If one is going to fight, do it quickly & with purpose.

FYI, the Canadian parliment was shut down so that they couldn't throw a no confidence vote at our PM.

[Junket]

Only if it isn't done half-assed, tho. They haven't read Art of War. If one is going to fight, do it quickly & with purpose.

FYI, the Canadian parliment was shut down so that they couldn't throw a no confidence vote at our PM.

Are you serious?!

Somebody needs to shoot that guy in the head!