Wywiad z chuliganem (jak w Tytusie). Bez komentarza.
K: Thanking for speaking to me today. Can you tell me why you’re rioting?
A: I am not satisfied with life.
K: Can you be more specific?
A: Well, I’m in school now and the school isn’t very good. I’m not learning anything, and when I get out of school, I don’t think there is any job for me.
K: Do you know what you want to do?
A: Not really.
K: Then how do you know there’s no job for you?
A: This is what I hear.
K: Do your parents know you are out here rioting?
A: Yes.
K: And what do they think about that?
A: Well, they must be OK with it because they did not stop me.
K: What do they do for work?
A: My mother is a housewife, and my father owns his own business.
K: Then he does OK.
A: Yes, he actually has two stores. One in Halandri and the other in Glyfada.
K: Those are good areas of Athens. Do you live in Halandri or Glyfada?
A: We live in Halandri, but we also have a house on Crete. The house in Glyfada is rented to other people.
K: It sounds like your father has done well.
A: Generally, yes.
K: How would you feel if someone broke, burned and stole from one of your dad’s shops?
A: Well, I would be mad because it belongs to us. It’s our property, and it’s how my dad takes money for us.
K: Do you realize you’re doing the same thing to people just like your dad?
A: But I’m not.
K: But you are. These smashed shops and burned buildings hurt people just like your father.
A: It’s not the same.
K: It is exactly the same thing.
A: Even if it was, I still have good reason.
K: And what reason is that?
A: I told you, I’m mad about the death of Alexi and I’m mad about the problems from the government.
K: Actually, this is the first you mentioned Alexi. Did you know him?
A: No, but it could have been me.
K: What if it turns out the police officer is innocent?
A: It doesn’t matter. I’m mad and frustrated about other things.
K: And you don’t think what you’re doing is wrong?
A: No, because I want justice and I want a better future.
K: But can’t you see you’re just doing more harm and making the problem worse instead of better?
A: No. What I’m doing is the right thing.
K: And where did you learn wrong from right?
A: My parents.
K: The same people who let you go out rioting?
A: Yes.
K: Interesting. Have you ever heard the quote: “In democracy, people get the government they deserve.”
A: No. What does that mean?
K: It means that you deserve the government (no matter how good or bad) because you voted for them and keep them in power. Do you feel you deserve this government?
A: No, I feel I deserve something better.
K: And what will you do to be worthy of something better?
A: I don’t need to do anything; it’s my right. I deserve the best no matter what I do.
K: Even if you destroy other people’s property? That’s a crime.
A: This is my right.
K: How do you figure that?
A: Protesting is my right.
K: I agree with that, but what you’re doing is not just protesting. It’s violence.
A: That’s the thing about Greece. It’s free, and I’m free to do what I want.
K: But you are taking freedom away from others.
A: No, I’m fighting for other people too.
K: Did you ask them what they wanted, and did they ask you to represent them?
A: Not exactly.
K: Do you consider yourself an anarchist?
A: Yes.
K: Do you know what anarchy means?
A: Yes, it means someone who questions authority.
K: Actually, that’s not what it means. It means the state of lawlessness, disorder and freedom due to an absence of government authority.
A: Yes, same thing.
K: No, they’re very different. I agree that the Greek government has done little if anything to draft real policies, and there is a general lawlessness and disorder from lack of enforcement. But the violent rioting has just made a bad situation worse. So how is this a good change?
A: It will force them to do something.
K: Really? Have you made demands?
A: No.
K: What must the government do to satisfy you enough to stop rioting? Do you have solutions?
A: Not exactly.
K: Are you aware that if the government does something, they will take away some of your freedom?
A: Not if they do the right things. If they raise salaries, that will give us more money and more money is more freedom.
K: Yes, but that money has to come from somewhere; and that means less tax dodging, coming down on people who pay bribes, and stopping illegal practices. More enforcement and more rules mean less freedom. You say you’re rioting because the government has to change; but you also say you are an anarchist, and anarchy is the absence of government. That doesn’t fit.
A: I’m free to do what I want, I told you. I’m also sick of the high costs and low salaries.
K: How do you know about salaries, do you work? I thought you were a student and are getting money from your parents.
A: I don’t work, but I hear about the salaries.
K: And how do you know about costs if your dad pays for everything?
A: I know.
K: I know very well that cost of living is high, salaries are not good, and unemployment is getting higher. But are you aware that women and immigrants have it much worse than you? And yet, you do not see them causing riots.
A: Immigrants have no right to complain. They chose to come here, and if they don’t like it they can go home. I have a right to burn down my country if I want; it’s my country.
K: People like me are immigrants who work here, and my money pays for your education. So what you’re saying is it’s OK if you use my money, but I can’t complain and you can destroy the country we both live in.
A: Yes, and if you don’t like it. You can go back to America.
K: OK then. Thank you for talking to me today. Is there anything else you’d like to say?
A: Yes, keep up the fight!