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European values, Islamist terrorism and compassion for refugees

16 November 2015 / 22:11:44  GRReporter
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Three days after the bloody terrorist attacks in the heart of the French capital, the comments on the Greek social networks are still on-going.

After the initial shock from the terrorist attacks, some users put the French flag on the photos of their accounts and others rebuked them for that, their arguments being that the same people did not show the same compassion for the victims of such attacks in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

After the avalanche of reproachful comments full of accusations, Greek writer Sakis Moumtzis gave the following firm answer:

"Maybe I will cause reactions but I want to clarify my position.

I am neither Syrian nor Lebanese, nor Iraqi or Somali. I am not implicated in their drama. And, of course, I am not hypocritical.

However, I am American, Spanish, British and French. I defend the principles and the civilization, the values ​​and lifestyle of the world, which I have chosen to belong to. Of the western world, as it has become necessary to call it.

Anyway, my powers are too small to scatter them in defence of foreign cultures, values, way of life, which in addition are hostile to our beliefs. I keep them to defend my world.

Therefore, the cries that "we are also Syrians and Iraqis, etc." are either hypocritical or hide behind deceitful blends of different things."

Similarly, lawyer and former leader of the Liberal Drasi Party Antipas Karipoglou wrote,

"For years I have been criticized for not being a ‘patriot’ and this no longer impresses me. However, today I want to say something. I am a patriot. Only my country extends beyond the borders of Greece. I am a compatriot of those who were killed in Paris and of the children who are drowning in the Aegean and of the Israelis who are victims of stabbings on the streets, of homosexuals who the freaks of the Islamic State are throwing from rooftops and of billions of other people."

Writer Petros Papasarandopoulos described his position in an analysis entitled "They will not defeat us, we are not afraid of them," which was published on the comments website amagi.gr.

"I am writing these first thoughts shortly after Friday midnight,14th of November. Shocked. Enraged. Determined.

There is no doubt that a terrorist attack was carried out in Paris with dozens of dead and dozens of injuries. President of France Francois Hollande has closed the country's borders, declared a state of emergency and put the army in the streets. US President Barack Obama has stated that we are facing an attack on humanity and our common values. From tomorrow, nothing will be the same. Barbarity has demonstrated its repulsive face. It has hit the heart of the civilized world, Paris. It has hit liberal democracies in the only way it knows - with blind violence.

This challenge cannot remain without a response. The fight against terrorism and extremism must be fought on all fronts. With the instruments of our civilization but with the power of weapons too. Yes, with the power of weapons. We should put an to self-delusions that murderers can be combated by dialogue. Fundamentalism should get the response that it deserves. Without hesitation. Categorically. Here and now. With a massive coalition of countries that share the values ​​of Western civilization.

In parallel, we must keep as the apple of our eyes the values ​​that distinguish us from the killers. The mass accusations against religions, spread of speech of hatred, racism are leading to denying the hard core of our values.

Do not succumb to intolerance, using their methods.

Resist the extreme right ravings that will unfold before our eyes in the coming days. The resilient liberal democracy must loudly demonstrate its presence to defend our values, our democratic tradition, our way of life, our open society, modernity.

Strongly resist the extreme left fans of conspiracies whose blind hatred of liberal democracies will make them seek "explanations" and "interpretations" of the events that will drive them to the conclusion that liberal democracies are not the victims but the executioners.

Let us protect liberal democracy without any hesitation. It is certainly the best form of state organization that the human mind has invented. It is the superior system of social coexistence. With all its flaws and problems that we need to repair and reform. Let us not leave democracy without protection.

We must send to terrorists one message,

We will fight against them. We are not afraid of them. We will not become like them. We will beat them.

The die is cast. Alea jacta est".

Tags: SocietyCommentsGreek social networksTerrorist attacks in Paris
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