General Discussion

pampango

(24,692 posts) Sun Jun 8, 2014, 07:22 AM Jun 2014

The week Golden Dawn turned openly Nazi (SS songs and antisemitism)

Golden Dawn supporters wave party and Greek national flags during a rally outside parliament on 4 June.

It has been a bad week for democracy in Athens. All around this great Greek city, the politics of hate now lurk. On Friday I got a taste of it in the tiny Italian-style cafe I frequent off Syntagma Square.

The first, a self-described businessman decked out in designer suit, brogues and silk tie, blamed the country's economic collapse on malfeasance, corruption and uncontrolled immigration. "The only way to teach our filthy politicians is to bring in Golden Dawn," he trilled, his eyes locked in a fierce glare. "These gentlemen are patriots, proud Greek nationalists, and they know how to deal with the scum, the foreigners who never pay taxes, who steal our jobs, who have taken over our streets."

Dismissing charges that Golden Dawn is a criminal gang masquerading as a political group, the second – a self-described government employee – said the far right was the best response yet to the great Jewish conspiracy of an interconnected banking system that has come with globalisation. "Let's not forget all the faggots and the Jews, the wankers who control the banks, the foreigners who are behind them, who came in and fucked Greece," he insisted.

In a global survey released by the Anti-Defamation League last month, Greece at 69% was found to be the most antisemitic country in Europe.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/07/greece-golden-dawn-fascism-threat-to-democracy

Golden Dawn's hatred of immigrants, gays and Jews would almost be quaint - a throwback to a bygone era that died with Nazi Germany - if it were not such a threat to Greek democracy.

9 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The week Golden Dawn turned openly Nazi (SS songs and antisemitism) (Original Post) pampango Jun 2014 OP

the guardian might have missed it... ellenrr Jun 2014 #1

I hope the Guardian the brief period when Golden Dawn tried to "soften" their image recently. pampango Jun 2014 #2

This is very scary LeftishBrit Jun 2014 #3

I know a few people who should move there... PCIntern Jun 2014 #4

"Let's not forget all the faggots and the Jews" Rhinodawg Jun 2014 #5

Most will view this as nothing more than a sideshow. Behind the Aegis Jun 2014 #6

Population in Greece : 11.3 million Rhinodawg Jun 2014 #8

Golden Dawn's hatred sarisataka Jun 2014 #7

"quaint - a throwback to a bygone era that died with Nazi Germany - if it were not such a threat to pampango Jun 2014 #9

ellenrr

(3,864 posts)

1. the guardian might have missed it...

Reply to pampango (Original post)

Sun Jun 8, 2014, 07:26 AM

Jun 2014

the Golden Dawn has been nazi fascist since its inception.

hello Guardian, nice you have noticed.

pampango

(24,692 posts)

2. I hope the Guardian the brief period when Golden Dawn tried to "soften" their image recently.

Reply to ellenrr (Reply #1)

Sun Jun 8, 2014, 07:45 AM

Jun 2014

The crackdown against Golden Dawn – triggered by the killing of an anti-fascist rapper at the hands of a self-confessed party cadre last September – was meant not only to bring offenders to justice but reverse the group's seemingly unstoppable ascent. At first the round-up of party leaders seemed to dent the ultranationalists' popularity. For the first time since June 2012, when it was catapulted into parliament with 6.9% of the vote and 18 deputies, its ratings dipped. But in an alarming display of rehabilitation, the neo-fascists won 9.4% of the vote in the European elections on 25 May and, in the race for the Athens mayoralty on 18 May, were backed by 16.1% of the electorate even though its candidate, Ilias Kasidiaris, sports a swastika tattoo and assaulted two leftwing female politicians during a live TV show. In both cases the results were the most shocking endorsement yet of the anti-liberal party.

Apparently their electoral success has convinced them that a 'softly, softly' approach is not needed so they have gone back to business as usual.

LeftishBrit

(41,202 posts)

3. This is very scary

Reply to pampango (Original post)

Sun Jun 8, 2014, 07:56 AM

Jun 2014

And I think possibly needs more media attention than it's getting.

Antisemitism and general xenophobia have been a problem in Greece for a long time, and as often, got worse with the economic disaster. Bur the rise of true neo-Nazis is recent and frightening.

It should be remembered that stable democracy in Greece is a recent phenomenon and could easily be destroyed. Less than 50 years ago, Greece was under a brutal military dictatorship.

PCIntern

(25,477 posts)

4. I know a few people who should move there...

Reply to pampango (Original post)

Sun Jun 8, 2014, 08:16 AM

Jun 2014

they'd be right at home.

Rhinodawg

(2,219 posts)

5. "Let's not forget all the faggots and the Jews"

Reply to pampango (Original post)

Sun Jun 8, 2014, 08:32 AM

Jun 2014

un-believe-ably disgusting.

dumbsh*ts.

Behind the Aegis

(53,919 posts)

6. Most will view this as nothing more than a sideshow.

Reply to pampango (Original post)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 12:44 AM

Jun 2014

I wonder what it will take for the "right" people to become concerned.

Rhinodawg

(2,219 posts)

8. Population in Greece : 11.3 million

Reply to Behind the Aegis (Reply #6)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 06:46 AM

Jun 2014

Population of Jews in Greece : 5000....0r .0454% of the Greek population.

sarisataka

(18,480 posts)

7. Golden Dawn's hatred

Reply to pampango (Original post)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 12:58 AM

Jun 2014

of immigrants, gays and Jews would almost be quaint

quaint???????????????

We are not dealing with Hogan's Heroes nazis

pampango

(24,692 posts)

9. "quaint - a throwback to a bygone era that died with Nazi Germany - if it were not such a threat to

Reply to sarisataka (Reply #7)

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 08:33 AM

Jun 2014

Greek democracy."

If the principles embodied by Nazi Germany were relegated to the dustbin of history, Golden Dawn would simply be xenophobic, racist, anti-Semitic homophobes trying to live in a "glorious past" that died 70 years ago. Unfortunately that is not the case. They are real life modern Nazis.

Reply to this discussion