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Syntagma Square Suicide Note Ends With Call To Young Greek People To "Hang The Traitors"
Earlier today, we remarked on the story of a 77-year old Greek, now identified as Dimitris Christoulas, who at around 9 am took his life in the middle of Athens' central Syntagma Square with a bullet to his head. His full suicide note has been released. The note, presented below, ends in a solemn call to arms to "hang the traitors of this country."
"The Tsolakoglou government has annihilated all traces for my survival, which was based on a very dignified pension that I alone paid for 35 years with no help from the state. And since my advanced age does not allow me a way of dynamically reacting (although if a fellow Greek were to grab a Kalashnikov, I would be right behind him), I see no other solution than this dignified end to my life, so I don’t find myself fishing through garbage cans for my sustenance. I believe that young people with no future, will one day take up arms and hang the traitors of this country at Syntagma square, just like the Italians did to Mussolini in 1945"
More from Athens News:
Georgios Tsolakoglou was the first collaborationist prime minister during Germany's occupation of Greece during the Second World War.
The reference has been widely interpreted as a comparison between the wartime collaborationist government and the current government of Lucas Papademos.
The suicide occured shortly before 9am, as people went about their business on the square. Christoulas, 77, shot himself while standing next to a tree on one of the grassy areas on the square. He died from a single shot to the head, reports say.
He was a retired pharmacist, with a wife and a daughter. He sold his pharmacy in 1994.
Laos head Yiorgos Karatzaferis noted in Parliament that the bullet that killed the man in Syntagma, also hit the conscience of the Greek political sphere. "This is not just a person that killed himself", he said. "This event should make us understand that we have all been behind this, we have all pulled the trigger. What did this man see from us, before deciding to take his own life? He saw shady goings-on, he saw none of those that stole from him and the Greek people go to jail. What else did he see? He saw no help coming his way, as he tried to deal with his loans and debts. What did this man hear from us? He heard that no slack would be given to him, no room to move, while the political parties would get plenty of money. Money they did not deserve"
"Death isn't just to die, it's also to live in despair, with no hope", New Democracy head Antonis Samaras said of the event, before adding that "incidents like these are what makes the fulfilment of our duty even more important and even more urgent. We must help Greece out of its current state, we must help Greeks escape from despair".
"We have watched all this time as suicides have escalated dramatically in our country, a product of the disgraceful financial policies followed by New democracy and Pasok", was Syriza MP Litsa Amanatidou - Pashalidou's take on the event.
Independent Greeks leader Panos Kamenos called for the suicides of those involved in the country's current state. "It wasn't this man who should have commited suicide. Rather, it should have been those politicians that knowingly led Greece to be crushed by this vice", he said.
Yiannis Dimaras, party leader of the Hellenic Citizens' Charriot stressed that "those who have voted away all the rights of this country, those who have given our dignity away, are those that are guilty for spilling the blood of this Greek pensioner".
Dimitris Zafiriadis, party spokesman for the Democratic Alliance said that this action was an indication of the desperation that a large segment of Greek society is currently feeling, as it watches its way of life being violently altered".
Meanwhile, Pasok MP for Corinthia and former party spokesman Panos Beglitis has come inder heavy fire for his comments while speaking to private television station Skai TV earlier on Wednesday. When asked why no one does anything to help people who are driven to such extremes due to mounting debts, Beglitis repsonded by saying that "in cases like these, we must be very careful when commenting about anything. All I can say, is that this mean was very brave and sensitive. We cannot however connect his suicide with the country's current financial plight. Besides we do not even know if he amassed the debts, or whether his children had a hand in it".
The shocked Greek community is issuing calls for a "Syntagma afternoon" later on Wednesday.
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The US Defense budget alone is bigger than the total income tax collected. Blaming welfare queens, what? ... I'm betting you retired from the govt. and/or are collecting disability.
yup http://www.warresisters.org/files/FY2011piechart.pdf and tax dollars at war http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kFeduoDWKj4#!
If this guy never took anything from the government then how does any of this austerity impact him.
Because the INCREASING COST OF FOOD, ENERGY, MEDICINES makes it impossible for his Pension to cover the costs. Why do you think he talked about being reduced to hunting in garbnage cans.
Can't you READ ? Are there many people as stupid as you Roadkill or are you simply unable to read the article Tyler posted and simply spew out some bile. Until you flooded the world with Dollars people could afford EATING and HEATING - try Austerity at $12/gallon or maybe $24. Try it when you pay for oil in Gold and have rampant price increases.
Still we know how you feel about a retired pharmacist who kills himself to avoid degrading poverty
It's much more direct than rising expenses, the Greek pension bonds are "haircut" bonds. The money is gone.
The guy you're responding to is a paranoid idiot who thinks the world is after both nickels he can rub together.
Exactly. The pensions "assets" have collapsed in value, so the pension payments must be cut in an attempt to keep the pension "benefits" paying for a few more years, and this is in addition to the inflation caused by ECB money printing. A double whammy so to speak. People just can't be bothered to understand the mechanics of how things work. Bottom line is that if any of the assumptions in a pension become false, the whole thing collapses. IE inflation, return expectations, life expectancy of the recipients, demographics of those still contributing etc etc. Get any of these elements wrong and its a ponzi. So why would anyone trust a pension in the first place, history has shown them to be a way to fleece savers.
RoadKill, while being sodomized by Jamie Dimon, fellating Ben Bernanke, giving a handjob to Lloyd Bankfiend, and listening to Rush Limbaugh, used his one free hand to type:
Yes, parasites like General Electric which pay negative taxes should recognize that they are the problem instead of paying their own fucking lawyers to write the tax laws.
Oh, wait, you were talking about the bottom 50%? Guess what, dickhead? They pay taxes too. Or are you such an ignorant goat's ass that you think income tax is the only tax in the US?
Get rid of the TBTF beggars, welfare queens like Goldman Sachs, JPMorganChase, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, et al., and subsidized defense industry ghetto dwellers, and we have no debt problems.
Fuckhead.
Wow this site really has gone from being an economics site where contrarian investors come for cutting edge news and analysis TO MAKE MONEY to a pathetic hippy OWS protest blog. All you Cletus's running around mumbling about the gold standard, evil banksters and illuminati conspiracies - one would think were in the late 1800s and Ron Paul is the reincarnation of William Jennings Bryan. You yocals do know who that is, or didnt they teach you real history at Pat Buchannan High in buttfucksville Georgia while telling you the South wwon the Civil War. GODDAMN Im on fire. And I think 36 red arrows means I win Fight Club bitchez!! Now.back to the topic. Anyone that takes $1 of benefits from the government that is greater then the taxes they paid in - is a leech. Any union member that soaks the government for more wages and benefits then the private sector will pay - is a leech. Yes companies that lobby the government to spend money on their products and services when they arent absolutetly needed or competitively priced - are leeches (not a big fan of Millitary spending, farm subsidies, HTF etc...
If you are a bank and you run to the central bank when your bets go belly up - you are a leech
All of you need to get your hands out of my damn wallet.
Now.down vote me you damn commies!!!
Some of the responses to you are unfair I would agree, but your leading comment showed immense ignorance to the fundamental problems of debt and the consequences for ordinary people. His suicide is a sign of desperation from someone who played fairly in life=> he worked and he saved. He was coercively forced to save in a pension that robbed his retirement. How are you NOT outraged on his behalf? Don't worry, its going to happen here in the US too, count on it. Maybe then you will understand.
Where is our resident Greek revolutionary "Olympia"?
I guess those underground tunnels will be in heavy use by the politicians and bankers.
here is his suicide note
http://thedisclosureproject-steelmagnolia.blogspot.com/2012/04/greece-dimitris-christoulas-suicide.html
thinking of Nigel Farage's picture of Greece after the vultures are done with the carcass
Live Streaming From Syntagma Square
http://www.livestream.com/occupyunity
Crowd seems to be growing quickly.
Riot cops are out now.
PS - Thanks for the link!
You're welcome Navy! Some more links:
http://www.livestream.com/stopcarteltvgr?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=...
http://www.akous.gr/post.asp?uid=3019
http://www.zougla.gr/page.ashx?pid=85&type=&mid=110
Yeah they are. I'm seeing rows of 'em, with their plastic riot shields. There's a Picture-in-Picture showing the larger square, & crowds. Too bad I can't understand the Greek voiceovers. There is a livestream chat-box, that appears to be all in English. Greek blogs have been linking in to this.
** Tyler should edit his Syntagma Square post, and include this Livestream link in it, in case people miss seeing it way down here.
What an asshole! Didn't this guy hear that everything has been fixed in his country??
That's some hardcore sarc. I love it. Green arrow for you.
Sarcasm aside, this really is a sad turn of events. What makes it worse in my view is that I think it's a glimpse of the misery to come. Probably going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.
A 77 year old man who had seen the steady infiltration of psychopaths (govt and corporate) destroy his country (a beacon of early democracy) through a systematic, pernicious plague of greed and control by the .01% while the sheeple continue to stick their head in the sand and distract themselves with the newest electronic gadgets and mindless television. Truly a sad commentary on the rapid dessication of society and man's total pussification (yeah, I made that up) and submission to his masters. Hell yes, he should be made a martyr!
I/m fifty five.I'll probably end up like him.
Well, it can't get any worse can it? Wait.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ATH_GREECE_FEDERATION_SUSPENDED?S...
Greece's track and field authority suspended all athletic operations Wednesday due to severe spending cuts - a major embarrassment for the nation that hosted the Summer Olympics only eight years ago.
The move - the latest twist in Greece's nearly three-year financial freefall - is the first such action by any of the country's major sports bodies. It immediately halts all domestic track and field competitions, including track meets May 12-13 in several Greek cities.
The center of Western Civilization, no less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGPACVNk6ck&feature=related
Reminds me of the scene in Glory.. Charging Fort Wagner.
This guy is a little older than me and his health may have been where he could not stand and fight. But, I will be Damned by God or God Damned as it were, if I will take myself out and not stand up to these bastards. There is an obligation to stand and fight.
There is the Vote, the Voice, the uniting of push back groups, and the street----- not to kill ones self or others or destroy or burn—but to push back and then push back harder.
Death is surrender; we must not quit. Too many have died for Freedom. Live to fight and fight to win.
This is doable but being dead is not helpful.
agree with you in concept but I think this old man wanted to become a symbol or martyr for the people against the elite rather than shoot those who are responsible as he most assuredly would have been labelled an "insane terrorist".
Agreed. Attacking others would only invoke sympathy for them, the exact opposite of what's desired.
Taking one's own life for a cause is a powerful statement, especially if one seen as an fine, upstanding member of society. It cuts through all of the rhetoric, leaving little wiggle room for those who would rather choose to ignore problems (or scape-goat them elsewhere).
And let's not forget. It ain't just Greece.
Those bumbling Italians are now taking a shot at self-immolation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17556273
I just hope it isn't a hidden hand pulling the trigger and lighting the match.
This guy had dignity, pride, and balls. Contemporary young people have only distractions. I hope this call to arms is well received here and abroad even in the midst of facebook ipo rumblings, republicans talking about genesis, etc. Dimitris Christoulas is the man today. Fuck Mario Monti, Bernanke, Bob Pisani, etc. Grow your own vegetables.
Jesus. Whatever cockbag gave you a down-arrow needs to self-immolate.
I doubt Pisani is that type of Italian.
RIP Dimitris Christoulas
I pray for your safe arrival on the other side of the stix and for your family that is still with us. May you stand arm in arm with Prometheus.
No worries. Things are all good in USA.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/04/exchanges-sec-idUKL2E8F41ZQ201...
U.S. regulators are closely scrutinizing stock exchanges for failure to disclose material changes to their businesses, part of some 20 different areas of inquiry by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission into how the electronic marketplace works.
The SEC is interested in everything from the type of orders that the exchanges have devised to allow their clients to execute trades, to whether they are properly self-policing their markets, according to people familiar with the matter.
The stepped-up inquiries, which center on a marketplace where trades are now executed at speeds far faster than a blink of the eye, were sparked by the "flash crash" in May 2010, which one official called a "game changer."
The agency is concerned the electronic exchanges may be conducting their business in a way that could provide certain clients preferential treatment.
Preferential treatemtn? No way.
There are enough weapons in neighbouring Albania and enough Albanians and Lebanese in Greece to make for a real conflagration across The Balkans.
Albania fell to a Ponzi scheme in 97. The government collapsed and the police and the army left their armouries open while armed gangs took over. I wouldn't be surprised if alot of those weapons ended up in the hands of the KLA or other groups trying to break away from Serb dominated Yugoslavia. The Whole region always has been and always will be a powder keg. Its waiting to kick of again. What are the odds on Greek civil war?
Are we any better? Look what we have done in this country to our old and our young. Our Congress has a 12% approval rating, we are bankrupt but have they taken one penny reduction in pay, benefits, expenses or retirement that we here all pay for. NOT one penny. Our Congress is as responsible for this good mans death as if they pulled the trigger themselves.
If we do not reset the system as we all know here must be done, and bring the truth back, there will eventually be nothing to reset. This country is becoming a third world parasite with the wealth to the top 3%. Pathetic.
Destabilization.
Everyone is pissed off.
California college students angry over course costs push into meeting, get pepper-sprayed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6hYJ-rA-M4&feature=youtu.be
Watch this. It's a fun one for mayhem.
They recieved "education": Your University has been taken over and is a private company that is there to make profit in a monopolised market. Goodbye and have a nice day.
“The people who have really made history are the martyrs.”
~ Aleister Crowley
yes hang the traitors and give no warnings
I would say that we have now entered phase II.
I think a better approach is to convince the folks around you not to depend on the euro or the dollar. We really do all have the ability to reject the use of the colored paper that keeps governments in business everywhere on Earth.
There are no literal chains--you just can't "escape" if you continue to depend on THEIR tools for your survival.
Sharecropping is eternal.
While the West is ruled by terrorist bankers, we shall witness many more of these desparate acts of surrender.
Btw, if u think about it: he did not really commit suicide; he was obviously murdered by the banking cartel inside the gov't.
So why didn't he use that bullet on the ones that sold the Greek out?
I'm sorry to be blunt but they'll just shrug about this. Unless this turns into a "Tunesian moment".
Simply because it carries more clout this way, and besides had he shot one of those bankster/statesman, assuming he could get access to one, he would have been 'shrugged off' as a 'disgruntled employee'....instead of a martyr.
To answer your question, "So why didn't he use that bullet on the ones that sold the Greek out?" -- realistically, perhaps he only had several bullets? Even if he had upwards of a hand-full -- that's just not enough to go around. Perhaps he realized that there were just too many of 'them' that properly deserved the receiving of the bullet, so opt'ed for the next best thing. And you know, if he'd just shot one of these politicos, he'd have been labeled 'some crazy', and the news would be buried and forgotten. But I'm looking at this livestream feed, and the Greeks I'm seeing don't look like they'll be forgetting any time soon.
Hmm yeah guys, perhaps you're right. It also occurred to me, that the guy is most likely not capable of killing anyone (but himself). For ethical or psychological reasons.
He might also have just given up. The word "dignified" in his note is quite revealing as for his motive. This is how far the EU has come. In order to keep a faulty system "alive" as long as possible, economies are ravaged and society itself sabotaged. Of was that the other way round? I don't really believe in incompetence myself. It's shameful whatever the order.
Still, reasoning from my own POV, a suicide is not my cup of tea.
So you think this is a "Tunesia Moment"?
What is coming out of Greece ATM?
Instead of committing suicide, maybe you should have TRIED at least to take at least one of these traitors out?? If 10% of all those committing suicide would do that, the scum in power would be taken out quite often and maybe would quit their crap.
The man didn't commit suicide. The man sacrificed himself to be a rallying cry. I hope for the best for the Greek people (and Europe....along with US), I plan for the worst though.
RIP....
My message in greek (via translator):
???? ?? ?????????? ?? ??????. ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ????????. ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?????!
Intended message:
May he rest in peace. May he not be forgotten. May we all be Greek on this day.
(Didn't come out perfect... but I tried)
After buying some silver yesterday. I just had to comment that I bought more today : )
I do not understand something:
"The Tsolakoglou government has annihilated all traces for my survival, which was based on a very dignified pension that I alone paid for 35 years with no help from the state."
From the above quote, it seems that he no longer got his pension.
As far as I know, Greece is still paying pensions (they make some cuts some time ago, but they are still paying pensions).
So, how long before some agent provocateur throws a brick at the cops, do we think?
as the brick is in the air, look down and see what kind of shoes they are wearing, if they are black issued boots you will have your answer......although i would think the idiots may have finally realized they were giving themselves away because they were too stupid to put on tennis shoes
Dimitris Christoulas fires the opening salvo of the 2012 summer offensive against the banksters and their puppet "occupation" governments. #GIABO
Cue: Rage Against the Machine - Calm like a Bomb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3mx3ptEz50
I clicked and after about 15 seconds I had the urge to holler at my kids to "turn that shit down," and I don't even have any kids.
pops
That's a bad sign. Was just talking about this with a friend yesterday. Aging. There's a saying, " If it's too loud, you're too old ".
http://fohguru.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/loud-noise-graphic.jpg
hmmm I use my ears/brain on a daily basis, and can still do so, because I was fortunate enough to not have suffered hearing damage. That I used protection from age 23 on might have something to do with it. (molded earplugs with filters) The iPhone/iPod generation will be deaf before hitting 40. Of course ears are more irritated by loudness when older, but that also depends on the individual.
oh GET OFF MY LAWN !!! ;-)
Ok, if you're gonna off yourself because of what the "traitors" have done to your country, wouldn't it make more sense to take a few of those traitors out with you since you're going to kill yourself anyway?
What a waste of a perfectly good suicide.
A man's life is told by how he dies
The entire world is rigged. Not unlike in the movie The Matirx. Of course, 99.999% of the population will never understand that. But just in case more do, the 'right' laws have been put in place already to brand anybody taking the red pill to be branded a 'terrorist' or 'sovereign citizen' who can be locked up, no questions asked.
It's too bad that people who make this determination don't take some banksters with them.
I aaw a comment on this site a while back... "too old to fight, then be a martyr" It was really quite disturbing. I pondered it quite a bit and I really wondered if that is what this turmoil is leading to?
Our problem is that for most the enemy is not clearly defiend in their mind it is Governing bodies just like our founding fathers tried to prevent in forming the constitution. Shit just follow the constitution...
When I was in my 20's I was a raging Republican because I thought the party stood for smaller government.
In my 30's I became a libertarian because I thought very limited government is best.
Now in my 50's, I'm an anarchist* as I believe ALL government is or brings is evil and is a yoke that chokes freedom to death.
(*Law And Freedom without Violence anarchist, as described by Immanuel Kant, not the political-disorder-or-lawlessness-within-a-society anarchist.)
As I'm sure you know, your disclaimer describes chaos, rather than anarchy, but given the smear job anarchy is given I understand your need to attempt to clarify. (To those who don't know, anarchy is the only political system synonymous with peace (as the only form of anarchy that's truly anarchy (self-government) is based upon the non-aggression axiom))
Simply put, agression towards others is NOT anarchy.
I wrote a poem once similar to your thoughts.
I wish I would've met you
Now it's a little late
What you could've taught me
I could've saved some face
They think that your early ending
Was all wrong
For the most part they're right
But look how they all got strong
That's why I say hey man, nice shot
What a good shot man
A man
Has gun
Hey man
Have fun
Nice shot, man.
I hope this is a catalyst.
Careful what you wish for. Could be the catalyst that kills billions. You included.
Billions are going to die eventually anyway, wishes or not.
Billions? We are all going to die. Death is the price of admission we must all pay when we enter the game of Life. The key, is how.
When people the world over all faced with starvation from total system implosion, we'll all have the choice to fight or whither away like an radioactive Ethiopian dirt farmer. WW3 will be the conflict where the purpose is to have good enough manners to kill each other off rather than suffer a prolonged agony.
Good luck finding the .01% traitors! They took all the money out of Greece long ago and sail under Panama or Bermuda/Cayman flags.
INDEPEDENT GREEKS WIN.. LEHMAN WILL SEEM LIKE HAPPY DAYS STARRING RICHIE CUNNINGHAM
EIMASTE ELLINES
EIMASTE POLLI
EIMASTE ANEXARTOITOI
PANOS BABY
TRANSLATE THIS WITH GOOGLE TRANSLATE http://anexartitoiellines.gr/files/anexartitoiellines_program_diavouleusi.pdf
A very sad story!
It shows that what you don't know CAN hurt you. If he had invested in physical gold rather than paper promises, he would be in good shape right now.
If I could put all my Social Security 'savings' in physical PM's I'd be in pretty good shape too.
REGIME CHANGE IN GREECE NOW
...it seems the weakness of the Suicide Vampire Squid of the Great Wal Mart of China has overcome this host. Pathetic! ...and so goes the pooring out of the wine of wrath in the BTFD Cup of Fornication, the law of abortion which leads to the black hole. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV2EUUF47Ms
Wow. For the past 23 years, I've thought those lyrics were "GOT money, I'll do anything for you..." not GOD money. Huh. Learn something new every day.
Still .. considering this is my 2nd favorite group of all time, I'm a bit taken aback that I have somehow not known this fairly pivotal lyric difference for half my lifespan. :o
Nice talk from a Granpa ! I think it is good for Greece that this useless geezer gave up his nothingness ! Monedas 2012 Suicide should be reserved for people with inoperable brain tumors....and traumatizing your grand kids isn't very elegant ! This man had at least 40 years to protect himself and his family from the lies of Socialism....and apparently did nothing ! I would have shot him for being a Socialist dupe ! He is a poor role model ! Loser !
Kind sir: you are invited to publicly post the address of your place of residence, as it has come to our attention that you are sorely in need of being on the receiving end of an "attitude adjustment". And by attitude adjustment, I mean a 2x4 and your face needs to meet, and have a long and involved .. discussion.
Kind sir ? Lovely, may I send your message to your mother ?
""hang the traitors of this country."
indeed they are the plutocratic, cia trained, psychopathic, 1% assholes who are free but everyone else is a slave for their corpulent excess....
GOT ROPE?
I've been preparing for 40 years ! When TSHTF there will be thousands of suicides and worse ! As a public service, I seek to prepare and toughen up the hapless and the naive about the evil that is Socialism ! You should send me flowers and chocolates ! Monedas 2012 Tough love is the highest, purest most noble expression of love !
Yeah. Hehe. Flowers and chocolates are on the way. Aaaaaand what was your address, again?
Bonefuck, Egypt ! There, feel better ? Is your argument so weak you feel threats (even in jest) advance your position ? Feel free ? I don't celebrate loser suicides.....I celebrate life ! Suicide is a cop out.....he hurt the people he should be helping and husbanding ! I celebrate men responsibly caring for their families ! Threatening fellow posters (even in jest) is pretty classless ! It's an admission your little mind has a short circuit ! Monedas 2012 What do you celebrate ?
Does anyone think this patriots suicide letter would have been released in the land of the free and home of the brave?
History shall repeat itself in a far greater scale and therefore the benefit for the leading roles shall be much greater.
If ancient Greeks won the battle against the barbarity of the East in favour of Europe, then modern Greeks are those who are meant to win the battle against the barbarity of both Eastern and Western world in favour of the human kind.
Feel Free ? Don't ask for something you are not prepared to give ! May we have your address ? He he ! Monedas 2012 Comedy Jihad Creep Show
Probably a good idea to buy some more physical silver.