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Angry Greek protests claim lives

09 May 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," the disciples assure one another in this Sunday's reading from Acts. The message of hardships and economic austerity delivered to the people of Greece by its government was greeted with protests that turned violent Wednesday, as angry youths rampaged through the city center smashing shop windows and torching businesses. Three people died in one fire. "I can confirm that three people are dead at Marfin Bank in the center of Athens on Stadiou Street as a result of a fire," said Panagiotis Papapetropoulos, a police spokesperson. "The building has been evacuated, and the rest of the employees are safe. The investigation is just beginning so I don't have further details." One of the largest protests in recent years, the clashes come as tens of thousands of protesters gathered to demonstrate against the government's recently-announced austerity measures and coincide with a nationwide general strike that has paralyzed the country. Euro-zone countries and the International Monetary Fund have agreed to extend Greece an unprecedented $147 billion rescue loan in return for the Draconian budget cuts. The demonstrations were the first major protests since the Socialist government of Prime Minister George Papandreou unveiled belt-tightening changes on Sunday that amount to the biggest overhaul of the state in a generation. Papandreou's reforms, which aim to squeeze savings of 30 billion Euros through 2012, include cuts to salaries in Greece's sprawling public sector, higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, and tighter retirement rules. They are part of an effort to clear the way for the rescue package aimed at preventing the debt-ridden country from defaulting. Many Greeks are angry and complain that they are paying the price for the profligacy of others. The strikes shut hospitals, schools, and tourism sights across the Greek capital, including the Acropolis, where several dozen protesters broke the locks at the entrance to the monument and spread banners saying, "Peoples of Europe - Rise Up." Source: Articles by BBC News, Dan Bilefsky and Judy Dempsey for the New York Times and Alkman Granitsas and Nick Skrekas for the Wall Street Journal

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Widespread unrest unsettles Britain

14 Aug 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The welcoming of outsiders figures prominently in next Sunday’s lectionary readings, but ethnic and social tensions have taken center stage in Britain after rioting that began in the diverse, working-class Tottenham neighborhood in north London spread to other parts of the country. British Prime Minister David Cameron will face pressure to soften his austerity plans, toughen up policing, and do more to help inner-city communities after days of riots and looting laid bare deep social tensions amid a depressed British economy. With the public seething over the looting of anything from sweets to televisions, Cameron has so far dismissed the rioters as nothing more than opportunistic criminals and denied the unrest was linked to the effects of deep spending cuts. But community leaders say social inequities, reductions to public services, and high youth unemployment are also probably to blame for some of the worst violence Britain has seen in decades. There’s never been a good time to be an outsider, says Alice Camille in her Prepare The Word scripture commentary on this Sunday’s gospel, and that seemed to be the case for an Afro-Caribbean man in north London whose death from a gunshot wound after an incident involving armed police set off the current trouble. In Birmingham police launched a murder inquiry after three Muslim men died after being run over by a car during the mayhem there. A friend of the men told BBC radio they had been part of a group of British Asians protecting their area from looters after attending Ramadan prayers at a mosque. The Muslim Council of Britain condemned the violence and called on its community to remain calm and support the authorities. It also urged them to help clean up the streets. Many small shops and businesses in England are run by Muslims of south Asian heritage. The violence has appalled many Britons who have been transfixed by televised images of rioters attacking individuals and raiding family-owned stores as well as targeting international businesses. Sources: Articles by Matt Falloon, Stefano Ambrogi, and Angus MacSwan for Reuters

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Homily stories

27 Jun 2010 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Remember Rodney King, the terrible riots in L.A., and his now-famous plea "Can't we all just get along?" As after most riots, commissions and panels were set up to find out the reasons for what happened. Pundits wrote lengthy articles to explain what people were feeling. The news showed the video footage of the most brutal scenes over and over again. Promises were made that there would be changes. Politicians used the events to advance their popularity as well as their programs. What led up to the riots consumed an incredible amount of energy. Poverty, injustice, dishonesty, violence, and prejudice all consume us. The riots themselves used up so much energy that entire communities and neighborhoods were left exhausted. And then the subsequent attempts at follow-up took whatever energy that might have remained. Rodney King's words, "Can't we all just get along?" are really key. Had they been put into practice early on, there would have been no reason to riot. If they were the result afterwards, then at least some good would have come from the pain and sorrow. Scripture tells us not to be so busy with our own lives and concerns as to not have time to truly get along. By using our energy to do God's work, we become partners in the work of redemption. And strengthened by the Spirit of God, we will then truly be able to follow the Lord, leaving all that saps our energy behind.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

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