Thank you Scarf+ for replying to the racist comment from Proud American. I have been very slack in responding to people recently (I have excuses but I won’t bore you with them)Proud American, your little racist rant about Albanians is totally ignorant. As Scarf+ said you have bought the media propaganda without question or thought. The vast majority of Albanians are hard-working, honest and legal. They pay taxes and national insurance the same as you or I. I wonder if you have actually met any Albanians in your narrow-minded life? Or have you gleaned all your "knowledge" from TV? Please read the guidelines to this blog at the top right hand corner of the page.

Scarfalonious got it right regarding me. The reason I might keep my children low key and not have them wear an American flag on their shirts is just for security issues. I will raise my children to be proud of America but of course respecting the Greek land they live in.
There are much more productive ways of being patriotic towards America. Voting (as Scarf says) is one of them, and politely debating the natives during a taverna dinner is another one. However, exposing oneself to possible harassment by that rare extremist is not worth the payoff of wearing the American flag on your shirt. I don’t need to advertise my "American Patriotism" it reeks off of me with my swagger…
As a sidebar about t-shirts, during the late 1980s, I used to wear a "KhaDAFFY Duck" shirt (a picture of Moammar Khadafy with a duck face). It was hilarious. I got a lot of flak from Greeks about that, especially after we bombed Libya. But, ironically, now Mr. Khadaffy is one of our mid-east allies….

Proud American -I sincerely doubt Scruffy is bringing up his children to be ashamed of who and what they are.  If you’ve read any of his other posts, in all likelihood those kids will end up voting for George Bush VIII.It may be comforting to imagine that anti-Americanism is ‘bred’ into Greeks from one generation to the next.  I mean, it’s obviously not possible that Greeks could be reasonably suspicious of a distant country that has intervened militarily in their affairs regularly since World War II.  Also not likely that Greeks might have a different perspective on the US’s self-evident benevolence and goodwill.  The massacres and napalming of the Greek populace during the Greek civil war was plainly done with the best of intentions.  This is America, after all, not some barbaric Old Europe colonial regime.  And of course the torturing and terrorizing under the US-sponsored Junta was just another hiccup in the proud march toward democracy.The anti-Americanism which you dismiss as brainwashing actually has a basis in the experience Greeks had under America’s protective wing.  Just because your dinner companions don’t blame you personally for your government’s actions doesn’t mean they don’t remember what happened.  It’s just common politeness.I suggest you read a bit more about Greece’s history with America.  Try Googling anything I just said.As for your comments about Albanians, obviously you’ve swallowed the tabloid prejudices whole and adopted them as fact.  You probably consider yourself an enlightened, educated member of an advanced society just slumming it a bit here in poor, backward little Greece, but your writing reveals you to be patronizing, racist and ignorant.

Scruffy… It is a real pity you are bringing up your children to feel ashamed of who and what they are.   I am an American living in Greece since 1973 and will probably live here until my dying days.   I have many Greek friends and have never been hurt by anyone for being American. I wear my flag with pride.  I am not saying they do not feel animosity towards the Americans because they do.  It is bred into them from one generation to another.  I do not think they could live without their beloved hate for Americans.  It is however contradictory to their reaction at anything that is American.   It always amuses me to see their facial reaction when I tell them I am American.  Their eyes light up and you can see their real feelings.  Of course this does not apply to American politics.  Mind you, the Americans and Brits living in Greece, as in most other countries are against the American politics at this time.  But that is another subject altogether. As for Alex.  I do not believe it is a racial thing.  Alex was an exceptionally talented and loving child.  They taunted him to join their gang and he refused.   He was bullied as is almost every child in their school years.  I remember being chased and cornered in the gym showers by 3 Latino schoolmates who threatened to beat the living daylights out of me.  I honestly can’t say how I got out of that one, but I do remember at a later date, punching one of them in mouth for pushing me.  I ended up dating a Puerto Rican guy who was in collage and a new gang member, meaning he was not a bad guy… yet (don’t know what happened later).  One of the youngest gang members, who are accused of murdering Alex, was from Albania or some other place.  He was also taunted, as was Alex, into becoming one of the gang, which he finally did, to avoid getting beaten. There is a growing dislike of Greeks towards the Albanians but with good reason.  They come to Greece, are offered free medical care, jobs and much more, and they move about the country with a superior attitude,  stealing the people blind and commenting on how the Albanian flag will fly over the Acropolis one day.  They are buying Greek businesses and homes at an alarming rate, which is not surprising as many of them are illegally working and keep all their earnings for themselves, tax free. But again, you will see many Greeks and Albanians co-existing together, as friends, couples, and in businesses.   Greece is a peaceful nation in general.  They make a lot of fuss complaining about the Americans, the Germans in WWII, the Turks for having taken over Greece, but at the same time, they will not hesitate from sitting at a table with one of them, and drink a glass of wine. So Scruffy… let you children honour their country and walk with heads held up high.  You have nothing to fear of in Greece.  Now if it was in Iraq…. weeeeeel… that’s a differnet story alltogether.

Geez DD, I thought you just didn’t like me!

I am not sure what is going on with my spam thingy! It caught three comments yesterday that weren’t ! I have some moderation activated here but I think the spam collector is being a bit over-excited. Apologies to those whose comments didn’t appear until today.

Whether the issue is racism or another form of bullying, it comes down to the fact that hate breeds violence. Maybe the hate is racial, maybe it’s brought about by other things (people speculate that Alex was having some trouble socially in school) maybe the other things are brought on by racism. Ultimately,  it’s just horrible that these kids thought it was acceptable to be so hatefully violent for ANY reason.

Well, while this case isn’t being linked with racism, bullying stems from a desire to pick on kids who are "different" - whether they are too smart, wear glasses, participate in band, are considered a geek, etc., etc.  To me, the psychology is similar to that of racism - a response to someone who is perceived to be different.

In the original reporting on this story a few days ago, a clear link was made with racism and xenophobia. In all the mainstream media. It appears that that is either not the case or it is being downplayed. I tend to lean towards the latter. Whatever the truth is, I did not feel it was appropriate to change my initial thoughts here. I will do an update post when we know more. Teacher Dude has a post up today that also makes the link with racism. 

DD, in your post you clearly link that horrible crime to racism and xenophopia. And I just can´t understand why. But yes, racism and xenophobia is a serious problem, as you say, in Greece and almost everywhere.

I know DD, I feel so much for this woman - and any parent who loses a child, especially in a horrible, brutal way.  I just hope they can make some discoveries so there can be some closure with the case.  I wish there was some chance that Alex was still alive, but unfortunately we all know after this length of time it is a remote, remote possibility.

Please don’t quote me, but I think some of the DNA results will be available this evening. I just cannot bear to watch any more. His poor mother. She has been going through this nightmare for 4 months already. She believes her precious child is still alive. I cannot imagine the pain she must be going through today (and all the days since Alex disappeared). Whatever the findings are in this case, her nightmare is not going to end. Every time I tune in and see her face, I feel somehow that I am intruding. Joining the spectacle of this very real tragedy. She has talked to all the channels, not because she wants her pain on display, but because maybe she feels that the exposure may offer a chance of finding her boy. 

Ellas Devil:  Yeah I realize the CSI people have been there, but I was referring to the national level CSI (the boys from Alexandras Ave) and not the local police.  I guess initially Athens or Thess did not send help at least according to this journalist I saw spouting last night.
Scarf + (is this the same as scarfalonious?),  of course the CSI we watch on Telly is just that (TV) but from what I’ve read and seen from the collection of behind the scenes material, they actually have a real CSI advisor on the set to ensure that the over the top Stuff is kept in line.  For example, ever notice how quick they get the DNA results back on CSI but in reality it takes a bit longer (I think 2 weeks or so).

This is indeed a sad tale! What makes me so mad is that we have to put up with the trivial rubbish spouted by the lunatic fringes; if they put their energy to good use instead of promoting their vile hypocritical, bigoted, racist messages the world would be a much nicer place !

Scruffy - You know there was this story circulating when Scotland Yard came down to Athens to assist the Greek police with their inquiries after the Saunders murder. (I can’t be sure if the details are 100% correct.)