The unusual march of some girls at the 28 October parade in Nea Philadelphia-Nea Chalkidona caused fury and outrage among our readers. Below is a selection of some of the comments as they appeared on our Facebook page:
George Vardas I am sorry but the Monty Python skit on the Ministry of Silly Walks was a satiric take on middle class bureaucratic bungling in the UK. I fail to see the humour in trying (badly) to mimic John Cleese and company in a march commemorating one of Greece’s most solemn days and a defining moment in its modern history.
Yiannis Diakopoulos What’s the divided opinion? And who shares this opinion? I think if a bunch of 17-year-olds carrying on like they have Tourette Syndrome on a significant national day. They have completely lost the right to hold any form of “opinion”…totally disrespectful and only in Greece with this new age of “spastics” could you get away with this type of behaviour. If you asked them what 28 October is I guarantee you most of them would say “Independence Day”. I also guarantee if you asked them what they’re protesting about they wouldn’t know how to answer you!
Helen Daoutakis Before pointing the finger and judging, we don’t know the reason for their actions! For one, I would really like to know. It could be that they’re against all world wars that resulted in their actions (at the parade). We don’t know! But before judging, students get up to all kinds of mischief in schools all over the world!
Constantinos Platakis When the collective mentality and ethos of a community/nation is discarded in favour of individuality, then that community/nation ceases to exist. The poison responsible for this deliberate behaviour can be traced to the ministries of education, not just in Greece but in just about every western government throughout the world. The results either way will be catastrophic.
Sotiris Pashos As disrespectful as those who played politics at the Shrine of Remembrance at this year’s 25th March parade (in Melbourne).
Polytemy Mary Lazanas Wonder if they will act this way at a family member’s funeral because that’s what these marches are essentially. Honouring those before us who died…. Έλεος.
READ MORE: Monty Python silly parade divides public opinion as to how WWII heroes should be honoured
George Giannitsos I must be old fashioned, but I found that utterly ridiculous.
Terry Karagiannis Teacher dropped an ACID trip on the kids … Not their fault.
Constantine Spiropoulos A protest at a time of austerity. With youth unemployment at almost 40 per cent, what is there to march for in post-GFC Greece? No job, no future, unless you do something with your life.
Helen Bizos Constantine Spiropoulos decency has nothing to do with economics… Sad state of affairs…
Giannis Kitsopoulos Nobody is making fun of the handicapped, they are making fun of the state and the stupid marching of schools.
Helen Karahalios There’s a time & place for silliness and it’s not here.
Denise Galanakis Unacceptable. There is a time and place for frivolity, this march was not one of them.
Maria Gouras Who’s idea was this? No respect.
Peter Stavropoulos Divides opinion? Really? I haven’t seen one Greek defend this stupidity since it happened.
Ange GT What was the point in marching like idiots?
Thodoris Karakozidis Global ρεζιλίκι…
READ MORE: 28 October anniversary in the Antipodes: Is it upside down or the right way up?
Manuel Katakis Not funny at all. Totally disrespectful. Name and shame this school if indeed they were even legally part of the parade.
Helen Bizos Whether they were legally or illegally part of the parade is irrelevant… It says a lot about upbringing..
Grigorios Ilias The constant and orchestrated attempt by the left-wing decadents, especially in recent years, and recently with the ridiculous mockery of the institution of the parade and flag, are not accidental and innocent incidents. We are worried for the future.
Paschali Malamidis Wonderful, brave, girls. That’s how you say Ohi.
Thalia Alex This is so disrespectful to what this day symbolises for Greece…. Eleos
Elle Karapanou They are just trying to make a political statement people.
Angelique Kitsopoulou Well that was the best march we have seen… It was a statement and it put a message through to those with eyes about the school system in Greece… Well done girls. Hats off… So much better than grabbing a gun and shooting in a school which America has made into a daily routine. Instead of criticising trying looking deeper into what this really represents and no they are not making fun of the handicapped…
Arthur Katris Their teachers should be kicked up the rear end if that’s what they teaching these idiots!!!
Pauline Shinas Angelique Kitsopoulou, even if they were activists as you are saying, I am sorry but this behaviour is not acceptable for everything. There is a time and a place, and this was not the time nor the place to insult all those generations that passed before us.
Mary Padazi Angelique Kitsopoulou, what has the government got to do with the march? If they want to go make a statement in regards to the government, there a plenty of other ways to do that. I’m sure if your family members had died in a war for your country, you would be condemning this behaviour, but who am I kidding, it’s all about pleasing people’s personal egos in our current society, no respect whatsoever.
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Constantinos Platakis When the collective mentality and ethos of a community/nation is discarded in favour of individuality, then that community/nation ceases to exist. The poison responsible for this deliberate behaviour can be traced to the ministries of education, not just in Greece but in just about every western government throughout the world. The results either way will be catastrophic.
Sotiris Pashos As disrespectful as those who played politics at the shrine of remembrance at this years 25th March parade
Chris Kloukis They should’ve done this at a Turkish national parade… They would’ve been living a modern day midnight express experience.