Emboldened by its meteoric rise in Greece, the far-right Golden Dawn party is spreading its tentacles abroad, amid fears it is acting on its pledge to "create cells in every corner of the world". The extremist group, which forged links with British neo-Nazis when it was founded in the 1980s, has begun opening offices in Germany, Australia, Canada and the US.
The international push follows successive polls that show Golden Dawn entrenching its position as Greece's third, and fastest growing, political force. First catapulted into parliament with 18 MPs last year, the ultra-nationalists captured 11.5% support in a recent survey conducted by polling company Public Issue.
The group – whose logo resembles the swastika and whose members are prone to give Nazi salutes – has gone from strength to strength, promoting itself as the only force willing to take on the "rotten establishment". Amid rumours of backing from wealthy shipowners, it has succeeded in opening party offices across Greece.
Bad ideas never really die, of course. And when times are tough, you'll get a Golden Dawn, or a Shining Path, or some other group. Frankly, the left/right distinction doesn't really mean that much. What does matter is that people who ought to know better (such as wealthy shipowners) think they can ride the tiger.
It won't end well.
It won't end well.
6 comments:
Nazis. Is there anything they don't ruin?
One would have hoped that Greeks would figure out that an economy that offers little but tourism and olive oil will not exactly prosper from xenophobia, but perhaps not.
And hopefully those fighting GD will remember that, as a nation that fought outside Communists in the 1940s and had fought the Turks for 1400 years prior to that, there is plenty of history of xenophobia and such in Greece. The trick is not to deny history, but to show a path out of it.
Nazis. Is there anything they don't ruin?
Well, Cuba and Venezuela. But they could get a partial credit for Argentina and Paraguay.
I hate Illinois Nazis.
those fighting GD
Forget Golden Dawn. What the Greeks need is Golden Corral!
I thought the reference was to G&D Steakhouses.
Or my dad's fraternity, Gamma Delta Iota. (***-****ed Independent)
I was in Sigma Pi Alpha Mu. Not affiliated with Golden Dawn or any other fascist or socialist organization.
Gamma Delta Iota. (***-****ed Independent)
Mine was ∑∏Ø (Sigma Phi Nothing).
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