The point was rather to give the fighting appropriate and effective political venues for resolving conflicts and finding effective solutions. There will never be no fighting because that is not possible or at least quite unhealthy. After all, isn’t the point of politics to solve conflicts – which are quite normal and will always be everywhere – in a non-violent way? (Tools for solving conflicts between nations in a non-violent way have always been quite limited – with obvious disastrous consequences, especially as we got better at killing each other.)
However, I do agree that it is sad that fighting is happening along national lines and that ugly stereotypes and propaganda play the role they do.
Just recently I was watching serious and respectable German TV and some expert was – probably unintentionally, but hey that’s stereotypes and toxic thinking for you, it worms itself into your heads – talking about Greeks “hiding” money at home after withdrawing it that would be inaccessible and as such money the creditors would have to pay. This toxic way of framing the conversation is just so sad. Greek people who withdraw their very own money from banks because they are unable to trust those banks are not hiding anything or doing anything immoral or unethical or even slightly impolite. They are the victims in that situation – and we have to be very careful how we talk about people, especially if we generally talk about “Greeks” or “Germans” or whatever.
Do you remember Cyprus ? One day they are good hard working European, the next day all of them are gangster laundering russian crime money and taking money out of their bank account is fair justice ( but fear not brave citizen, your money is safe at the bank because your are not dishonest like they are )
Europe has treated its "citizen" like rubbish since the crisis. You can hardly blame the push of Eurosceptic parties across Europe - in time of crisis, Europe is really ugly.
Greek people withdrawing money (and mostly getting it out of the country) show a lack of support to their country. This excerbates the problems of their financial system. It also begs the question why the rest of europe should schow solidarity with a country if its own people dont.
Voting against austerity and restructuring policies is not standing behind your goverment/nation. Trusting it with your money is.
However, I do agree that it is sad that fighting is happening along national lines and that ugly stereotypes and propaganda play the role they do.
Just recently I was watching serious and respectable German TV and some expert was – probably unintentionally, but hey that’s stereotypes and toxic thinking for you, it worms itself into your heads – talking about Greeks “hiding” money at home after withdrawing it that would be inaccessible and as such money the creditors would have to pay. This toxic way of framing the conversation is just so sad. Greek people who withdraw their very own money from banks because they are unable to trust those banks are not hiding anything or doing anything immoral or unethical or even slightly impolite. They are the victims in that situation – and we have to be very careful how we talk about people, especially if we generally talk about “Greeks” or “Germans” or whatever.