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A call for cool heads this fall
It is absolutely vital that the country does not descend into violence, chaos and civil strife in the next few crucial months. Greek society as a whole has reached a pivotal stage: The country’s citizens, businesses and politicians are all fighting for survival under particularly tough conditions. The country, however, needs to survive. The new measures may or may not be approved in Parliament. The political debate will be fierce and the social reaction could be dynamic and huge, but there must be certain limits. No political or other power has the right to encourage or cover up violence and push citizens toward illegal, destructive behavior. No matter what happens this fall, Athens should not go up in flames, no blood should be shed and the country should not turn into a complete jungle. The responsibility for maintaining law and order lies with the state and the government. The responsibility for preventing extreme, incendiary statements and actions, however, rests with us all: citizens, political leaders and the media, of course, who often treat anger as a commodity. | 
