IQ2 Racism Debate (1/4): Κωστής Παπαϊωάννου

Ομιλία ΥΠΕΡ της θέσης "Στην Ελλάδα είμαστε ρατιστές", στο 9ο debate της IQ2 Greece, που πραγματοποιήθηκε σε συνεργασία με τη Στέγη Γραμμάτων και Τεχνών την Τετάρτη 14 Νοεμβρίου 2012.

Ο Κωστης Παπαϊωάννου είναι τ. πρόεδρος της Εθνικής Επιτροπής για τα Δικαιώματα του Ανθρώπου και μέλος του Δικτύου Καταγραφής Περιστατικών Ρατσιστικής Βίας.

[dewberry]

You wrote (below) "You are right that in an ideal world nobody would leave just like that but we live in a different reality."

People have always tried to cross borders illegally. Border police, patrols, passports, and visas have existed for centuries. Largely due to the Internet and to satellite television, people in poorer countries have become aware of "better" lives elsewhere. And so there is now much greater temptation to enter countries illegally. Not permitting this is not racism.

[sergios]

Greek people need to learn to not being racists. It's a lesson, you know? they need to control their anger because many people simply do not have a choice in their countries. It's a huge issue to start exploring why they do it. Just for your information there are thousands of illegal Greek immigrants right now in America (that's where I am) and our embassy is struggling. You are right that in an ideal world nobody would leave just like that but we live in a different reality.

[dewberry]

No, with respect, I am afraid it is you who is in error on this issue. "It is not the immigrants' fault" you say. But the illegal immigrants absolutely know that they are intentionally and deliberately setting foot in a land that is NOT theirs, on national property that is NOT theirs. This is therefore absolutely NOT a matter of racism, but of legality. Citizens do NOT have a human right to wander into ANY country on earth that they choose to. All national borders MUST be respected.

[dewberry]

It is not racist of Greek people to not welcome the thousands of people who walk into Greece uninvited and illegally. Racism is when you invite people into your country and you then treat them badly.

[sergios]

having said all that, I respect your opinion an deeply in my heart I know Greeks are not racists, but the circumstances made them behave they way they do. However, let's face it, only under certain circumstances do we show who we really are. We, Greeks, have the tradition of hospitality...I remind you of Zeus the Xenios :-) we just need to be careful, force the government to control the borders., force the justice system become fair etc..but let's do not blame it on the immigrants.

[sergios]

Look, Greece has traditionally been a country of immigrants. Since the 1950s and until the 1980s the country exported people. Now Greeks are leaving again so it's important to understand that the country does not have a tradition of knowing what to do with immigrants. What you describe happens in all countries but they have immigration policies to deal with them. They do not hurt people because they illegally came to America.

[sergios]

you are wrong. Racism is to be unable to understand that if your country does not have immigration policy, it is not the immigrants' fault. You as a Greek person needs to treat all immigrants equally because it is not their legal status that determines your racism but your behaviour.