At some point the hypocrisy has to end.
There is a serious and persistent problem of crime in certain Roma communities in Greece. Thefts, robberies, burglaries, assaults, illegal possession of weapons and behaviors that create in certain areas the feeling that the law stops where the lawless begins .
The latest incident in Piraeus is typical. According to the driver’s complaint, four Roma men cornered a bus with their vehicle, got out, threatened him, and banged on the windows. The man locked himself inside and began recording them with his cell phone.
As soon as they saw the camera, they retreated.
This is the image of a State that has often left the citizen to protect himself.
And let’s finally stop the fear of being labeled a “racist” for speaking out about an existing problem. It is not racism to demand that a thief, a robber, or someone who terrorizes a worker be arrested. It is the elementary duty of a law-abiding society.
The issue is not anyone’s DNA. It’s behavior and tolerance towards it.
But when delinquency becomes long-lasting, geographically concentrated, and repetitive, the state is not entitled to do what it does not see. It must be there permanently, and not just when the television cameras record the next episode .
And herein lies the great political responsibility.
For decades, the impression has been created that some governments, parties, mayors and local actors prefer management to conflict with illegality. And when behind this tolerance lies electoral calculation or clientelism , then we do not simply have incompetence.
We have political complicity in perpetuating the problem.
Votes do not buy immunity.
No social group can constitute an electoral fiefdom and no politician has the right to exchange tolerance for political support.
Because the price is paid by other citizens — especially those living next to areas where delinquency has become an everyday occurrence. But it is also paid by law-abiding Roma , who see their entire community stigmatized by those who break the law.
The solution does not require complicated theories.
Compulsory schooling for children. Control of the exploitation of minors. Tax and administrative legality. Police presence where there is crime. Arrest of perpetrators. Speedy Justice. Execution of sentences.
At the same time, real integration for those who want to work, educate their children and live within the rules of society.
Neither collective guilt nor collective immunity.
Individual responsibility and one law for all.
Because the biggest scandal is not that there are delinquent Roma. Delinquents exist in every social group.
The scandal begins when the state knows where systematic illegality exists, knows who is subject to it, and yet does not consistently enforce the law .
Then the law-abiding citizen justifiably wonders:
Why should I fear the state and the offender fear nothing?
This question must finally be answered.
And the answer cannot depend on origins, “sensitive groups” or electoral bias .
Either there is law for all or there is no state for anyone.
ANTON GT
