Europe's summer of discontent

[financeguy]

Greek security forces have warned of a wave of violence reminiscent of the terror that stalked Italy in the seventies after urban guerillas threatened last week to turn the country into a "war zone".

"Greece has entered a new phase of political violence by anarchist-oriented organisations that are more murderous, dangerous, capable and nihilistic than ever before," said Athanasios Drougos, a defence and counter-terrorism analyst in Athens.

Greece will be a war zone, Sect of Revolutionaries warns tourists | World news | The Observer

It's an odd experience to be speaking politely to a middle-aged woman with designer specs who suddenly shouts, "SCUM!" at the top of her lungs and begins waving her fists. She's not referring to me but instead is focusing her ire on a sheepish stream of guests in tuxes and posh frocks making their way to the IBEC president's dinner in Dublin's Mansion House.

A group called the Right to Work Campaign, or RTWC, has organised the pre-dinner entertainment for the Mansion House event and the speakers are getting worked up. I doubt if any meal has been subjected to such opprobrium as the IBEC banquet has by the protesters. Maybe Gordon Ramsay might have come close when he compared someone's Yorkshire puddings to King Kong's condom.

A woman who introduces herself as a single mother from a flat complex in Inchicore says: "The rich in there eating their fancy dinner!" Sinn Fein TD Aonghus O Snodaigh is invited to speak and shouts: "They are gorging themselves on a meal subsidised by you the taxpayer! IBEC get one million a year from state bodies!"

There are many references to the fact that each table at the IBEC dinner costs €1,300. Guests entering the Mansion House restaurant are subjected to the taunt: "Shame on you! Shame on you!" Unfortunately, that mantra is repeated so often the crowd resembles Ireland footballer John O'Shea's fan club, chanting, "Shea! Man U!" hundreds of times.

One poor girl going to the IBEC dinner who overdid the fake tan and chose a revealing dress is told, "Go on, you slut!" by a silver-tongued socialist. A rotund gentleman making his way slowly to the dinner is told by the guy next to me: "I hope you fucking choke!"

my summer of discontent - Lifestyle, Frontpage - Independent.ie