om ungdomshuset

I don't know how much everyone has been keeping up with the Danish news in the States, but things here in Copenhagen have been pretty out of control. Frankly, i don't know how to feel. There have been riots in different parts of the city since Thursday. My italian neighbor got arrested and who knows for how much longer he'll be in jail and i know that his dad is worried sick and cannot do anything about it. This is even bigger than when the people rioted against the EU movement in '92. Random cars in the streets are being set on fire, windows are broken and possessions stolen, people are throwing bricks and lighting barricades on fire, and shopkeepers don't have a place for work anymore. Who is even the victim? The kids of Ungdomshuset? The bystanders who just happen to be living or working in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or dare i even say, the police? The police are merely doing their job, but apparently they have not been handling the situation very well. Ungdomshuset literally translates to "The youth house," and kids have been squatting there since the early 80's. The city sold the house around 2000 to a Christian group who then obtained a court order to have everybody evicted. This finally was executed last December, and I had not heard anything about it, maybe except through Mia when she'd tell me what the police sirens are all about. It's kind of fucked up that the city would turn around and sell a building that's in use. It breaks my heart that these people are now homeless, a symbol of counterculture is destroyed, and even more so that private property is being destroyed when it is completely and utterly unnecessary.

I actually haven't been out to see the damage done. I was gone this weekend, and I don't know if i'd want to go. It's a big thing here. It's surreal to believe that i'm (somewhat) a part of this all. I think about half of those arrested were actually foreigners around Northern Europe. It makes me livid that people don't even know WHY they're here to "demonstrate" or to participate in all of these riots. Perhaps they are here just for the opportunity to be belligerent. I understand that these people want to make a point, but to throw BRICKS? Please, could you be any more juvenile. Who knows. I don't know, it's late. More later, maybe.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6418565.stm

The guy behind the bulldozers must feel like he has the worst job ever right now.

I know i promised an update long ago. I suck. SOON!

hey, what do i do for spring break...?