And if the festival is not enough to intrigue, one can always walk around the port of Thessaloniki, brimming with bars and outside tables, with people enjoying grilled octopus, kalamata olives, melted feta cheese and animated conversation (where is that crisis?)

Maidan, however, broke down gender stereotypes in important ways. Though women took on some traditional roles, they also shook up the status quo by directly participating on the front lines.

I call upon all defenders of freedom to join the ideological battle; now is the time to set pluralism against dogma; drawings, books and peaceful protests against guns; secularism against religious dominance.

I wonder if we can get something a little more complex and interesting from reflecting on the whole incident beyond simply reaffirming our own preexisting propensity to either condemn or congratulate.