Whereas the ancient Greeks developed the concept of
democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was vested in the
people;
Whereas the Founding Fathers of the United States, many of
whom read Greek political philosophy in the original Greek, drew heavily on the
political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our
representative democracy;
Whereas Greek Commander in Chief Petros Mavromichalis, a
founder of the modern Greek state, said to the citizens of the United States in
1821 that it is in your land that liberty has fixed her abode and…in
imitating you, we shall imitate our ancestors and be thought worthy of them if
we succeed in resembling you
;
Whereas the Greek national anthem, the Hymn to
Liberty
, includes the words, Most heartily was gladdened George
Washington's brave land
;
Whereas the people of the United States generously offered
humanitarian assistance to the people of Greece during their struggle for
independence;
Whereas Greece, in one of the most consequential “David
vs. Goliath” victories for freedom and democracy in modern times, refused to
surrender to the Axis forces and inflicted a fatal wound at a crucial moment in
World War II, forcing Hitler to change his timeline and delaying the attack on
Russia where the Axis Forces met defeat;
Whereas Winston Churchill said, “If there had not been the
virtue and courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of World War
II would have been.”;
Whereas hundreds of thousands of Greek civilians were
killed in Greece during World War II in defense of the values of the
Allies;
Whereas, throughout the 20th century, Greece was one of a
few countries that allied with the United States in every major international
conflict;
Whereas Greece is a strategic partner and ally of the
United States in bringing political stability and economic development to the
volatile Balkan region, having invested billions in the countries of the
region, thereby helping to create many tens of thousands of new jobs, and
having contributed more than $750,000,000 in development aid for the
region;
Whereas the Government and people of Greece actively
participate in peacekeeping and peace-building operations conducted by
international organizations, including the United Nations, the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, the European Union, and the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe, and have more recently provided critical support to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation in Libya;
Whereas Greece received worldwide praise for its
extraordinary handling during the 2004 Olympic Games of more than 14,000
athletes and more than 2,000,000 spectators and journalists, a feat the
Government and people of Greece handled efficiently, securely, and with
hospitality;
Whereas Greece, located in a region where Christianity
meets Islam and Judaism, maintains excellent relations with Muslim nations and
Israel;
Whereas the Government of Greece has taken important steps
in recent years to further cross-cultural understanding and rapprochement and
cooperation in various fields with Turkey, and has also upgraded its relations
with other countries in the region, including Israel, thus enhancing the
stability of the wider region;
Whereas the Governments and people of Greece and the
United States are at the forefront of efforts for freedom, democracy, peace,
stability, and human rights;
Whereas those and similar ideals have forged a close bond
between the people of Greece and the United States; and
Whereas it is proper and desirable for the United States
to celebrate March 25, 2012, Greek Independence Day, with the Greek people and
to reaffirm the democratic principles from which these two great nations were
born: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)extends warm
congratulations and best wishes to the people of Greece as they celebrate the
191st anniversary of the independence of Greece;
(2)expresses support
for the principles of democratic governance to which the people of Greece are
committed; and
(3)notes the
important role that Greece has played in the wider European region and in the
community of nations since gaining its independence 191 years ago.