[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             THE 173D ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

                                 ______


                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 13, 1994

  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in honor 
of Greek Independence Day. It was my original intention to enter this 
statement into the Record on Greek Independence Day, March 25, but I 
was unable to do so as the House adjourned for the Easter-Passover 
break on March 24.
  The Greek contribution to human culture is immeasurable. The ancient 
Greeks made great major contributions in art, science, technology, 
philosophy, and literature. But the Greeks made a unique contribution 
in their invention of democracy. For the first time in history, in many 
Greek city-states, the people became the sovereign controllers of their 
own destinies. Their experience with democracy led perceptive early 
Greeks to realize that democracy also has its weaknesses. Conscious of 
the need to restrain rash and impulsive action in democracies, the 
great philosopher Aristotle articulated an early form of the notion of 
checks and balances in his idea of the mixed constitution.
  If ancient Greece was the homeland of ancient democracy, our Nation 
is the homeland of modern representative democracy. The founders of our 
democracy were thoroughly steeped in the traditions of ancient Greece 
and believed its lessons were very applicable in their day. Throughout 
the debate surrounding the ratification of our Constitution, the 
Founders were much aware of the guidance to be gained from ancient 
Greece. Jefferson stated that ``to the ancient Greeks we are all 
indebted for the light which led ourselves out of Gothic darkness.'' 
Madison and Hamilton wrote in Federalist 18:

       Among the confederacies of antiquity the most considerable 
     was that of the Grecian republics * * * From the best 
     accounts transmitted of this celebrated institution it bore a 
     very instructive analogy to the present confederation of the 
     American states.''

  While Greece was still subject to foreign rule, Greeks already looked 
to this Nation for insight about representative democracy. In the early 
days of our independence Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson had 
persuaded a noted Greek scholar, John Paradise, to come to the United 
States to hold discussions on the philosophical underpinnings of 
democracy.
  In 1821, after over 400 years of domination under a foreign power, 
the people of Greece rose in rebellion against those who held them in 
bondage. These brave fighters for freedom looked to the United States 
for models to guide their struggle. English speaking Greeks translated 
the Declaration of Independence into modern Greek and used it as their 
own declaration. Americans followed with admiration the Greek struggle 
for independence. President Monroe said of the Greek freedom fighters, 
``A strong hope is entertained that these people will recover their 
independence and resume their equal station among the nations of the 
world.'' Along with Lord Byron and other famous Europeans, three 
notable Americans went to Greece to join the Greek freedom fighters, 
Lt. Gen. George Jarvis, Col. Jonathan P. Miller, and Dr. Samuel Gridley 
Howe.
  In the 20th century, Greece learned once again what a precious thing 
freedom is when in 1941, it was overrun by the Nazi army. Greece had to 
endure almost 4 years of occupation before liberation came. During 
World War II over 600,000 Greeks, almost 10 percent of the prewar 
population, died for the Allied cause. Once the war had ended, Greeks 
then had to ensure for over 3 years the horrors of civil war in an 
ultimately successful effort to resist a Communist insurgency.
  From 1952, when Greece joined NATO, Greece and the United States 
stood shoulder to shoulder in the struggle against communism. In 1960, 
Greece stood firm against Soviet threats to blast the Acropolis into 
rubble and in 1990 and 1991 Greece took an active part in the 
multinational effort to roll back Saddam Hussein's conquest of Kuwait.
  Through the glorious legacy of Greek culture, Greece helped to bring 
the United States to birth. Through the influence of the Declaration of 
Independence and the American Revolution, the United States inspired 
the Greek freedom fighters in their successful struggle to establish 
the independence of modern Greece. In the 20th century, Greece and the 
United States have repeatedly stood together to resist tyranny and 
aggression.
  We also honor today the over 700,000 persons who immigrated to this 
country from Greece, as well as millions of other Greek-Americans, 
whose many contributions have enriched our national life. Today, the 
173d anniversary of the independence of modern Greece, it is 
particularly fitting that we recognize the achievements of Greece, 
ancient and modern, as well as the many ways our two nations are 
intertwined.

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