[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2529-S2530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I am 
an original cosponsor of a resolution introduced today by the senior 
Senator from Pennsylvania designating March 25, 
[[Page S2530]]  1995, as ``Greek Independence Day: A National Day of 
Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.'' More than a gesture of 
friendship and good will, this resolution recognizes the enormous 
influence Greece and its traditions have had on our Nation.
  It is fitting that we honor Greek independence in this Chamber, since 
the ancient Greeks first created the Athenian Assembly and direct 
democracy. The Greek word ``demokratia'' is a compound of ``demos,'' 
meaning the people and ``kratos,'' meaning power. To the Greeks we owe 
our most basic concept of democratic government, which our 16th 
President from Illinois so eloquently referred to in his Gettysburg 
Address as, ``* * * government of the people, by the people, and for 
the people * * *''
  Without Greece, its history, and its democratic traditions, we as a 
Nation would be lacking a strong foundation. For this inspiration, the 
people of the United States owe Greece deep gratitude.
  This resolution not only honors Greece on its 174th anniversary of 
the beginning of the revolution that freed the Greek people from the 
Ottoman Empire, but also celebrates the historic and close ties between 
the citizens of Greece and the citizens of the United States. From the 
Greek philosophical influences on our Founding Fathers, to the 
neoclassical architecture of our Capitol and many of our State 
capitols, to Greek support of international struggles against fascism 
and communism, Greeks through many generations have helped foster and 
nourish the mutually beneficial ties between Greece and the United 
States.
  I urge other colleagues from the Senate to join in cosponsorship of 
this worthwhile resolution.


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