[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 41 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E434-E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

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                               speech of

                            HON. DICK ZIMMER

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 1996

  Mr. ZIMMER. Mr. Speaker, on March 25, 1821, the Greek people began a 
long and courageous struggle to free themselves from

[[Page E435]]

nearly 400 years of Ottoman rule and return Greece to its democratic 
heritage. Today, I join the almost 3 million Greek-Americans living in 
the United States in celebrating the 175th anniversary of Greek 
Independence Day.
  On this anniversary it is appropriate to reflect on the strong 
historical bond between our two countries. More than 2,500 years ago 
the idea of democracy was born in Athens. The intellectual and 
political climate of that time provided the impetus for a sea-change in 
philosophy, the arts, and science. In the preface to his poem Hellas, 
Shelley wrote: ``Our laws, our literature, our religion, our arts have 
their roots in Greece.''
  Our Founding Fathers drew heavily upon the political and 
philosophical experience of the ancient Greeks in forming our 
representative democracy. Since that time, the contributions of Greek-
Americans to the development of our Nation can be found in all areas of 
American life--from great scientists like Nicholas Christofilos to our 
Greek-American colleagues in Congress to the souvlakis we eat.
  On this 175th anniversary it is appropriate that we take pride in 
celebrating the enduring relationship between our two countries.

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