[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1451-H1454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly to celebrate Greek 
Independence Day, an event which marks the symbolic rebirth of 
democracy.
  On March 25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of 
freedom and was the first to declare Greece free. We honor the valiant 
Greek freedom fighters who began an arduous struggle to win 
independence for Greece and its people 179 years ago.
  Although many Greeks died, they were undeterred from their ultimate 
goal. ``Eleftheria I Thanatos,'' liberty or death, became the Greek 
patriots' battle cry, a cry all too familiar to us because of the 
similar pronouncement of Patrick Henry, who said ``Give me liberty or 
give me death.''
  One particular story best signifies the spirit which existed then. A 
significant wave of rebellion against Turkish oppression was ignited by 
the fiercely patriotic Suliotes villagers who took refuge from Turkish 
authorities in the mountains of Epiros.

                              {time}  1715

  When the Suliotes women, left alone, learned that Turkish troops were 
fast approaching their village, they began to dance the ``Syrtos,'' a 
patriotic Greek dance. One by one they committed suicide by throwing 
themselves and their children off Mount Zalongo. They chose to die 
rather than surrender and face slavery.
  When news of the revolution arrived in the United States after the 
initial uprising, there were widespread feelings of compassion. This 
sentiment was shared by several American presidents, including James 
Monroe and John Quincy Adams. Each conveyed his support for the 
revolution through his annual messages to Congress.
  William Harrison, our ninth president, expressed his belief in 
freedom for Greece, saying, and I quote him, ``We must send our free 
will offering. The Star-Spangled Banner,'' he went on to say, ``must 
wave in the Aegean, a message of fraternity and friendship to Greece.''
  So we should not overlook the fact that American leaders have always

[[Page H1452]]

been drawn to Greece's democratic ideals. In drafting our constitution, 
American colonial leaders cited Greek and Roman sources. The very basis 
of our constitution derives from Aristotle and was put into practice in 
ancient Rome. As Thomas Jefferson once said, ``To the ancient Greeks we 
are all indebted for the light which led ourselves, American colonists, 
out of Gothic darkness.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. 
Every year the gentleman faithfully executes his special order for 
remembrance of March 25 and what it means to Americans of Greek 
descent.
  The recollections I have as a young person in attending the Greek 
Orthodox church in my community was that this particular holiday was a 
blend of two momentous events in the life of a Greek Orthodox 
Christian. One was the Celebration of the Annunciation and, at the same 
time, the ethnic revolutionary epic of the revolution to which the 
gentleman has referred. This blending of both faith and nationalism has 
made this particular holiday very distinct and very unusual. And it 
evokes memories not only of those two events simultaneously occurring 
but the fact that they helped us, those young Americans of Greek 
descent, recognize the value of being Americans.
  We, as Americans, were able to see that democracy's home, Greece, had 
an inexorable link with the founding of our country, our United States, 
and continues to have this absolutely wonderful bond between the 
democracies that we both cherish.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for always joining 
me year after year after year in this special order.
  Mr. Speaker, we all know that the price of liberty can be very high, 
hundreds of thousands of lives. Socrates, Plato, Pericles, and many 
other great scholars throughout history warned we maintain democracy 
only at great cost. The freedom we enjoy today is due to a large degree 
to the sacrifices made by men and women in the past, in Greece, in 
America, and all over the world.
  Unfortunately, there are several countries where the struggle for 
freedom continues, and tensions persist in the former Yugoslavia, 
Kosovo, the Middle East, Africa, Greece, and Turkey, and particularly 
in the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey still illegally occupies a large part 
of Cyprus, as it has since its brutal invasion in 1974. The United 
States has exerted its influence to improve chances for peace in the 
Middle East and Northern Ireland. Now it is time for the U.S. to 
promote a fair solution for Cyprus.
  Turkey continues to refute U.N. resolutions on Cyprus. Our Nation has 
the influence to encourage to Turkey to abide by the U.N. resolutions 
which set out conditions and suggestions for a settlement. Turkey also 
needs to respect international law regarding Greek sovereignty in the 
Aegean.
  Mr. Speaker, on a more optimistic note, the chronically strained 
relations between Greece and Turkey have recently become less in the 
aftermath of severe earthquakes that hit both countries last summer. 
The acts of humanity that Greece and Turkey demonstrated in aiding each 
other generated a new favorable world sentiment and opened a new 
chapter in the relations between the two countries. Consistent with 
this new spirit of cooperation, Greece has moderated its previous 
inflexible objection to Turkey's acceptance to membership in the 
European Union. Hopefully, this new spirit will gain momentum and 
thereby help to restore harmony and peaceful coexistence between the 
two countries.
  Mr. Speaker, we celebrate Greek independence to reaffirm the common 
democratic heritage we share. Greek Independence Day, like the Fourth 
of July, reminds us that we have the duty to defend liberty--whatever 
the cost. To maintain our freedom, we can take neither it nor its 
architects for granted. That is why we honor those who secured 
independence for Greece so many years ago.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and profound 
admiration that I rise today to recognize the 179th anniversary of 
Greek Independence.
  March 25th is a date that will live forever in the hearts and minds 
of Greeks and Greek-Americans. On March 25, 1821, after nearly 400 
years under the Ottoman yoke, the Greeks revolted against the Turks and 
after a fierce struggle won their independence. During all these years 
of occupation the people of Greece kept their language, their religion 
and their sense of identity.
  We share with the people of Greece this fierce spirit of independence 
and love of freedom.
  A country with a history stretching back almost 4,000 years, Greece 
is the cradle of democracy and its great philosophers were an 
invaluable inspiration for our founding fathers. In ancient Athens they 
found a model for the new democracy they were going to establish in 
America.
  For many years, Greece has been a reliable ally of the United States. 
During World War II, the Greeks sided unanimously with the Allies. The 
years of German occupation were a particularly hard time for Greece. 
Starvation decimated the population while executions and deportations 
contributed to the catastrophe. But from the first moments of the 
occupation a mass resistance movement came into being, bravely fighting 
the Nazi conquerors.
  After enduring a military dictatorship, the Greek people from 1974 
onwards devoted all their efforts to consolidating democracy in the 
land of its birth and laying the foundations for a better life. Today, 
Greece is a member of NATO and the European Union and remains faithful 
to the cause of peace and democracy.
  My fellow colleagues, please join me as we celebrate Greek 
independence and remember those of Greek heritage who are living in the 
United States and have contributed so greatly to our communities and 
our country.
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today in honor of the 
179th anniversary of Greek independence. As a member of the 
Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I join my colleagues in paying 
tribute to the Greek nation and its people.
  Over the last year, Greece has continued to be an active and 
important member of the international community. During the devastating 
earthquakes that ravaged Turkey last year, Greece reached out its hand 
to help its neighbor. This act of kindness was inspiring to us all, 
proving that it is possible to set aside differences in times of need. 
We should not be surprised, though, by Greece's actions. As a member of 
NATO and the European Union, Greece has continually shown its 
commitment to international peace and security.
  The United States and Greece share a common philosophy that promotes 
democracy. Of course, it was Greece that paved the way for the great 
experiment which became the United States of America. Every American 
who enjoys freedom and democracy owes the Greek people a debt of 
gratitude for inspiring our founding fathers.
  On behalf of the people of the Sixth Congressional district of 
Massachusetts and myself, I wish to extend congratulations to the 
people of Greece on this happy occasion. I am honored to have been 
selected to be one of two Grand Marshals in this year's Independence 
Day parade in Boston and know the day will be enjoyed by many. I look 
forward to many more years of happy and productive relations between 
the United States and Greece.
  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join in this special order 
commemorating Greek Independence Day.
  As a Member of Congress representing a district with a great many 
Greek-American constituents, I am well aware of the many contributions 
that Greek Americans have made to our nation. Today I join over 1 
million Greek Americans and the people of Greece in commemorating the 
fight for Greek independence.
  It is only fitting that the Congress of the United States commemorate 
the struggle that led Greek independence. The ancient city-states of 
Greece made many vital contributions to western civilization. The 
foundations of Western literature, drama, science, architecture, and 
philosophy were laid by the people of ancient Greece. The Greek 
language has enriched other languages with words and concepts like 
philanthropy, harmony, music, techne, sophistication, architecture, 
ecology and thousands of others. But perhaps ancient Greece's most 
important gift to the modern world was the creation of the concept of 
democratic self-government. The Founding Fathers of this country, 
educated in the classics, looked to the ancient Greeks, among others, 
for insight and inspiration when they were working to form a new 
national government.
  179 years ago, however, when our country was prospering under its 
newly established democratic government, Greece--the cradle of 
democracy--was a subjugated nation ruled by the Ottoman Empire. In 
fact, at that point, the Ottoman Empire had dominated the Greek people 
for over 400 years, and many Greeks were finding Ottoman rule to be 
increasingly oppressive and unacceptable.
  Greek patriots rose up against the Ottomans in March of 1821. The 
struggle of the courageous Greek patriots against a powerful empire won 
the support of many influential figures in Western Europe and the 
United States. Europeans and Americans identified with the Greek 
people--the descendants of the nation that had so strongly influenced 
western civilization. The French, British, and

[[Page H1453]]

Russian governments eventually intervened in the conflict on the 
Greeks' behalf and forced the Ottoman Empire to recognize Greece as an 
independent state in 1829.
  Mr. Speaker, thousands of Greek patriots fought and died for their 
country's freedom with the same passion that inspired the Founding 
Fathers. Consequently, it is appropriate that we remember them today, 
the 179th anniversary of the beginning of the struggle for Greek 
independence. I am pleased to join my colleagues in commemorating this 
very special day.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise on this occasion on 
which we salute the great nation and people of Greece, the Hellenic 
Republic as they celebrate the 179th anniversary of Greece's 
independence. I commend the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Bilirakis for 
taking the initiative once again to ensure that members have the 
opportunity to convey our thoughts on this important day. The United 
States and Greece have enjoyed a long and close relationship. The 
people of the United States recognize and revere Greece as the cradle 
of the democratic tradition that has allowed this country to rise to 
the heights of its greatness.
  We are fortunate to have benefitted from the contributions of those 
immigrants from Greece who have contributed their toil, their knowledge 
and their culture to our American civilization, and we appreciate the 
warmth of the citizens of Greece reflected in the welcome they provide 
to Americans that are fortunate enough to be able to visit the shores 
of Greece, its beautiful islands and countryside.
  Greece plays an important role in helping to stabilize the Balkans, 
one of the more dangerous neighborhoods of Europe. In our International 
Relations Committee we keep the relations between Greece and the United 
States under close review. I am pleased to report that the state of 
those relations is healthy. I am calling on this occasion for our 
government to support the process of reconciliation that is now 
underway between our two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey. The Congress 
is fully supportive of this effort, and we hope for an outcome that 
will produce lasting stability in this strategically vital part of the 
world.
  I hope that all my colleagues and fellow citizens will avail 
themselves of this occasion to reflect upon the blessings of democracy, 
for which we will be forever indebted to the ancient Hellenes, and upon 
our good fortune today in having such a close and reliable ally as the 
great nation of Greece.
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm 
that I stand before you today to recognize the 179th anniversary of 
Greece, one of our nation's closest allies. I want to praise my 
colleagues from Florida and New York for their efforts in organizing 
this special order and also for organizing the Congressional Caucus on 
Hellenic issues.
  It is no secret that the democratic principles of equality and 
freedom were advocated by great Greek thinkers. These principles served 
as an inspiration to our founding fathers and were heavily relied upon 
as they drafted the Declaration of Independence and the United States 
Constitution. In the words of Thomas Jefferson: ``to the ancient Greeks 
* * * we are all indebted for the light which led ourselves out of * * 
* darkness.'' Just as today's youth is educated on our nation's humble 
beginnings by studying the lives of the framers, they should also learn 
about the great Greek thinkers whose visions of democracy helped our 
nation advance towards a free society.
  The ties that bind Greece and the United States also extend towards 
the common role that our respective countries played in revolting 
against oppressive rule. Borrowing from the successful experience that 
our young nation utilized to free itself of English rule, the people of 
Greece rose up and declared their independence from the Ottoman Empire. 
After a long decade of struggle, freedom came to Greece. Just as it did 
in the democratic world at the time, their victory continues to inspire 
us today.
  Greece has contributed to this nation in many other ways. The hard 
work of Greek-Americans has made an impact on our nation, especially in 
Greek communities such as Providence, Pawtucket and Newport, Rhode 
Island. It is a great honor to be able to represent the people of these 
communities in the United States Congress.
  As the birthplace of classical political thought, as a strong ally to 
the United States, and as the motherland to the many valuable Greek 
immigrants who reside within our borders, Greece is indeed a country 
worthy of much praise. Again, I thank my colleagues for all their hard 
work in making this Special Order and I look forward to working with 
the Hellenic Caucus for the advancement of Greek issues.
  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly in recognition of the 179th 
anniversary of Greek Independence and for the common democratic 
heritage shared by Greece and the United States. The struggle and 
victory of the Greek people against their Ottoman oppressors deserves 
special recognition for its contribution to human freedom and the 
trumplh of demcratic ideals and self-determination over those of 
tyranny and empire.
  In 1821, the people of Greece, inspired by the American Revolution, 
broke out in open rebellion against four centuries of foreign 
occupation in an effort to rule themselves in accordance with the 
principles of democracy first developed in ancient Greece. Fully 
cognizant and proud of their past, the Greeks strove for their own 
traditions and engaged in an independence movement that can only be 
described as heroic and inspirational to all free peoples.
  The Greeks defeated not only the Ottoman Turks to gain their 
independence, but also the Concert of Europe established at the 
Congress of Vienna following the Napoleonic wars. After decades of 
chaos and revolution, the Great Powers created an international system 
based upon conservative, counter-revolutionary rule designed to empower 
the monarchs and imperial states of the Continent with the primary goal 
of stability. Freedom, democracy and self-determination were not 
recognized by the statesmen of Europe as legitimate claims to 
independence.
  However, the people of Europe, in spite of their leaders beliefs, 
were inspired by the Greek cause and their struggle for freedom over 
tyranny. Recognizing that nothing would stop the Greek people from 
realizing their dreams and faced with a popular, just cause, the Great 
Powers of Europe embraced a free and independent Greece. It is a 
testament to the Greeks that they, and they alone were the only people 
to achieve independence in the first quarter of the 19th century 
despite many attempts by other peoples of Europe.
  The Greek patriots' battle cry ``Eleftheria I thanatos''--liberty of 
death--brings immediately to mind Patrick Henry's revolutionary speech 
``Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price 
of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course 
others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!'' As 
we know America's revolutionaries of the 18th century were inspired by 
the traditions and philosophy of Greek antiquity. The influence and 
contributions of the Greeks to modern democracy, are to say the least, 
incalculable. We, as Americans, cannot place enough emphasis on the 
political and social contributions of the Greeks to our own nation.
  ``Our Constitution is called a democracy because power is in the 
hands not of a minority but of the whole people. When it is a question 
of settling private disputes, everyone is equal before the law; when it 
is a question of putting one person before another in positions of 
public responsibility, what counts is not a membership of a particular 
class, but the actual ability which the man possesses''.
  The statement, Mr. Speaker, was not made by our Founding Fathers, but 
by Pericles in an address more than two thousand years ago. With that, 
I would like to thank my colleagues for holding this special order and 
once again congratulate Greece on the anniversary of it's independence.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege once again to take time 
to reflect and honor Greek Independence Day from the floor of the U.S. 
House of Representatives. March 25, 2000 marked the 179th Anniversary 
of the beginning of the revolution that freed the Greek people from the 
Ottoman Empire.
  For almost 400 years, from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 until 
the declaration of Greek Independence in 1821, Greece remained under 
the rule of the Ottoman Empire. These were dark centuries for the 
nation that was the cradle of Western democracy, philosophy and art. 
During this time, Greeks were deprived of all civil rights. Their 
schools and churches were shut down. Greek Christian and Jewish boys 
were kidnapped from their families and raised as Moslems to serve the 
Sultan.
  Shortly after Greece regained her independence, in December 1823, the 
great and famous U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, Daniel 
Webster, reflected on this time in Greek history, ``This (Greek) 
people, a people of intelligence, ingenuity, refinement, spirit and 
enterprise, have been for centuries under the atrocious unparalleled 
Tartarian barbarism that ever oppressed the human race.'' We are all 
proud of the fact that many volunteers from across the United States 
went to Greene to participate in the war for Greek independence.
  Greece and the United States have always been linked by their common 
histories of waging wars for independence, their beliefs in freedom and 
basic human rights, and their commitment to democracy. We are also 
closely tied by blood. During the 1900s, one in every four Greek males 
between the ages of 15 and 45 departed for the United States. Today, 
American society flourishes and benefits from the contributions of the 
descendents of these original Greek immigrants. Further forging the 
links of blood and sacrifice, over 600,000 Greeks died fighting on the 
side of the Allies during World War II and in the civil war that 
followed--that was nine percent of the entire population of Greece at 
the time.

[[Page H1454]]

  Massachusetts, with such famous Greek Americans as Governor Michael 
Dukakis and Senator Paul Tsongas, has a rich Greek American culture. In 
my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral 
of St. Spyridon, under the leadership of Father Dean Paleologos, 
reminds us of this vibrant Greek American community. Each year, in 
Worcester, this important day is celebrated by teaching children to 
recite poetry and songs commemorating their past and their heritage.
  Today, we see the generous heart of Greece at work again, as 
President Stephanopoulos and Foreign Minister Papandreou endeavor to 
end decades of hosility between Greece and Turkey. The improved climate 
of relations between Greece and Turkey cultivated by these Greek 
leaders continues to sustain hopes that some of the long unresolved 
issues between these two nations may eventually be tackled.
  In a concrete way, Greece has moved toward better relations with 
Turkey. Following an arrangement made when Mr. Papandreou visited 
Ankara last January, a delegation of Greek Foreign Ministry officials, 
headed by Secretary-General Stelios Perrakis, opened discussion in the 
Turkish capital on February 28th to impart Greece's knowledge and 
experience, as a member of the European Union, on the measures and 
methods Turkey needs to pursue in its own quest to become a member of 
the EU.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my gratitude and 
respect to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the 
gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Carolyn Maloney) for their leadership of 
the Hellenic Caucus. Through their hard work, all Members of this House 
are better educated on and involved in the challenging issues facing 
modern Greece today.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to commemorate the 179th 
anniversary of Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire, and to 
celebrate the shared democratic traditions of Greece and the United 
States.
  Greece declared its independence on March 25, 1821, ending nearly 400 
years of domination by the Ottoman Empire and restoring a democratic 
heritage to the very cradle of democracy.
  The special relationship between the people of Greece and the United 
States has been reinforced throughout our country's short history. Our 
Founding Fathers established this nation based on the teachings of 
ancient Greek philosophers and their struggle to build a democratic 
society. And, in turn, the American experience inspired the Greek 
people in their struggle for independence nearly 180 years ago.
  Our shared democratic ideals have formed the basis of a strong and 
sustained friendship between Greece and the United States, and even 
today, Greece remains one of our most important allies and trusted 
partners in the global community.
  And the many contributions of Greek-Americans to shaping our society 
and building our cultural heritage have been as critical to the United 
States as its friendship with Greece. My district in New York has 
benefitted immeasurably from the many contributions of our Greek-
American community over the years.
  I am proud to join my colleagues today in commemoration of Greek 
Independence Day, and in celebration of the many contributions of 
Greece and Greek-Americans to the United States and the world.

                          ____________________