[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MARKING 180TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREECE'S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM 
                             OTTOMAN EMPIRE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
country where democracy was born and where democracy returned 180 years 
ago.
  March 25, 2001, marks the 180 anniversary of Greece's declaration of 
independence from the Ottoman Empire. Before then, Greece had been 
ruled by the Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years, during which time 
Greeks were deprived of their civil rights.
  It is with great pride that Hellenic Americans recount the stories of 
how their ancestors in Greece stood together and fought against 
repression by continuing to educate Greek children in their culture, 
their language, and their religion, even under the threat of death.
  This year, the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York 
has as its parade theme the Hellenic-American educational system. It is 
especially important that they are paying tribute to education, 
cultural heritage, religious learning, and the Hellenic-American values 
and ideals that are taught in the United States Hellenic parochial 
schools.

                              {time}  1845

  Education has always been the key to preserving Hellenic culture, 
values, and religion.
  This year I have the honor of being selected grand marshal, along 
with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), who cochairs the 
Hellenic Caucus with me, and Assemblyman Michael Giannaris from New 
York and California Secretary of State Phillip Ajjedilis and Honorary 
Grand Marshal Lucas Tsilas. We will have the privilege of marching with 
many members of my Astoria community, the largest Hellenic community 
outside of Athens.
  The Hellenic and Phil-Hellenic community has a great deal to 
celebrate. They will celebrate the coming Olympics and the continued 
efforts of the Hellenic Caucus to seek a peaceful understanding with 
Turkey on the issues of the Greek Islands and Cyprus occupation. Here 
in the United States, we often take democracy for granted. In the 
world, there are still countries fighting for basic human rights. On 
this day of Greek independence, let us remember the words of Plato, and 
I quote: ``Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety 
and disorder, and dispensing a kind of equality to equals and unequals 
alike.''
  Is that not a great way to describe democracy?
  The best way to express the feeling of the Hellenic community is the 
Greek National Anthem that tells of their struggle for independence.
  I thank the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York for 
all of the contributions they have made to our community and in their 
efforts to make each year's Greek Independence Day celebration more 
exciting than the last. I know that I will remember this year. Zeto E 
Eleftheria. Long live freedom in Greece and in the entire world.

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