[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H976-H978]
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.

[[Page H977]]

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, today I proudly rise to celebrate Greek 
Independence Day and the strong ties that bind the nations of Greece 
and the United States.
  One hundred eighty-one years ago the people of Greece began a journey 
that would mark the symbolic rebirth of democracy in the land where 
those principles of human dignity were first espoused. They rebelled 
against more than 400 years of Turkish oppression.
  The revolution of 1821 brought independence to Greece and emboldened 
those who still sought freedom across the world. I commemorate Greek 
Independence Day, Mr. Speaker, each year for the same reasons we 
celebrate our Fourth of July. It proved that a united people, as is 
taking place today, a united people, through sheer will and 
perseverance can prevail against tyranny.
  The lessons the Greeks and our colonial forefathers taught us provide 
strength to victims of persecution throughout the world today. Men such 
as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Euripides developed a then-unique 
notion that men could, if left to their own devices, lead themselves 
rather than be subject to the will of a sovereign. It was Aristotle who 
said, ``We make war that we may live in peace.''
  On March 25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras embodied the spirit 
of those words when he raised the flag of freedom and was the first to 
declare Greece free.
  Revolutions embody a sense of heroism, bringing forth the greatness 
of the human spirit in the struggle against oppression.
  News of the Greek revolution met with widespread feelings of 
compassion in the United States. The Founding Fathers eagerly expressed 
sentiments of support for the fledgling uprising. Several American 
Presidents, including James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, conveyed 
their support for the revolution through their annual messages to 
Congress. William Harrison, our ninth president, expressed his belief 
in freedom for Greece saying, ``We must send our free-will offering. 
The Star Spangled Banner must wave in the Aegean . . . a messenger of 
fraternity and friendship to Greece.''
  It should not surprise us that the Founding Fathers would express 
such keen support for Greek independence, for they themselves had been 
inspired by the ancient Greeks in their own struggle for freedom. 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.''

                              {time}  1945

  Our two nations share a brotherhood bonded by the common blood of 
democracy, birthed by Lady Liberty and committed to the ideal that each 
citizen deserves the right of self-determination.
  We must always remember that 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.
  Clearly apparent in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, 
freedom comes with a price. Thousands have sacrificed their lives to 
protect that freedom. Today, American military personnel are tracking 
terrorism at its many sources. It is another reminder that freedom must 
be constantly guarded. In the words of President Bush in his recent 
State of the Union address: ``It is both our responsibility and our 
privilege to fight freedom's fight.''
  Madam Speaker, on this 181st birthday of Greek independence, when we 
celebrate the restoration of democracy to the land of its conception, 
we also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of 
man's will. The goals and values that the people of Greece share with 
the people of the United States reaffirms our common democratic 
heritage. This occasion also serves to remind us that we must never, 
never take for granted the right to determine our own fate.
  Mr. Speaker, today I proudly rise to celebrate Greek Independence Day 
and the strong ties that bind the nation of Greece and the United 
States.
  One hundred and eighty one years ago, the people of Greece began a 
journey that would mark the symbolic rebirth of democracy in the land 
where those principles to human dignity were first espoused.
  They rebelled against more than four hundred years of Turkish 
oppression. The revolution of 1821 brought independence to Greece and 
emboldened those who still sought freedom across the world. I 
commemorate Greek Independence Day each year for the same reasons we 
celebrate our Fourth of July. It proved that a united people, through 
sheer will and perseverance, can prevail against tyranny. The lessons 
the Greeks and our colonial forefathers taught us provide strength to 
victims of persecution throughout the world today.
  Men such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Euripides developed the 
then-unique notion that men could, if left to their own devices, lead 
themselves rather than be subject to the will of a sovereign. It was 
Aristotle who said: ``We make war that we may live in peace.'' On March 
25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras embodied the spirit of those 
words when he raised the flag of freedom and was the first to declare 
Greece free.
  Revolutions embody a sense of heroism, bringing forth the greatness 
of the human spirit. It was Thomas Jefferson who said that, ``One man 
with courage is a majority.'' Quoting Jefferson on the anniversary of 
Greek independence is particularly appropriate. Jefferson, and the rest 
of the Founding Fathers, looked back to the teachings of ancient Greek 
philosophers for inspiration as they sought to craft a strong 
democratic state. And in 1821, the Greeks looked to our Founding 
Fathers for inspiration when they began their journey toward freedom.
  The history of Greek Independence like that of the American 
Revolution, is filled with many stories of courage and heroism. There 
are many parallels between the American and Greek Revolutions.
  Encouraged by the American Revolution, the Greeks began their 
rebellion after four centuries of Turkish oppression, facing what 
appeared to be insurmountable odds. Both nations faced the prospect of 
having to defeat an empire to obtain liberty. And if Samuel Adams, the 
American revolutionary leader who lighted the first spark of rebellion 
by leading the Boston Tea Party, had a Greek counterpart, that man 
would be Alexander Ypsilantis.
  Ypsilantis was born in Istanbul, and his family was later exiled to 
Russia. Ypsilantis served in the Russian army, and it was there, during 
his military service, that he became involved with a secret society 
called the ``Philike Hetairia,'' which translated means ``friendly 
society.'' The ``friendly society'' was made up of merchants and other 
Greek leaders, but the intent of the society was to seek freedom for 
Greece and her people.

  The group planned a secret uprising for 1821 to be led by Ypsilantis. 
He and 4,500 volunteers assembled near the Russian border to launch an 
insurrection against the Turks. The Turkish army massacred the ill-
prepared Greek volunteers, and Ypsilantis was caught and placed in 
prison, where he subsequently died. However, the first bells of liberty 
had been rung, and Greek independence would not be stopped.
  When news of Greek uprisings spread, the Turks killed Greek 
clergymen, clerics, and laity in a frightening display of force. In a 
vicious act of vengeance, the Turks invaded the island of Chios and 
slaughtered 25,000 of the local residents. The invaders enslaved half 
the island's population of 100,000.
  Although many lives were sacrified at the altar of freedom, the Greek 
people rallied around the battle cry ``Eleftheria I Thanatos''--liberty 
or death, mirroring the words of American Patriot Patrick Henry who 
said: ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' These words embodied the 
Greek patriots' unmitigated desire to be free.
  Another heroic Greek whom many believe was the most important figure 
in the revolution was Theodoros Kolokotronis. He was the leader of the 
Klephts, a group of rebellious and resilient Greeks who refused to 
submit to Turkish subjugation. Kolokotronis used military strategy he 
learned while in the service of the English Army to organize a force of 
over 7,000 men. The Klephts swooped on the Turks from their mountain 
strongholds, battering their oppressors into submission.
  One battle in particular, where Kolokotronis led his vastly 
outnumbered forces against the Turks, stands out. The Turks had invaded 
the Peloponnese with 30,000 men. Kolokotronis led his force, which was 
outnumbered by a ratio of 4 to 1, against the Turkish army. A fierce 
battle ensued and many lives were lost, but after a few weeks, the 
Turks were forced to retreat. Kolokotronis is a revered Greek leader, 
because he embodied the hopes and dreams of the common man, while 
displaying extraordinary courage and moral fiber in the face of 
overwhelming odds.
  Athanasios Diakos was another legendary hero, a priest, a patriot, 
and a soldier. He led 500 of his men in a noble stand against 8,000 
Ottoman soldiers. Diakos' men were wiped out and he fell into the 
enemy's hands, where he was severely tortured before his death. He is 
the image of a Greek who gave all for love of faith and homeland.
  While individual acts of bravery and leadership are often noted, the 
Greek Revolution

[[Page H978]]

was remarkable for the bravery and fortitude displayed by the typical 
Greek citizen. This heroic ideal of sacrifice and service is best 
demonstrated through the story of the Suliotes, villagers who took 
refuge from Turkish authorities in the mountains of Epiros. The 
fiercely patriotic Suliotes bravely fought the Turks in several 
battles. News of their victories spread throughout the region and 
encouraged other villages to revolt. The Turkish Army acted swiftly and 
with overwhelming force to quell the Suliote uprising.

  The Suliote women were alone as their husbands battled the Turks at 
the front. When they learned that Turkish troops were fast approaching 
their village, they began to dance the ``Syrtos,'' a patriotic Greek 
dance. One by one, rather than face torture or enslavement at the hands 
of the Turks, they committed suicide by throwing themselves and their 
children off Mount Zalongo. They chose to die rather than surrender 
their freedom.
  The sacrifice of the Suliotes was repeated in the Arkadi Monastery of 
Crete. Hundreds of non-combatants, mainly the families of the Cretan 
freedom fighters, had taken refuge in the Monastery to escape Turkish 
reprisals. The Turkish army was informed that the Monastery was used by 
the Cretan freedom fighters as an arsenal for their war material, and 
they set out to seize it. As the Turkish troops were closing in, the 
priest gathered all the refugees in the cellar around him. With their 
consent, he set fire to the gunpowder kegs stored there, killing all 
but a few. The ruins of the Arkadi Monastery, like the ruins of our 
Alamo, still stand as a monument to liberty.
  News of the Greek revolution met with widespread feelings of 
compassion in the United States. The Founding Fathers eagerly expressed 
sentiments of support for the fledgling uprising. Several American 
Presidents, including James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, conveyed 
their support for the revolution through their annual messages to 
Congress. William Harrison, our ninth President, expressed his belief 
in freedom for Greece, saying: ``We must send our free will offering. 
`The Star-spangled Banner' must wave in the Aegean . . . a messenger of 
fraternity and friendship to Greece.''
  Various Members of Congress also showed a keen interest in the 
Greeks' struggle for autonomy. Henry Clay, who in 1825 became Secretary 
of State, was a champion of Greece's fight for independence. Among the 
most vocal was Daniel Webster from Massachusetts, who frequently roused 
the sympathetic interest of his colleagues and other Americans in the 
Greek revolution.
  It should not surprise us that the Founding Fathers would express 
such keen support for Greek independence, for they themselves had been 
inspired by the ancient Greeks in their own struggle for freedom. 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.'' Our two nations share a brotherhood bonded by 
the common blood of democracy, birthed by Lady Liberty, and committed 
to the ideal that each individual deserves the right of self-
determination.
  We all know that the price of liberty can be very high--history is 
replete with the names of the millions who have sacrificed for it. 
Socrates, Plato, Pericles, and many other great scholars throughout 
history warned that 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.
  Clearly apparent in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, 
freedom comes with a price. Thousands have sacrificed their lives to 
protect our freedom. Today, American military personnel are tracking 
terrorism at its many sources. It is another reminder that freedom must 
be constantly guarded. In the words of President Bush in his recent 
State of the Union address, ``it is both our responsibility and our 
privilege to fight freedom's fight.''
  Mr. Speaker, on this 181st birthday of Greek Independence, when we 
celebrate the restoration of democracy to the land of its conception, 
we also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of 
man's will. The goals and values that the people of Greece share with 
the people of the United States reaffirms our common democratic 
heritage. This occasion also serves to remind us that we must never 
take for granted the right to determine our own fate.

                          ____________________