Dean C. Lomis, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, DE
For those born in Greece, the land of our ancestors, March 25, 1821 has a special meaning. For those of us born of Hellenic ancestry in our great nation, March 25, 1821 holds special significance. For those who are not of Hellenic origin but were born in this Hellenistic land of structure and spirit, March 25, 1821 has a special significance. This common meaning is the legacy of the birth of democracy and the development of the “age of reason” two thousand years ago, the birth of a country of democracy and the development of the “empire of reason” barely 200 years ago. Furthermore, the creation of this empire of reason was won by a war of independence, while the country of birth of democracy also won its rebirth by a war of independence of which we solemnly celebrate this month the 198th birthday. As then-president Ronald Reagan said in 1987, when he signed March 25 as an American day of observance, that it was to recognize “our country’s debt to Greece.”
Greek thought and ideas about the spirit, soul, beauty and freedom had a great impact on the minds of the founding fathers. The concept of freedom gave rise to the Declaration of Independence and Liberty.
Who can ever forget the last words of Nathan Hale to his British executioners: “I regret that I have only one life to give for my country”, or the famous declaration of Patrick Henry: “Give me liberty or give me death? » Who can forget the last words of Ρήγας Φερραίος before his cruel execution by the hands of the Turkish barbarians:
«Καλλίτερα μιά ώρα ελεύθερη ζωή, παρά σαράντα χρόνια
σκλαβιά καί φυλακή,” or those of Παλαιών Πατρών
Γερμανός while brandishing the standard of freedom on March 25,
1821: “Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος;”
Who can forget that Greek slaves, who understood the American struggle for success, contributed in the only way they could? So, as Americans, we honor the revolutionary Greek Senate resolution that called on America to support the Greek Declaration of Independence. Independence:
“Having resolved to live or die for freedom, we are drawn to you because it is in your land where freedom has established its home and is respected by you as it was by our (before) Fathers. Therefore, in implying his name, we invoke yours, confident that in imitating you, we will imitate yours.our ancestors and let us be worthy of them, if we manage to resemble your feat.
Although separated from you by mighty oceans, we consider you closer to us than the nations on our borders, and regard you as friends, fellow citizens and brothers, because you are a free, generous, liberal and Christian people . Your freedom does not rest on the slavery of other nations, nor your prosperity on their calamities and sufferings. On the contrary, free and prosperous yourselves, you desire that all men have the same benefits; that all should enjoy those rights to which all, by nature, are equally entitled. It was you who (in our day) first proclaimed these rights, and it is through your example that Europe receives lessons in justice and learns to renounce its absurd and bloody customs. This glory, Americans, belongs only to you and elevates you above all nations that have acquired a name for freedom and right.
And who can forget the many Americans who reciprocated, abandoning the security and comfort of their homeland and traveling to distant Greece to offer their services to the noble cause of the Greek War of Independence? Names such as John Allen, Samuel Gridley Howe, George Jarvis, Jonathan Miller, John Ross, William Washington, James Williams – an African American from Baltimore who knew the price of slavery and understood the value of freedom – among nearly of 450 “foreigners”. the most famous being the poet Lord Byron, are carried into the annals of history. And to support the Greek struggle, it was Daniel Webster, the “Little Giant” as he was called, who declared to the United States House of Representatives in 1821:
“The Turks came from the center of Asia and now occupy the most beautiful part of Christendom. And there they are: a huge, sullen pile of sterility, which must neither be moved nor cultivated.
Who can forget the little, tattered Continental Army and the winter at Valley Forge, where no one gave the Americans a chance of success? Who can forget that a handful of barefoot patriots dared to attack the entire empire of the Ottoman Turks and emerged victorious, gaining their independence, despite the unfavorable political climate of the time, created by Count Metternich – the Henry Kissinger of the 19thth Century – and the complex intrigues of all European royal courts?
Last, but not least, who can forget that while the Greeks were fighting to throw off the Turkish yoke, our country, the United States of America, was for a time at war with Turkey against its “pirates of the Barbary Coast. in the Mediterranean, and that it is the Greek sailors under the leadership of their leader, the captain
Karamanlis, who helped the American Marines defeat the Turkish pasha “on the coasts of Tripoli”, in Libya?
It is not at all strange that March 25 is a double celebration. Throughout its history, our Holy Orthodox Church has played a vital role in resurrecting and keeping alive the hopes and ideals of the Greek people. This was particularly true during the four centuries of Turkish occupation, then during the rebirth of the Greek nation. It is for this important reason that our fathers and ancestors always considered the Orthodox Church and the Greek nation as indissolubly united. The idea that the physical and moral freedom of humanity are indivisible gave rise to the motto of the Greek War of Independence: θερία!” Thus, our ancestors designated March 25 as a day of double celebration: the Ευαγγελισμός and the Annunciation of the Freedom of Greece.
These proclamations of God and man become reality when man ceases to place all his hopes for salvation in human effort alone. Into a world without hope fell like lightning the words of the Archangel Gabriel announcing to the Virgin Mary: “Do not be afraid…” It is in the same way that the torch of independence shone brightly in 1821, at a time when there seemed to be no hope of salvation for enslaved Greece through outside aid. This is how the two proclamations were heard by the whole world. May they still be heard today in the same way.
It is also very gratifying for us Greek Americans to know that on March 25, 1776, the Continental Congress authorized the Medal of Honor for outgoing Continental Army general George Washington.
At a time when anarchy, inhumanity and the rejection of high moral standards are the order of the day, and are even promulgated in high positions of national leadership, and at a time when blood brothers or senior officials from powerful governments are pitted against each other in dangerous situations. exercises in the political game, let us pay particular attention to the double proclamation of liberation from sin and slavery, which the twin celebration of March 25 offers us.
We who are fortunate enough to enjoy our freedom must never stop giving thanks for this blessing. Let us raise our voices in protest to remind those in positions of responsibility that they cannot condemn innocent victims to slavery, humiliation and destruction due to opportunistic policies that serve no purpose. nothing, not even to our great nation. Such policies do not honor America, the “empire of reason” that the Founding Fathers established based on Hellenic democratic principles, a nation that we and the entire free world have always loved and admired. as a champion and permanent defender of freedom and justice.
Our nation’s leaders must heed the advice of the late Congressman John Brademas of my home state of Indiana, who in 1976, during the commemoration of Greek Independence Day, told the House of Representatives the United States :
“National power, political power, financial stability, economic strength, industrial superiority, diplomatic excellence, if they are devoid of morality and elementary ethics, are of no use, not even for self-defense . For it is faith, not opportunity; it is honesty, not diplomacy; moral and intellectual integrity, not intelligence and cunning; and humility and self-respect, not arrogance…that should guide us as a nation!
So, our people must demand that our leaders rededicate themselves to the spirit of 1776 and 1821 and show the world once again that this nation truly stands for “life, liberty, happiness and justice for all! » But “how,” one might ask, “can each of us help?”
What can I do? I’m only one! It is the responsibility of each of us, as dedicated American citizens, to become active in the political life of our nation, both in domestic and foreign affairs and in the local affairs of our city and state. It is our responsibility to become active, whether it is in Cyprus, the environment, the streets or our own community center.
Let us remember what some of the great men who belong to the centuries today have said. “A citizen who is not interested in the politics of his country is useless,” wrote the ancient historian Thucydides. In his Funeral Oration – considered one of the greatest speeches of all time – Pericles
“For we are the only ones who think that he who does not participate in the affairs of state is not only indolent, but good for nothing.” And, in contemporary times, our martyred President John F. Kennedy said:
“In our time, to do nothing, to remain silent, not to contest, is to abdicate civic responsibility. It is no excuse for an informed and educated citizen to claim that those in power have better or secret information and, therefore, waive the right to a different opinion. In most cases, all relevant information is public. Second, today’s problems, in fact all questions of values, norms and ideals, directly affect everyone. »
From the time of Homer until today, the Hellenes have in turn offered much to the world. We, the Hellenes of America, have integrated well with our fellow Americans to make the “American dream” a reality.
But we have also preserved our Hellenic heritage, our orthodoxy, our pride, our respect for our country of origin, our love for our country of residence and for our equally Hellenic and American spirit of independence.
It is therefore for all these reasons, and for many more, that we commemorate 1776 and 1821 with the same respect and eternal debt for all the good things that we hold sacred!
