Congressman Michael Bilirakis Congressman Michael Bilirakis.  Proudly representing the people of the 9th Congressional District of Florida
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For Immediate Release
 
Contact:  Christy Stefadouros 202-225-5755

 

BILIRAKIS COMMEMORATES 184th ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

Washington D.C., April 6, 2005 - Congressman Mike Bilirakis (R‑FL), Co‑chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, led special order speeches on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to commemorate the anniversary of Greek Independence Day.

 On this day in March, 184 years ago, the Greek people rebelled against more than four hundred years of Turkish oppression.  "Greek Independence Day reminds us that we have the duty to defend liberty – whatever the cost," Bilirakis said. "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."

 Bilirakis emphasized the common democratic heritage shared by the United States and Greece.  "By honoring the Greek struggle for independence, we reaffirm the values and ideas that make our nation great," he said.

The full text of Congressman Bilirakis’ remarks follow:

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-four 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.  Both our nations share an illustrious history in defense of this cherished ideal. 
  

The concept of democracy was first conceived by the ancient Athenians more than 2,500 years ago.  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: “If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”  It was this concept that our Founding Fathers drew heavily upon in forming our representative government.

It was Thomas Jefferson who said that, “One man with courage is a majority.”  Jefferson, and the rest of the Founding Fathers, looked back to the teachings of ancient Greek philosophers for inspiration as they sought to craft the Declaration of Independence.  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.  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.  Although many lives were sacrificed 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 personified the Greek patriots’ unmitigated desire to be free. 

Not surprisingly, the Greek Commander-in-Chief Petros Mavromichalis appealed to the citizens of America, “Having formed the resolution to live or die, we are drawn toward you by a just sympathy since it is in your land that liberty has fixed her abode…Hence, honoring her name, we invoke yours at the same time, trusting that in imitating you, we shall imitate our ancestors and be thought worthy of them if we succeed in resembling you.”

News of the Greek revolution was met with widespread feelings of compassion in the United States.  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.
Many Americans sympathized with the “Philhellenic” cause and sent the Greeks supplies, food, and medicine; anything that could help maintain and boost the moral of the Greeks.  In fact, many traveled to Greece to join the revolution in the fight for freedom.  After seven years of fighting, the Greeks finally got their independence.  Unfortunately, many people were killed in the struggle for freedom.  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.  Many great scholars throughout history warned that we maintain democracy only at a 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.

Freedom is America’s heart.  It is central to our being, and from the beginning we have recognized that freedom is not just an American right.  It is a God-given right to every citizen of the world.  The lessons the Greeks and our colonial forefathers taught us provide hope and inspiration to victims of persecution throughout the world today.

This year’s celebration of Greek Independence Day is especially fitting in light of the current wave of political and social movements around the world in the name of democracy.  International events in recent months have brought stunning news of political upheaval and dramatic changes from the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Most notably, through peaceful demonstrations, Syria lost its political stronghold on Lebanon, Ukraine elected Viktor Yushchenko as its new president and Iraq held its fist democratic elections.  The common theme between all of these movements has been democracy.

However, at a time of democratic celebration, the divided Republic of Cyprus remains a sore spot.  Sadly, Turkey still illegally occupies Cyprus, as it has since its invasion in 1974.  Despite sincere efforts by the United Nations and the United States, a fair plan was not presented to the people of Cyprus on April 24, 2004.  Many people – including the Greek-Cypriots themselves – regret that the plan presented to them did not allow both communities to respond positively.  It is one thing for others to comment on the terms and conditions for settlement, but it is the Cypriots who must live with whatever plan would be adopted.  Finding a fair resolution for Cyprus will help stabilize a region marked more often by conflict than accord.  I urge our government to remain committed to finding a peaceful settlement for Cyprus.

I believe these principles of which my colleagues and I have spoken about today are not uniquely Greek or American.  They are our promise to the world and they form a legacy that we all cherish and have a responsibility to protect and defend.

The priceless ideas of democracy and equality born in ancient Greece have strongly shaped the American national identity.  We continue to give hope and inspiration to millions around the world who yearn to live in a free society like ours.  We enjoy our freedom only because we have been willing to fight and die for it, just like our forefathers and the valiant Greeks in 1821.  Greece set the example for us and we have set the example for countless others. 

Although the ties between Greece and America go back hundreds of years, the fruit of this bond is visible today.  During the early 1900’s one out of four Greek males immigrated to the United States.  Today there are close to three million Greek-Americans.  I am especially proud of my fellow Greek-Americans who have made contributions to our society in the fields of medicine, science, business, law and politics, among other areas.   In the words of a notable British poet, Percy Shelley, “We are all Greeks! Our laws, our literature, our religion, our art, have their roots in Greece.”

Mr. Speaker, on this 184th birthday of Greek Independence we celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of man’s will.  Today we commemorate the reaffirmation of the democratic heritage that our two nations share so closely.  Lastly, this occasion also serves to remind us that we must never take for granted the right to determine our own fate.

 

 

   
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