AHEPA Steamed About White House GID Event NYC Mayor Holds Greek
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O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 12, ISSUE 599 April 4, 2009 $1.25 GREECE: 1.75 EURO AHEPA Steamed About White House GID Event Ike Gulas Sends Letter to Obama Criticizing “Gatekeepers,” Andy Athens Issues Response By Evan C. Lambrou Special to The National Herald NEW YORK – Most Greek Ameri- cans would agree that the annual White House ceremony commemo- rating Greek Independence Day is a very special event. Community leaders emphasize that it is an hon- or for the President of the United States to issue a proclamation rec- ognizing the significance of Greek Independence Day each year, and to be able to meet with him at the White House on that day. But while there is consensus about those things, there is also sharp disagreement about the way the event has been handled over the years. Some people feel exclud- ed. Case in point: AHEPA, the coun- try’s oldest and largest civic organi- zation of Hellenic heritage, typical- ly sends a contingent of at least five each year, and often up to 8-12. It did not get to seat as many people at this year’s event, held in the East Room of the White House just last AHEPA President Ike Gulas New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg addresses the audience during a reception he hosted at Gracie Mansion in New York City for the 188th an- week. niversary of Greek Independence on Monday, March 30, 2009. Standing with Mayor Bloomberg are Archbishop Demetrios, Michael Jaharis “We tried to communicate with control. Late on March 24, OPL and the leader of Greece’s minority party PASOK, George Papandreou. Mayor Bloomberg declared April 2009 as Greek Independence Month. the White House’s Office of the confirmed by phone that AHEPA Public Liaison (OPL) about it, as we Supreme President Ike Gulas’ invi- do every year, but this year for tation was confirmed, but that the some reason, we did not receive the other national officers were still on same level of cooperation we en- a waiting list. No paper invitations NYC Mayor Holds Greek Independence Day Reception joyed in previous years,” said were issued this year. AHEPA Executive Director Basil “They did get back to us. They By Eleni Kostopoulos of Greece to the United Nations “We came together as Greeks cance of both historical and current Mossaidis, who nut-shelled just didn’t get back to us in a timely Special to The National Herald John Mourikis, Consul Generals of and as Americans, united in our ef- struggles faced in Greece and the AHEPA’s correspondence with OPL manner, or with the same results Greece and Cyprus in New York, forts and in our exciting experience U.S. as follows: we’ve had in the past. In previous NEW YORK— Hundreds of Greek Aghi Balta and Andreas of living in conditions of freedom, “It’s been 188 years since the AHEPA sent an e-mail to OPL on years, we received invitations in Americans and friends of Greek Panayiotou, respectively, and Presi- liberty and democracy,” said Arch- struggle that resulted in the estab- March 16, offering its input and re- writing one to two weeks before Americans gathered at New York dent of the Federation of Hellenic bishop Demetrios. “Tonight, as we lishment of the Modern Greek state sources; AHEPA sent a follow-up e- the event. This year, we got one City’s Gracie Mansion on Monday, Societies of Greater New York remember the sacrifices of our and the rebirth of democracy in the mail on March 18; OPL responded confirmed invitation and three un- March 30 to celebrate the 188th Demetrios Kalamaras. Greek ancestors, and of those in land where it was born,” said Con- that day, saying it was working on confirmed the night before. AHEPA anniversary of Greek Indepen- Guests were greeted with a tra- America and other Philhellenes sul General Aghi Balta. “Greeks and the event, and would try to seat up has been welcome at the White dence. New York City Mayor ditional Greek dance performance who followed by their side, we are Americans share a long history of to four people for the AHEPA con- House since the days of Calvin Michael Bloomberg hosted the re- by young students of Hellenic Clas- mindful that Greek Independence common ties and principles but al- tingent; AHEPA replied that a mini- Coolidge (1923-29). Now all of a ception and declared April 2009 as sical Charter School outside the was ultimately made possible by so hard-won struggles. These com- mum of five for all its national offi- sudden, we’re being treated other- Greek Independence Month. Dis- historical mansion, mingled among the faith of people in Divine pow- mon values and principles have cers was normal for this particular wise,” Mr. Mossaidis said. tinguished guests included His Em- friends and colleagues and enjoyed er.” been the foundation of Greek and event. On March 20, OPL replied The fact that AHEPA was mar- inence Archbishop Demetrios, traditional Greek hors d’oeuvres Distinguished guests each ex- U.S. relations over many centuries, that it would see what it could do. ginalized this year prompted a vig- Leader of PASOK yGeorge Papan- before Archbishop Demetrios initi- pressed their appreciation for the On March 22, OPL told AHEPA the dreou, Permanent Representative ated the event with an invocation. celebration and noted the signifi- Continued on page 4 affair was not entirely under its Continued on page 5 Greek Americans Parade With University Pride Throughout the Country Suspends For Greek Independence Day Ancient Greek By Eleni Kostopoulos sense of pride held by Greek Ameri- By Mark Frangos Special to The National Herald cans throughout the nation, who Special to The National Herald didn’t let poor conditions “rain on Inclement weather may have their parade.” NEW YORK – The University of Illi- been an issue throughout most ar- Waves of blue and white cov- nois at Chicago has indefinitely sus- eas of the U.S. celebrating the ered the streets of several major pended its Ancient Greek program 188th anniversary of Greek Inde- cities last weekend in honor of due to budget concerns, causing pendence with annual parades, but Greece’s independence from the members of the Greek American it was also indicative of the strong Ottoman Empire in 1821. community of Chicago to organize a PHILADELPHIA campaign to save the class. Fear of rain didn’t sway the suc- “In November, the Dean of the cess of Philadelphia’s 40th annual Liberal Arts and Sciences Dwight Greek parade on Sunday, March 28. McBride decided to reform the way Thousands of Greek Americans and LAS was structured,” said Nanno Smart Money: Philhellenes, including members of Marinatos, Professor and Director of more than 40 cultural societies and Studies, Department of Classics and Mythic Figures 13 churches, cheered from the Med. Studies. “He noticed that An- stands or proudly marched from cient Greek hadn’t been doing in- 16th Street to Logan Circle, down credibly well in the last 3-4 years. We of Cinema Ben Franklin Parkway. wanted to do something like make Special guests this year included changes to either the professor or the Metropolitan Evangelos of New book, but before we had the chance, By Steve Frangos Jersey and three members of the the Dean sent a warning. Then again Special to The National Herald Greek parliament: Nikos before we had a chance to reform the Panayiotopoulos of the New curriculum, he suspended Ancient During the 1920s and 1930s, Democracy party, Antonios Kar- Greek.” over a dozen Broadway plays and pouzas of the New Democracy par- Dr. Marinatos and her colleagues Hollywood films offered character- ty and Ekaterini Perlepe-Sifounakis tried to convince the Dean to change izations of Greeks living in North of the PASOK party, all of whom © WCC/JOHN TAYLOR his mind, but to no avail. America. With the advent of newly made their way from Greece to at- The life of Patriarch Athenagoras I is examined in a book by George Papaioannou, From Mars Hill to “We told him that if we suspend remastered DVD reissued releases tend the parade. Manhattan: The Greek Orthodox in America under Athenagoras I. The book looks at Athenagoras’ time as Ancient Greek, there would be no Greeks and Greek Americans can Philadelphia Mayor Michael Archbishop of North and South America during a volatile period for the Greek American community. Classics Department, but we could- now see many of these stage and Nutter also paid respects to the n’t change his mind,” she said. film portrayals in the privacy of Greek American community by at- Support for saving Ancient Greek their own living rooms. Smart tending. U.S. Rep. Zack Space (D- began almost immediately from all Money, first released on July 11, Ohio), who is one of three Greek over the world. 1931, is one of these early Holly- American congressmen in the U.S., The Archdiocese Under Athenagoras I “We got about 50 letter from all wood images of ethnic Greeks. served as this year’s Grand Mar- over the world, Greece, Italy, Ger- Considering the cast and the pre- shall and George Horiates served as By Alexandros K. Kyrou original plans to meet with the Ecu- one of the world’s major religions many, Norway, Oxford, Cambridge, cise moment in American cinematic chairman of the parade. Special to The National Herald menical Patriarch of Constantino- and the only historic, continuous Harvard, Yale and even the former history when this film appeared Greek dancers were a profound ple in the Phanar, President Obama cultural and institutional interlocu- president of Cornell University wrote one should expect quite a bit.