Books Volume V The National Herald a b DECEMBER 20, 2008 www.thenationalherald.com Sponsored by the Greek Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs 2 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 ost of the early The National Herald immigrants who A weekly publication of the NATIONAL came to this HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues country during the of paramount interest to the Greek American early years of the community of the USA. M20th century are no longer with Publisher-Editor us. The sons and daughters of Antonis H. Diamataris Assistant to Publisher, Advertising those first immigrants to the Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos United States are also fast Special Section Managing Editor disappearing. Amongst her Elaine Thomopoulos siblings and friends of that second Production Manager generation, my dear mother, who Chrysoula Karametros just turned 91, remains one of the 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 last survivors. To preserve our Tel: (718)784-5255, heritage, the children of the hardy Fax: (718)472-0510, early immigrants must tell of the e-mail: [email protected] challenges and triumphs they and www.thenationalherald.com Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, their parents faced: poverty, hard Athens, 10671, Greece work, prejudice, clinging to their Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598, Greek identity in the “xenitia” Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776, (strange land). In this issue we e-mail: [email protected] Subscriptions by mail: 1 year $59.85, 6 months have included several books that $29.95, 3 months $19.95, 1 month $9.95. Home speak of the immigrant delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $80.00, 6 months experience, as witnessed through $43.99, 3 months $29.99, 1 month $12.95. Home delivery New England States, Pennsylvania the eyes and ears, tears and felt isolated as the only Greek people who found themselves in in which I found myself.” & Washington DC: 1 year $99.00, 6 months laughter of immigrant’s children family in Tomahawk, a small town the middle of nowhere, who were The cookbook, “Grecian $51.75, 3 months $37.45, 1 month $15.95 On and grandchildren. in northern Wisconsin. He says, “ I complete strangers at the time, Delight,” gives us another sweet line subscription: Non subscribers: 1 year $29.95, 1 month $3.95; Dr. James Roman harkens back wanted to create a realistic picture looked down upon as immigrants, taste of immigrant life. The Subscribers: 1 year $19.95, 1 month $1.95 to his own life experience in in your mind of what life might nobody to comfort them.” cookbook, still in print after 24 “Underwater Dreams.” His family have been like for these other Also based on his family’s years, demonstrates how the experiences is Jason Mavrovitis’ second generation adapted the “Remember Us,” a story of Greek recipes from the old country to the refugees from Bulgaria who new world and added some spicy immigrated to America to escape dishes of their own. unending war and hardship. This This issue of “Books” also fictionalized account of the life of reviews books about Greece, from his maternal grandparents and romance to tragedy. Love blooms their family, including his own between a modest village girl and parents, takes place from 1886 to a worldly ship magnate’s son in 1936. Patty Apostolides’ “Lipsi’s “The Priest Fainted” is another Daughter.” novel informed by the personal The book “Mythology” by Lady experience of the author, Hestia Evans and editor Dugald Catherine Temma Davidson, a Steer spins stirring stories of third-generation Greek American. mythological heroes and villains. A nationally recognized writer, It contains lively illustrations, Davidson crafts a narrator in guides, foldout map, as well as a passionate pursuit of her mother quill pen. Susanna Hoffman and grandmother’s pasts. The features huge servings of Greece’s narrator’s journey to Greece, the history and culture, as well as birthplace of her grandmother, delicious recipes in her book, “The extracts bits and pieces of these Olive and the Caper.” pasts, while offering insights on This book about food stands in the meaning of ethnicity. stark contrast to Violetta Theodore Stamos, son of Hionidou’s “Famine and Death in immigrants, is profiled in “Eyes on Occupied Greece, 1941-1944,” Stamos” by his sister Georgianna which pictures gaunt, starving Stametelos Savas. Young Theodore children on the cover. Hionidou Stamos’ artistic talents drew the gives us facts and figures as well admiration of luminaries such as as stories about this terrible Mark Rothko, William de Kooning tragedy – a tragedy which should and Jackson Pollock. Savas tells of never be forgotten. their growing up in Manhattan, of We look forward to reviewing his talent and success, of his bitter other books about Greece or Greek disappointments at the end of his Americans. Please send your life. English language books, whether Taking a lighter note, Harry fiction, memoirs, history, essays, “Bud” George infuses his memoir, poetry or translation, to The “By George,” with humorous National Herald, 37-10 30th incidents. He gives a lively account Street, Long Island City, NY 11101 of the Greek community of for possible inclusion in a future Baltimore, Maryland, as well as his issue of “Books.” experiences as a naval officer and lawyer. He says, “I’ve tried to Elaine Thomopoulos capture my fondest memories of a Managing Editor happy life punctuated by special Books people and amusing predicaments [email protected] THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 3 Greek Education, Greek Civilization and Omogeneia It is the content of these words that I would like to convey to the readers of the “National Herald” now reading this booklet beautifully prepared by the only Greek-American newspaper circulating all over the United States in both Greek and English. The content of these words simply mean: Hellas. It’s all about Education. This is the motto of the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs of Hellas that encompasses our philosophy. For without education, without “paideia”, Hellas that we all know today, and are proud to say that we come from, would have ceased to exist a long time ago, as it happened to so many other peoples in history. The main reason of the survival of the Hellenes throughout history is our “paideia”, in essence our civilization. For the two are inseparable, they have always been. Since antiquity, Hellas has been enchanting the world with its philosophers, their deep and analytical thought on every aspect of human life, with the progress of its people in all sciences and, above it all, with Democracy. Throughout the centuries, the Hellenic “Paideia” was the paradigm of every civilization. From the Renaissance times onward, the marriage between Christianity and Hellenism became the very foundation of what we know today as “Western civilization”. We can now understand why Hellenic “paideia” is so important for the whole world, as it lays in the foundations of our Western civilization. We, Hellenes, are proud carriers of this “paideia”. And the Greek-Americans, Americans of Hellenic descend, really, should be proud to come from Hellas, to be carriers of such an important civilization that radiates civility and spirit throughout the world. The Hellenic Government feels compelled to continue this legacy both in Hellas and wherever our fellow countrymen live around the world. Particularly in the United States, I am proud to inform that we send more than 170 teachers every year to teach Greek to the children of the omogeneia and gladly contribute more than 10 million dollars for the “Paideia” of the Greek-Americans. My deep wish and strong advice to all of you is to maintain your bonds with Hellas at all costs, throughout your life; and the only way to maintain this umbilical cord with the land of your ancestors is through learning and speaking the Greek language. For the loss of it would mean the loss of your identity in this vast American land, where other nationalities strive to find their own roots. And you have yours, your Hellenic roots. Be proud of your roots! Evripidis Stylianidis Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs 4 THE NATIONAL HERALD DECEMBER 20, 2008 Loneliness, Tragedy and Love: A Greek American's Path from the Wisconsin Woods more of themselves and the talked about. This was a cohort of Roman family. “My father used to strange new lives they’ve been lead isolated people out in the Midwest import the Greek priest four times to live. who raised families without the a year from an Orthodox church “I felt I could educate a non- support groups of churches and or- 150 miles away, and he held ser- Greek into understanding with a ganizations. Yet they somehow vices at our dining room table. In little more insight one area of the managed in spite of all to maintain our family house there were three Hellenic Diaspora that may not their language and continue with baptisms, and I don’t know how have occurred to them in the past. the culture and heritage and try to many liturgies and even a wedding Let’s face it, you can go for history pass it on to their kids. ceremony. We had no church. I did to Halsted Street in Chicago to the “In my case for example, it was go to the Episcopal Church; I was restaurants, and you’re probably quite extraordinary that we were an altar boy. I learned to pray with aware they’re creating a Hellenic the only Greek family in our com- the Book of Common Prayer of Museum in the urban area there.