A weekly GrEEk AmEriCAN PuBliCATiON. April 10-16, 2010 VOL. 13, ISSUE 652 $1.50. By Angelike Contis TNH Staff Writer

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1 O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 A weekly GrEEk AmEriCAN PuBliCATiON c v April 10-16, 2010 Bringing the news to generations of Greek Americans VOL. 13, ISSUE 652 $1.50 Doubts Grow Over EU Deal as Greece's Debt Costs Remain High Colonel Bogdanos Antiquities Battle Isn t Over Marine Still Fights To Recover Looted Iraq Museum Works By Christopher Tripoulas NEW YORK - Greece fought for months to get European Union help to tackle its mounting debt crisis but it has taken only days for fresh doubts to emerge about the deal and the country s ability to put its finances in order. Greece finds it still has to pay a high and rising price to secure crucial funding on international markets to roll over debt let alone pay it down so as to relieve the strains on the economy and the broader Eurozone. An accord last month with the EU was supposed to convince markets that Greece would not be allowed to fail and accordingly would be a better credit risk, deserving lower rates of interest on its debt. As the interest rates or yields fell, Athens would have more money available to pay off its overall debt and reduce a budget deficit which last year was more than four times the EU-set limit. Hugely unpopular spending cuts would also help improve the public finances. If that was the plan, however, it has not worked so far. The biggest hurdle for the Greek government is to get its borrowing done at a decent yield [interest rate], Global Forex Trading (GFT) analyst David Morrison told AFP. They [want]... yields similar to Germany s, around 3 percent, rather than the 6 percent-plus the market is demanding, Morrison added. Once again, Greece took center stage this past week as investors continued to fret about the country's ability to pay off its debts. On Wednesday April 7 the ten-year spread between Greek and German bond yields stood at 4 percentage points, having earlier hit 4.12 percent, its highest level since the euro was introduced in On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year Greek government bond jumped to hit 7.15%, the highest level in 11 years, from around 6.99% Tuesday. On Tuesday April 6, 2010, the yield on the two-year note jumped a record 132 basis points, following speculation that a European Union and International Monetary Fund plan for reducing the nation s deficit may falter. An IMF delegation arrived in Athens on Wednesday to provide technical assistance and review the nation s finances. The cost to insure Greek debt using credit-default swaps jumped. Greece has been receiving information from the IMF about the conditions it would impose in return for aid, Market News said. Government officials found them to be tough, and are concerned that they could result in civil unrest, Market News said, citing officials it didn t identify. The government on Tuesday denied making any attempt to change the terms of a recent agreement by European leaders on a support mechanism to help Greece overcome its debt crisis. "There has never been any kind of action on the part of our country to change the terms of the recent European Council agreement on the support mechanism," Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou underlined in response to questions. The minister said that the agreement was significant for both Europe and Greece, repeating that Greece has not yet asked for this mechanism to be activated. The IMF experts, who met with Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou and General State Accounts officials, further examined the changes Continued on page 9 Charles Calomiris of Columbia Speaks on Greek Crisis The Greek Debt Crisis: Is There a Way Out? was presented to a packed Holy Trinity Cathedral Center on April 7 by Charles Calomiris, Henry Kaufman Professor in Finance and Economics at the Columbia School of Business. The entire talk may be viewed online at NYC Preps for Annual Greek Parade By Eleni Kostopoulos NEW YORK The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater N.Y. is making its final preparations for this year's Greek Independence Day Parade in New York City, on Sunday, April 18 in Manhattan. Unlike previous years, the parade will stretch from 64th street to 79th street along Fifth Avenue - a march shortened by five blocks from the usual distance due to a round of budget cuts in New York City. General Secretary of the Federation, Petros Galatoulas told that the line-up of guests is an impressive one this year. Our Grand Marshals this year include author of Thieves of Baghdad, Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, [long-time director of Audiovox] Philip Christopher, [Emmy award-winning news anchor] Ernie Anastos and a representative for the Boy Scouts of America. The co-chairpersons for the 2010 Greek Parade are Dr. George Tsioulias, President of the Hellenic Medical Society of New York, and Mamie Stathatos-Fulgieri, President of the Hellenic Lawyers Association of New York. Elias Tsekerides, former Parade Chairman and Treasurer is this year s Parade Committee Coordinator. Nineteen evzones and two officers of the Presidential Guard from Athens will land in New York s JFK airport on April 15 to participate in several cultural events leading up to the parade and to march. On Friday, Continued on page 4 TNH/COSTAS BEJ By Angelike Contis NEW YORK - I have a series of things that are always in my rucksack - my weapon, ammunition, water and the Iliad, explains Matthew Bogdanos. The Marine counter-terrorism expert, who s led the mission to recover looted Iraq National Museum antiquities since 2003, traces his devotion to the classics and archaeology to receiving a copy of the Illiad when he was 13 years old from his waitress mother. Though it s difficult for even a hardened Marine to read the part when Hector says goodbye to his son when he s away from his own four children in the war zones of Iraq or Afghanistan, Bogdanos finds Homer s masterpiece a constant reference point. He says he reads it often. It s a story of honor and courage and decency and integrity and humanity and passion and compassion and friendship and love and paternal and maternal emotions, The compact, grayhaired former boxer adds sounding every bit the New Yorker that he is: If you don t see that, honestly I feel sorry for you. Bogdanos, whose life is today, he admits, rich but hectic, visited TNH offices on April 1. In his world, it is normal to return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, spend a few days in New York and head to Vienna, Austria, to speak at the upcoming UNESCO international conference on Archaeology in Conflict (April 6-10). Bogdanos who has a seasoned criminal prosecutor s way with words and eye for crime and justice has been in demand as a speaker since his book Thieves of Baghdad: One Marine s Pas- Continued on page 3 Car Dealer Orsaris Says Not Guilty of Major Fraud By Demetris Tsakas NEW YORK - Chris Orsaris, 37, General Manager of Major World (Major Word Automotive Companies, Inc.) - one of the largest used car dealerships in the country - was arrested on Tuesday, March 30 and indicted Oregon s HACCM is a Greek Gem By Steve Frangos CHICAGO - While June 2006 is always cited as the year the Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum of Oregon and Southwest Washington (HACCM) was established, that date is really only a technicality. Since the 1970s, many individuals and various organizations, within the Great Northwest have all sought to preserve the region s rich Hellenic heritage. In 2007, the Hellenic community of Oregon and southwest Washington observed the first 100 years of Greek heritage in the Great Northwest in a variety of ways. One expression of the Centennial celebrations was the creation of a group that led to the new museum. The Hellenic- American Cultural Center & Museum now occupies the entire second floor gallery space of the Father Elias Stephanopoulos Center at 3131 NE Glisan Street in Portland Oregon (97232 Continued on page 7 For subscription: subscriptions@thenationalherald.com two days later on April 1, on 164 counts accusing him of funneling the stolen funds through three fake corporations, committing wire, mail, and insurance fraud, check forgery, and lying to federal officials. Orsaris, who appeared in Long Island Federal Court in Central Islip on Thursday April 1, was denied bail in the massive fraud and embezzlement scheme at Major Automotive Cos., a $300-million-a-year business with 14 city dealerships. Judge Leonard Wexler also ordered criminal forfeiture of monies totaling $4,492,253, in addition to Orsaris' swanky homes in Malba, Southampton, South Beach, and Trump World Tower in Manhattan. In a letter to the judge arguing against granting bail to Orsaris, Assistant U.S. Attorney Burton Ryan called for the seizure of these assets, arguing that they resulted from embezzled funds. Orsaris' father Panagiotis defended his son's innocence to. "My son is innocent. He is clean and the truth will come out. The charges against him will not stand because he bought all his homes with clean money that he earned through his hard work. He was one of Major World's best salesmen and General Managers. The truth will shine and my son will regain his freedom. He was and remains one of the best young people in the Greek American Community." Prosecutors in Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk County told TNH that Orsaris was arrested by federal authorities and is being charged by them. They added that they were not even aware of his arrest, or the charges he was facing. Robert Nardoza, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York's Eastern District confirmed the charges against Orsaris and would not rule out further charges against Orsaris from other agencies. According to the indictment, which is available on our Web site - com, Orsaris is listed as the Gen- Continued on page 4 Greek Americans Flood to Church for Anastasi By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON On Manhattan's Upper East side, at 74th St. between 1st and 2nd Avenue, the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity was filled with hundreds of Greek Orthodox Christians who came out to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Attendance at this year's midnight Paschal service appears to have broken all records. Archbishop Demetrios of America presided over the services, while Archdiocesan Council Vice-President Emmanuel Jaharis and his wife Mary were also in attendance, as were the Consul General of Greece Aghi Balta, and the Consul General of Cyprus Koula Sophianou. The Dean of the Cathedral, Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, was not available for comment, but the parish administrator, Sotiris Hatzaridis told The National Herald that "The church had filled to capacity from about 11:30 p.m., and the crowd grew Continued on page 4 Finding a Healthy Restaurant as Easy as A, B, C? NEW YORK Every single one of New York City's 24,000 restaurants will be required to display large letter grades near their entrances indicating how sanitary they are under a system approved in March by the city s Board of Health. The best possible grade is an A, according to officials from the Board of Health, and the system is designed to give immediate information to prospective customers. With a bulky percentage of Greek-owned restaurants in the five boroughs, business owners have expressed both support and apprehension over the potentially enhancing - or damaging- arrangement. We like it - I think it s definitely good for customers and it protects the consumer, Tassos from Thalassa Restaurant told, noting the New York City-based restaurant received a surprise visit from the Board of Health just two weeks Hundreds of faithful gather for the Service of the Resurrection to celebrate Holy Pascha at the Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral on Manhattan s Upper East Side at midnight April 4, ago without suffering a single violation. And we certainly do have an educated consumer in New York these days. With today s ease of access to information like the internet and even on your doorstep, people will know [the truth] anyway. If you re going to cater to the public, put some extra care into your business. According to a statement issued by Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, the letter assessment- A, B or C - will give the consumer an impression of the restaurant s cleanliness. "The grade in the window will give you a sense of how clean the kitchen is, and it will give every restaurant operator an incentive to maintain safe, sanitary conditions," he said. Other U.S. cities are already using a similar rating systems with much success. Los Angeles has been posting public grades in eateries for several years, resulting in a 13 percent decline in food poisoning cases. Other areas like Washington D.C. have introduced bills to require the letter grades in restaurants. Yet uneasiness remains among other managers who said they believe low grades may be unfairly issued to eateries, giving an inaccurate impression of their cleanliness. A manager from another upscale New York City-based Greek restaurant who wished to remain anonymous, said he is currently undecided about the Board of Health s new system. A part of it that is going to determine [my opinion on the matter] is how aggressive the Board of Health is going to be, he told TNH. In other words, I think that sometimes - and we understand this as a restaurant - if violations are issued for certain things that are really kind of [trivial] and those violations A new law requires all of New York City's thousands of restaurants to post letter grades that indicate levels of sanitation. Continued on page 5 TNH/COSTAS BEJ

2 2 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 In the Spotlight: Katerina Dimitratos By Eleni Kostopoulos Staff Writer NEW YORK Katerina Dimitratos- who will represent New Jersey in the Miss United States Pageant in 2010 in Las Vegas- is an MBA student at Seton Hall University, where she received her Bachelor's of Science in International Relations and Diplomacy with minors in Economics, Russian and Eastern European Studies. Currently, Dimitratos is an Associate Editor representing the United States for the International Journal of Young Leadership, and she has spent the last four years working in the financial industry. She is member of Hellenext: The Next Generation Initiative, Amnesty International and the Foreign Policy Association. In 2006, she founded the Seton Hall Hellenic Society and spent two consecutive years as the organization s president. TNH: How did you get to where you are today? KD: I was fortunate enough to attend Seton Hall, where I encountered great people, experiences and education. The diplomacy program at Seton Hall definitely focuses on real life experiences where many professors were actually Ambassadors, also there are many study abroad programs and internships which emphasize independence and leadership. My experience there, combined with a phenomenal support system within my family and friends - where no dream was too big or unattainable - helped me to get to where I am today. I've always been able to speak well in front of an audience. I may not be the typical pageant girl; but I'm intelligent enough, and have the drive to be a real competitor - it was at my undergrad graduation TNH/ANGElikE CONTiS Easter on the Jersey Shore at St. George s Church The faithful exit St. George's church at the Anastasi (resurrection) service early on April 4, Many carefully brought their Easter candles with the Anastasi flame from the church, through the chilly air to rich Easter dinners at home. Katerina Dimitratos is a contestant for Miss United States. where I remember the President of Seton Hall had said "with intelligence you will get far in life, but with intelligence and character you will be unstoppable." I definitely believe I bring both to the table. TNH: Do you have any role models? KD: I've always looked up to women in the political arena; from Madeleine Albright to Dora Bakogianni- simply because politics is already a difficult arena in which to defend ones beliefs, or a causes, and these women achieved firsts in their nations: Madeleine Albright was the first female U.S. Secretary of State and Dora Bakogianni was the first female Mayor of Athens. Another role model is my dad, who moved to the United States in his twenties with one of his brothers by his side. He has since begun his own business and has three children that are college graduates or soon to be grads. He is definitely an illustration of "the American Dream". TNH: What is your greatest achievement thus far? What do you hope to achieve in the future? KD: My greatest achievement? This is a tough question. I think it would have to be when I was selected "Most Valuable Diplomat" while studying abroad in Cyprus in Seton Hall has a Cyprus Study Tour where diplomacy students visit the North and South, and attend meetings in the UN bufferzone. This award meant a lot to me because of the delegation from Seton Hall, which was comprised of mostly graduate students (who were all 26 years old and older). I was one of two undergraduates and the youngest student (at 21). Also, I was the only Greek American. On this trip, I realized the importance of third party mediators and the difficulty in being objective and diplomatic in situations where nationalism plays a role. TNH: What is an issue regarding the Greek community - here or abroad - that concerns you? KD: In 2005, I had the honor of meeting Dora Bakogianni at a luncheon in her honor at the Waldorf Astoria, where she was receiving an award and being honored as "World Mayor". At this luncheon, the Foreign Minister stated that Greece, unlike other nations, does not hold its international power in its economy or its military; but rather, Greece holds its strength in its history and diaspora. I will never forget her words because they continue to ring true. Greece is respected internationally because of its rich culture and history and that is something that must be protected by the diaspora which is spread across the globe. No matter where in the world someone is, they can find a little bit of Greece. This is a beautiful phenomenon; however, what concerns me is that in coming years being Greek may change, where an emphasis is not placed on the language, dance, customs or religion but be simply carrying a national flag and having a long last name. Many younger Greek Americans are not learning the language; in Athens, I have friends my age who were never taught the traditional Greek dances - that is something to definitely worry about. If we do not uphold and honor our own culture, no one will. TNH: What part of Greece is your family from? Do you visit often? KD: My father is from Kefalonia and my mother is from Peloponessos. I definitely try to visit often! I was in Greece last summer, and will hopefully be there again this summer - after the Miss United States Pageant, of course! TNH: What are some upcoming projects/events we can look forward to? KD: I have been requested and given the honor to attend several events by various organizations, such as schools, churches, etc. I am extremely excited and look forward to giving back to the communities that are supporting me on my journey to Miss U.S. You can visit my Web site, to read the details of each of the events as I will be tracking them. Contact Eleni Kostopoulos at EleniK@thenationalherald.com. TNH/COSTAS BEJ Agape at Aghia Markella Cathedral in Astoria At St. Markella Cathedral, people partake of the annual Agape Luncheon after the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Pavlos of America and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Attica & Boeotia. The luncheon was open to all the Greek community. n APRIL 10 NEW YORK, N.Y. The Cultural Committee of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity will host a concert featuring the Choir of St. John the Baptist College, Oxford University on April 10 at 7:30 p.m. The St. John s Choir is touring North America taking a program of Anglican choral music with an emphasis on music related to St. John the Baptist. There has been a long history of choral music at St. John s where the Choir has been singing Chapel services from its founding in 1660 to the present day. The Choir is composed of about 28 undergraduate and graduate students under the direction of the Organ Scholars. Recent tours have taken the Choir to many places of worship in England, including Westminster Abbey, and internationally to many European countries, the USA, and South Africa. Admission is free and a reception will follow the concert. For further info please contact the Cathedral office at: (212) Holy Trinity Cathedral is located at: 337 East 74th Str., New York, N.Y. n APRIL 13 NEW YORK, N.Y. - A Playwrights Symposium titled The State of Things: Is Independent Theater from Off to Off-Off Broadway an Endangered Species? will be held 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 as a benefit for The Bleecker Street Theater Company at 45 Bleecker St. Q&A with the audience follows moderated by Greek American Stephan Morrow, Artistic Director of The Great American Play Series. Champagne reception will begin the evening. $25 admission includes Champagne and can be purchased online at For info call (212) n APRIL 14 NEW YORK, N.Y. The Onassis Foundation is hosting a Youth Fundraiser Event for the Greek Independence Day Celebrations on April 14 from 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. in the Onassis Foundation Atrium Café. There will be wine and hors d oeuvres and music provided by Christos Rafalides and Jazz Mediteranneo. A minimum contribution $50 is appreciated. RSVP at: Greekparade@gmail.com. The Onasis Foundation Atrium Café is located at: 52nd Street and 5th Avenue, New York, NY. n APRIL The Stockton Performing Arts Center is hosting, Stones from God, by Pamela Hendrick and Tom Papademetriou on April 14 through April 18. It will be a world premiere. In an eastern Mediterranean village in Turkey, the Greek Orthodox community is building a church. It is the end of the 19th century and the local Greek Christians are preoccupied with this momentous task while they contend with their Muslim Turkish and Armenian neighbors, and the challenges of the Ottoman state. This original collaboration between two Stockton faculty members, a playwright and a historian, brings to life true human stories of a community that disappeared and is in danger of GOINGS ON... being lost forever. For further information, visit: or call: (609) n APRIL 16 NEW YORK, N.Y. The raising of the Greek Flag in honor of the Greek Independence Day Parade will be held on April 16 at Bowling Green, in lower Manhattan, at 12:00 p.m. For further information about this, and other events, visit: CHICAGO, Ill The National Hellenic Museum will feature an Artist Series Sculptures and Casting on April 16 from 6:00 8:00 p.m. Featured artist Peter Calaboyias will explain his technique of bronze casting. Learn how he artist developed this specific system of investment casting as he discusses his methodology and ideas. This presentation is especially interesting to art students, sculptors, artists, and even collectors of bronze. Admission: $7 members, $10 non-members, $5 students. The National Hellenic Museum is located at: 801 W. Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois. For further information, visit: rg or call: (312) APRIL 17 PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. The Saint Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church will host its annual fundraising glendi on April 17 at 7:00 p.m. Music will be by: Ormi & DJ Taki Z. Appetizers, Refreshments, Coffee, & des - serts will be served at 7:00 p.m. Folk dance troupes will perform traditional Greek dances at 8:00 p.m. and at 8:30 p.m. will be open dancing. Admission is $20. For tickets call: Patty Jouras at: (815) ; Dora Adams at: (219) ; or Georgene Karoun tzos at: (708) Saint Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church is located at: South Ridgeland Avenue, Palos Heights, Illinois n APRIL 26 NEW YORK, N.Y. The American Hellenic Institute will be hosting a forum on the U.S. Policy Toward Greece, Turkey and Cyprus: Developments and Prospects in the Obama Administration on April 26 at 6:00 p.m. The moderator will be Nick Larigakis, Executive Director of AHI. The members of the panel will be: Ted Galen Carpenter, Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, CATO Institute, Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow, CATO Institute and Dimitris Dimas, Washington Editor, Eleftherotypia. Admission is free, pre-registration is required. The event will be held at the: Press and Communications Office, Permanent Mission of Gre e ce to the UN, 305 East 47th Str., 2nd fl., New York, N.Y. To register, visit: n NOTE TO OUR READERS This calendar of events section is a complimentary service to the Greek American community. All organizations and institutions are encouraged to their information regarding the event 3-4 weeks ahead of time to english.edition@thenationalherald.com PATTErSON GrAHAm St. Constantine & Helen Procession in Brooklyn Fr. John Lardas led the congregation of St. Constantine & Helen Cathedral in the Good Friday procession through the streets of downtown Brooklyn. As in the past, the Greek parish joined with the Antiochian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas. TNH/COSTAS BEJ Flushing Meadow Flooded with Greek Orthodox Greek Orthodox Christians poured out into the streets of Flushing, Queens to participate in the Good Friday procession of the Epitafios on April 3. The services, highlighted by the singing of the Lamentations were led by the pastor, Fr. Paul Palesty. Vote on our website! QUESTION OF THE WEEK You have the chance to express your opinion on our website on an important question in the news. The results will be published in our printed edition next week along with the question for that week. The community has been shaken recently by a number of apparent suicides. There seem to still be many taboos about seeking/recommending counseling and therapy. The question is: Do Greek Americans take mental health seriously enough? o Yes o No o Maybe The results for last week s question: Are you pleased that Congress has passed the healthcare reform bill? 15% voted "Yes" 74% voted "No" 11% voted "Maybe" Please vote at:

3 THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 COMMUNITY 3 Colonel Bogdanos Antiquities Battle Isn t Over; It s Gone International sion for Ancient Civilizations and the Journey to Recover the World s Greatest Stolen Treasures came out in Trained in both law and the classics, Bogdanos appears to have rolled several lives into one. He is an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, a marine colonel sent abroad for his counter-terrorism expertise, as well as a pro in the recovery of antiquities looted in wartime. He s also the Grand Marshall of this year s Greek Parade. But he says: Above all, I define myself as a father, first and foremost, but beyond being a father, I define myself as a Greek American. Bogdanos grew up in the restaurant business of Manhattan, his father hailing from Limnos, Greece, and his mother, from France. A veteran of both the first and the current Persian Gulf wars, Bogdanos has spearheaded the recovery of half of the 14,000 items the marine said were looted from the Iraq National Museum during the war, as well as located some 62,000 of those that disappeared before the war. He chuckles when he recalls promising a general that he d have the items recovered in three to five days. He explains: It is now 7 years later and we re not done. The challenge of recovering antiquities has changed however, from a battle waged on the streets of Iraq to one fought in a James Bond-like realm of high-paid, international, illegal trading in artifacts. These sales, Bogdanos says, finance Iraqi insurgents. Initially, he explains: The Iraq museum was a crime scene. Immediately after the crime, you investigate the crime scene. And then you expand your investigation in increasing circles. The first effort, the marine said, was to stop looting and quickly get to borders before the smugglers did. But while in 2003 and 2004, these efforts yielded the recovery of hundreds or even a thousand items in a single raid, today just one or two items are recovered at a time. Once something crosses the border either in Jordon, on its By Demetris Tsakas NEW YORK - A $2 million bond originally set in an arrest warrant for Boston Blackie's owner Nick Giannis was upheld in a hearing Thursday April 1. Giannis appeared in court on Friday April 2 to prove that the funds he would present for his bail are not illicit and to request a reduction in the bail amount. The Criminal Court of Cook County refused to reduce the bail. Giannis will remain in jail until at least the preliminary hearing scheduled for April 12. If Giannis comes up with the $2 million he needs to get out of jail, prosecutors want to know where the money is coming from. A source of bail request was granted Friday in the fraud case, meaning Giannis must prove that his $2 million cash bond will not come from illicitly obtained funds. In a statement to The National Herald on Thursday, Giannis' attorney Thomas Anthony Durkin explained that the state has not shown reasonable cause to challenge the source of Giannis' bail monies. He also explained that Giannis has numerous relatives throughout the Chicago area who have offered to help him financially, and again refuted allegations by the prosecution that Giannis was laundering money to Greece. When asked if Giannis would be released in time to spend the Easter holiday with his family, Durkin replied that "no decision was taken yesterday [Thursday]. I don't want to go out on a limb." Giannis was charged in an elaborate check-kiting scheme earlier this month and initially appeared in court last week. The 62-year-old was caught on the Canadian border on March 12 with his Greek passport. He was under the influence of alcohol and was apparently trying to flee the country. He was caught a day after he, his son Chris, and restaurant manager Andy Bakopoulos agreed to surrender for defrauding Charter One and Washington Mutual banks of nearly $2 million, authorities said. The elder Giannis apparently told Canadian authorities he needed to go to Greece to get money because "his son was in trouble," a source said. But on March 3, Nick Giannis told a Sysco Food Services employee of his plans to settle overseas, Assistant State's Attorney Robert Podlasek said. On Friday, Judge Jackie Portman granted a motion for a source of bail hearing, so Nick Giannis must show that if he does post bail, the $2 million is from legitimate sources, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said. Bond for Chris Giannis was set at $500,000, and Bakopoulos was ordered held on $250,000. Chris Giannis posted $50,000 and was released on March 12. The three men will appear for a preliminary hearing April 12. Chris Giannis and Bakopoulos will also appear for a status a b hearing April 12, Conklin said. DONATIONS TO ALEXI GIANNOULIAS In a political twist to the cases, Mark Kirk, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, is taking advantage of the fact that Giannis made a $150,000 contribution to the campaign of his Democratic opponent, Greek America Alexi Giannoulias. Kirk declared, The check-kiting scheme conducted by a top Giannoulias contributor and Broadway Bank client appears to be part of a disturbing pattern of reckless business relationships, questionable banking practices and potentially illegal activity. POCKET-LESS PITA BREAD Kontos Foods manufacturers of Authentic Ethnic Hand Stretched Flat bread. kontos the first family in fillo dough and fillo products. FillO kataifi, BAklAvA, SPANAkOPiTA, TyrOPiTA NuT roll, melomakarona and the TrAdiTiONAl mediterranean desserts. Excellent quality and service. We distribute in USA and Canada. Special prices for communities, schools, churches festivals and other events Kontos Foods, Inc Box 628, Paterson, NJ Tel.: (973) Fax: (973) kontos.com "THiEvES OF BAGHdAd" BOOk The Leading Company in Flat Breads Well known for the Pocket-Less Pita Above: Matthew Bogdanos, marine and NYC assistant district attorney, visited TNH offices on April 1, After his ongoing campaign to return antiquities looted from the Iraq National Museum, he has become a sought-after authority on recovering antiquities looted in wartime. Above left: From book "Thieves of Baghdad" by Matthew Bogdanos: The solid gold bull's head that adorned Queen Puabi's (Shub-Ad) Golden Harp of Ur, one of the items looted from the National Museum of Iraq, but recovered. It dates back to BC. Left: Matthew Bogdanos at a Pentagon press conference on Sept. 10, way to Aman, or Syria, on its way to Damascus, it becomes infinitely more difficult and the smuggling infrastructure is much more sophisticated, says Bogdanos. Recovering items has required U.S., Italian, Egyptian, British and Jordanian cooperation to spot the false papers and stolen goods sent to the hotspots of Geneva, Beirut, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, London and New York. Bogdanos points to two important recent recoveries. One was the statue of Entemena, a King of Lagash, dating back to 2450 BC, which made its way to Geneva via Damascus and Beirut. Black market bidding for it, Bogdanos points out, reached the tens of millions of dollars. Outraged, the marine adds: This was a knowingly stolen item You can never publicly The Chicago Sun-Times reported that The Republican National Committee added, Between his questionable relationships and business practices, Alexi s ethical lapses are beyond distracting for someone TNH/COSTAS BEJ acknowledge owning this piece. The bidder in New York won, so it was intercepted on the way from Geneva to New York. That s the trade. That s how this happens. On February 25, the U.S. government returned to the Iraqi government two 8th-century BC Assyrian earrings from Nimrud that had traveled a similar route as the statue only to end up at the esteemed Chris - tie s auction house in New York. Bogdanos vows, of the Iraqi antiquities recovery: That mission will never be over as long as I am breathing, until every single thing is returned that was stolen from the Iraqi people. As his own international profile has risen, the colonel has been asked to address the issue of Greece s most famous antiquities the Parthenon Marbles, running to be a U.S. senator. According to the Sun-Times, Broadway Bank, owned by the Giannoulias family, was one of the institutions the defendants used to carry out the check-kiting scheme against Charter One which are kept at the British Museum. Underlining that his views do not represent the U.S. government, Bogdanos says that he thinks Greeks would be wise to focus on creating a universal climate of recognition that the return is the right thing to do rather than dwelling on Lord Elgin s initial removal. The opening of the state-of-the-art New Acropolis Museum offers, he adds, a perfect opportunity. In the marine/attorney s view, fighting for important issues and to make a change, is the definition of a good life. He says, Of all the things I would not want someone to say about me or anyone else is that That person didn t make a difference, or The world is the same as if that person had never lived. Bogdanos calls his role as Grand Marshall in this year s April 18 Greek Parade an honor. He adds, I think that the reason I was chosen was not for who I am or what I ve done, but I think it s more for what I try very hard to represent. The marine notes that he tries to make clear, in both his writing and dialogues with people, to make the link between our classical heritage and today. He adds: I firmly believe that all the strengths that each of us posses and that enable us to make for a better society come from a single place. He traces a straight, unbroken line from 5th century BC Athens through Rome and onto England and ultimately here to the United States. Seeing the world in this way makes for easier problem-solving, he believes, noting: Name me a problem and if you study enough history, you will find a historical example that faced the exact same problem - and more often than not that will have been addressed in Greece. He adds: There is a legacy and heritage and I think we are the poorer when we ignore that legacy. That legacy has been useful to him, he concludes, whether it was Afghanistan or Iraq or here in New York. Matthew Bogdanos kudos include a Bronze Star and the National Humanities Medal. angelike.contis@ekirikas.com Nick Giannis Must Justify Bail Bond; Giannoulias to Donate Funds to Charity SuN-TimES FilE Nick Giannis (left) was stopped at the U.S.-Canada border while he was under the influence of alcohol. He is the owner of the Boston Blackies restaurant chain (logo above right). and Washington Mutual in early 2009, prosecutors said. Broadway Bank was not a victim in the scheme. Giannoulias has pledge to donate to charity all the donations he has received from Giannis.

4 4 COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 N.E. Parishes Celebrate Pascha; R.C. Cardinal O Malley Visits Cathedral By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON The Cathedral of the Annunciation in Boston was filled with faithful, who cried out Christos Anesti at midnight. Parishioners who remained for the entire Resurrection Liturgy received their red eggs and many enjoyed a traditional Easter meal including mageritsa soup. This year s services Annunciation Cathedral included an extraordinary visitor in the person of of Sean Cardinal O'Malley, the Roman Catholic bishop of Boston. He even joined in the holy services by reading the Gospel of the Resurrection together with Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, who presided over the Divine Liturgy. Cardinal O'Malley spoke about the fact that Pascha falls on the same day this year for both the East and West, and also practiced his Greek by wishing the faithful "Christos Anesti!" Large crowds also came out to celebrate the Resurrection at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Lowell, Mass. The service took place in the church courtyard, which was recently renovated and usually serves as a parking lot. Hundreds of faithful of all ages came out holding their candles to sing Christos Anesti - the victory of hymn of Christ's conquest over death - together with the presiding priest Rev. Nicholas Pelekoudas. Many worshipers remained to attend the Resurrection liturgy and receive holy communion. The Resurrection was also celebrated in the church courtyard at the St. Philip Church in Nashua, N.H. The service was led by Rev. Athanasios Tsininis and a large number of faithfu were present. Although the majority of the faithful left after receiving the light of the Resurrection, a few dozen remained and went back inside the church to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Rev. Tsininis read St. John Chrysostom's famous catechetical sermon immediately after the reading of the Gospel, explaining that "traditionally a sermon is supposed to take place immediately after the Gospel reading, but it has been moved to the end of the liturgy for practical reasons." Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass. celebrated the feast of the Resurrection inside the beautiful Holy Cross Chapel, led by Rev. Panagiotis Chamberas. Greek Americans from throughout the Boston area, who usually attend services at their local parishes, spent the feast at the chapel. The visit to Annunciation Cathedral in Boston of Cardinal O'Malley remined many that Roman Catholic Church has been rocked once again by child molestation scandals, with allegations reaching even its high-ranking prelates in Europe - specifically in Germany and Ireland. Meanwhile, in the United States, charges of sexual abuse by Catholic priests involving minors and deaf mute disabled children have also been spreading like wildfire. Like many other Catholic officials, Cardinal O'Malley attempted to paint the events in a different light and offer support to Pope Benedict the XVI, who is accused of covering up the charges when he was serving as cardinal in Germany. Many Catholic bishops have begun firing back at the press for exposing these abuses. Greek Americans Flood to Church for Anastasi Services throughout US so big that it filled the street outside the Cathedral as well, which was of course blocked off to traffic. From what I've heard, the turnout was greater than last year," he said. Hatzaridis attributed the large crowd "to the very good weather and to the fact that the Cathedral is becoming more visible and prominent in Manhattan and throughout the New York area." Hatzaridis said, "The large number of phone calls we received throughout Holy Week regarding our schedule of services is a sign that interest in the Cathedral has started to grow." Archbishop Demetrios led the services of the Epitaphios on Good Friday, the Resurrection on Holy Saturday night, and the Vespers of Agape on Easter Sunday. Greek Orthodox churches all over the country reported large crowds throughout Holy Week and to receive the light from the unwaning light and celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. From the various statements that have been made it is clear that the two key factors in this Fr. Nicholas Pelekoudas chants Christos Anesti at the historic Holy Trinity Church in Lowell. year s increased turnout were the good weather and the economic crisis, although some TNH/COSTAS BEJ Resurrection services at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York were attended by hundreds, in cluing the Consuls General of Greece and Cyprus and Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Mary Jaharis. noted there is always greater attendance in years when western and eastern Easter celebrations TNH/THEOdOrE kalmoukos coincide. Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh told The National Herald that, There was literally a flood of people turning up in our churches during Holy Week - and especially on the evening of the Resurrection, where there was record-breaking attendance at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Pittsburgh." Metropolitan Maximos added that "the weather was fantastic," and concluded that "people seek refuge in God, prayer, and spiritual life during these financially difficult times." The Metropolitan added that "Starting next year, we will have a Paschal meal for all the people following the divine liturgy of the Resurrection." Greek Americans in Chicago also flocked to local churches. Metropolis Chancellor Bishop Demetrios of Mokyssos noted that "This year there was truly a sea of people. I would probably say that we had more people than any previous year. People are looking for hope and comfort during these difficult days of economic hardship, where uncertainty is widespread." Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit told TNH that "We had a lot of people throughout Holy Week, but Good Friday at the Cathedral was unlike anything before - a flood of people. We held a procession of the Epitaphios in Greektown. It was very beautiful and solemn." Metropolitan Nicholas added that he celebrated the Resurrection "in Flint, because it was the last time a divine liturgy was going to be held there. The community is moving to a new church in another area, due to demographic issues. We had a very large turnout. The good weather helped, and also, people look to God for comfort. You have no idea how bad the economy is over here." Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey said that "The number of worshipers was up in all the churches." He also said that "there were a lot of people - more than last year" at the Resurrection liturgy in Tenafly, and added that "their love for Christ brought them here." kalmoukos@ekirikas.com Car Dealer Chris Orsaris Says Not Guilty of Major Fraud at Large Auto Dealership a b Law Firm Mr. Spiridakis and his colleagues have successfully won over $50 million for clients the past 24 years eral Manager of Major World, as well as the founder and President of PSAC Auto Consultants (1999), PSCA (2002), and CPMW Consultants, Inc (2008). The last three companies provide consulting services. Orsaris is described in the indictment as having worked in auto sales since he was a teenager. He was generally regarded as one of his companies best salesmen. His career at Major Automotive began in 1992, and by the mid-1990's he was named General Manager, where he was responsible only to the President and CEO of the company. These men are referred to as John Doe No. 1 and John Doe No. 2 in the indictment. Orsaris apparently received a commission from every car that he sold, as well as a share from the company profits. His salary and commission were paid by Major World and the checks were signed by the President and CEO. At Orsaris' request, his share of the company profits would be paid to his aforementioned companies PSAC, PSCA, and CPMW. The problem for Orsaris seem to have sprung up in the mid-2000's, when according to Feds, he duped management into giving him a larger share of company profits from January 2004 to June The laundry list of checks appearing in the indictment were deposited into his companies accounts at Commerce Bank and HSBC Bank USA. He is also accused of having bought a yacht in April 2005, and then filing a bogus claim that it was stolen on October 15, Charges include lying to authorities investigating the claim and defrauding the Ace American Insurance company, which paid him the amount of $754, to cover the remainder of the loan, and personally reimbursed him in the amount of $112,965. Authorities located this yacht at the College Point Yacht Club in September 2008, in the same spot where he had stored it. Orsaris is accused of financing "the sordid lifestyle of a 'wanna-be' criminal," and buying a $5.5 million Trump World Tower apartment, a $2.9 million Hamptons home and a $2 million Florida condo, in addition to his $5 million Queens waterfront home. Prosecutors even spoke out against his relations with his family, noting that while "Orsaris has intentionally associated with violent and non-violent criminals [and] drug dealers," he neglected his children, hiring personal assistants to watch the divorcee s kids on their weekend visitation with dad. Authorities assert that the Greek American fantasized about leading a Sopranos-like lifestyle. Orsaris first embraced the mob lifestyle after a 2002 divorce, federal prosecutors said J O H N S P I R I D A K I S The Law Firm the Community Trusts ACCIDENTS - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE Construction Car/Motor Vehicle Head injuries Slip & Fall Wrongful death Orsaris lived the high life. All injuries Estates & Wills Divorces Free consultations Home & Hospital visits 24 Hours 7 Days Legal expenses are payable at the conclusion of the case only if you win To receive our special care Call us at (212) or (718) Toll-Free SPIRIDA ( ) nextlaw@aol.com OFFICES: Manhattan, Queens (Astoria), Brooklyn, Long Island, LICENSED: New York, New Jersey in court papers. He even got engaged to the daughter of reputed Genovese crime family capo Anthony (Tough Tony) Federici, but the engagement was broken off due to fidelity issues, which reportedly left Orsaris with two black eyes. In their letter contesting bail, the federal prosecutors described Orsaris as a voracious thief who hired thugs and drug dealers to work as his flunkies. Once they were on the payroll at Major Automotive Cos., the "employees" served as Orsaris' bodyguards, chauffeurs and personal assistants, the letter said. Other known criminals were hired and given no-show jobs, the letter said, while Orsaris profited. If convicted, he faces more than 1,000 years in prison - although the likely term is 10 years. In statements to TNH, one of Orsaris' lawyers Elias Fillas reiterated his client's assertions that he is innocent, and noted that the defense team's first priority was to ensure that Orsaris would be freed on bail. "The efforts that we are undertaking are not easy, because the federal government is handling the case, and because our appeal will be decided by a federal court. Despite all this, however, we are hopeful that our motion for bail will be granted," said Fillas, who is also representing another Greek American April 16, the handsome men will participate in the annual raising of the Greek flag in Bowling Green at 12 p.m. That same evening, the yearly lavish gala will take place at Terrace on the Park at Flushing Meadow Park in Queens. The day of the parade will launch with a 10 a.m. church service at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan. It will be followed by a pre-parade Reception at 12 p.m. at the The Pierre Hotel. The parade itself will begin promptly at 1 p.m. A great turn-out of people is expected and we are still taking orders for floats until [April 7], so we don t have an exact number yet, said Galatoulas. Also marching down Fifth will be this year s Miss Greek Independence Anna Heliotis from West Hempstead, N.Y. along with several other young women representing their respective parts of Greece. The Greek Independence Day Parade attracted more than 150,000 spectators last year and included 26,000 participants. Like the 2009 parade, the festivities will be broadcast locally and internationally through local English and Greek language in a separate case - Nicholas Kiriakakis - who is accused of double murder following an incident in Teaneck, NJ. Fillas, who said he knew Orsaris personally, called him "a good guy. He had a good heart, and was ready to do anything to help out his friends or someone in need." Orsaris has two siblings, Demetris, 33, who works at Major Chrysler, and Eleftheria, 29, who works at Major World. His father Panagiotis, who was born in Nisyros and came to the United States in 1971, owns a mechanic shop since "I managed to make the American dream a reality and offer my children a chance to go to school and make a name for themselves in society. Chris has a knack for his job and is one of the best salesmen - and one of the youngest General Managers around. He has offered jobs to a lot of Greek Americans, and they have nothing but the finest things to say about him," he said. Orsaris' father said his son got married at age 19 and has four children, Panagiotis 17, Stavros 16, and twins Alexa and Christopher, 12. "Although he divorced his wife a few years ago, my son loves his children like nobody else. Everything that was said last Thursday in court is not true," he added. "My son is facing his own personal Golgotha at the moment, and I am sure that the Resurrection will come for him as well, and the truth will shine. He is innocent. I'll say it over and over with all the strength in my soul," Panagiotis Orsaris said. FHSGNY Prepares for Greek Parade Like last year, the annual Greek Independence Day parade is expected to draw thousands of participants on 5th Avenue. television networks via satellite and the Internet. According to the Federation The Greek Independence Day Parade is an annual celebration of Hellenic identity and commemoration, through which all Hellenes can express and promote their culture and achievements to the world. The annual Greek Independence Day Parade, which is commemorating the 189th Anniversary of Greek Declaration of Independence, March 25th 1821, has become a New York City traditional event. Since 1938, it has attracted a vast number of New York participants, and since 1951 we have been celebrating it on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.

5 THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 COMMUNITY 5 AIR 104.4FM: Athens International Radio Tower of Babel, Now Online By Angelike Contis NEW YORK Not far from the Kerameikos cemetery ruins, past the rumble of Piraeos Street, within City of Athens Technopolis complex, is a Greek radio station with a difference. Depending on the hour, AIR 104.4FM speaks in Urdu or Chinese, Tagalog or Albanian and 12 other languages. The station first appeared on my radar just before the Athens 2004 Olympics, when my journalist friend Alexia Amvrazi started co-hosting the new station s English-language Good Morning Athens show. During the Games, I enjoyed cooling off in the studios of AIR s circular, space age building, while recording (for documentary Olympic Diaries ) the team, which included co-host Lou Economopoulos. The excitement was palpable at AIR, which was the brainchild of Anglo-Cypriot journalist Paul Anastasi and New Jersey native Economopoulos (who whet his teeth in journalism at TNH s sister Ethnikos Kirikas paper in 1968). Anastasi had battled to launch such a station since 1989, when private radio and TV was legalized in Greece. He was only able to make it happen as head of then-athens Mayor Dora Bakogianni s new International Media Department. That control of the station swiftly Alexia Amvrazi, journalist/ pre senter of show "Athens For- Real" on Athens International Radio 104.4FM, at the Athens, Greece studios of the station in Technopolis, in Gazi. passed to Athens Munipality s 98.4FM station, which hosts AIR, disappointed Anastasi, as he told TNH. Today, notes AIR Editor in Chief Athena Korlira, whose background is in financial reporting, AIR has evolved from being a temporary news program in different languages which gives useful information about the Olympic Games to something more. AIR provides Finding Healthy Eats Easy as A, B, C? visitors and residents with Greek news and city info, with partnerships including the BBC, DeutscheWelle, Radio France International (RFI) and China Radio International (CRI). New languages are added each year, while English remains at AIR s core. Twenty of AIR s 40 journalists focus on Englishlanguage programming, including daily news shows, music broadcasts (including popular Major Tom Live) and special culture, finance, diplomacy and tourism programming. Like many stations in Greece, 104.4FM has faced its share of challenges, including a weak transmission signal. Korlila explains that permit/technical issues are not yet fully resolved, yet the municipality is trying to make AIR its own entity and the antenna s geographical reach has been extended. Web-based streaming (at fm.gr) now allows listeners around the world to tune in. AIR S AUDIENCE AIR s international journalists and Greek reporters with international experience cater to a diverse audience. Good Afternoon Athens ( p.m. daily) co-host Elinda Labropoulou says, I think it is very important to have a station like AIR FM giving foreign communities a voice in Greece. With AIR s focus on immigration issues, she believes migrant communities see AIR as "a safety mechanism, an institution that listens and helps. She adds: We try to integrate foreigners into the 'Greek reality' and way of life, as well as give them suggestions for fun things to do so they feel less isolated. Vassiliki Sklirou, who produces Good Morning Athens (8-10 a.m. daily), says the station Elinda Labropoulou, co-host of AIR 104.4FM news show "Good Afternoon Athens. harmonizes Athens increasing diversity. Their audience, she says, encompasses not only recent immigrants, but embassy employees and Greeks brushing up on their English. Good Morning Athens cultural reporter Gina Moscholiou says the station is part of an emerging wave of open-mindedness. Economopoulos, who hosts the pop/oldies music show Night Moves (4-6 p.m. Sun.) adds: From 1974 to 1978, I hosted two Greek shows on two radio stations in New Jersey and I realize very well how important it is for immigrants to have a piece of their homeland through the airwaves. Amvrazi, hostess of culture and lifestyle show Athens ForReal 10:30-11 a.m., Mon. and Wed.), who has lived in Italy, Egypt, the UK and Qatar, says: I know how difficult it can be to adapt and settle into a completely new culture, mentality and way of being; language itself can be an enormous obstacle to knowing about the actual people, ways of living and events that exist right outside your door. She tries to offer options for foreign visitors and to live their life in Athens as fully as possible as well as to help them resolve problems great and small. ON-AIR HIGHLIGHTS Major adrenaline moments have been the fires in the Peloponnese and the December Riots at the end of 2008, says reporter Elinda Labropoulou. She has also had some intense moments reported for AIR from the Beijing Olympics and Haiti in It was artists Gilbert and George, however, who provided British wit at its best! Helen Skopis, who hosts Good Afternoon Athens with Labropoulou, has recently interviewed forecaster Gerald Celente and financial analyst Max Keiser alike about Greece s debt. She says a high point came in 2005, on AIR, when songstress Patti Smith explained the origins of her song People Have the Power ; Smith said she was peeling potatoes when her husband Fred Smith marched up to her and announced, Patricia, people have the power! Amvrazi is known for her great voice and pushing of the radio medium. Her hundreds of guests have read and sung, but also tasted wine, led meditation sessions and performed magic tricks. Top guests include troupe De La Guarda, conductor Peter Tiboris, mystic Manuel Schoch, poet Katerina Anghelaki Rooke, chef Evi Voutsina and blindrights advocate Eleftheria Bernidaki Aldous. Since co-presenting Good Morning Athens, Katerina Batzaki says she s discovered that the best radio is not about prominent figures, but ordinary folk. Vivid moments at AIR range from interviewing two Indians who were cycling around the world to having teens targeting her head with stones during the December 2008 riots. angelike.contis@ekirikas.com end up determining that grade, making certain people feel that it s an unhealthy restaurant, then that s bad. It s good from the perspective that if there is an unhealthy, dirty kitchen - that should be represented. I m not sure if the grade will accurately represent the restaurant. Some restaurants may fall prey to inaccurate assessment. Most other managers TNH spoke to, including Uncle Nick s in the city, declined to comment due to an undecided standpoint on the new process. A former employee at a popular Bay Ridge cafe/eatery said he wouldn t be surprised if his past place of work received a low grade. We didn t do much by the book to begin with, he said. [Owners] will have to either take better health and safety precautions or they will [endure] the embarrassment of a bad grade on their door. Either way, I don t think it will really have much of an effect on business. The new law will take effect in July, according to the policy approved by the Board of Health in 6 to 2 vote. Restaurants that receive grades lower than an A will be given a period of time to improve their sanitary conditions before they have to post their grade. For those restaurants, the department will return within a month to conduct a second inspection, and the second grade will be posted unless the restaurant operator contests it, at which point a "grade pending" sign will be posted. Mayor Bloomberg said that the purpose of the new process is to get as many eateries as possible to a letter A grade. "I think you're going to find that most restaurants will get to the A status, which is the idea," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. "I think that I would prefer to eat at a restaurant with a grade A. Eleni: EleniK@thenationalherald.com Restaurants like the one shown above now have higher stakes for making the grade. ARCHITECTURE AND DIASpORA Finding the Basic Elements of Green Ethos at a Mount Athos Monastery BROOKLYN - Lately everyone seems to be talking about the significance of sustainable living, the necessity for reducing our average carbon footprint, the importance of recycling, reusing, retrofitting, weatherizing, greening, and purchasing products made of recycled materials... (Notice they did not say do not buy as much, just buy different, but still a lot). Still, many people are very confused. The first question that comes to mind is: "Why is this my business?" After receiving their answer (that humankind is steadily moving towards extinction) their question tends to be: "Why me, I'm too small?" After they realize that they are one of the billions of humans polluting, littering etc., they realize that their contribution is significant enough. Then, the defense mechanism of "I'm gonna be dead by the time this happens" kicks in. However, if it does not, if they consider themselves not disconnected from humanity, then the natural reaction of many is to be concerned and seek ways to help improve the situation. A few years ago this happened to architects. Not the professional architects of course, but students at various architecture schools. I was one of them. We heard about sustainable architecture, its purpose and its potential, and we were encouraged to jump in and start a new architecture movement for a sustainable future. As I looked through all the guidelines of what was described as sustainable architecture, I noticed that much of the attention was on using a bunch of methods and materials during the design and construction of the building. What I did not see was guidelines that described how the architecture of our homes and our cities today could keep people from driving everywhere, having four cars per family, using endless plastic bags, replacing trees with pavement, leaving their lights and computers on all night, or buying a million different chemical substances that inevitably end up in our water. Nothing really made sense to me, and it felt like everyone was starting at the wrong place. But what was the right place? At that point I decided to leave architecture school for a while. I left and returned home to Greece. I had missed my parents, but inside me there was the desire to isolate and reflect on this question, so I took off and went to Mount Athos along with my father. We stayed at a monastery where we always stay, and spent our time fishing and hiking. Between these endeavors, I would sit at the balcony of the dormitory and look at the courtyard of the monastery. I remember realizing that the monks seem to constantly be working. I had been among them before of course, but I had never taken an interest in observing their lifestyle. I also noticed that most of the monks were out working in the fields, and few were in workshops painting pictures (that would later be available for sale), or repairing the many structures of the monastery. I was amazed. This was a society of active, calorie-burning individuals, who produced their own food, walked to work instead of driving as they worked only a few feet away from where they lived, knew enough about pretty much everything at least at a basic level, which allowed them to repair the building, and expressed themselves creatively through artistic and spiritual tasks. Let's sum up: a) Proximity of live/work/interract places, b) agricultural microeconomy, c) Physically active life, d) spiritual and creative outlets. To these, let me add "sharing" pretty much everything, from machines, to food, to each other's skills. They also ate together while listening to scriptures. I must admit, I am not a religious man. I have heard it several times from my grandmothers about my attitude towards religion. I must say, however, that there was something spiritual and beautiful about this small religious community, and when I say "spiritual" I mean so in it's purest form, the most basic levels of living, where the life of the individual becomes impossible to distinguish from the collective life of the community. The notion of sharing, living and working locally, helping each other, using and re-reusing equipment and materials, living off the earth and simply burning more calories than we intake, became clear in my mind as the basic guidelines for successful sustainable living. I realized that the secret as far as sustainable architecture is concerned does not lie in the scale of the unit as much, but in the scale of the community. Somehow it seemed impossible all of a sudden to achieve sustainable living in American suburbia. No matter how much we push ourselves to be optimistic about it, suburbs and sustainability do not go together. In essence, the suburbs in the U.S. are based on the opposite principles of what I described above. They are based on a culture of disconnection, of isolation from the street and the neighbors (and sometimes our own family members), fragmentation of life, lack of proximity, lack of integration of functions (what Jacobs described as eyes on the street - storekeepers keeping an eye on children playing on the by EVANGELOS LIMPANTOUDIS Special to streets - is missing), and most importantly, lack of sharing and Absolute reliance on the car, which means a) pollution (Hybrids included), b) sitting down for an extra two hours each day. C o n s i d e r i n g how vast the "problem" (and to me it IS a problem) of the suburbs is, it is hard to ever imagine us in the Megalopolis transforming life for the better... Unless there is a return to the cities, and unless the suburbs slowly transform into actual communities like the one I described above, and unless the people realize that the essence and the only solution to returning to sustainability is in the building of communities, not the building of barriers, which so much of suburban sprawl is about. After we reach these realizations, and after we figure out how to deal with the suburbs, we can Start playing with composting toilets, recycled drywall and all the other techniques and materials that sustainable architecture proposes. Until then, we will still be sitting on a ticking bomb. I keep photographs of the monastery and often look at them. Some call these monks anachronistic. I call their community "sustainable", and call on us to use it as a model for the design of our own communities. Evangelos Limpantoudis, LEED AP/ Assoc. AIA, is an Architect registered in Greece and a partner at P.E. Limpantoudis Developments, a residential development company in Northern Greece. He resides in NY, where he has taught and published on issues related to architecture and urban design. Visit: PEL- CONSTRUCTION.com, or respond to elimpantoudis@pel- CONSTRUCTION.com. The Hellenic Medical Society of New York and The Hellenic Link, Inc. cordially invite you to attend the: Dr. Demetrios Flessas Tenth Annual Memorial Lecture His professional life was a paradigm of honoring the Hippocratic Ideals exemplifying a compassionate and humanitarian medical practice among Hellenes and Americans. Topic of the Lecture: The Mediterranean Diet: What is so Special about the Diet of Greece? The Scientific Evidence Introductions: Prof. Constantine Efthymiou President, The Hellenic Link, Inc. Dr. George John Tsioulias President, Hellenic Medical Society of New York Guest Speaker: The Distinguished Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D. President, The Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, Washington, D.C. When: Where: Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7:00 pm Archdiocesan Cathedral Cultural Center 337 East 74th Street, New York, NY Dr. Simopoulos will provide the scientific evidence that the traditional diet of Greece that is the Greek diet prior to 1960 is the healthiest diet because it is consistent with the diet human beings evolved and their genetic profile was programmed to respond to such diet. The Greek diet is balanced in the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and has adequate amounts of vitamin D, both from dietary sources and sunlight. A fellowship hour, 6:00-7:00 p.m., will precede the Lecture Information : (718) (HMS); (718) (HL)

6 6 FEATURE THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 By Alexandros K. Kyrou Special to ARISTOTLE PAPANIKOLAOU and ELIZABETH H. PRODOR- MOU, eds. Thinking Through Faith: New Perspectives From Orthodox Christian Scholars. Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir s Seminary Press, Pp $20.00 (paperback). BOSTON Uncommon is the book whose very title both challenges conventional thinking and posits a daring understanding of a seemingly contradictory notion. Inasmuch as religion and reason are portrayed in modern Western society as incompatible, the appellation, Thinking Through Faith, may appear to many as incongruous for a volume on Orthodox Christianity in American society. After all, modernity s prejudice against religion has produced the uncritical and popular fallacy that faith is inimical to reason and thought. This view has contributed to the fragmentation of American society into polarized camps, which champion either an atomistic, heartless materialism or, conversely, a crude, witless fundamentalism. In this current cultural climate, religion has become increasingly viewed as a personal civil right but one devoid of any intellectual worth or actual relevance to society and the physical world. Given this dominant attitudinal environment, it would appear daunting for credible scholars to produce serious work that reflects not only a positive view of religion, in general, but one that specifically links Orthodoxy s relevance to the present. Nonetheless, in Thinking Through Faith: New Perspectives From Orthodox Christian Scholars, the book s editors, Aristotle Papanikolaou and Elizabeth H. Prodromou, and its many contributors are equal to the challenge. Underscoring the significance of this publication, the book s Forward is written by one of the most respected and influential scholars of religion in the United States, Albert J. Raboteau, of Princeton University. In identifying the book s objectives, Professor Raboteau writes that the twelve studies which make up the core of this volume constitute self-reflective essays written by scholars who are engaged in critical reflection upon the meaning of their faith as participants in a living Orthodox tradition. They seek to translate that tradition anew for both Orthodox and non-orthodox in the context of the contemporary world. Within these pages a younger generation of American Orthodox scholars takes up the perennial task of transmitting the meaning of Christianity to a particular time and culture (p. 9). Raboteau concisely recapitulates the editors contextual placement of their volume in a decidedly American setting. First, he reminds us that the task taken up by Thinking Through Faith is indeed perennial precisely because groups have historically tended to conflate religion with their respective culture and ethnicity, thus often merging religion with national identity to produce a cultural religion typically lacking the ability to be genuinely reflective and self-critical. Second, he argues that the nature and scope of American pluralism challenges a faith s communicants to experience religion as more than a cultural identity. Indeed, American pluralism commodifies religion because it forces all religions into a competitive public arena, where one s active, vigorous engagement with their faith is crucial to its survival and perpetuation. Despite its apparent coarseness, this idiomatic American conditioning of religion to a veritable marketplace is not, however, entirely negative. To some extent, this dynamic of market pluralism has the potential to be constructive because it promotes, by competitive necessity, discussion, critical reflection, and intellectual maturation within religious communities. In Thinking Through Faith, the writings and meditations of the book s editors and contributors demonstrate the fruition of this process of intellectual maturation for Orthodoxy in the United States. Indeed, according to Raboteau, The publication of this volume represents a significant historical moment in the coming of age of Orthodoxy in America, a moment when Orthodoxy is entering the pluralistic intellectual agora with a new self-consciousness and self-critical confidence, emerging publicly, as it were, from behind immigrant walls (p. 10). FROM VISION TO PRAXIS Like most important books, Thinking Through Faith has its own unique and interesting history. Well before this publication was planned, the eventual contributors to the future volume first gathered for a symposium at the Divinity School of Harvard University in the fall of Their purpose was to discuss what it means to be an Orthodox Christian committed to professional excellence in the academic world and to uncompromising service in the Church. The Harvard symposium s new generation of scholars, who represented many academic institutions and bridged several ecclesiastical jurisdictions, concluded that they acted from the shared conviction that their life s work as academics was both informed and enriched by their faith, and, likewise, that their scholarship might enliven their faith and public witness as Orthodox Christians. In order to sustain the intellectual excitement and dialogue engendered by their first meeting, the participants have continued to assemble every six months, examining different questions and charting new directions for future volumes on Orthodoxy and its relationship to important issues. This highly original discussion circle was created by Dr. Thomas C. Lelon, former President of Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The symposium and its work continue to be sustained by Dr. Lelon and his son, Charles T. Lelon, venture entrepreneur and benefactor. As an active lay leader in the Greek Orthodox Church in America, Dr. Lelon envisioned a forum where new Orthodox Christian voices would convene to explore the interaction of their faith and profession with the various challenges presented by being an Orthodox Christian in the United States (pp ). By their inspiration and support, as well their respect for the academic freedom of the participating scholars, Thomas and Charles Lelon have made possible this regular symposium, and both Lelons efforts were indispensable to the realization of Thinking Through Faith. Through the venue of their regular six-month meetings, contributors presented ongoing research for discussion and critical peer evaluation. This methodical and rigorous process of research, writing, presentation, group discussion, revision, and reassessment of work within a supportive intellectual and spiritual community produced extraordinary outcomes in scholarship, the results of which comprise the contents of Thinking Through Faith. SYNTHESISZING THE MISSION Compiled, organized, and edited by Aristotle Papanikolaou and Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Thinking Through Faith is a pioneering book, the first publication of its kind in the United States. In their Introduction to the edited volume, Prodromou and Papanikolaou identify their book s guiding purpose in BIBLIA: A BOOK REVIEW COLUMN Thinking Through Faith Bids to Inspire Christians & Inform public policy relation to the mission of constructive, self-critical discourse envisioned and cultivated by Thomas Lelon. Indeed, the editors note, above all, our conversation was inspired by our desire to develop a nuanced understanding of, and especially, a spiritually mature response to, the pressing challenges of our condition as Orthodox Christians in twenty-first-century America. In this respect, we offer this volume as a humble exhortation to all Orthodox Christians to engage in the kind of reflection, critique, and action that constitutes a life in faith (p. 13). Prodromou and Papanikolaou plumb their records of prolific and important scholarship to produce a penetrating overture which sets the tone for the book. Both Papanikolaou and Prodromou are exceedingly skilled and well matched for their critical roles as the volume s editors. Aristotle Papanikolaou is Associate Professor of Theology and the co-director of the Orthodox Studies Program at Fordham University. His widely published work specializes in contemporary systematic theology with a focus on Orthodox and trinitarian theology, as well the relationship between religion and culture. He also serves on the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) Social and Moral Issues Commission. A political scientist, Elizabeth H. Prodromou is Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at Boston University. Her research on religion and world affairs, with significant focus on Orthodox Christianity, has appeared widely in scholarly publications. In October 2004, Professor Prodromou was appointed Commissioner to the United States Commission on International Reli gious Freedom. She is thus far the only Orthodox Christian to serve on this federal commission, a body which underscores the significance of religion for American diplomacy. With precise language, the editors present clear and sophisticated insight into the ethos underlying the contributions to the book. Prodromou and Papanikolaou write The notion of Thinking Through Faith reflects our view that intellectual creativity, originality, and robustness are not the product of the scholastic approach. Instead our conception of intellectual growth and scholarly excellence the disciplined mastery of specialized subject material, systematic and careful analysis, clarity and precision of expression, and above all, fearless self-criticism is inspired by the ascetic mindset (Greek = fronima ), which is the bedrock of the Orthodox way of life (pp ). One of the most valuable attributes of this book is its interdisciplinary rigor and diversity. The editors have successfully balanced contributions representing several different academic areas of training and expertise. Indeed, the rich disciplinary scope of the essays encompasses works from the fields of church history, ethics, philosophy, political science, psychology, public policy, and theology. Moreover, Prodromou and Papanikolaou are not subservient to the field of theology s traditional domination of Orthodoxy s intellectual space, nor of its practice of excluding non-theologians from inquiry into Orthodox thought. The editors write The contributions suggest the intellectual and practical benefits of a significant rethinking of the methods of study in America of Orthodox Christianity: an inter-disciplinary move beyond the narrow boundaries of theology conventionally understood, a concomitant expansion of inquiry outside the confines of the theological seminary, and a rejection of the study of theology by and for theologians Stay informed all year round, anytime, anywhere Become an online subscriber of and get... ONLY* $34.95 a Year! Visit us online at or call us: ext.108 *The price indicated above is for current subscribers. Regular price is $45.95/year. Alternative for current subscribers is per 3 months $14.95, per 6 months $23.95 WR Από το 1915 για τον Ελληνισμό * daily updates with news covering the community, Greece and Cyprus. * immediate access to our previous editions. * edification that every Greek American should have! Bringing the news to generations of Greek Americans (p. 15). Reflecting the broad intellectual representation of the book s contributors, Thinking Through Faith testifies to the remarkable unity through diversity that is characteristic of Orthodox Christianity in the United States. Prodromou and Papanikolaou derive encouragement from the fact that the religious and social pluralism that defines contemporary America is replicated in the pluralism particular to the more than century-old Orthodox experience in the United States. Indeed, the collective quality and originality of the book s twelve essays, coupled with the editors extraordinary ability to synthesize and adduce what is distinctive about Orthodox scholarship and thought, make Thinking Through Faith an important and welcome book. CONTENT AND LOGOS Ultimately, the value of this book is only as good as the whole of its parts, its individual essays. Consistent with most diverse and expansive edited volumes, some contributions to this book are superior in their presentation and sophistication than others. Remarkably, however, all twelve essays merit praise for their respective expertise and extraordinary insight. In the end, the inevitable imbalances associated with any such composite volume are overcome in this book by the exceptional scholarship and erudition of each of the individual contributors. The book s first essay, The Kingdom of God : Paul the Apostle s Perilous Proclamation, is authored by John Fotopoulos, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Saint Mary s College, in Notre Dame, Indiana. Establishing a rigorous standard for the subsequent essays, Fotopoulos methodically analyzes the first-century historical context of Paul s proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the King, Christ, before identifying and assessing the practical and spiritual benefits of such understanding for twenty-first-century Orthodox Christians. Fotopoulos rightly points out that applied to an active, lived Orthodoxy in America, Paul s gospel message challenges Orthodox Christians to move away from fragmenting parochialisms to embrace unity and inclusion not only in the final Kingdom, but at the local and intimate level of the everyday parish and community. Another historically-rooted discussion, The Foundations of Noetic Prayer, is presented by Demetrios Katos, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Hellenic College. Focusing on the fourth-century ascetic Evagrius of Pontus, Katos contemplates this mode of prayer as a direct communion with God, one transcending the boundaries and limitations of cognition and imagery. Writing in a fashion that remarkably mirrors some of the principles of noetic prayer, Katos compellingly blends a sense of thoughtful, reflective humanity into a superlative intellectual analysis, producing a quintessentially Orthodox dialectic with relevance for life in contemporary society. The essay, What Are We Doing, Talking about God? The Discipline of Theology, is written by clergyman scholar, Fr. John Behr, Dean and Professor of Patristics at St Vladimir s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York. Fr. Behr effectively argues that Christian theology is confessional and exegetical critically explanatory because it does not merely affirm a historical proposition, namely, Christ was crucified under Pontius Pilate, but because it asserts that the Son of God was crucified by Pontius Pilate. Fr. Behr links this awareness of theology s nature to its living pastoral dimensions. An informative essay which suggests both essentialist continuity and functionalist reconstruction of patterns of pastoral care between Christian modes in antiquity and their counterparts in modern Orthodoxy in America is presented by George E. Demacopoulos, Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Fordham University. Solidly grounded in church history, Demacopoulos contribution, Understanding Pastoral Care in the Early Church, draws from the past to assert that a diversity of pastoral forms and strategies are both in keeping with Orthodox tradition and necessary to grapple with the questions posed by pluralism and secularism in the United States. One of the volume s most rigorously researched and welldocumented essays, Orthodox Theologies of Women and Ordained Ministry, is written by Valerie A. Karras, Assistant Professor of Church History at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. In this probing work, Karras integrates and then deconstructs the liturgical, historical, and theological currents that have informed understanding and practices associated with the ecclesial roles and life of women in the Orthodox Church. Through this complex landscape, Karras seemingly effortlessly succeeds in linking eschatology and the Orthodox anthropology of personhood to the current question of the ordination of women to the priesthood. The Reading of Lives of the Saints, authored by James C. Skedros, Professor of Byzantine Studies and Professor of Early Christianity at Hellenic College- Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, is valuable both for what it addresses explicitly and for what it alludes implicitly. Skedros presents a concise review of the knowledge and hermeneutics of Orthodox hagiography. He juxtaposes the scholarly and critical approach to the study of saints lives associated with legalistic and rationalist Western Christianity, with their original literary and religious function emphasized in Eastern Christianity. Although it is not suggested by Skedros, some readers may infer this East-West distinction implicitly identifies a poetic of faith inherent in Orthodoxy that reflects a unique capacity for spiritual freedom and intellectual litheness. These qualities constitute a remarkable, if relatively unrecognized and untapped, resource for Orthodoxy s interaction with modern society. Perry Hamalis, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, contributes an intricate essay The Meaning and Place of Death in an Orthodox Ethical Framework, to the book. Hamalis meticulously documented study situates the rejection of a purely physicalist death and the theological centrality of Christ s incarnation, death, and resurrection in the underlying totality of Orthodox Christianity. Hamalis precision of language and striking understanding of Orthodox thought produces a corrective to the recent tendency to sidestep the logos of death and resurrection, which represents the core of the gospel, in favor of attention to the idea of theosis, the process of becoming united with God. According to the author, the reality borne of Orthodoxy s understanding of physical death and of spiritual death, and its belief in the resurrection of both dimensions of life, is relevant to contemporary society because it must shape Orthodox Christians ethical decision making. The volume s co-editor, Aristotle Papanikolaou has also contributed an essay, Honest to God: Confession and Desire, to this collection. In this study, Papanikolaou examines the reasons behind the decline of the sacrament of confession in the Orthodox Church and offers a corrective to stem the diminishment of the practice. Papanikolaou effectively balances the emotive and personal dimensions of confession with an insightful theological understanding of the sacrament to produce a nuanced interpretation of its spiritual and psychological importance. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, the volume s other co-editor, has contributed an essay informed by both her academic research and her diplomatic work as a member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. In International Religious Freedom and the Challenge of Proselytism, Prodromou casts her attention on three chief concerns: the current historical moment regarding the religious dimensions of human rights, focusing on the human rights paradoxes that have emerged with the concomitant resurgence of democracy and religion in world affairs possible responses by the religious actors who are trying to remedy these paradoxes and the Orthodox within the context of the phenomenon of proselytism (p. 252). The intriguing essay, Four Types of Orthopraxy among Orthodox Christians in America, is the work of Antone C. Vrame, Director of the Department of Religious Education for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Vrame challenges the tendency to view Orthodoxy in the United States in monolithic terms. He presents a model for assessing differences in observable behaviors related to faith and traditional religious practices, or orthopraxy, among Orthodox Christians. The author s research and findings are mapped onto an operational nomenclature drawn from Judaism, which proposes four categories of orthopraxy: ultra-conservative or fundamentalist; traditional; reform; and reconstructionist. The essay Byzantine Liturgy as God s Family at Prayer, is built around an interpretive dyad. John Klentos, Associate Professor of Eastern Orthodox Christian Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, integrates an operational theory of family as it relates to Christianity with a review of the history of the Orthodox liturgy in Byzantium to develop a semiotic for grasping factionalism within Orthodox communities. Although the divergent points of this analytic construct may appear tenuous, its author effectively developments this approach to propose methods for addressing the resolution of conflicts in Orthodox parishes in the American setting. This book s final contribution is an empirically-driven study written by Eleni Makris, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Development at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. The extensive data presented in the essay, Learning about Ourselves: A Snapshot of the Orthodox Church in the Twenty-first Century, are based on a ground-breaking national study. This revolutionary study, completed in concert with the United States government s 2000 census, attempted to document religiosity and its practices throughout American society. This public study was the largest and most inclusive survey of religious communities ever conducted in the United States. Makris analysis of the public study s findings relevant to the Orthodox Church in the United States furnishes Orthodox Christians with a wealth of absolute and comparative information. Aristotle Papanikolaou and Elizabeth Prodromou, along with their fellow contributors, have prepared an imaginative publication that is unprecedented in its approach, scope, and potential. Thinking Through Faith: New Perspectives From Orthodox Christian Scholars is sufficiently intriguing and accessible in its orientation to be compelling for interested Orthodox and non-orthodox laity. Its rigor and originality make it a useful resource for scholars and researchers. Finally, this remarkable book s philosophical undercurrents, as well as its practical public policy implications, offer weighty ideas for clergy and hierarchy to consider as they move forward Orthodox Christianity s engagement with American society. Dr. Kyrou is Associate Professor of History at Salem State College in Salem, Mass., where he teaches on the Balkans, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire. In the interests of full disclosure, the author of this review notes that he is married to Professor Elizabeth H. Prodromou. GREEK poetry Hidden (1908) From all I did and from all I said they shouldn t try to find out who I was. An obstacle was there and it distorted my actions and the way I lived my life. An obstacle was there and it stopped me on many occasions when I was going to speak. The most unnoticed of my actions and the most covert of all my writings: from these alone will they come to know me. But perhaps it s not worth squandering so much care and trouble on puzzling me out. Afterwards in some more perfect society someone else who s fashioned like me will surely appear and be free to do as he pleases. Constantine P. Cavafy Translated by Daniel Mendelsohn

7 THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 FEATURE 7 GREEK MUSIC...pLUS Diverse Greek Music and Song: Many a Style and Variety to Select from! NEW YORK - I often wonder whether there is any other country in the world besides Greece with such a multifaceted musical culture. Even more remarkable to me, however, is the fact that all of our music and song traits and styles, are kept alive and vibrant concurrently, and thus available as potential choices for use in a musical event, even in this era of outright cultural globalization and eurovisionization. In this context, it would be fair - and hopefully interesting to the readers of this column - to pose, even rhetorically, the following question: What kind of music and/or songs do we expect to hear when we are informed of an upcoming Greek music event? I venture that the answer will most definitely vary among different age groups, yet all and all, the majority of Greeks would likely expect a contemporary kind of music and song event, while a non-greek would most probably expect a Zorba- Syrtaki, bouzouki type of music. Yet, one can chose among a wide variety of music. Let s take a few moments to ponder the various types of music that qualify as Greek. As a starting point, consider the variety of musical characteristics associated with our folk-traditional songs. To name a few of the major styles with respect to locality, we have the songs of Western Thrace with their strong Byzantine modal texture, the songs of Macedonia, remarkably similar to the music of neighboring Balkan countries, the distinctive character of the songs of Epirus, the songs of the Aegean islands with their Asia Minor musical scent, the romantic, mandolinaccompanied choir style songs of the Ionian islands, with their western European-Italian music flavor, the uniquely viril songs of Crete with the distinctive lute-lyra accompaniment, and of course the characteristic songs of Cyprus. Going to additional musical genera, we have the Smyrna style songs, which were strongly bonded with the Rebetika, from the early 1900s through the 40s, represented by legends such as Markos Vamvakaris, Vasilis Tsitsanis and many other significant composers and singers. Through the same period (mainly during the 30s and 40s) we have the ελαφρο=light Greek rembetika song, with its very significant contributions, in terms of both composers and singers, by the likes of, Sofia Vembo, Nikos Gounaris, Fotis Polymeris, Michalis Sougioul, Nikos Hatziapostolou, the legendary Kleon Triantafillou (known to most of us as Attik ) and many others. We should note here that this particular kind of Greek song became exceedingly popular during the war period, specifically from October 1940 to April 1941, from the start of the Greco-Italian war to the time when the German army entered and occupied Greece. During this period a plethora of songs were created, anew and/or based on altered older melodies and lyrics, to cope with the demand for songs required for the many theatrical productions satirizing Moussolini and Hitler, mainly through the voice of a young Sofia Vembo, rightfully named at the time The Singer of Victory. Shortly after Greece s liberation, starting in 1948, we have the evolution of yet another very significant category of songs, the so called Archontorebetika - by GRIGORIS MANINAKIS Special to Αρχοντορεμπετικα, literally translated as the rebetika of the archons, perhaps meaning those of the middle and upper class. At that time Archontorebetika represented a new wave of songs, composed primarily by the more sophisticated, ελαφρο-light song composers, in their attempt to emulate and take advantage of the ever increasing popularity of the laika and rebetika songs. The pioneer, and by far most significant composer of these songs, is Michalis Sougioul. Under various pseudonyms, such as S. Michalopoulos and S. Michas, he composed many rebetikalike songs for several of the top rebetika singers of that period, such as Stellakis Perpiniadis, Rita Abatzi, Stratos Pagioumtzis and others. In an article, in the Greek daily newspaper Kathimerini, on October 23, 2005, music-lover-researcher, Panagiotis Kounadis wrote that the first archontorebetiko was Sougioul s Tο τραμ το τελευταιο - The last Tram, which became an overnight success after it was sung in Athens at a satirical play, Ανθρωποι-Ανθρωποι/People-People, at the Metropolitan theatre on May 22, Other very popular songs of this style - many of our readers would surely remember some of them - are the well know, Trambarifas (aka: Apopse to koritsi theli thalassa), Vre pos batirisame, Tampakera, Svise me ap to Charti, O minas echi ennia and many others. The wide popularity of these songs during the 50s was followed, and eventually overshadowed, by the two most significant decades in the history of Greek song, the golden 60s and 70s. It was during this period that the geniuses of Manos Hatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis established themselves nationally and wordwide, with serious and popular song compositions, which gave a new character to 20th century Greek music and song. Following in their footsteps are a number of very talented and promising composers, such as Stavros Xarhakos, Yiannis Markopoulos, Mimis Plessas, Stavros Kougioumtzis, Manos Loizos, Yiannis Spanos, Kostas Hatzis, Dionisis Savvopoulos, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Christos Leondis, and a great many excellent singers such as Bithikotsis, Xilouris, Mitsias, Poulopoulos, Dalaras, Parios, Mosholiou, Alexiou, just to name a few of the most popular ones. Naturally, interweaved in this great musical era are many other extremely significant composers and singers of Greece s popular music, the laika, such as George Zambetas, Apostolos Kaldaras, Manolis Hiotis, Giorgos Mitsakis, Christos Nikolopoulos and of course singer greats of the caliber of Stelios Kazantzidis, Stratos Dionisiou, Manolis Aggelopoulos, Poly Panou, Mary Linda, Marinella and others. All of them carried and kept quality Greek music alive through the 80s and 90s, while an equally talented newer generation of singers/composers, emerged during the past two decades. Among many others, worthy of mention, from the newer generation, are the Katsimihas brothers, Sokratis Malamas, Pantelis Thalassinos and Alkinoos Ioannidis. Remarkably, all and all, Greece never had a shortage of significant creators of quality music for the past one hundred years and more. I feel, however, that it is our obligation to keep the flame alive and pass the torch of this incredibly rich musical tradition to the next generation, for, in the midst of commercialized music and widespread cultural globalization, it is our only viable hope for cultural survival. As far as this column is concerned we will do our best to keep bringing up various historical perspectives and discussions that will hopefully contribute towards this goal. I must say, in closing this week s column, that it was virtually impossible to have mentioned every significant contributor, singer and/or composer, who has played a positive role in keeping our Hellenic musical tradition respectable and vibrant through the years. I deliberately made no futile attempt to be totally inclusive of all deserving individuals, would be futile, and I am certain that many of our readers will have several names to add to the list. Hopefully, during the next few months I will be able to research out and bring to you a series of more extended and detailed tributes to some of the most significant ones. My best to all. Grigoris Maninakis is a Professor of Engineering Technology at SUNY Farmingdale. He has been active in Greek music since the early 70s as a founding member and singer/soloist of the Greek Popular Chorus of N.Y. established by Mikis Theodorakis. He has organized quality Greek music concerts all over the U.S. and occasionally in Greece. His column will appear twice a month in The National Herald. For comments and suggestions or visit: gkangm@ aol.com, which is situated between the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral and the gymnasium. The HACCM with its truly stunning exhibition hall may only be four years old but the dream and the colossal behindthe-scenes efforts necessary to bring it into existence go back many years and have taken the energies of many different people. Of all the new Greek American museums I have seen across the United States only the Hellenic Museum in Chicago offers more exhibition space (and sheer professional polish) than the Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum of Oregon and Southwest Washington. Forthright in their desire to celebrate the rich cultural and historical traditions Greeks brought to the Pacific Northwest, the Hellenes of Oregon and southwestern Washington have rallied together to create a truly beautiful and thoughtful museum. As one would expect, the Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum s core mission is dedicated to preserving and sharing the Hellenic-American experience in Oregon and southwest Washington. The museum achieves this goal by providing a place for exhibits, research, lectures, oral histories, concerts, films and an array of other cultural and educational activities. As part of the overall centennial celebrations of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, the new museum was formally opened in May 2007 as an independent 501 (c) (3) non-profit independent cultural organization. A 15- member board of directors along with over 70 committee members was formed to establish this museum. The non-profit status was actively sought after when several members of HACCM met with the Parish Council. The key factor for creating this separate status was to allow HACCM to solicit and receive funds from foundations and other potential donors who do not fund religious organizations. Another arms-length agreement, as it is known by Greek Portlanders, is the lease agreement with the Parish for the exhibition space. For the moment various plans are being explored for the Museum s future location as part of a broader Cathedral Campus Plan. Private donations, several grants and an all-volunteer staff have come together to help the museum reach its present status and finely appointed exhibition gallery. EXHIBITING HELLENISM IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST The radiant 3,000+ square foot second-floor exhibition space is a jewel in-and-of-itself. Hand-built hardwood museum cases line parts of the east and south walls. These cases are filled to the brim with historic photographs and a wide array of objects, photographs, textiles, antique cooking ware brought from Greece, and even musical instruments - all drawn from the private collections of the local Greek community. An obvious point you may say, but once non- Greeks see these items (which are certainly not a part of everyday life in the America they experience) they provide the non- Greek with a greater understanding of how their Greek American neighbors maintain their cultural heritage in an everyday fashion in the privacy of their own homes. Professional lighting and hand-painted sayings adorn the walls, such as Except for the blind forces of Nature, nothing moves in this world which is not Greek in origin. Treasured traditional village wedding gowns are also on loan to the museum. Complementing these familyowned gowns is an array of free standing Greek costumes from various regions. Accompanying this display of traditional dress are two other examples of traditional Greek attire. One is the exhibition case with a complete vestment of the late Father Elias Stephanopoulos. The other is an authentic Greek Army uniform. A judicious mix of exhibit cases and free-standing panels are also employed in the hall s center, which displays not only the latest exhibition but also select memorable objects and interpretive panels from past exhibitions. The HACCM strives for five exhibitions a year. Let me offer just a brief summation of but a handful of these events. The Textiles of Greece was an especially noteworthy exhibition. Quite literally hundreds of items and detailed information from dozens of Greek hamlets, villages and towns were offered for display. Invaluable and now nearly-lost information on handmade dyes, working with silk and other natural fibers also arose with the explanations of the history and construction of these much treasured family heirlooms. These hand-made textiles were originally far from simply objets d art or treasured but never used family keepsakes. These objects document the artistry in silk, wool and cotton that Greeks readily employed as part of their daily lives in remote mountain villages, far-scattered island villages and in the crowded towns of the Balkans or eastern Mediterranean. Far from some stereotype of a simple peasant people of little note the drive to create and be surrounded by art and beauty everyday and in every item of use can be shown in the most modest of every day items of clothing or average household use. Quite a number of these exhibitions have been the subject of local news accounts. When asked about the array and choice of objects for The Joy of Living Greek exhibition, co-chair Christine Rulli contextualized the presentation by observing that through these objects, You see our faith, our culture and our tradition. Greece has been under constant occupation - most recently, 400 years of Ottoman (Turk) rule. The joy Greeks live with, the music, the dance, they almost do it in spite of their oppression. That s why this is so important (Star News December 2008). The current main exhibition, as I ve noted, is the Savor the Flavors of Greece which showcases not just cooking and baking but the unique foods, spices and other tastes of Greece. I was especially impressed with the segment on the history and cultivation of masticha. As part of the overall activities surrounding the Savor the Flavors of Greece exhibition was the February 26th showing of the Greek film Politiki Kouzina: A Touch of Spice directed by Tassos Boulmetis which is the first film in the HACCM Greek Film Series of An interesting turn of events was noted as part of the Rebetiko Festival (April 25 to 28, 2009) which included a concert, classes, workshops and the ALL HISTORY Oregon s Hellenic American Cultural Center and Museum is a Greek Gem HACCm c This photo presents one area of the spectacular Hellenic American Cultural Center. The Oregon community has received applause and, hopefully, the ultimate compliment of imitation. showing of the Greek film Rembetiko. This film proved especially memorable and was a highly successful segment of HACCM s ongoing Greek Film Series. Recalling the response to this film prompted the observation that a recent development within the Greater Northwest is that when Hellenic cultural events, separate from church events, are offered there is a growing number of Greeks who will only attend the cultural events. This trend is not limited to Oregon and Washington. Many of the new Hellenic and Orthodox museums have reported this very same tendency in their home communities. Many from the Great Northwest may well feel I should have mentioned more of the exhibitions such as Greek Entrepreneurs in Oregon and SW Washington or the AHEPA exhibit. No single news account could possibly cover all the exhibitions or public programming the HACCM has created to date. It does not matter which of the volunteers or individuals from the board of directors (who are often one and the same) proudly takes one through the various permanent and current exhibitions. Surprisingly, whoever guides you through the beautiful gallery space is quick to note all the plans, now in motion, for a yet larger and even more extensive museum. Believe me; what is already featured and installed in the HACCM exhibition gallery is simply beautiful. ODYSSEY 2010: A GALA FOR THE ARTS Every May, in commemoration of the opening of the Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum, a major event is always observed. This upcoming May 15th Odyssey 2010, A Gala for the Arts will kick off the museum s season of public programming. A selection of paintings from the Marguerite Frances Sylvia Collection will be prominently displayed. The gala will be both the occasion for the grand opening of an exhibition of artwork by 12 local artists of Greek descent, as well as the time for a finely appointed dinner. The Greeks of Oregon and southwest Washington face the same problems all the new generation of Hellenic museums and archives springing up around the country are now facing: building of collections, the creation of exhibitions, securing a professional staff and raising money for daily and long term operations. Each one faces the same fundamental problem of fund raising in difficult economic times. Without question the HACCM has an allvolunteer work staff that is dedicated to seeing the museum succeed. Without such singular people, who offer their time, energies and often, monies, the museum would never exist. Funds from this year s gala are already earmarked as the muchneeded seed monies for a matching grant that will bring an administrative assistant to the museum. Various committees as well as the overall HACCM board have concentrated well over a yearand-a-half in planning the gala. Aside from the planned 200 person dinner at $150 per person, there is also a capital campaign focusing on sponsors for the event. These sponsorship positions are divided into five groupings: the Athenian, for a donation $10,000 which will entitle the donor to one table at the dinner dance which seats ten; the Spartan status at $5,000, which guarantees six tickets; Macedonian at $2,500 and four tickets; the Olympian at $1,000 for two tickets and the Minoan at $500 for which the donor receives one ticket. A raffle of only 500 tickets at $100 per ticket and an auction will be featured aspects of the gala. The HACCM also has established a long term endowment program. Leadership 50 will be composed of fifty individuals who sponsor $50,000 each for the long-term benefit of the museum. One individual has already contributed $35,000 toward their membership and more are expected. New institutions such as the Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum deserves the support of Greeks all across North America, not just those of the Great Northwest. No one is going to be Greek for us. No one is going to just jump up and financially support our community. If the actual history and ongoing culture of Hellenism in North America is going to survive then it must be because we collectively and actively preserve it. Before any of the nay-sayers begin grumbling, it is worth noting that the National Endowment for the Arts just released their findings that overall ticket sales to theatres, symphonies and museums only accounts for 34% of their annual revenue (San Jose Mercury News March 28, 2010). So, it s not just the new Greek Museums that need an influx of annual funding. A vigorous and sustained fund raising program is the only way any theatre, symphony and/or museum can keep its doors open. The Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum is deserving of the support of Greeks no matter where they live in the United States or elsewhere. The daily work it takes to preserve and document Hellenism in Ameriki can be witnessed at the Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum. Aptly enough this museum s motto is honoring the future by preserving the past. The HACCM exhibition gallery is open Wednesdays from 11 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (503) But, do not take my word for how grand this museum is no, no! Go for yourself and see one of the finest examples of the New Greek American museums anywhere in the nation.

8 8 OBITUARIES CLASSIFIEDS THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 Community Mourns for 18-Year-Old Killed at Manhattan Subway Stop s NEW YORK - For Stacy Savvoulides, Good Friday came a week late. While everyone was preparing for Pascha, her heart was drowning in the deep pain over the untimely loss of her 18- year-old son Spyros. On Wednesday April 7, funeral services were held for Spyros G. Fliatouras at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. He died last Monday March 29 after being struck by an oncoming train inside a Manhattan subway station. His grieving mother told The National Herald that authorities were continuing investigations to determine the cause of death and the circumstances. Nevertheless, Ms. Savvoulides explained that her son was at the 116th Street subway station near Columbia University at the time of the fateful incident. "I don't know why he was there," she said. "He was a studious boy. Maybe he went there to go to the university library or Spyros G. Fliatouras, in a recent photograph. The young man was killed when he was struck by a subway train in Manhattan. because he was interested in attending that university." The young college student was currently attending New York City College of Technology, but as his mother explained, his dream was to attend Columbia University. "Maybe he went there to get information on the school..." she speculated. With regard to the cause of death, Ms. Savvoulides told TNH that "The police told me that they have not yet ascertained the details and are continuing to investigate the matter. At the moment of collision, he was bent over. A female bystander told police that she saw Spyro waiting for the train. She then said she saw him bend down - perhaps to tie his shoelaces, or because he dropped his phone." He left his house in Brooklyn for the last time that fateful morning carrying only his bookbag. Ms. Savvoulides described her son as "very sensitive, well liked, and pleasant." She added that "he always had good grades, he was bright, and everyone liked him." Spyros is an alumnus of the St. Nektarios Greek Afternoon School in Brooklyn, as well as a graduate of Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. A wake was held for Fliatouras at Torregrossa Funeral Home, located at Street in Brooklyn on Monday and Tuesday April 5-6. Funeral services followed on Wednesday at the St. Nicholas Church in Brooklyn ( Street), officiated by Bishop Vikentios of Apameias, who was be assisted by Rev. Haralambos Politis and Demetrios Panetas. Spyros' father Yannis arrived in New York from Greece, where he resides. Christin Hatziminadakis, an acquaintance of Spyros', said she had not seen him for a week but spoke with him over the telephone on the night before the incident. "He was calm and pleasant, like always," she said. "He spoke to me about current events, like politics, as was has habit. At some point, he even recommended that I read William Cooper, an American poet and author. He loved to read and discuss things. He was very bright and a wonderful person. He was an outstanding student. He was interested in dietetics and knew a lot about a healthy diet. He always watched what he ate. I loved him very much. He wanted to become a auto mechanic, and he knew a lot about computers. He even told me that he was fasting. He also was planning on going on vacation to Greece." On the night before his death, Spyros told Ms. Hatziminadakis on three separate occasions that he was going to call her the following day. "He did not get to call me in time, and now I'm never going to hear his voice again," Ms. Hatziminadakis said as she sobbed. Another friend of Spyros', George Hatzigeorgiou, who had attended Fort Hamilton High School together with him, spoke very highly of him. "He was somebody who stood out. He was a good student and a good friend. Spyro loved trying new things. I remember he used to buy these prep books ahead of every major test in school, and he used to encourage me to do the same. He used to lock himself up at home for a week at a time and study. He loved cars too. He used to take me with him to go see car shows. Spyro had a heart of gold." DEATHS n BAHAROPOULOS, ANESTIS CHICAGO, Ill The Chicago Tribune reported that Anestis Baharopoulos passed away peacefully. Anestis was a member of the Macedonian Cultural Center and Neos Skopos Elpis Society. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Anastasia. He is survived by his children, Evdoxios (Marina) Baharis and Chrysa (George) Gavriilopoulos; his grandchildren, Dimitri and Anesti; his siblings, Athena Magriotis, Kaliopie Spyridonos and Baharis Baharopoulos; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation was held at the Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at St. Haralambos Church. Memorial donations to St. Haralambos Church would be appreciated. Arrangements by John G. Adinamis Funeral Director, Ltd. (773) n BAMBACUS, THEONE WASHINGTON, D.C. The Washington Post reported that Theone Bambacus, 90, passed away peacefully on March 29. She was born on July 12, 1919 in Washington, D.C. Theone will be remembered most for her devotion to God and her family, her kindness to others, and her positive attitude about life. Theone was the daughter of Nicholas and Pulcheria Koutsoukos. She was preceded in death by her husbands, John P. Bambacus and Theodore P. Bambacus; brothers, Chris Koutsoukos and George Koutsoukos; sisters, Sophie Cavacos, Helen Boinis, Mary Gianaris, Virginia Mulcare, and Georgia Constantinides. Theone is survived by her loving children, John N. Bambacus (Karen), Nicholas J. (Susan) Bambacus, and Mary Michelle (Padraic) Dempsey; her grandchildren, Christopher Bambacus, Joshua Dempsey, and Sophia Bambacus; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Flowers may be sent to Philip D. Rinaldi Funeral Service, 9241 Columbia Boulevard, Silver Spring, Maryland or in lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral (address below) and/or WMHS Hospice at 1050 W. Industrial Blvd., Cumberland, MD n COUSSIS, CONNIE CHICAGO, Ill. The Chicago Tribune reported that Connie M. Coussis passed away peacefully. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Theodore Coussis and her sister Anastasia Manos. She is survived by her children, John (Lesley) and Marina (Thomas) Demos; her grandchildren, Theodore, Chrissa and Nina; and her brother, John (Betty) Marin. Visitation was held at Conboy's Westchester Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at Assumption Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Assumption Church would be appreciated. n GEORGE, THEOPHILUS PHILADELPHIA, Penn. The Philly Inquirer reported that Theophilus George, 88, a retired property manager, passed away from a heart attack at Lankenau Hospital. Born to Greek immigrants, he spent a year in Greece as a child and learned Slovak while there. After immigrating to the United States, he graduated from West Philadelphia High School and then joined the Army during World War II. Because of his proficiency with languages, the Army sent him to the University of Missouri to study Italian. He was going to be a part of an OSS mission to Italy, but Italy surrendered in 1943 before the plan was put into effect. After his discharge, Mr. George graduated from Peirce Business College in Philadelphia and became an accountant for Laurence J. Goldstein Real Estate Co. The firm managed apartment houses and office buildings in the Philadelphia area. At 62 he retired as a general manager with the firm but continued to consult. He loved good conversation, food, music, and art. In addition to his son Adrian, he is survived by his wife of 62 years, Beth Laspas George, his son, Stephen; and two granddaughters. The funeral was held at St. Luke's Church. n MERKOURIOU, GEORGIOS HARTFORD, Conn. The Hartford Courant reported that Georgios Merkouriou, 81, passed away on March 31. Georgios was born in Rhodes, Greece. He was the son of the late Savvas and Athena Merkouriou. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and brother and was committed to his family. Georgios is survived by his wife of 51 Charlie Vergos, Memphis Barbecue King, Dies at 84 By John T. Edge The New York Times MEMPHIS - Charlie Vergos, founder of the Rendezvous barbecue restaurant in Memphis, died on Saturday, March 27. He was 84. Mr. Vergos died at his home in Eads, Tenn., an eastern suburb of Memphis. A family member told The Commercial Appeal newspaper that Mr. Vegos had been suffering from Alzheimer s disease. Mr. Vergos, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Greece, opened the Rendezvous in 1948, selling ham and cheese sandwiches and beer. His signature pork ribs, charcoal-grilled, basted with vinegar and sprinkled with what has come to be known, in popular parlance, as dry rub, came later, around 1954 or When barbecue obsessives talk about the dry rub style, often referenced as the Memphis style, they re talking about the style that Mr. Vergos forged, by sprinkling ribs with his variation on a Greek seasoning mix. At first, his crew cooked ribs in a pit room that was built around a retrofitted coal chute. (In some family stories, that chute is described as an elevator shaft.) In later years, Mr. Vergos expanded what was originally a modest tavern into a sort of barbecue palace, decorated with all manner of knickknacks. Mr. Vergos was an astute businessman, adept at leveraging relationships. Holiday Inn s founder, Kemmons Wilson, was a Rendezvous fan. He took visiting business associates there in the 1960s. When Federal Express, another Memphis company, began its overnight delivery service, Mr. Vergos saw an opportunity. In 1985, he took out a small advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, offering overnight shipment of ribs by way of a toll-free number, (800) HOGS-FLY. From there, his business took off. years, Seva; his sons, Savvas (Nancy) Merkouriou and Dr. John (Joanne) Merkouriou; his grandchildren, Alexandra, Alexia and Lukas Merkouriou; his siblings, Katholiki Kritharides and Elias (Anastasia) Merkouriou; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation was held at the Dillon- Baxter Funeral Home and funeral services were held at St George Cathedral. Contributions in his memory may be made to: Make a Wish Foundation, 126 Monroe Tpke., Trumbull, CT To share a memory with the family, please visit, n GENNIS, ANGELINE ARLINGTON, Mass. - The Arlington Advocate reported that Angeline Gennis, 86, passed away peacefully on March 6. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, George H. Gennis. She was born in Somerville, to Anastasios and Anastasia (Sourgiotis) Yakes. She resided in Somerville with her family and graduated from Somerville High School. George and Angie resided in Arlington for most of their marriage, where they raised their five children. Angeline was one of the original members of St. Athanasius The Great Church. She was a member of the Philoptochos and very devoted to her church. She was a long time volunteer at the Hellenic College in Brookline. She enjoyed painting and Greek dancing, but is best known for her fabulous Greek cooking. She was predeceased by her siblings, George (Rose) Yakes, Ethel Vozikis and Ellen (Adam) Adams. She is survived by her children, Harry (Pauline), Thomas (Aida), Peter Gennis. Charles Gennis and Mary Anne (David) Schubert; her grandchildren, George and Angelina Gennis, Elisabeth, George, Andreas, and Evan Gennis and Tess and Kathryn Schubert. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Athanasius Church, 4 Appleton St., Arlington, MA 02476; or the Alzheimer's Association in her memory. Please go to and click on "Find A Tribute" or mail to Angeline Gennis Tribute Fund, c/o Alzheimer's Association P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C n HAMILAKIS, EDWARD SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Republican reported that Edward M. Hamilakis, 75, passed away peacefully on March 31 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Xania, Crete to the late Menelaos and Eleni Hamilakis. He was a life-long member of St. George Cathedral and the Minos-Crete Association. He was an employee of Westvaco U.S. Envelope Company for 28 years in Springfield. Edward enjoyed hunting with his son and spending time with his friends. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Marika Hamilakis; his children, George (Argero) Hamilakis and Elaine (Jason) Duffy; his grandchildren, Teddy, Christos, Julia and Troy; his brothers, Aristidi and Basili Hamilakis; his sisters, Georgia Yioryakakis and Antonia Fantakis; his brother-in-law, Christos Kartakis; his sisters-in-law, Ellie Karantzis and Irini Hondrakis. Visitation was held at the Forastiere-Smith Funeral Home and funeral services were held at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Edward's memory to either the Mercy Hospice, P.O. Box 9012, Springfield, MA , to the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center Patient Services Fund, 271 Carew St., Springfield, MA or to the St. George Cathedral Building Fund, 8 Plainfield St., Springfield, MA n KORON, MARy OAKLAND, Calif. - The Inside Bay Area reported that Mary Koron passed away on March 30 surrounded by her family. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 15, 1927 to Bessie and Manouso Doukas. Her Greek heritage and Greek Orthodox faith was very important to her. She was a devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. She was married for 60 years to Anthony Koron who preceded her in death. Throughout the years, they devotedly worked together for the Greek Festivals of their beloved Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Castro Valley, which they helped to establish. Mary is survived by her daughter, Bessie (Mark) Anderson and son Michael (Vicky); her grandchildren, Zachary, Cynthia, Alexander, Anthony, Michael and Krystal; her cousins, Thelma Mavrakis and family; Kongtas family; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services, a Trisagion prayer service and visitation were held at the Resurrection Church. The family is asking that any donations be made to the Resurrection Church in Castro Valley. n LINTZERIS, STELLA BALTIMORE, MD The Baltimore Sun reported that Stella Lintzeris passed away on March 27. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Demetrios George Lintzeris and her daughter Linda Fannon. She is survived by her son, George D. Lintzeris; her daughter and sonin-law of Kelly Maltas Lintzeris and William P. Fannon III; her grandchildren, Zoe and Stephanie Lintzeris and Willie, Emily and Greg Fannon; and many loving nieces and nephews. Funeral services and a Trisagion prayer service were held at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. n MAMMAS, JAMES CHICAGO, Ill. The Chicago Daily Suburban Herald reported that James E. Mammas passed away peacefully. Mr. Mammas was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Air Force. He was an Archon, by Order of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, 32nd Degree Mason, member of the board of directors, Bank of Indiana, and a past president of S.S. Constantine and Helen Church Parish Council. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary; his children, Lucia Marie Greenawalt, Evan James (Marika) Mammas and Paula Christine (Peter) Guletsky; his grandchildren, Ryan (Kana), Darrin (Sarah), Nathan and Marysa Leah Greenawalt, Caidi Christine and Joanna Marie Mammas, and Anastasia, Alexander James and Tatiana Guletsky; his greatgranddaughter, Toula Greenawalt; his brother, Steve E.; his brother-in-law Chris (Becky) Zeheralis; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation was held at the Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago. Funeral services were held at S.S. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to S.S. Peter and Paul Church, would be appreciated. Arrangements were made by John G. Adinamis Funeral Director, Ltd., (773) This is a service to the community. Announcements of deaths may be telephoned to the Classified department of at (718) , monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST or ed to: classifieds@thenationalherald.com n MANTZOROS, SPyRIDON SAN BERNARDINO, CA The San Bernardino Sun reported that Spyridon V. Mantzoros, 71, passed away on March 25. He is survived by his children, Soteria (Ryan) Cobb and Varick Mantzoros; his granddaughter, Alexandria Cobb; his former wife, Mary Mantzoros; his sisters, Nicoleta Ekonomopoulou, Soula Tonga; his brother, George (Gloria) Mantzoros; his nephew, Varick (Michelle) Mantzoros; his niece, Joann Legal Notices/LLC 857 DEAN STREET, LLC a domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) filed with the Sec of State of NY on 11/18/09. NY Office location: Kings County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her to Mohammad Abdou, 807 Bergen St., Brooklyn, NY General Purposes /10709/04-17 FUNERAL HOMES CONSTANTINIDES FUNERAL PARLOR Co st Street Bay Ridge - Brooklyn, NY (718) Services in all localities - Low cost shipping to Greece ANTONOPOULOS FUNERAL HOME, INC. Konstantinos Antonopoulos - Funeral Director Ditmars Blvd., Astoria, New York (718) REAL ESTATE subscribe CLASSIFIEDS (Jim) Christopoulos; and many loved nieces and nephews in Greece. Visitation and a Trisagion service were held at Bobbitt Memorial Chapel. Funeral services were held at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the American Cancer Society, 6355 Riverside Ave., Riverside, California, 92506, Condolences may be sent on-line at chapel.com. Not affiliated with any other funeral home. APOSTOLOPOULOS Apostle Family - Gregory, Nicholas, Andrew - Funeral Directors of RIVERDALE FUNERAL HOME Inc Broadway New York, NY (212) Toll Free GAPOSTLE LITRAS FUNERAL HOME ARLINGTON BENSON DOWD, INC FUNERAL HOME Parsons Blvd., Jamaica, NY (718) (800) TO PlACE your ClASSiFiEd Ad, CAll: (718) , ExT. 106, classifieds@ thenationalherald.com PRINTED EDITION OF THE NATIONAL HERALD VIA THE POST-OFFICE: o1 month $11.00 o3 months $22.00 o6 months $33.00 oone year $66.00 VIA HOME DELIVERy (Ny, NJ & CT): o1 month for $14.00 o3 months for $33.00 o6 months for $48.00 oone year for $88.00 VIA HOME DELIVERy (New England, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., VIRGINIA & MARyLAND) o1 month for $18.00 o3 months for $41.00 o6 months for $57.00 oone year for $ ON LINE SUBSCRIPTION NON SuBSCriBErS: oone year for $45.95 o6 months for $29.95 o3 months for $18.95 SuBSCriBErS: oone year for $34.95 o6 months for $23.95 o3 months for $14.95 NAmE:... AddrESS:... CiTy:...STATE:...ZiP:... 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9 THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 GREECE CYpRUS 9 Greece Criticizes Germany for Racial Approach on Economic Aid By Andrei Khalip LISBON, April 5 (Reuters) - Germany's hard line on aid for Greece has been based on a "moral, racial approach" and the prejudice that Greeks don't work enough, Greek Deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos told a Portuguese newspaper. Pangalos, who accused Germany earlier this year of not properly compensating Greece for its World War Two occupation, also told the paper that German leaders were too focused on catering to domestic voters at a time when the EU required solidarity. Polls show Germans are overwhelmingly against a financial bailout for Greece and Chancellor Angela Merkel ensured at a summit in Brussels last month that tough conditions were attached to any such aid. "Some countries like Germany have taken a moral approach to our problem," Pangalos told Jornal de Negocios in an interview conducted last week. "The Greeks have problems. By Christopher Tripoulas NEW YORK - Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister has been in the public eye of late, primarily over the growing infighting that is reportedly taking place within the Government's Council of Ministers - which is barely six months old. In a bid to save his job from the Minister of State, Haris Pamboukis - who is rumored to be seeking the post of Foreign Minister, currently held by Prime Minister George Papandreou, but implicitly promised to Droutsas - the relative newcomer to Greece's ruling Socialist PASOK party has made headlines by announcing a willingness to accept the name "Northern Macedonia" for Greece's northern neighbor FYROM, thus resolving a dispute the 19 year-old dispute, and to reach out to Turkey, which has of late angered Greece with its provocations in the Aegean and violations of Greek airspace. "The name, 'Northern Macedonia', lies within the framework suggested by Athens," Droutsas was quoted as saying by Greek media earlier this week. Should FYROM PM Nikola Gruevski reject this proposal, "it will be up to him to explain to his people why their European [prospects] have been [held up]," Droutsas added. "Greece wants a solution, and quickly. We can achieve it, but Skopje must demonstrate the political will," the Greek official noted. Athens and Skopje have been at odds for nearly two decades over the name of the country that Greece recognizes as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), but which under its own constitution calls contained in the new taxation bill that is currently being debated in parliament, as well as the course of execution of the current state budget. The Finance Ministry is seeking IMF knowhow on ways of curbing tax evasion and on transition from annual to three-year budgets. EurOkiNiSSi Greece s tax revenue is already rising and there is a reduction in public spending and staff costs, Jornal de Negocios reported, citing an interview with Deputy PM Theodoros Pangalos. In early May, a team of the three-way committee (European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF) monitoring the Greek economy is due in Athens ahead of the drafting of its progress report on the Greek economy due to be submitted to the Commission on May 16. In addition to a review of fiscal developments and growth, the report is also expected to devote Why do they have problems? Because they don't work enough. And why is that? Because they have a good climate, music and drink and they are not as serious as the Germans," he added. Pangalos said this approach was "ridiculous" and failed to take into account strong productivity gains in Greek industry and agriculture. "This is a moral, racial approach that does not correspond to reality," he said. The German government declined to comment on the report. It previously dismissed Pangalos's remarks about war compensation, saying it had paid that as well as billions of euros in aid. The outspoken Greek politician has also accused Germany of withholding aid because its banks and exporters were profiting from Greece's crisis, remarks also rejected by Berlin. Pangalos described the financial safety net deal for Greece agreed upon by EU leaders on March 25 as a "good step forward", but said it should have been more straightforward. AID AS LAST RESORT Under the deal, aid would only provided to Greece if it was unable to access credit markets. itself the Republic of Macedonia. The ex-yugoslav Republic was accepted into the UN with the temporary name FYROM, and Greece continues to assert that the country's constitutional name implies territorial ambitions on its northern province of Macedonia. Athens has been blocking Skopje's Euro-Atlantic integration bids over the name dispute, despite growing pressure from the U.S. and its EU allies. TURKEY REACHES OUT TO GREECE Meanwhile, according to an article by Thomas Siebert in The National, Turkey is turning to an unlikely partner in an effort to lift a roadblock threatening to stall its EU membership process: its long-time arch rival Greece. The expected visit by Droutsas to Ankara this week is creating a stir in the Turkish capital. Turkey hopes Athens can be of help in solving the Cyprus conflict, and by extension, in rescuing Turkey s membership talks with the EU. Droutsas planned visit on April 7-8, is seen as an important step in improving ties between the two neighbors who have long been rivals in the eastern Mediterranean. The meeting was supposed to have taken place last week, but was postponed as a sign of Greece's displeasure over a recent barrage of incursions into its airspace and territorial waters by Turks. Announcing the visit, a Turkish foreign ministry statement said both countries had the will to give a new impetus to their relations. Greek newspapers reported a public spat between Droutsas, Greek PM George Papandreou, and top Papandreou aide, Minister of State Haris Pamboukis, after the latter met with Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis to discuss Turkey's EU accession. Droutsas reportedly expressed his anger at not being informed of the meeting, which was attended by Papandreou as well, and took place on the sidelines of the EU Summit on March 25. The meeting and subsequent outburst is fueling speculation that Pamboukis will become the Greek foreign minister in the next Cabinet reshuffle, and not Droutsas. Ankara hopes that Greece will put pressure on the Cypriot government to find a solution to the conflict on the island, divided along ethnic lines since a Turkish invasion in Turkey fears that the continued conflict on Cyprus may lead to a collapse of its EU membership negotiations within a few months. We want the Greeks to use more of their influence on the Greek Cypriots, a high-ranking Turkish diplomat told The National, speaking on condition of anonymity. But so far, that is not happening. The diplomat added that there is general agreement between Turkey and Greece for a summit meeting between Papandreou and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, in the near future. In his meeting with Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, Droutsas is likely to review the state of bilateral relations that have been marred by not only the Cyprus problem, but also by a growing number of encroachments by Turkey in Greek waters. Military jets of the two countries have engaged in dogfights over territory disputed by Turkey, and in 1996 the two NATO allies almost went to war over an uninhabited islet. A cautious process of reconciliation, which started in 1999 when Papandreou was Greece s foreign minister, has so far failed to solve any of the major outstanding issues between the two countries. Turkey hopes Greece s financial difficulties will make Athens more open to its demands. Government officials in Ankara have called on their Greek counterparts to end an expensive arms race between the two countries. a large section to what Greece has done or intends to do with respect to structural changes, which include the social security system, the deregulation of the so-called "closed" professions, and acceleration of the denationalizations program. According to ministry sources, the government intends to move ahead in the immediate future, by June at the latest, with specific moves aimed at creating a positive climate for the Greek economy in the international money and capital markets. Greece will also revise its 2009 budget deficit numbers, the largest in the European Union, to at least 12.9 percent of gross domestic product after the economy contracted more than expected last year, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said. The shortfall will be revised up from 12.7 percent, more than four times the EU limit, after the economy shrank 2 percent last year, more than the 1.2 percent initially forecast by the government, Papaconstantinou said, according to a transcript of an interview with Mega television. The Bank of Greece last month said the deficit would have to be revised to 12.9 percent because of the size of the economic contraction. Meanwhile, the European Commission reportedly plans to announce in May predictions of a 2.5 percent recession in 2010, a much more adverse forecast than the Finance Ministry's and Bank of Greece's revised prediction of a negative growth rate of percentage points of GDP. In the event that the anticipated Commission forecast proves true, this development would further hinder budget revenues and possibly require additional measures for curtailing public expenditures, in order to attain the target of reducing the fiscal deficit by 4 percentage points of GDP by the end of the current year. SAMARAS BLASTS GOVERNMENT Main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras on Tuesday blasted the government on its economic It is a possible development in the Cyprus issue, however, that has captured the imagination of Turkish diplomats and observers. Pressure by Athens on the Greek Cypriot side, which joined the EU in 2004 and therefore can veto talks with Ankara, could lead to a breakthrough in Turkey s EU negotiations, Fatih Cekirge, a columnist for the Hurriyet newspaper, wrote last week. This visit could produce important results, he wrote about Droutsas upcoming talks in Ankara. The EU has blocked eight of 35 negotiation chapters in its Merkel also insisted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) play a role in any rescue, angering some EU partners who would have preferred the bloc to handle the problem on its own, but winning praise from the media in Germany. "This is politics and politics has always been about what the people voting want to hear," Pangalos told the paper. "But we should try to limit, as much as we can, our natural tendency to satisfy our citizens and concentrate on the economic reality. And what this economic reality tells us is that the EU needs solidarity and a correction mechanism," he said. Referring to an opinion poll in February that showed a majority of Germans wanted Greece expelled from the Eurozone, Pangalos said that although it was not a scenario his country wanted, "Greece will always exist, as we have existed for 8,000 years, out of the euro and the EU." He said the sort of debt problems seen in Greece were likely to spread further in the Eurozone and Portugal could be the next victim. "You are the next victims... I hope it doesn't happen and the solidarity prevails and we find an exit from this escalation (of borrowing costs). But if this does not happen, the next probable victim will be Portugal," he said. "What happened to us (Greece) now is because we are in a worse situation, but it could also happen in Spain and Portugal," he said. Because of its weak growth, a lack of competitiveness and a budget deficit that surged to 9.4 percent of GDP last year, Portugal is seen as one of the Eurozone's most vulnerable economies should Greece's debt crisis spread to other members of the currency area. But the premium it costs Portugal to borrow is still roughly three times smaller than that of Greece, and its projected debtto-gdp ratio for this year of 86 percent is much lower than Greece's ratio of roughly 120 percent. Editing by Noah Barkin. Embattled Alternate Greek FM hints at Northern Macedonia, Visits Turkey Doubts Grow Over EU Deal as Greece's Debt Costs Remain High Easter Celebrations in Greece EurOkiNiSSi Children are seen here celebrating the Resurrection on the island of Kerkyra. Greeks all over the country celebrated the feast of Pascha on Sunday, April 4, As soon as the message of Christ's Resurrection echoed, church bells started tolling joyfully and fireworks filled the skies. AP PHOTO Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, left, and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu seen after a news conference followed by their talks in Ankara, Turkey on Thursday. membership talks with Turkey because of Ankara s refusal to open Turkish ports for ships from Cyprus. As additional chapters are blocked by the Cypriots themselves and by France, a total of 17 to 18 chapters are currently unavailable for negotiations. That is a problem, because Turkey has already addressed 12 chapters, so that only a handful of chapters are still available for negotiations. If those are completed in the coming months as planned, Turkey s membership negotiation process could stall by the end of the year. We can see the train coming, the Turkish diplomat said. This is why Ankara hopes that pressure from Greece will lead to a softening of the Greek Cypriot position. Athens can tell southern Cyprus: Lift the veto. But Omer Fazlioglu, an expert on Cyprus at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, a think tank in Ankara, said that Greece s influence may not be as significant as Ankara thinks. Athens does not have as much influence on the Greek Cypriots as Ankara has on the Turkish Cypriots, he told The National in a telephone interview. Referring to Greece s economic problems, he added that the Papandreou government had other things to think about at the moment. This story combines reports from UPI, Kathimerini, Athens News Agency. Additional reporting by Thomas Siebert from The National tripoulas@ekirikas.com policy, warning that the measures it is taking are "drying up' the market. Replying to a press question, Samaras said that everywhere he went during the past few days, over the Easter holiday, he had observed strong resentment toward the government's policy, adding that the small and medium size enterprises and the market were in a dire condition, while the morale of the market "has collapsed". Samaras called on the government to change its attitude and improve the morale of the market, warning that the measures it has taken will result in the shut-down of thousands of businesses, and will not result in curtailment of the budget, as sought by the EU. Had there not been any talk of the IMF and support packages we would have been left alone in peace and been able to issue [bonds] and have a proper and well functioning market, debt management agency chairman Petros Christodoulou told CNBC. The government has warned that its plans to pull the country out of a deepening recession could be compromised by higher debt repayments. If the money we save from tax revenue and spending cuts is to be spent on interest, it s clear that the country can neither carry out a fiscal adjustment nor have any benefit, Deputy Finance Minister Filippos Sachinidis told AFP. Greece may pay about 13 billion euros more in interest on its debt this year and analysts say the country can ill afford to continue borrowing at rates over 6 percent. Others suggest the climate will improve once markets perceive that the government means business on ending decades of waste and mismanagement in the civil service, state hospitals and publicowned companies. It s clear that Greece cannot sustain borrowing at 6 percent for long, said Athens University of Economics and Business professor George Pagoulatos. But we are in a period of de-escalation, we just have to give it time, he told AFP. ECB & EU PARLIAMENT MEETINGS A European Central Bank (ECB) meeting on Thursday is expected to center on economic developments in Europe and Greece while on the same day the Presidents of the European Commission and the EU, Mr. Barosso and Van Rompuy are to brief the European Parliament on the outcome of EU Summit meeting, held on March 25, regarding support mechanism. Forecasts that ECB will maintain the loan interest rate firm is expected to create a favorable climate for the country's efforts for recovery. Vice-Premier Theodoros Pagalos warned that speculators may shift their attention to Portugal and underlined the need for a spirit of solidarity in the euro region. An IMF delegation arrives in Athens on Wednesday to technically assist in the increase of state revenues. A mixed delegation of EU Commision, ECB and IMF inspectors will come to Athens at the beginning of May to examine the progress of the Growth and Stability Plan. This article includes reports from AFP, Reuters, the Athens News Agency, and NET tripoulas@ekirikas.com

10 10 EDITORIALS LETTERS THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest to the Greek American community of the United States of America. Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris Assistant to Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos Executive Editor Constantine S. Sirigos On Line Assistant Editor Christos Tripoulas Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros Webmaster Alexandros Tsoukias (USPS ) is published weekly by Inc. at th Street, LIC, NY Tel: (718) , Fax: (718) , english.edition@thenationalherald.com Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece Tel: , Fax: , athens@ekirikas.com Subscriptions by mail: 1 year $66.00, 6 months $33.00, 3 months $22.00, 1 month $11.00 Home delivery NY, NJ, CT: 1 year $88.00, 6 months $48.00, 3 months $33.00, 1 month $14.00 Home delivery New England States, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland: 1 year $109.00, 6 months $57.00, 3 months $41.00, 1 month $18.00 On line subscription: Subscribers to the print edition: 1 year $34.95, 6 months $23.95, 3 months $14.95; Non subscribers: 1 year $45.95, 6 months $29.95, 3 months $18.95 Periodical postage paid at L.I.C., N.Y. and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send change of address to: THE NATIONAL HERALD, th Street, LIC, NY Immigrants' contributions The financial crisis in the United States brings back, with intensity, the anger, confusion and inaccuracies circulating concerning the contribution immigrants have historically made and continue to make to our economy. The subject takes on added urgency for us as the severe financial crisis that has shaken Greece to its foundation threatens to prompt a new wave of immigration towards countries willing to accept new arrivals. Already there are press reports stating that 12,000 Greeks have immigrated to Germany over the past two years, probably Greeks who had lived in Germany in the past and repatriated - but upon experiencing the problems of daily life in Greece, decided to go back again. In addition, we are told that Greek Americans who had moved to Greece are also returning or are in the process of coming back to the U.S. And this is not the first time in the history of our community that this pattern has taken place. Even if we are probably preaching to the choir, it is important to take another look at the effects of immigration on this country, because this is a subject that we feel will be in the forefront of the national dialogue in the foreseeable future: There are many studies that prove, beyond any doubt, the great overall benefit that is derived from immigration. However we find one report by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to be of particular importance and clarity. Friedman quotes Litan, who directs research at the Kauffman Foundation, which specializes in promoting innovation in America, as saying: Between 1980 and 2005, virtually all net new jobs created in the U.S. were created by firms that were 5 years old or less.that is about 40 million jobs. That means the established firms created no new net jobs during that period. Friedman concludes: Good-paying jobs don t come from bailouts. They come from start-ups. And where do start-ups come from? They come from smart, creative, inspired risk-takers. How do we get more of those? There are only two ways: grow more by improving our schools or import more by recruiting talented immigrants. Litan is quoted, in the same article, as saying: Roughly 25 percent of successful high-tech start-ups over the last decade were founded or co-founded by immigrants. Friedman points to Sergey Brin, the Russian-born co-founder of Google, and Vinod Khosla, the India-born co-founder of Sun Microsystems, as good examples. The New York Times piece continues: That is no surprise. After all, Craig Mundie, the chief research and strategy officer of Microsoft, asks: What made America this incredible engine of prosperity? It was immigration, plus free markets. Because we were so open to immigration and immigrants are by definition high-aspiring risk-takers, ready to leave their native lands in search of greater opportunities we as a country accumulated a disproportionate share of the world s high-i.q. risk-takers. And it notes: In addition, because of our vibrant and meritocratic university system, the best foreign students who wanted the best education also came here, and many of them also stayed. In its heyday, our unique system also attracted a disproportionate share of high-i.q. risk-takers to high government service. So when you put all this together, with our free markets and democracy, it made it easy here for creative, high-i.q. risk-takers to raise capital for their ideas and commercialize them. In short, America had a very powerful, self-reinforcing engine for growing innovative new companies. Right now we have thousands of foreign students in America and one million engineers, scientists and other highly skilled workers here on H-1B temporary visas, which require them to return home when the visas expire. That s nuts. We ought to have a jobcreators visa for people already here, said Litan. And once you ve hired, say, 5 or 10 American nonfamily members, you should get a green card. We could lose our most important competitive edge the only edge from which sustainable advantage accrues having the world s biggest and most diverse pool of high-i.q. risk-takers, said Mundie. If we don t have that competitive edge, our standard of living will eventually revert to the global mean. As Friedman makes clear, there is not much doubt, therefore, about the need to attract more hard-working, smart, risk takers. There are two problems however. For America, in general, there are the myopic ways of Congress, and for our community, in particular, there is the disorientation of the Greeks during the last three decades or so. Congress needs to re-examine and reconstruct the system for granting entry visas, with a focus on facilitating the immigration referred to above. They also need to restore the cultural balance in the immigration process by being more welcoming to Europeans. For decades the U.S. has shifted the preference to Asia, resulting in substantial immigration from there. While these immigrants are making a major contribution to this country, it s important to change direction here and build stronger ties with our NATO allies, especially our oldest allies, like Greece. Greeks, on the other hand - ever since their entrance into the EU - have chosen to study and seek jobs in Europe instead of their previous pattern of looking to the U.S.A. as a place to make their dreams become a reality. This results both in their receiving a lower quality of education for themselves, and in the Greek American community being deprived of new, talented blood, as Greeks no longer flock here. This community knows full well the positive influence immigrants have on the country. Most (if not all) of us know this from personal experience. What needs to be done, therefore, is to lobby Congress to allow more many more - Greeks to immigrate to the U.S.A. This is the new big issue for the community today. Thank you and Christos Anesti Twice a year, at Christmas and Easter, we print special issues celebrating these holy seasons. We also include greetings from communities, businesses, topika somateia, individual parishes and metropolises; the Archdiocese chose not to extend its wishes to the community through our newspapers. We believe that these inserts provide a valuable service to the Community. In addition, they serve as a way to generate much needed revenue for the newspapers. To all of you who chose our papers as a means of reaching out and extending your wishes to the rest of us, a big, hearty thanks. Setting the Record Straight on Catholic Church Scandal To the Editor: Today, I saw The National Herald's editorial on the subject of the "See of St. Peter." Although I take issue with a number of the statements in this editorial, I found the following statement in your editorial particularly false: "In this particular case, then- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - the present day Pope Benedict - ignored repeated accusations against Lawrence Murphy, that he sexually abused 200 deaf boys that were under his supervision. Finally, and only after the death of Murphy, the Roman Church defrocked him." The fact of the matter is that Murphy's case did not reach Rome until July 1996, twentytwo years after he had been removed from working at the school for the deaf. Prior to the case reaching Rome, Murphy's bishops had prohibited Murphy from publicly celebrating Mass or any of the sacraments and from having any contacts with minors. Thus, when the case reached Rome, Murphy was no longer functioning as a priest in any normal sense of the word and did not pose a threat to minors. After studying the case, a deputy in Cardinal Ratzinger's Congregation of the Faith in March 1997 instructed the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to institute a canonical proceeding against Murphy. In 1998, Murphy, who was facing death, wrote a letter to SANTA FE, N.M.- I remember years ago being advised by a highly-respected psychotherapist that to worry about something was akin to praying for it to happen. The act of worrying, in other words, invoked the law of attraction, a metaphysical concept made popular in the new millennium by the controversial movie and #1 New York Times bestselling book, The Secret, and other so-called New Age proponents. In actuality, referring to the law of attraction as New Age is a stretch at best, since it can be traced to the ancient Greeks! Among the many dictionary definitions of the word, worry, are the following: to afflict or be afflicted with mental distress or agitation, that is, to make or be anxious; to feel or experience concern or anxiety; to disturb or irritate (or be disturbed or irritated) by persistent acts that drive one to desperation or that intrude upon or interfere with one s composure or peace of mind. Worry, moreover, has been described as the state of engaging in chains of thoughts and images of a negative and uncontrollable nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats. And according to one of the world s greatest philosophers, Anonymous, whom I haven t yet been able to determine if s/he is Greek, Worry does not take the pain out of tomorrow; it merely takes the joy out of today. To be sure, living in today s roller-coaster world is full of formidable challenges. And, yes, we have ample opportunities to worry if we would like and choose to do so. Whether we are concerned about real or imagined issues, ranging from personal matters like health, employment, and finances, to LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Cardinal Ratzinger asking for forgiveness and mercy. The canonical proceedings were suspended on August 19, 1998, and Murphy died on August 21, 1998, two days later. Not only did it not make sense to proceed against Murphy under these circumstances, but the trial would have been very difficult due to the long period between the trial and the crimes -- there had been no alleged misconduct by Murphy in the last 24 years. Your statement that Cardinal Ratzinger "ignored repeatedly accusations against Lawrence Murphy is absolutely false. Your statement that the Roman Church defrocked Murphy after his death is likewise false. Peter M. Anderson Mercer Island, Washington broader concerns like world peace, the global economy, and the state of the environment, the possibilities for worrying about something are virtually unlimited! And while most people experience shortlived periods of worry in their lives without incident, there is evidence that more and more people worry excessively to the point of endangering their own health. These poor souls not only take the joy out of today but also cocreate and exacerbate the pain tat they will most likely experience tomorrow. Although a certain amount of worrying may actually be good for one s health (among other things, it provides a catalyst for being responsible and taking action), excessive amounts of worry are not so good and may even thwart our best intentions by effectively attracting, as I mentioned earlier, that which we want to avoid and not bring into our lives. I m not sure that listening to and singing Bobby McFerrin s 1988 Grammy A war d- winning song, Don t Worry, Be Happy, alone will provide an antidote for most worry-prone people. This said, immersing oneself into this kind of inspirational music and positive mindset offers a good start on the road to recovery from excessive worry! As people of Greek heritage, we also should consider resurrecting the use of the Komboloi (Κομπολόι) or worry beads and help make them as popular in American culture as they are in modern Greek culture. Among ΛΟΓΟΣ Greece is in Danger of Losing its National Character To the Editor: Recently, an independent newspaper, the American Free Press, interviewed a prominent Greek author and attorney of law of the Greek Supreme Court, Konstantinos Plevris. Plevris claims that Greece is in great danger of losing its identity. He claims that the Greek media and political establishment attack anything that is nationalistic, patriotic or religious, and, in general, the ideas of Hellenism. Hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens invade Greece bringing crime, disease, social turbulence, unemployment and deterioration of the makeup of the country. other things, the Komboloi are used to relieve stress and promote relaxation; hence, to directly address the issue of worrying. Although they may not be as popular today as they once were, the Komboloi are still considered a traditional trademark of Greek culture. Moreover, because they are basically non-religious in nature, unlike prayer beads, the Komboloi offer an easy-to-use device or tool for creating a soothing, calming, even meditative experience when handled. I personally own several sets of Komboloi (Κομπολόγια), and have also begun to collect them. I have found them to be so effective that I use them with increasing frequency both in my work and personal life. Not known to be a person who worries very much, I wouldn t be surprised if my use of the Komboloi helps to ensure that this personal attribute never changes! So as another antidote for worry and related conditions, I wouldn t hesitate to prescribe the use of the Komboloi for everyone. Besides, you ll find yourself helping to advance Hellenic culture as a by-product of your investment! However, my aim in this weekly ΛΟΓΟΣ column is not simply to help you not worry. No, I would like to do more than that. Ideally, I would like to help you find the deeper meaning in your life (and work) and help guide you along a path toward authentic happiness. Happiness is another one of those words that I m sad to say is overly-used, Plevris claims that in a few years Greeks will be a minority in their own country. An Islamic party will be created soon, which will bring all its consequences. Twenty percent of Greek citizens live below the poverty line. Every day a youth dies from drug abuse. Greece has the highest number of bank robberies. Low birth rate and abortion are decreasing the Greek population. The politicians care more about the rights of the gay community than the survival of the Greek people. In conclusion, this a sad commentary. Let us hope that Greek people wake up and rescue their country. Otherwise they will be refugees in their own homeland. Nicholas Golegas Flushing, N.Y. Don t Worry, Be Happy: Komboloi Meet Eudaimonia By Eleni Kostopoulos NEW YORK Six-inch heels, tight mini skirts, cleavage-exposing tops, designer Louie handbags, glam eye make-up and hair fit for the runway. Lately, it s been hard for me to decipher the difference between New York City s Fashion Week and the Orthodox Church s Holy Week. Once upon a time, I was chastised for not covering my shoulders with a shawl at an Orthodox wedding ceremony. It s disrespectful, I was told by family members and churchgoers alike. But I have yet to hear a complaint about the girl who walked down the aisle on Palm Sunday looking like she just arrived from late-night clubbing at a near-by hot spot. There is nothing wrong with being fashionable no matter where you go, but what crosses the line of modesty when it comes to attending church services? The late Archbishop Christodoulos was the first to famously extend young people a come as you are invitation to attend sermons. It s unfortunate that this invitation didn t seem to CHrySANTHi liristis / SPECiAl TO THE NATiONAl HErAld make its ways overseas to us in the States. The very same institutions that are there for our guidance, are the ones that are sending us those mixed signals. One particular church Web site writes, If women wear pants to church, they should be dress pants (not jeans, leggings, etc.) shorts of any type are not appropriate for church. Shortly after it reminds readers: Use your best judgment and good taste when dressing for church. After all, you don't go to be seen by everyone else - you go to meet and worship God. If we don t attend church for purposes of serving as eye-candy for the congregation, then why is a pair of jeans deemed as inappropriate? The truth of the matter is, if church were more casual and less luxe, perhaps people wouldn t be as intimidated or pressured by the clearly established division among social statuses, perhaps more people would have a desire to attend services and perhaps people would pay more attention to the words of the Gospel rather than length of one s skirt. While hole-y sweatpants and high-tops are the at the other end of the spectrum of in- by Dr. ALEX PATTAKOS Special to COMMENTARY Church: House of Worship, or House of Fashion? misused, and abused today. By happiness I m not referring solely to the experience of pleasure or the gratification of needs per se. Authentic happiness goes much deeper into our human-ness and as I point out in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, it is closely related to and aligned with the human quest for meaning. Once again, if we look to our Greek heritage, we can find the deeper meaning of happiness. The Greek word, Eudaimonia (Ευδαιμονία), perhaps best captures the essence of what I mean by authentic happiness. In addition to the traditional descriptors of being happy, Eudaimonia, the highest human good, includes the states of bliss and blessedness, as well as incorporates the positive attributes of prosperity and wealth. Hence, it transcends the usual reach of the five senses and enters the metaphysical, sixth sense in ways that can only be personally experienced to be truly known. Like the mystery of the logos (λογος), to experience Eudaimonia takes one to a higher and distinctly spiritual plane. And it is here where the need to worry ceases to exist and the search for ultimate meaning really begins. Dr. Pattakos, author of Prisoners of Our Thoughts, is currently working on a new business initiative and book on how to live a happy, healthy, meaningful life inspired by Greek culture. His column is published weekly in The National Herald. Readers may contact him with questions, comments, and/or suggestions for topics at: alex@prisonersofourthoughts.com or visit his web site: appropriateness, I almost rather have a person comfortable and covered up sitting next to me than a person wearing next to nothing at all. As a woman, I especially understand the complex, often contradicting and suppressive messages we receive from society: we must be intelligent but not outspoken, strong but feminine, sexy but not trashy. I find it difficult to believe that God would find it disrespectful if I wore slacks or casual wear to church any more so than the overzealous gold studded jewelry worn around the necks of our priests. But as women, we are particularly pressured- even in a church settingto look our best. Most women in the United States aren t free from the pursuit of beauty. It seems that an increasing number of women are devoting a significant amount of time to enhancing their physical appearance in any which way- from fashion magazines to television programs to endless amounts of fitness club ads landing on our doorsteps, endless sources exist to focus our attention on the outside. The implicit message is that in our present form we are not good enough and from a perspective often embedded with insecurity, many women react to the pressure. But should we feel this way in our place of worship, too? Is there not something wrong when the topic of discussion at the back of the church is centered on how sloppy the women standing at the front of the church look today? In an appearance-obsessed world, it s important to know when to let go of the attentiongrabbing garb and it s equally as important to not be judged by parishioners for the more glam attire someone may not be able to afford. Even more discerning is the growing anti-religion epidemic. If our own church can t welcome us as we are, it s no wonder people are turned off to the idea of attending services. While I m no devoted Sunday churchgoer by any means, my days of attendance are especially important to me- the clothing on my skin (as long as it s covering my skin) should not be an issue to the person sitting next to me or to my religious leader.

11 THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 VIEWpOINTS 11 Attention all cars! Be on the lookout for former prime minister Costas Karamanlis, last seen slinking off into the sunset with a big sigh of relief on his face after losing last year s election to George Papandreou, who now has a bigger headache than someone a month behind on the vigarish to Tony Soprano. Karamanlis is described as rotund, and don t be deceived if you see him smiling for the first time in five years. You might as well put out an All-Points Bulletin (APB) on Karamanlis, who left behind a shattered New Democracy, and you have to wonder if he didn t delight in losing to Papandreou and PASOK so that Karamanlis wouldn t have to explain to the European Union why his administration was cooking the books and lying about Greece s finances the five years he was in office, pushing Greece and the 16 countries who use the euro to the brink of collapse. He left that to Papandreou, who conveniently didn t mention that all those years that PASOK was in power they were playing fast and loose with the truth about the country s economy too. It s only been six months and you never hear about or from Karamanlis anymore, and it s too bad because he s a decent man who allowed his legacy and party to be hijacked by bandits worse than Somalian pirates. His timid stewardship let Greece drift into the rocks, and put Papandreou on the bridge of the Greek Titanic. Karamanlis vanished off the political radar screen, and his seeming successor, Dora Bakoyianni, discovered you actually have to campaign and convince people and not believe you re entitled to power. That complacency let Antonis Samaras, a guy with guts, to become New Democracy s new leader, a job about as enticing as being one of the many coaches of the Olympiakos soccer team, which ejects them before they can get the seat warm on the bench. Samaras, 58, was graduated from Amherst College in Massachusetts, one of the finest small liberal arts schools in a country full of them, where he and Karamanlis were roommates. Samaras stood alone 18 years ago in drawing a hard line on the issue of whether the Yugoslavian region north of Greece should be allowed to call itself the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM,) because he wisely didn t want Greece to give away the word Macedonia, - which it did - and now is wishing it hadn t, embroiled in an endless argument over what that country should be called and blocking FY- ROM s entrance to NATO and possible EU membership. Samaras is an economist with a degree from Harvard too, is smart as a whip and served as ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Culture, so he knows the territory and treachery of the Greek political landscape, which he ll need because he s leading an army of the near-dead in the decimated ranks of New Democracy, most of whose members have been LETTER FROM ATHENS Samaras Has Greece s Toughest Job: Restoring ND He d better find some real answers fast or ND will find itself on a permanent vacation. by ANDy DABILIS Special to hiding under a rock since last year, none wanting to be aligned with the economic lies that made Greece a l a u g h i n g s t o c k around the world. His stance over FYROM led him to leave New Democracy and start a new party, Political Spring, which dissolved in 2004 and he rejoined his former colleagues, becoming a member of the European Parliament before resigning to become a member of the Greek Parliament. He ll need all the ammunition he can muster to resurrect New Democracy, and he hasn t wasted any time, making appearances at events all over the country, starting tentatively and now picking up confidence as he talks about the economy, unemployment, crime and social issues and tries to position the party for a comeback, if that chance ever comes. So there was Samaras a few weeks ago declaring that he wouldn t let New Democracy cede total power to PASOK and would challenge Papandreou s only recourse of freezing and cutting public sector wages and bonuses, raising taxes and making life tougher for pensioners. He warned the government that: We shall not allow you to dissolve society in order to 'restructure' the economy. Low wageearners and low pensioners are not to blame for the extravagance of the state, or for the heavy debt of the public sector or for tax evasion, he said, without mentioning, of course, that his party helped create the atmosphere for that to happen, so he ll need a degree in magic too to convince an electorate dismayed by New Democracy and angry at PASOK. So there was Samaras again speaking out, visiting an army regiment in Corinth on Easter, calling for bold reforms, the kind that have never happened until now, when they became inevitable. Perhaps he believes that his energy is an antidote to the muddled malaise his party created toward the end of Karamanlis time, which continues still, and he s using his expertise as an economist to call for new measures to protect itself from the vortex market it created, being forced to borrow at exorbitant interest rates that will strap future generations. But he didn t go as far as Economics 101 and list them because even someone as smart as he understands that politics as least the old politics of Greece means being vague and promising everything while offering nothing. He told a meeting in Brussels of the conservative European People s Party, with which his party is aligned, that: The state of the Greek economy is difficult and I do not wish to cover for the mistakes of the past, a good start because coming clean is all he can do now to be believable. But he said the measures taken by the government are counter-productive, without saying what New Democracy would do differently. So his tactic will be to remain being a moving target, and with summer approaching he even met tourism representatives who are worried whether Greece s sullied image will keep people away. He d better find some real answers fast or New Democracy will find itself on a permanent vacation. andydabilis@gmail.com. The Right to Remain Sick is the Epitome of Absurdity SCHAEFFERSTOWN, PENN. - Ever since president Obama talked about reforming health care, a wall of opposition to his plan mounted, and a litany of objections was raised. Much of the criticism was legitimate, particularly that concerning the risk of placing our country into even greater debt, and skepticism about the federal government with its dubious track record of managing large entities somehow getting things right this time. One of the opposition's wackier objections to health care reform, however, is that the federal government will force Americans to buy health insurance. Those extremists are essentially arguing that Obama and Congress are trampling on their Constitutional right to be sick. Taken to its logical conclusion (which is a tall order, considering that it is an illogical argument to begin with), that same contention could apply to other rights. For instance, freedom-loving citizens could complain that the police department apprehended a dangerous killer in their neighborhood, thereby denying their Constitutional right to be murdered. Or that the fire department had the audacity to extinguish the flames of their burning building, thereby violating their Constitutional right to be scorched. And, while we're at it, those nasty old government rescue teams have some nerve showing up in the aftermath of a flood or an earthquake, denying our Constitutional right to perish in a natural disaster. And the list goes on. If we humor these eccentrics for a moment, and take them at their word that their passion for limited government trumps their interest in good health, then at least we ought to make them aware that beyond humanitarian reasons, not to mention sheer logic, it is important for them to be treated if they are in need of emergency care. If they are not insured at the time and have no cash on hand, then we, the rest of their fellow Americans, will have to pay their astronomical hospital bill at the end of the day. Their desire to sacrifice their health for the sake of their libertarian principles becomes a burden on society. Unless, of course, they voluntarily agree not to be treated. Just as hospital patients have a right to elect Do Not Resuscitate status - which means that if they, say, slip into a coma, the doctors and nurses must allow them to die naturally, rather than to connect them to a life support machine indefinitely - why not allow those who refuse to buy health insurance to choose Do Not Treat status, unless they have the cash to pay for their medical care? The thought of allowing sick patients to die without treating them sounds cold and heartless, indeed. But that is exactly what these same folks are advocating when they complain about health care reform. For example, Bill, who is affluent, does not want his taxes raised to pay for Bob's health care plan, because Bob is too poor to afford one himself. But if Bill refuses a health care plan of his own and gets sick, the rest of us would have to pay for Bill's treatment. That part, Bill does not seem to mind. By giving folks like Bill the option to select the Do Not Treat status, we are creating the economic fairness that they so desire. With the guarantee in place that those individuals will not be a burden on society when they get sick, we are allowing them to exit the social compact freely and try their luck at dealing with their illness on their own. It is exactly what they have been fighting for, after all. All of this obstructive demagoguery was not invented by displaced Republicans and Tea Partiers, by the way. The Democrats virtually wrote the textbook on such subversive behavior during the Bush years. For one thing, many high-profile, high-income individuals during those days complained that their own taxes should not have been cut. Well, if they had simply written a check to the federal government in the amount that they thought their tax rate ought to have been, and directed the government to apply that money to pay off the federal debt, that could have easily alleviated their concern. But, as the Republicans are doing now, the Democrats for the past eight years spewed complaints from the safety of the sideline, but clammed up when they had a chance to get into the trenches themselves. The genesis of the anti-health care reform movement may in fact be attributed to average, hard-working Americans, but its organized mobilization and media support are fueled by those whose agenda is to discredit anything Obama does, in the hopes of ousting him from office in Accordingly, the rightwing politicians and pundits who protest the government's effrontery in forcing us to be part of a plan that may lead to something dastardly, like saving our lives, are not the problem. They really know better, but they are trying to hoodwink the masses. That is part of their job, after all. Their leftist counterparts will be doing the same thing soon enough, when conservatives are back in power again. As for those without a hidden agenda, who are innocently rushing to judgment and demanding their Constitutional right to refuse a health care plan, they ought to think about that long and hard, and be careful what they wish for. Constantinos E. Scaros is a published author and expert in American presidential history, with a background in Ancient Greek history. He has taught history, political science, and law at New York University, and served as an Academic Dean at two other colleges in New York. He welcomes comments at his blog at scaros.blogspot.com Church Scandals Call for Concrete & Symbolic Actions By Constantine S. Sirigos Special to TNH NEW YORK - The Vatican seems to be perplexed that the media cannot avert its eyes from the latest news about pedophile priests in the Roman Catholic Church. However, few things can be more disturbing to anyone, especially believers. We Orthodox do not get a pass: This plague has infected our Church as well. The case of Nicholas Katinas is the most infamous one. We need help in understanding how this can possibly happen, not just the abuse, but the apparent indifference or unwillingness of religious authorities to act to prevent further abuse and punish the guilty. The media has focused on one of the bishop s motivations: Trying to protect the Church from scandal. It s natural for an institution to protect itself, at least by solving problems quietly, but this is the Church for God s sake! It must be noted the Archdiocese under Archbishop Demetrios has worked hard to put a system in place to deal with priests who violate the trust we put in them. Its policy on sexual misconduct by clergy can be found at But we must do more than hope the system works. We must monitor the monitors, and ask the hierarchs to look beyond the advice of their lawyers, and find a way for the Church to ask forgiveness of the victims, and of its members, whose faith has been badly shaken. Having grown up in a church family, I wrestle with giving some benefit of the doubt. When priests were returned to parishes after therapy, is it possible the hierarchs simply could not believe that this illness was incurable? What else might explain it? With my political science background, I often thought about the roots of institutional corruption and wondered if in a way friendship is the root of this evil. That explains unwillingness of ethical people to expose and punish those guilty of heinous crimes. They cannot bring themselves to betray their friends. But in the Church, there are much higher duties, and by NOT stopping him, by any means necessary, one truly betrays the friend. The root of the issue is that Christian churches, certainly the Roman and the Greek, have never come to terms with one of the most basic elements of human nature: sex. Still, how could those aware of the perpetrators not understand what was going on? I suggest the root of the issue is that Christian churches, certainly the Roman and the Greek, have never come to terms with one of the most basic elements of human nature: sex. I guess it is not easy. A learned priest promised to explore the issues in a lecture series 10 years ago, but when it came time to address pre-marital sex, a basic need (fine, call it a temptation) of men and women in relationships, the discussion was shut down. Enough. Sex is an essential, integral part of human nature. St. Gregory of Nyssa, brilliant as he was, was wrong on a number of things, and about sex too. He suggested sex was not part of God s original plan for us, but He only gave us genitals because He knew Adam and Eve would fall, and would then need them to make babies. Rubbish. I am by CONSTANTINOS E. SCAROS Special to GUEST EDITORIALS suggesting such ideas dominate Orthodox and Catholic thinking about sex, to the detriment of Church and Society. Sexuality is not an accident. When all is well, for most humans, it is as close to heaven on earth as possible, when one finds one s other half and their love is expressed with the fullness of their humanity, in both soul and body. But with child molestors, the illness is rooted in the core of their psyche. In such cases, the experts are unanimous: Get them away from children. We must do our part to ensure that the long-awaited Great and Holy Council that will address all the vital issues of the Orthodox Church will look at those related to sexuality, and base policies on true spiritual wisdom and science, not wishful thinking. We can then address related issues, like allowing bishops to marry, and permitting priests who get divorced to remarry on a case-by-case basis, and finding funds for expanded counseling for priests and their families who are having difficulties, but we cannot address those issues here. In this limited space, I will make an additional suggestion, for high-level symbolic action. In 1979, the late Patriarch Dimitrios and Pope John Paul II stated our resolute determination to do everything possible to hasten the day when full communion will be reestablished between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church and when we will be at last able to concelebrate the divine Eucharist. And when SCOBA, in its official documents, acknowledges that we are sister churches, we are saying there is something actual rather than merely potential in our relationship. This means it can find expression, even now, in genuine and significant acts of faith and charity. Let the Patriarchs of New Rome and Old Rome meet in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and, together, lay down their crowns, the Patriarch, the crown given his remote predecessor by Mehmet II, Turkish conqueror of Constantinople (Orthodox bishops did not wear crowns before the Ottoman period), and the Pope, his triple tiara. Let them declare they will not wear those crowns for the remainder of their tenure, and invite the hierarchs in places that have been poisoned by these scandals to do the same. Let us hope that such an act of Christian humility sends a message to all hierarchs and clergy that the ineffectiveness if not indifference of the past regarding these horrors must end. Maybe then, the victims and their families might forgive, and the churches can begin to heal. welcomes manuscripts representing a variety of views for publication in its view Points page. They should include the writer s name, address, telephone number and be addressed to the view Points Editor,, th St., lic, Ny They can also be ed to english.edition@thenational - herald.com. due to considerations of space we enforce a strict 850- word upper limit. we reserve the right to edit. A Letter to Conservative Friend and Fellow Republican: Seeking a Real Dialogue WASHINGTON, D.C. - A few days ago, a close friend of Cuban origin, announced his candidacy for a seat in Congress. His politics tend towards a much harder right than I am comfortable with. We had an exchange in which he expressed his opposition to large Government and President Obama s legislative tactics, and spoke of his fear that expanded health care and other social programs somehow were connected to Cuba s horrid dictatorship. I had made some glib earlier comments that demanded a more sober elucidation. My latest letter, sanitized to protect the innocent, lays out why I believe the Republican Party has strayed so far from its basic principles. Dear X: First of all let me wish you and yours a Holy and Happy Easter. A dialogue, according to Plato, sheds light on a subject and forces the participants to reexamine their positions and beliefs. Let me first assure you that I have never doubted your principles nor your patriotism and I value your friendship. As a life-long Republican, I have an unequivocal commitment to federalism, limited Government, personal freedom, respect for private property and the superiority of the free market system. Experience has taught me, however, that an ideological commitment, as opposed to a pragmatic one, invariably leads to unexpected and usually very unhappy outcomes. I should explain my earlier comments, especially about Dixiecrats. I grew up in a racially segregated public school system. The Democratic Party of my region and my time was avowedly racist in opposition to the national Democratic Party. This group happily self-identified as Dixiecrats. Lyndon Johnson s decision to support civil rights legislation in the 1960 s caused the Dixiecrats to defect en masse to the Republican Party, presenting us with a spectacle of Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms as Republicans. Unfortunately, the GOP welcomed them into the tent and like the proverbial camel, they took over. They were a seditious, disloyal bunch in the 1940s and 1950s, intent on re-fighting the Civil War and undoing the 13th and 14th Amendments. Looking at the recent Tea Party demonstrations on Capitol Hill on television raises frightening memories. I inferred from your message that Castro took over Cuba by promising free health care and free education. Castro won an armed revolution against a brutal dictatorship that was in the pay of a corrupt business class and the American Mafia. Castro by AMB. PATRICK N. THEROS Special to then offered free health care and education to make his dictatorship easier to swallow. I rather strongly suspect that if Batista had provided even a little bit of free health care and education, Castro would never have gotten out of the Sierra Madres. In fact, extreme social and economic inequality arguably enabled dictators to take over in Russia, Germany, Italy and Argentina. I have seen no evidence that large-scale social programs, even badly designed ones, have ever caused dictatorships. The Great Depression produced a rational regulation of the free market that enabled the greatest period of real productive growth in American history; a growth that benefitted all Americans. All good things, unfortunately, must come to an end. The boring prosperity of the 1950s produced a radical free market revolution inaccurately calling itself conservative. As a young man, I caught the bug and voted for Barry Goldwater in Republicans and Democrats alike embraced deregulation and, as Americans, we overdid it. The result: an unregulated free market created a dangerous economic gap between the top twenty percent of the population and the rest of America which destabilized our economy and threatens to destabilize society. We need to get back to sensible regulatory management of the economy, and only Government can do that. Wall Street has no interest whatsoever in doing so. You are quite right in saying that Obama got his legislation through Congress without bipartisan support and making full use of every parliamentary trick available. Between friends, did he do anything that Gingrich, Lott and Delay had not done in preceding years? Do we have a huge budget deficit today? Absolutely, we do. However, the Bush Administration created the deficit and the Great Recession and now the GOP argues that more of the same wrong-headed policies will get us out. Without higher taxes and a better-regulated market, as well as programs such as universal healthcare which will make American industry more competitive with foreign competitors, there is no way out. All the best and I am rooting for you. Friendship and family beat ideology hands down. The Hon. Ambassador Theros is president of the U.S.-Qatar Business Council. He served in the U.S. Foreign Service for 36 years, mostly in the Middle East, and was American Ambassador to Qatar from 1995 to He also directed the State Department s Counter- Terrorism Office, and holds numerous U.S. Government decorations.

12 12 FEATURE THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 10-16, 2010 Bare Ruined Choirs: Turkey s War on the Cultural Heritage of Cyprus By Katherine Eastland The Weekly Standard When churches fall completely out of use, what shall we turn them into? Philip Larkin, Church Going NICOSIA - Soon after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the roof of St. Andronikos church in Kythrea caved in and fell into its sanctuary. No one came by to clear the rubble, so there s a heap of ruins on the ground covered with tangled greenery. From where I stand, on top of that heap, I can see that the walls, once known for their frescoes, have been stripped white and are now marked with black and neon graffiti. In some places there remain a few painted figures, including ones of Saints Peter and Paul, but their faces are chiseled out and their bodies have been pockmarked by bullets. Cars roll by every so often, but the one persistent sound is the hum of bees coming from a smashed clerestory window. I came across this church off a road near the Agios Dimitrios crossing point on the Green Line, the boundary running through the island of Cyprus and keeping it cloven in two radically disparate parts: the free, government-controlled area of Cyprus, and the upper third of the sovereign territory of the Republic that Turkey seized in Turkey has since held that part under illegal military occupation, and turned it into a rogue breakaway state called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized by Turkey only. Dilapidated churches like St. Andronikos are a common sight here. As the journalist Michael Jansen observes, the north, full of 12,000 years of history at a key crossroads in the Mediterranean, now looks like a cultural wasteland. During and soon after the invasion, museums in the north and private collections were plundered, artworks were burned in pyres, stolen, or illegally exported, 21 major archaeological sites were captured including the sites of ancient city kingdoms of Salamis, Soli, and Engomi along with more than a hundred places that had been inspected or were being excavated, four castles, and over 500 churches, chapels, and monasteries, most of them dating to the Byzantine period (4th-15th centuries). From the interiors were removed several major icons, mosaics, frescoes, Bibles, wood carvings, reliquaries, silver and gold vessels, and more. Sixteen thousand icons alone are reported missing. The Church of Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus have worked to repatriate, with some major successes, several of these works through local, foreign, and international courts. But the list of damaged items and places keeps growing. As the occupation continues, so does destruction whether by intent or neglect, or ack of adequate funds. While much of the damage that took place in the north cannot be visited most of the art hangs in other countries, was destroyed, or has been secreted away the 500 religious buildings are still standing, at least for now. They remain as solid memories of a past that is flickering out as a new, and decidedly Turkish, culture develops in the north. The rise of that culture is quickened by the heavy influx of Turkish settlers, who currently outnumber the indigenous Turkish-Cypriot population by two-to-one. This cultural shift is apparent even in the cafés, where the drink of choice is black tea in tulip-shaped glass cups, the sort you can buy in twelve-packs in Istanbul. Town names are now Turkish, and the twin red-and-white flags of Turkey and the TRNC are everywhere from mountain slopes to the rear windows of vans. Another part of this shift is seen in the churches which, with their ravaged cemeteries, are arguably the elements of Greek Cypriot culture that have suffered the most in the occupation. Divorced from their original use as houses of Christian worship, they are now in ruins or used for other purposes. Most of the 500 buildings belong to the island s Greek Orthodox Church, one of the world s earliest, founded by St. Barnabas in 46 A.D. and decreed autocephalous (a kind of autonomy)in 431. Others are Catholic, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and Anglican; a few are synagogues. Nearly all of them can be visited; but about 50 are inaccessible since they stand within the U.N.-moderated buffer zone or Turkish military camps, where they are used as barracks, hospitals, cafeterias, and warehouses. Over a fifth of the northern churches, like roofless St. Andronikos, have been skinned of their art and left to the elements and foraging animals. About 80 other churches still have a religious use as mosques. Some of them are modest, with creaky mihrabs and sheets thrown over what remains of the iconostasis (a gilt wall where icons once hung). Others are rich, with bigbranched chandeliers of glass. In St. Paraskeve in Morphou the gilt bishop s throne and epistyle have been reassembled into a mihrab and mimbar. Some mosques that were formerly churches have been abandoned. Most of the churches have been cast in new, secular roles as garages, luxury hotels, granaries, storage rooms for furniture or potatoes or hay, classrooms, bars, cafés, and art studios. One is a morgue. A few, such as the St. Barnabas Monastery in the Karpass peninsula, have been set up as icon galleries with whitewashed walls, but the works on view are not native to the buildings and are young and relatively worthless, dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. Of the Christian buildings in the occupied north, three are kept, at least in appearance, as churches. But restrictions on their use and maintenance prevent Christians living in the north from worshiping in them regularly without interruption A desecrated cemetary in the village of Lefkonikos in the province of Famagusta. Από το 1915 για τον Ελληνισμό ΤΟΤΕ και ΤΩΡΑ Εγκυρη και έγκαιρη ενημέρωση με μέτρο (718) , ext Fax: (718) στο subscriptions@ekirikas.com An image of the Virgin Mary and angels within a church has been literally defaced at the monastery of Antifonitis in the occupied village of Kalograia. by Turkish officials. The history of converting churches into mosques and mosques into churches, and of re-appropriating buildings of any faith for secular purpose, is long and well documented. But the argument that Cyprus s occupied religious buildings, and the art within them, are legitimate spoils of war does not hold. In today s Europe, cultural property is seen as subsisting in a special niche that should be protected. Under the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), destruction of cultural heritage is considered a war crime. Furthermore, the European Union itself has several directives on cultural property which Turkey would have to follow should it enter the EU. (Notably, one of the preconditions the EU has set for Turkey s admission is a settlement to the Cyprus problem; i.e., the island s reunification.) This past summer in Washington the U.S. Helsinki Commission (CSCE), which monitors compliance between and among member states on the Helsinki accords, issued a 50-page report for Congress on the state of Cyprus s cultural and religious heritage, saying that it was in peril and that under conventional and customary law, Turkey, as an occupying power, bears responsibility for acts against cultural property. It also numbers the various ways Turkey has violated international humanitarian law, as set forth in post-world War II treaties that Ankara has signed. CHURCH OF CYPRUS TAKES LEAD While there is a promising, but perhaps fatally slow-going, effort to reunify Cyprus by diplomatic means, the Church of Cyprus which has remained independent through every vicissitude of political rule believes it has a special, natural obligation to its religious heritage. But this heritage, especially if it s already in shambles, fades in importance when urgent matters such as governance and property distribution are being addressed by the diplomats drafting a political settlement for Cyprus. The churches themselves simply don t get much attention. But the Church, headed by Archbishop Chrysostomos II, is taking significant measures to try to save its property, usurped by the TRNC. And the Church reminds the EU that Turkey still has a long way to go before it conforms with EU policies. Around Easter last year Chrysostomos opened an office in Brussels next to EU headquarters. When I met with him here in Nicosia in his long office, featuring an icon of Christ in judgment on the wall behind his desk he cheerfully said that at the new office there will always be a bishop to welcome EU parliamentarians and present and promote our efforts. By doing this, Chrysostomos hopes to exert some pressure with the hope that we will manage to restore all the monuments, if possible before it s too late. Thirtyeight are near collapse. Of course, it goes without saying that I can see the huge difficulties associated with such a task, not to say its impossible nature. Unfortunately, he continues, it seems to me that Europe does not know the real dimensions of the problem. Chrysostomos is frank about meddling in politics: I know that the government might be reacting to such an idea [direct involvement of the Church] especially at this time, but we will continue our efforts. We invited [Cypriot] President Christofias to come and inaugurate our offices with us in Brussels, but he didn t. To further publicize the churches and prepare as much as possible for their pending restoration the Church has underwritten, through the Kykkos Monastery, the work of a young Byzantinist at the Hellenic Open University in Patras, Greece, to catalog all accessible religious monuments in the north. Professor Charalampos G. Chotzakoglou started work on the project with a team of archaeologists and other Byzantinists in 2003, when the Green Line was partially opened by the TRNC government, allowing people to cross the line freely for the first time since The Helsinki Commission consulted Chotzakoglou s detailed account when it drafted its report for Congress last summer. Incomplete reports had been made before Chotzakoglou s, such as those by foreign journalists visiting the area, and by Turkish-Cypriot journalists such as Mehmet Yasin, who wrote some of the most eloquent testimonies. But the first report, UNESCO s in 1975, was shelved because UNESCO feared it was too damning! (It has only recently become available, and on a strictly limited basis.) The man who submitted this report Jacques Dalibard of Canada, who was specially appointed by UNESCO to assess the state of cultural heritage after the 1974 war was not even allowed access to some of the most damaged churches. Still, he wrote that the whole island of Cyprus should be regarded as one huge monument, and that a team of specialists be dispatched solely to protect the remnants of Greek heritage in the north. His suggestions were not followed. Chotzakoglou s findings were published in a book in 2008 (Religious Monuments in Turkish- Occupied Cyprus: Evidence and Acts of Continuous Destruction; Lefkosia) and will soon be available in an online public database. He has also been tending to a similar project with Greek and Turkish Cypriots on all religious monuments on the island (Muslim and Christian), cyprustemples.com. It is a valuable site, but needs to be updated: Some of the recent destruction, such as the bulldozing of St. Catherine Church in Gerani in the summer of 2008, and its cannibalizing for buildings in the nearby village of Trikomo, has not been noted. Incidentally, the razing of St. Catherine is not an isolated case: In the past five years 15 churches have been leveled. That such destruction still occurs is especially disappointing because, since 2007, there has been a special government-appointed technical committee of Greek and Turkish Cypriots dedicated to the maintenance and restoration of heritage on both sides of the island. (To be sure, these committees are destined to do only some good as long as Cyprus remains divided: Their success depends on the good faith of both sides to honor promises to restore the other side s damaged buildings.) MOSQUES IN SOUTH HAVE BEEN RESTORED Destruction did occur to Muslim monuments south of the Green Line, mostly in the years leading up to the war, when both communities were fighting and the Turkish Cypriots, in the minority, bore the brunt of the violence. But the Church and the republic have worked to restore those buildings no doubt hoping for a gesture of goodwill in return and since 1989 the government has spent over $600,000 in the effort. So far, 17 historic mosques damaged and looted by Greek Cypriots have been restored. In 2000 the project to restore and protect all Muslim sites in the south began; the Department of Antiquities has recorded all their names and will guard them until they are renovated. This project should be completed sometime this year. In a recent meeting proposed by the EU, the archbishop met with the mufti of northern Cyprus and said that he would welcome him as his guest in the south to nspect the Muslim sites. If the mufti did not find a site well preserved, he said, then we as the Church of Cyprus would be willing to take full financial responsibility to restore it. In exchange, he told the mufti that he wanted him to facilitate our crossing to the Turkish-occupied area in order to begin restoring our churches with our money. And we will bear any and all costs. The mufti declined the offer, and suggested that one church in the north be restored for every mosque restored in the south. Deeming the mufti s proposal a worthless gift there are far fewer mosques in the south than churches in the north, and it would take, at best, 500 years to renovate the north s 500 churches and in 500 years there will be nothing for us to restore Chrysostomos rejected the counteroffer. The north s real policy, he believes, is to procrastinate so the monuments themselves might be destroyed in time. On the morning before I visited some of the northern churches, I walked through the Archbishop s Palace museum and looked at the art on view. In one room, I stopped by seven small wooden boxes, each with a glass top and containing a head of a saint, archangel, or Christ rendered in mosaic tesserae. The heads rested on white tissue paper that ran around their heads, like second halos or bandages. The master smuggler Aydin Dikmen had raggedly cut these exceptional late fifth/early sixthcentury works some of the few to have survived the rampant iconoclasm of the eighth century from the walls of the Church of Panag a Kanakari at Lythrankom. Efforts at restoration and rocky international flights had weakened them further, causing them to crack. At one point, Dikmen tried to repair the loose tesserae some with sockets of silver imported from Bethlehem with Elmer s glue. While they once reminded a visitor of heaven and immaterial gain, they are now symbols of earth and material loss. Which is painful precisely because, as Chrysostomos says, The ransacked church of Panagia Chryeleousas (Our Lady of Golden Mercy) in the province of Kyrenia has been turned into a hayloft in occupied Cyprus. these are not just art objects for us. The case for the restoration of these churches, and the art within them, is compelling and the loss to art history and to Cypriot culture is immense and immeasurable. Until the island is one again which could happen in four months or four decades its two sides will continue to diverge, becoming more lopsided, with a Turkish culture taking root in the north amid the continuing collapse of its Hellenic heritage.whatever happens to Cyprus, there remains an eloquent, otherworldly hope, as expressed by Paul in a letter to the Christians at Corinth at about the same time the Church of Cyprus was founded by his co-worker Barnabas: For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Paul s thought is especially poignant when you re standing inside a church in early ruin, or looking at a torn mosaic things that were made, at one time, as if to last. Katherine Eastland is an assistant editor at The Weekly Standard.