The seventeen million strong Greek origin people around the world and their friends, celebrate again this year the 25th of March 1821, that fateful day of the revolution, that gave birth to the modern Greek Nation and much later to the development of the Greek-American Community. Our Community is in effect, the historical consequence of that revolution. And this is why magnificent celebrations and parades take place in several cities in the United States, as well as in Canada, South America, Europe and Australia. Especially the people of Athens are awaken, in early morning of the 25th, by the stirring sounds of the famous reveille, the Eothinon. The people rush to the balconies and burst into the streets and squares, while joyous Church bells ring in unison and the guns of Lycavitos fire in salute over the city of Athens.
The 25th of March symbolizes literally the resurrection of the Greek nation from the dead, after almost 400 years of slavery and servitude. This is the day when the entire countryside revolted with the cry "Freedom or Death" and everything burst into flames. For seven consecutive years men and women fought against theirs tormentors with tenacity and determination, on land and at sea and they started to write the history of their new nation with fire, with blood and acts of profound heroism. It was not by chance, that the revolution was planned, financed and promulgated by the famous Secret Society of Friends (Filiki Eteria) created by the Diaspora Greeks. Part of the sacred oath of this Society read as follows: "Because I strongly desire my poor country's and my unfortunate people's resurrection, I do join this brotherhood without being motivated by any other purpose except genuine patriotism." Heroes in 1821 were the men, the women, the Clergy, the armatoli and kleftes, the sailors, the intelligensia and the multitude of Philhellenes.
The people of the revolution were stimulated and whipped into a frenzy by the songs of Rigas Feraios: "One hour of life in Freedom, is preferable to 40 years of slavery and imprisonment." The men and women of the revolution fought in the mountains, in the valleys, the towns and at sea with ingenuity and a spirit of daredevils by using the famous Bourlota, the precursors of modern torpedoes. These were little boats loaded with gunpowder and a long fuse. They were attached to the target ship in the dark of night, with the operators safely away, when the explosion occurred engulfing the enemy ship in flames. In one case the flagship of the Turkish navy went up in flames during the celebration of the last day of Ramadan. For seven consecutive years of struggle the fortunes of war waxed and waned with many ups and downs. Many philhellenes fought on the side of the Greeks and supported the revolution, most prominent among them the English aristocrat, Lord Byron, who spend his fortune for the revolution and died in Mesolongi in April 1824. At the end, the struggle was touch and go and a huge Egyptian-Turkish armada was destroyed in the port of Navarinon by the combined fleet of England, Russia and France and the new Greek nation was born. Since 1830, the modern Greek nation has always been on the side of Democratic Europe and America during the struggles against tyranny, for freedom, human rights and the rule of law, during the 20th century. This is why the 25th of March is a universal celebration for freedom of all peoples around the world, including GreekAmerica.
Today, Greece is a member of the European Union, has joined the EURO, has developed strong democratic institutions, boasts a huge merchant marine plowing the oceans and has now embarked with dispatch on preparations for the 2004 Olympics. However, the Greek nation is facing a peculiar Demographic problem of low Total Fertility Rate (TFR 1.3, with 2.1 being the replacement level) which if uncorrected, will lead to the steady aging of Greek society, with reduced vitality, weakening of the armed forces and a host of other problems including the profound population imbalance with Greece's neighbors. The people of Greece should solve the Demographic problem by adopting a long-range proneatalist program, proposed to the Government in 1993, in order to achieve at least replacement fertility.
Moreover, the international migration crisis has produced an acute problem for the EU including Greece, because their static and aging population and need for a strong labor force, have created a vacuum, which coupled with Europe's high living and educational standards, constitutes a powerful magnet for illegal immigrants. The Greeks are hosting at least 1,000,000 immigrants largely Albanians, representing a 10% of the population and if low fertility continues there will be dramatic changes in their society, with unforeseen consequences. Greece has now totally reversed its role, from an out-migration to an in-migration country and has no tradition, programs or strategies in place, for supporting the successful adjustment of such a huge number of immigrants. On the other hand, legal immigration from Greece to the US has been reduced to a trickle and the TFR of GreekAmerica is also at the non-replacement level of 1.7. Furthermore, Demographic change of Omogenia is strongly affected by a high degree of intermarriage, which could be considered beneficial, if appropriate programs were in existence for assisting the non?Greek spouses and their progeny to appreciate some of the magnificent aspects of Hellenic Culture and Heritage.
SUMMARY: The magnificent 25th of March celebrations this year should be a source of inspiration and renewed dedication, for Hellenes and Philhellenes around the world, to the support of Human Rights, the Rule of Law and respect for International Treaties. The occupation of 38% of Cyprus by the Turkish Army and the habitual threats of war against Greece, with ridiculous claims in the Aegean, should come to an end. GreekAmerica should close ranks and unite, in order to be effective in supporting the rightful causes of Hellenism with the new Administration in Washington. The Greek governing elites should reduce their endless squabbles and implement strong programs for achieving replacement fertility, programs for assisting the immigrant population to adjust and prosper, and should boost and modernize the armed forces to the greatest extent.
The constant turmoil in Kosovo and FYROM have brought into a sharp focus,
the vital role of the Greek Officer Corps and of the young men and women
serving in the three branches of the military. Greek diplomacy will
be effective only if it is supported by strong armed forces and by having
the support of EU and US. On the other hand, with a powerful military
the Greeks could play a vital stabilizing role in the troublesome Balkans,
which could be highly appreciated by the US and EU. Finally, the
strong message from Omogenia to friend and antagonist of Hellenism alike,
should be this: not even a stone, not a rock or a rocky uninhabited little
Island in Greece's perimeter, are negotiable, now or in the future.
And this is the way it is, and this is the special meaning, of the 25th
of March 2001.
3-14-2001
Michael C. Geokas, M.D., Ph.D.
(Em) Professor of Medicine and Biological Chemistry
University of California, Davis
Anastasios T. Papathanasis, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Economy
Central Connecticut University
New Brittain, CT
Hon. Nicholas C. Petris, Esq.
(Em) California State Senator
Oakland, California
Hon. Lou Papan
Assemblyman
State of California
E-mail: geokas@msn.com
FAX: 925-946-1987
WEB: WWW.DEMOKRITOS.ORG