US President Barack Obama on Thursday signed the annual proclamation issued by the White House to commemorate Greek independence day on March 25, the first successful national uprising against the dour Ottoman empire in the Balkans during the 19th century.
“Today, as we commemorate the 189th anniversary of Greece’s independence, we reaffirm the ties that link our nations together as allies and warm friends. We also honor the accomplishments of Greek Americans and their immeasurable contributions to the United States.
“It was the genius of America’s forebears to enshrine the pre-eminent idea of democracy in our Nation’s founding documents. Inspired by the governing values of ancient Greece, they launched the great American experiment. Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of our Declaration of Independence, later expressed his admiration for the Greeks and their heritage as they fought their War of Independence. Writing in 1823, he acknowledged Greece as “the first of civilized nations, [which] presented examples of what man should be.”
“The Hellenic influence on America’s scholarly traditions reflects our Nation’s high regard for Greece’s lasting heritage. Our physicians uphold the timeless ethics of Hippocrates, and our students learn the mathematics of Euclid and Pythagoras. Our law schools use the Socratic Method, and the structures of ancient Greece have inspired many of our most cherished buildings and monuments. Greek Americans have also shaped our Nation as leaders in every sector of American life, and their community has strengthened the fabric of our country with its vibrant culture and unique traditions.
Above all, we were blessed to inherit the Hellenic ideal of democracy, which lives on today in Greece and America, and reinforces the enduring bonds between our two nations.
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 2010, as “Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.”
(source: ana-mpa)
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