Greek Americans express thanks, anger
Greek Americans living in New York issued a statement on Saturday expressing gratitude to the government of Greece and all other countries which have expressed support for the United States in the war against terrorism. But the same announcement by the Federation of Greek Associations of Greater New York also voiced bitterness at some anti-American comments and actions in Greece that have come to their attention. Because the behavior of the shameless and baseless insults and blatant slander of a few cannot undermine the dignity of our homeland, we condemn it and we reject it, the statement, in Greek, declared. It was reported by the Athens News Agency on Saturday. The federation expressed thanks to the majority of members of the religious, intellectual, journalistic, academic, artistic and business society of Greece, and of course to the majority of the Greek people. But it voiced special concern and exasperation for the comments and reactions of fellow Greeks in the mother country, who through the media – print, radio and television – found the opportunity to speak of ‘imperialist America,’ the ‘Pentagon hawks’… the ‘European mouthpieces of imperialism and big interests.’ The statement noted some conduct such as some positions by some political persons as well as the behavior of fans at a soccer match who jeered during a minute’s silence in honor of the victims of terrorism, burned an Israeli flag and tried to burn an American flag. These incidents have alarmed the Greek government that despite its expressions of solid support for the United States, the image of Greece will appear to be that it is wavering in its determination to fight terrorism.
