Letters to the Editor
As an American of Greek descent, I am deeply disturbed to see many of my fellow Greeks speak of ill will toward the events in New York City and the Pentagon last week. I take great pride in being Greek American, but the words and actions of some Greeks make me ashamed to use the word Greek in any context. Many times in the past, I have not hesitated to show my support for my fellow Greeks by demonstrating on their behalf in the United States, knowing that compatriots would appreciate what I was doing for them. Last week after reading and listening to the events there, my Greek-American friends and I will not be so quick to show our support to an unappreciative society! The events that unfolded last week in New York, killed many Americans, and among them many Greek Americans, as you already know. God rest their souls. It is a pity that a few fools in Greece can malign an entire nation! A very disappointed Greek American. PM New York City As a foreigner with a home in Greece, I was shocked and dismayed to read the pronouncements of Archbishop Christodoulos regarding the terrorist holocaust of September 11. The archbishop is quoted as saying: You see the tragic consequences of desperate acts such as the terrorist actions in the United States. We are all horrified at what point a person may reach, where repeated injustices that occur in the world can drive people. The archbishop is finding excuses for the terrorists. He is justifying the events of September 11 based on political provocation. If the religious leader of a Muslim nation were to indulge in such hateful rhetoric, there is no doubt that NATO would accuse that country of promoting and harboring terrorism. I ask that the Greek people reject the unbelievable position of their religious leader, reaffirm their sympathies to the American victims and their commitment to participation in the NATO fight against Muslim extremist terrorism. Edward Gelbard Glyfada Editor replies: As you will have seen in yesterday’s edition of our paper, the archbishop’s press office said that his comments on Friday were misconstrued.
