Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Albanian students burn the Greek flag
High-school students from the southern Albanian town of Saranda staged protests at which they tore apart and burnt the Greek flag.
Read Full article Here
Read Full article Here
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Take Action Against Turkey: End the Gag Rule
Please take two minutes (120 seconds) right now to send a quick and easy Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) WebFax asking Congress to end Turkey's gag rule on Armenian Genocide recognition and pass H.Res.106 & S.Res.106.
This straightforward human rights legislation simply calls upon our government to apply the lessons of the Armenian Genocide in preventing future crimes against humanity.
Sadly, it's adoption by our Congress is being blocked by a foreign country.
The Turkish government, which has outlawed discussion of the Armenian Genocide within its own borders, is exporting its undemocratic free speech restrictions to the United States by imposing a "gag-rule" on Congressional consideration and adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
As a nation, we should and must reject Turkey's threats and intimidation.
Rather than accepting Turkey's gag-rule, we should stand up for our principles, adopt the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and return the United States Congress, alongside 40 U.S. states and 11 of our NATO allies - to the right side of a vital moral issue. As history has shown us, we can only advance U.S. interests when we have the courage to stand up for American values.
Fill out the petition here
This straightforward human rights legislation simply calls upon our government to apply the lessons of the Armenian Genocide in preventing future crimes against humanity.
Sadly, it's adoption by our Congress is being blocked by a foreign country.
The Turkish government, which has outlawed discussion of the Armenian Genocide within its own borders, is exporting its undemocratic free speech restrictions to the United States by imposing a "gag-rule" on Congressional consideration and adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
As a nation, we should and must reject Turkey's threats and intimidation.
Rather than accepting Turkey's gag-rule, we should stand up for our principles, adopt the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and return the United States Congress, alongside 40 U.S. states and 11 of our NATO allies - to the right side of a vital moral issue. As history has shown us, we can only advance U.S. interests when we have the courage to stand up for American values.
Fill out the petition here
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Smithsonian to hold lecture on Macedonia by a Skopjean
Please call, fax or email.
Contact information:
Tel: 202-633-3030
Fax: 202-786-2034
email: CustomerService@ResidentAssociates.org
Barbara Tuceling
Director of Smithsonian Resident Associate Program
On behalf of the members of the Pan-Macedonian Association, USA, one of the
largest Greek-American organizations, we wish to express our profound
disappointment that such a respected institutions as the Smithsonian Resident
Associate Program, is ready to embrace historic inaccuracies.
It came to our attention through your advertisement that art historian and
“Macedonian” native, Aneta Georgievska-Shine “...explores the multi-layered
cultural heritage of this dynamic history...Home to exquisite Byzantine churches
with beautifully preserved frescos and valuable icons, the Republic of Macedonia
is a country or rich and complex cultural identity. Form antiquity, when
Alexander the Great created an empire that reached as far away as India...”
Even though President George Bush erroneously recognized the FYROM as Republic
of “Macedonia,” back in 2004, Macedonia is a province of Greece since time
immemorial. The Slavs, who are Ms Shine’s ancestors, cannot be ethnically,
linguistically or culturally Macedonians simply because they did not exist in
this area until the 6th century AD, when they descended from Siberia and settled
there.
The Hellenic name Macedonia, which had always identified the northern area of
Greece, preceded the introduction of the majority Slavic population of The FYROM
in the Balkans by well over 2000 years. Therefore when they arrived in the area,
the Byzantine Empire was already in existence.
In addition Ms Tuceling two wrongs, our President’s in 2004 and your institute’s
embracing historic inaccuracies, do not make a right. In addition Alexander the
Great the Macedonian, spoke Greek, used the Hellenic alphabet, carried Homer’s
works with him and spread the Hellenic language and civilization throughout the
then known world. He did not speak the Bulgarian dialect that The FYROM people
speak; he did not use the Cyrillic alphabet, which had not even appeared till
about one thousand years after his death. Alexander the Great is our Abraham
Lincoln, as he united the North and the South of the Hellenic World under
Hellas.
The historians in your esteemed institute should know that during the ancient
Olympic Games, only Greeks could participate. The Macedonians therefore
participated for the very fact that they too were Greeks.
With this letter we formally request that you desist from engaging in promoting
falsified and revised history through your institution.
We would appreciate an answer.
Please help Pan-Macedonian in protesting this lecture. We must all do our part to make sure that the lies of the Bulgarians are not allowed to continue.
Contact information:
Tel: 202-633-3030
Fax: 202-786-2034
email: CustomerService@ResidentAssociates.org
Barbara Tuceling
Director of Smithsonian Resident Associate Program
On behalf of the members of the Pan-Macedonian Association, USA, one of the
largest Greek-American organizations, we wish to express our profound
disappointment that such a respected institutions as the Smithsonian Resident
Associate Program, is ready to embrace historic inaccuracies.
It came to our attention through your advertisement that art historian and
“Macedonian” native, Aneta Georgievska-Shine “...explores the multi-layered
cultural heritage of this dynamic history...Home to exquisite Byzantine churches
with beautifully preserved frescos and valuable icons, the Republic of Macedonia
is a country or rich and complex cultural identity. Form antiquity, when
Alexander the Great created an empire that reached as far away as India...”
Even though President George Bush erroneously recognized the FYROM as Republic
of “Macedonia,” back in 2004, Macedonia is a province of Greece since time
immemorial. The Slavs, who are Ms Shine’s ancestors, cannot be ethnically,
linguistically or culturally Macedonians simply because they did not exist in
this area until the 6th century AD, when they descended from Siberia and settled
there.
The Hellenic name Macedonia, which had always identified the northern area of
Greece, preceded the introduction of the majority Slavic population of The FYROM
in the Balkans by well over 2000 years. Therefore when they arrived in the area,
the Byzantine Empire was already in existence.
In addition Ms Tuceling two wrongs, our President’s in 2004 and your institute’s
embracing historic inaccuracies, do not make a right. In addition Alexander the
Great the Macedonian, spoke Greek, used the Hellenic alphabet, carried Homer’s
works with him and spread the Hellenic language and civilization throughout the
then known world. He did not speak the Bulgarian dialect that The FYROM people
speak; he did not use the Cyrillic alphabet, which had not even appeared till
about one thousand years after his death. Alexander the Great is our Abraham
Lincoln, as he united the North and the South of the Hellenic World under
Hellas.
The historians in your esteemed institute should know that during the ancient
Olympic Games, only Greeks could participate. The Macedonians therefore
participated for the very fact that they too were Greeks.
With this letter we formally request that you desist from engaging in promoting
falsified and revised history through your institution.
We would appreciate an answer.
Please help Pan-Macedonian in protesting this lecture. We must all do our part to make sure that the lies of the Bulgarians are not allowed to continue.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Thracian Flag Proposal
For some time now, I’ve played with the idea of Thraki adopting a flag of its own, much like Makedonia and Pontos have. However, most people tend to feel this is an act that would be misunderstood and seen as Thracians trying to pull away from Ellada. I myself do not believe this, plenty of other nations have flags for there regional subdivisions and there is nothing to fear by adopting a flag for Thraki. In fact I believe it could be a very useful tool in helping to stop Muslim discontent inside the region and a rallying tool for Thracians around the world in the Diaspora.
At the moment Thraki does not have an official flag in use, although to my knowledge there have been reports of a very simple image being used as the ‘Thrace district’ flag.
It is with this in mind that I’ve created the following proposal for an official Thracian flag. Although I am not a graphic artist, I’ve attempted to my best ability to recreate a general image of what such a flag would look like. Each and ever part of the flag holding, what I believe, is a special meaning for Thraki.
Description:
The Flags coloring of Blue and White were chose to symbolize Thracian Hellenism and our solitary with the National Flag of Ellada.
The use of a Tri-color division on each side of the flag was chosen for two reasons. First, because of the original design of the Tri-color flag for Eastern Rumelia, the first part of Thraki to gain independence from the Turks, even though it was annexed by the Slavic state of Bulgaria. The second reason lies with the blue strip down the center, which echoes to the Greek flag under Ottoman rule, which was Red with a blue stripe. This was chosen because Eastern Thraki is still under occupation and hence under Ottoman rule.
The center image comes from the city flag for Orestiada, with the image of St. George, which several Romanian scholars believe to be the Christianized image of the ancient Thracian Horseman, which was an important image and part of Thracian culture during the ancient times.
Finally the inscription, is ancient Thracian and stands for “(You) Land (Demethra) guard (protect, defend) me!”
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Global Politician Prints Article By CANA Activist
NEW YORK-The Global Politician printed an article by Cyprus Action Network of
America (CANA) activist Ioannis Fidanakis. The article (4-11-08) entitled
“Turkish Revisionist Claims on Thrace” by Ioannis Fidanakis , the President of
Pan Thracian Union of America “Orpheus” and co-chair of the Hellenic League of
America (HLA) is in response to an opinion article (3-24-2008) by pro-Turkish
lobbyist Bruce Fein, resident “scholar” of the Turkish Coalition of America,
entitled “Greek Human Rights Violations Against Its Turkish Minority in Western
Thrace” .
Read full press release here
America (CANA) activist Ioannis Fidanakis. The article (4-11-08) entitled
“Turkish Revisionist Claims on Thrace” by Ioannis Fidanakis , the President of
Pan Thracian Union of America “Orpheus” and co-chair of the Hellenic League of
America (HLA) is in response to an opinion article (3-24-2008) by pro-Turkish
lobbyist Bruce Fein, resident “scholar” of the Turkish Coalition of America,
entitled “Greek Human Rights Violations Against Its Turkish Minority in Western
Thrace” .
Read full press release here
Monday, April 7, 2008
Open Letter from a Thracian about Thrace: False historical Revisionism by the Turkish Lobby
Recent events taking place in the Balkans surrounding the push for an Independent Kosovo, has many eyes now turned towards Western Thrace (Thraki). Recently, Bruce Fein of the Turkish Coalition of America released an article about the supposed Human Rights abuses facing the Turkish minority in Greece. As President of the Pan Thracian Union of America ‘Orpheus’, I find it my duty to speak out openly to prevent the spread of a Turkish smear campaign, which is more laughable then a true scholarly concern for Human Rights.
Mr. Fein’s sad attempt to paint a picture of an evil oppressive Greek state towards its Muslim citizens is an irresponsible misuse of the truth. “Greece’s decade’s long campaign of cultural repression, ethnic and religious discrimination and economic marginalization of its Turkish minority”, could be nothing farther from the truth. What Mr. Fein and his Turkish friends so conveniently omit is that fact that the Muslim minority of Greece has flourished since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, while Turkey’s Greek Orthodox minority has slowly disappeared. I use the terms Muslim and Greek Orthodox minorities, because unlike what the Turkish lobby would like Westerners to think, these are the proper terms that should be used as set by the Treaty of Lausanne. This treaty and the population exchange between these two countries were based solely on a religious principal. The populations exchanged and those allowed to continue to reside in each respected nation were between religious and not ethnic minorities.
Against Turkish propaganda, which calls the whole Muslim minority of Thraki as strictly Turkish in origin, the currently Muslim minority is divided into several different ethnic origins, Turkish, Pomak, and Roma ethnic lines. Turkish revisionists declare that although each of these groups has their own language and culture, they represent one National identity, because the Treaty defines them as one Muslim minority rather then three separate ones. However, to forcefully push a Turkish ethnic identity upon the Pomak and Roma communities, in and of itself, is an act of ‘cultural repression’ and ‘ethnic discrimination’, in which the Turkish lobby declares to be against such an action. At present, the Greek states fulfills it’s international obligation by recognizing Greek citizen’s of the Islamic faith as a religious minority of diverse origins, rather then forcefully committing cultural genocide by forcing one cultural identity upon them.
Since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, the Muslim minority of Thraki has grown from 86,000 in 1922 to 120,000 today, compared to its Greek Orthodox counterpart in Turkey, which in 1922 was roughly 200,000 and today is merely 5,000. For a country and its lobby who have obviously work towards the diminishment of their own Greek Orthodox community inside their homeland to declare such a statement, while the Muslim Minority has nearly doubled in Greece boggles the rational mind.
Today in Thraki the Muslim minority is protected against discrimination and promised religious freedom in the Greek constitution under Articles 5 and 13. Thrace is home of 3 muftis, roughly 270 imams and 300 functioning mosques. Politically speaking as recent as 2002, 250 Muslim municipal and prefectural councilors and mayors were elected in local elections. The same cannot be said politically for the Greek Orthodox community in Turkey. Yet the Turkish Government and its political puppets in Thraki have the gull to complain about their political and religious situation. Declaring that the manner in which their Muftis are elected violates the Treaty of Lausanne. The Greek government instead maintains that the state-appointments of muftis is widespread in the Republic of Turkey, and hence its adherence in Greece only goes to strengthen the Greek commitment to protecting Islamic cultural traditions, as set by the Treaty of Lausanne.
One of the major differences between Greece and Turkey’s respect for the Treaty can been seen in the educational life of the Muslim and Greek Orthodox communities. In Thraki today, there are 215 primary schools, where Greek and Turkish languages are used, as well as 2 secondary schools. There are also 2 Islamic theological seminaries in Thraki, yet in Turkey the main school of theology of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Halki seminary remains closed since 1971, which is a direct contradiction to religious freedom promised in the treaty. The Republic of Turkey even goes as far as to tamper with religious affairs, not recognizing the ecumenical status of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, and tampering in the very process that patriarchal elections are held, affecting not just the religious freedom of Greek Orthodox Christians still living inside Turkey, but also millions living outside of Turkey.
Lastly, the Muslim minority of Thraki unlike the Greek Orthodox community of Turkey has never been subjected to ethnic cleansing of any kind, politically, religiously, or economically. While the Muslims of Thraki have lived in peace inside the Greek state, except for sporadic acts of violates perpertrated by the Muslim community themselves, against local Thracians (Thrakiotis) in Thraki, most recently a month ago, where a Greek teacher was beaten by Turkish parents, this minority of Greece has never felt the stress of being a subjected people. I wish I could say the same for the Greek Orthodox community living in Turkey. Since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, the Greek Orthodox minority inside Turkey has been on a constant alert for the next wave of violate ethnic cleansing thrusted upon them by the Turkish state. Without going in depth of the violations committed by the Turkish state, one can merely glance over a short list of the acts of political and religious genocide that has truly been committed against a minority. In 1926, just two years after the signing of the treaty, the Turkish government revoked the right of special administrative organization of the islands of Imbros and Tenedos. The drafting of non-Muslims into labor battalions during World War II affected not only the Greek Orthodox community, but also the Armenian and Jewish communities as well. Let us not forget the Varlik Vergisi ‘Fortune Tax’ enforced mostly on non-Muslims and the parliamentary law which barred Greek citizens from several trades and professions, like medicine, law, and real estate to name a few. The most violate example of the discrimination suffered by the Greek Orthodox community is without a doubt the Istanbul Pogrom of 1955, which echoed the days of Nazi Germany’s actions against its Jewish community. When the then 150,000 strong minority suffered unspeakable acts of violence, orchestrated by the government of Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and his Demokrat Parti, acts of violence, which bus loads of local party members, police, and even Muslims from Greece participated in.
It is up to the free thinking minds of those residing here in the United States to look at these allegations and decide for themselves if the Muslim minority of Thraki is truly facing the prejudice they claim to be, or if its just another act in a long line of misleading propaganda perpetrated to be used as a screen of smoke and mirrors to keep our eyes away from the true persecuted minority from the Treaty of Lausanne, the Greek Orthodox Minority of Anatoliki Thraki (Eastern Thrace).
Respectfully,
Ioannis Fidanakis
President of Pan Thracian Union of America “Orpheus”
Mr. Fein’s sad attempt to paint a picture of an evil oppressive Greek state towards its Muslim citizens is an irresponsible misuse of the truth. “Greece’s decade’s long campaign of cultural repression, ethnic and religious discrimination and economic marginalization of its Turkish minority”, could be nothing farther from the truth. What Mr. Fein and his Turkish friends so conveniently omit is that fact that the Muslim minority of Greece has flourished since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, while Turkey’s Greek Orthodox minority has slowly disappeared. I use the terms Muslim and Greek Orthodox minorities, because unlike what the Turkish lobby would like Westerners to think, these are the proper terms that should be used as set by the Treaty of Lausanne. This treaty and the population exchange between these two countries were based solely on a religious principal. The populations exchanged and those allowed to continue to reside in each respected nation were between religious and not ethnic minorities.
Against Turkish propaganda, which calls the whole Muslim minority of Thraki as strictly Turkish in origin, the currently Muslim minority is divided into several different ethnic origins, Turkish, Pomak, and Roma ethnic lines. Turkish revisionists declare that although each of these groups has their own language and culture, they represent one National identity, because the Treaty defines them as one Muslim minority rather then three separate ones. However, to forcefully push a Turkish ethnic identity upon the Pomak and Roma communities, in and of itself, is an act of ‘cultural repression’ and ‘ethnic discrimination’, in which the Turkish lobby declares to be against such an action. At present, the Greek states fulfills it’s international obligation by recognizing Greek citizen’s of the Islamic faith as a religious minority of diverse origins, rather then forcefully committing cultural genocide by forcing one cultural identity upon them.
Since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, the Muslim minority of Thraki has grown from 86,000 in 1922 to 120,000 today, compared to its Greek Orthodox counterpart in Turkey, which in 1922 was roughly 200,000 and today is merely 5,000. For a country and its lobby who have obviously work towards the diminishment of their own Greek Orthodox community inside their homeland to declare such a statement, while the Muslim Minority has nearly doubled in Greece boggles the rational mind.
Today in Thraki the Muslim minority is protected against discrimination and promised religious freedom in the Greek constitution under Articles 5 and 13. Thrace is home of 3 muftis, roughly 270 imams and 300 functioning mosques. Politically speaking as recent as 2002, 250 Muslim municipal and prefectural councilors and mayors were elected in local elections. The same cannot be said politically for the Greek Orthodox community in Turkey. Yet the Turkish Government and its political puppets in Thraki have the gull to complain about their political and religious situation. Declaring that the manner in which their Muftis are elected violates the Treaty of Lausanne. The Greek government instead maintains that the state-appointments of muftis is widespread in the Republic of Turkey, and hence its adherence in Greece only goes to strengthen the Greek commitment to protecting Islamic cultural traditions, as set by the Treaty of Lausanne.
One of the major differences between Greece and Turkey’s respect for the Treaty can been seen in the educational life of the Muslim and Greek Orthodox communities. In Thraki today, there are 215 primary schools, where Greek and Turkish languages are used, as well as 2 secondary schools. There are also 2 Islamic theological seminaries in Thraki, yet in Turkey the main school of theology of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Halki seminary remains closed since 1971, which is a direct contradiction to religious freedom promised in the treaty. The Republic of Turkey even goes as far as to tamper with religious affairs, not recognizing the ecumenical status of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, and tampering in the very process that patriarchal elections are held, affecting not just the religious freedom of Greek Orthodox Christians still living inside Turkey, but also millions living outside of Turkey.
Lastly, the Muslim minority of Thraki unlike the Greek Orthodox community of Turkey has never been subjected to ethnic cleansing of any kind, politically, religiously, or economically. While the Muslims of Thraki have lived in peace inside the Greek state, except for sporadic acts of violates perpertrated by the Muslim community themselves, against local Thracians (Thrakiotis) in Thraki, most recently a month ago, where a Greek teacher was beaten by Turkish parents, this minority of Greece has never felt the stress of being a subjected people. I wish I could say the same for the Greek Orthodox community living in Turkey. Since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, the Greek Orthodox minority inside Turkey has been on a constant alert for the next wave of violate ethnic cleansing thrusted upon them by the Turkish state. Without going in depth of the violations committed by the Turkish state, one can merely glance over a short list of the acts of political and religious genocide that has truly been committed against a minority. In 1926, just two years after the signing of the treaty, the Turkish government revoked the right of special administrative organization of the islands of Imbros and Tenedos. The drafting of non-Muslims into labor battalions during World War II affected not only the Greek Orthodox community, but also the Armenian and Jewish communities as well. Let us not forget the Varlik Vergisi ‘Fortune Tax’ enforced mostly on non-Muslims and the parliamentary law which barred Greek citizens from several trades and professions, like medicine, law, and real estate to name a few. The most violate example of the discrimination suffered by the Greek Orthodox community is without a doubt the Istanbul Pogrom of 1955, which echoed the days of Nazi Germany’s actions against its Jewish community. When the then 150,000 strong minority suffered unspeakable acts of violence, orchestrated by the government of Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and his Demokrat Parti, acts of violence, which bus loads of local party members, police, and even Muslims from Greece participated in.
It is up to the free thinking minds of those residing here in the United States to look at these allegations and decide for themselves if the Muslim minority of Thraki is truly facing the prejudice they claim to be, or if its just another act in a long line of misleading propaganda perpetrated to be used as a screen of smoke and mirrors to keep our eyes away from the true persecuted minority from the Treaty of Lausanne, the Greek Orthodox Minority of Anatoliki Thraki (Eastern Thrace).
Respectfully,
Ioannis Fidanakis
President of Pan Thracian Union of America “Orpheus”
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