06-R
162
2006 -- H 7934
Enacted 03/23/06
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING MARCH 25,
2006 AS THE 185TH ANNIVERSARY OF
GREEK INDEPENDENCE
DAY
Introduced By:
Representatives McNamara, Lima, Giannini, McManus, and
Singleton
Date Introduced:
March 23, 2006
WHEREAS,
On March 25, 1821, the Feast Day of the Annunciation, the Greek nation
reclaimed
its ancient heritage as the “Cradle of Democracy” by throwing off the yoke of
oppression
which had enslaved its people since the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Conquered by
the
Ottoman Turks in the 15th century, Greece waged a successful War of
Independence (1821-
1829)
and reinstituted a democratic form of government; and
WHEREAS,
The Parthenon is unique to Greece and is the pre-eminent monument of
western
civilization; and
WHEREAS,
When Greece was under foreign rule, more than 100 Marbles were removed
from
the Parthenon by Lord Elgin in 1801 and taken to London, England, and the
return of the
Marbles
will lift the spiritual well-being of the Greek people; and
WHEREAS,
The Olympic Games came home in August 2004 to Athens, Greece, the
land
of their ancient birthplace; and
WHEREAS,
It was the genius of Greece which first ignited the flame of freedom in the
6th
and 5th centuries B.C., when Athens introduced the idea of direct
representative government to
the
world, thus ushering in a Golden Age of art, architecture, philosophy and drama
under such
giants
of western history as Pericles, Sophocles, Euripides, Socrates and Plato; and
WHEREAS,
The Founding Fathers of the United States of America drew extensively
upon
the political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our
representative
democracy;
and
WHEREAS,
It is proper and desirable to celebrate with the Greek people and to reaffirm
the
democratic principles from which our two great nations were born; and
WHEREAS,
The Theological School of Halki is an educational institution for Orthodox
Christianity
in Turkey, but it was tragically closed in 1971 by Turkish authorities under a
law
requiring
that higher education in religion and military training be controlled by the
state; and
WHEREAS,
Congress passed a resolution expressing that the Orthodox Theological
School
of Halki in the Republic of Turkey must be reopened in order to promote
religious
freedom;
and
WHEREAS,
Turkey should restore Hagia Sophia, an essential element of Christianity, a
second
Jerusalem and the most revolutionary and daring Church conceived in
Christendom,
which
has been turned into a museum, and should be returned to its original purpose
as a church;
and
WHEREAS,
Greece, located in a region where Christianity meets Islam and Judaism,
maintains
excellent relations with Muslim nations; and
WHEREAS,
President George W. Bush, in recognizing Greek Independence Day, said,
"Greece
and America have been firm allies in the great struggles for liberty. Americans
will
always
remember Greek heroism and Greek sacrifice for the sake of freedom . . . [and]
as the 21st
Century
dawns, Greece and America once again stand united; this time in the fight
against
terrorism.
The United States deeply appreciates the role Greece is playing in the war
against
terror.
. . . America and Greece are strong allies, and we're strategic partners";
and
WHEREAS,
Greece is one of the only three nations in the world, beyond the former
British
Empire, that has been allied with the United States in every major
international conflict
this
century; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence
Plantations hereby celebrates March 25, 2006 as the 185th Anniversary of Greek
Independence
and reaffirms Rhode Island’s abiding commitment to the magnificent principles
of
democracy
and religious freedom; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
duly certified copies of this resolution to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox
Church of
Cranston,
the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Pawtucket and St. Spyridon Greek
Orthodox
Church of Newport.
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LC02843
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