Unexpected Welcome

   ב"ה                                                                                                                                          

LONG ISLAND LODGE No. 1353, B'NAI B'RITH

                                                   P.O.

BOX 51, WOODMERE, NY 11598-0051

                                                516-374-2958                           Mobile: 369-5799

                                                www.bnaibrith.org        AsherJmat@Aol.com

19 Heshvan 5772                                                                                                           November 16, 2011

Remarkable Return to Sanity Bodes Well for Mental Health

            One day, when the annals of today's financial meltdown in Greece and elsewhere are written, this evening's much-heralded appearance of the distinguished political scientist Dr. Yorgos D. Kontoyiorgis, addressing "The Obligations of the Political System and the Greek Crisis: Is It Only Economic or Also National?" The venue was Brooklyn's ornate Grand Prospect Hall,

263 Prospect Avenue

, 718-788-0777, run by caterer-owners Alice and Michael Halkias. The program was under the auspices of the Hellenic Organization of University Graduates of America, Inc., and was introduced by author-journalist Ioustini Frangouli, while a friend, Fordham University's Dr. Nick K. Georgantzas served as moderator. The panel included the well-known Cypriot-American Andreas Savvas.

                My initial impulse was to shelve the invitation, prior to tossing it in the circular file, but the insistent remonstrations of controversial Alexandors Stefanopoulos, U.S. chief for  the http://www.greekamericannewsagency.com/, made me brave periods of heavy rain, rush-hour traffic on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and my beloved wife Anna's caution that nothing fruitful can materialize from a Greek-Christian community so historically demonstrably predisposed to an anti-Jewish bent! It soon became apparent how innate good will from this critic can, in time, yield unexpected welcome alteration of perceptions.

                Presenting my car to the valet, and entering the cavernous building, I was warmly greeted by our honored speaker, who effusively complimented my efforts to bring about inter-communal dialogue, assuring me that my commentaries are widely read in Greece, my reputation for fairness and probity, even when critical of my native country, widely acknowledged. As we talked, Alexandros Stefanopoulos, along with Alice Halkias, directed us to her husband Michael's office for a pre-reception chat. Later, and from the podium, in extemporaneous remarks Mr. Halkias singled me out for praise, explaining that I hold dual affections for Greece and Israel, and, when he asked for confirmation, I shouted, to general approval, "America, too!" 

  

                The warmth that I began to experience was repeated in the next several hours, as arrivals intermittently lit up in evident delight at mutual recognition, confident that a better tomorrow can be forged from the ambers of ethnic distrust, and intolerance. As the cocktail hour blossomed, it was nice to encounter, among the select many, journalists Dimitri Fillios and Dimitris Rhompotis, Cosmos-FM manager Joanna Gianopoulou, educators Dr. Sevi Boutos, Dr. George E. Yanulis and Stella Kokolis, philanthropist Bill Stathakos, even erstwhile nemeses Dr. Emmanuel Lambrakis with his sidekick Antonis Valsamakis (their seeming moderation, perhaps, the result of having ended the hate-enhancing Jew-taunting gig at www.hellasfm.us). Moreover, I was escorted and beckoned to sit next to another Hellas-FM personality, Manolis Kouroupakis, and station owner Nickos Filas, the irony of being so proximate to the token Jew smilingly noted!

                As to the multi-messages delivered by Dr. Kontoyiorgis, less remarkable for the content --- similar sentiments exuding trenchant and unsparing analyses have been made by others, and shared by me --- but for the fact that they were voiced by one from the increasing chorus of responsible Greek intellectuals, a group heretofore a depressing absence in serious discussion of the raised issues. To wit, it has long been assumed that Greece's maladies can easily be traced to the dominance of dynastic families, economic oligopolies of corporate cartels, and endemic corruption making effective popular political expression a cynical ploy.

                Political parties, in their Darwinian need for self-perpetuation, sacrifice society's aspirations; there is no effective government oversight, and thievery thrives with impunity, persistently short-changing the state; citizens, believing rules, regulations, and laws are for others to follow, brazenly exempt themselves. SAE, the organization to promote coordination of Greek communities abroad is hopelessly directionless, and its revival, based on his idea of a Hellenic Cosmo-system, can be instrumental in helping Greece recover from its malaise. A discerning audience, during an extended Q & A session, suggested that the continuing merger of Church and State is anachronistic; a civil divorce will release enormous assets for public use, now drained by the clergy, while the creative energy that the move would unleash will spur growth.

                There are several implications to the professor's remarks: Greece, alas, is a third-world nation, in my view, is still not European, even though it is manifestly geographically in the continent. By nuance and determination more akin to the character found in Middle East countries, Greece can exploit the clear advantage of democratic norms, so recently-reestablished when the junta was replaced in 1974. Let not this crisis be wasted, for it is an opportunity for Greece to become modern, competitive, and transparent in all its transactions. For this alone, and with warts, former Premier Yorgos Papandreou should not be pilloried, but admired for having courage, born of necessity when he discovered the depleting coffers, to confront past lies, and the tradition of double bookkeeping.

Signing the Memorandum, with its streamline of stop-gap loans, may yet help Greece avoid bankruptcy. It was necessary, but is not sufficient, to arrest the gallop towards withdrawal from the Euro Zone and economic catastrophe which the country faces. It was an unpopular decision that a popularly-elected government was obliged to make; it was spurious for Papandreou to propose a referendum on whether to accept further austerity as condition for another bailout. Now, a national coalition, headed by a technocrat, confronts further cuts, how about a sizeable reduction in politicians' salaries? Meanwhile, New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras balks at the requirement to initial a promissory note to abide by the October 26 agreement with Europe (his ambition to become the next prime minister stumps his devotion to the imperative of national salvation)!

The conversation did not allow for discussion of foreign policy, except for the speaker to note that Greece is dismally weakened as it stares at its perennial antagonist, Turkey, and may not be healthy enough to deal with other provocations --- in Cyprus, the exclusive economic zone, and other issues (Israel-Palestine, Iran). Thus, concluding the presentation, our lecturer was apologetic for being pessimistic. However, such appealing honesty, without searching for scapegoats, but seeing reality with open eyes, with equilibrium and confidence are the ingredients for successful resolutions to problems, personal, national, even global!

Sincerely, and with fraternal affection,

                Asher

Prof. Asher J. Matathias, Lodge President   

*Asher, as always your experiences are interesting and your comments are insightful.

Everyone knows you are a good American, a good man, a good scholar, and a good Jew. Too few understand that you remain as well a very good and loyal Greek too. David, D.C., Law Offices,  Jericho, NY

**Most interesting piece. Maxine D., New York, NY

*Thank you. G.F., Teaneck, NJ

**How wonderful that Anna's fears were groundless, and you can take much credit for the welcome change in attitude evidenced at this gathering. I thank you for this information;  much more enlightening than what we read, or hear, in all the media. Regards to you, and Anna, and Happy Thanksgiving. F.S., Dix Hills, NY