Greeks in America - eBooks4Greeks.gr

THE GREEKS IN AMERICA 97in the Near East have greatly strengthened thesebonds of affection and have drawn the Greeks closerto American ideals and institutions.Those who have come to the United States havealways been loyal to the American government,laws and other institutions, and feel much attachedto the American people. Everywhere they wish toget acquainted with Americans, to learn their waysand get the benefit of the educational, social andother opportunities. Those who know English andare able to appreciate American thought and idealsare drawn with deepest admiration to America.Those who are apparently distant or unappreciativeare usually ignorant of the language, hence unableto understand this country, and so remain isolatedand clannish, keeping company with their compatriotsonly, and always using the Greek language.Democratic.—All Greeks feel grateful for the hospitality,and business and educational opportunitiesthey find on American soil. Greeks are truly democraticby nature, temperament and upbringing. Theideas of the oldest democracy in history, and thoseof the greatest republic of modern times—of alltimes—are identical. Therefore devotion to Greekideals is not antagonistic to loyalty to America; onthe contrary they go together and strengthen eachother. All true Americans have been lovers andfriends of Greece, sympathetic in all her difficulties,and kindly towards her aspirations. In turn all trueGreeks have always admired American ideals andaspired to learn and practice them.This we see illustrated in those Greeks who havestudied in American schools and colleges in the NearEast or United States. Graduates and students ofthese institutions have been warmly devoted to them,and have acted everywhere as missionaries of Americanideas and institutions. They are among theleaders and best influences in the life of Greek com-