By Demetrios Rhompotis

A tradition that started under President George Bush Sr., acting upon an idea of the late Archbishop Iakovos, this year’s event was further highlighted by the presence of a Greek prime minister for the first time and also by the participation of a first lady, again for the first time, as Archbishop Demetrios remarked in his speech. In another first, the reception took place on March 9th, instead of the 25th, because the President would have been on a trip in Asia then and also because George Papandreou was visiting the US at the time and thus could take part in the celebration.

The festive mood was enhanced since the President had announced hours earlier that Greece would enter the Visa Waiver Program, making it easier for her nationals to visit the US, and terminating a policy of discrimination against Greece vis-a-vis the rest of the Eurozone countries. According to well informed sources, the President demanded the immediate inclusion of Greece to the Program against the efforts of a militantly anti-Hellenic State Department staff that sought to further delay the decision.

President Obama in his remarks at the White House event spoke of the support many Americans offered to Greeks who had revolted against their oppressors and said that the solidarity between the United States and Greece continues to this day. Excusing his own pronunciation, he used the refrain “philotimo,” which means “love of honor”, throughout this speech. “It’s a sense of love to family, and to community, and to country; the notion that what we’re here on this Earth to do is to be all in this together. We all have obligations to each other and to work together. And so it was that the democratic example of a small group of city states more than 2,000 years ago could inspire the founding generation of this country that led one early American to imagine that ‘the days of Greece may be revived in the woods of America.’” He also said that when he was a young child living in Indonesia his mother would wake him up early in the morning to teach him the legends of Greek mythology, among other books. “It’s the sense of nobility and morality written in the pages of those timeless Greek texts, which have instructed students - and tormented them - down the ages, in every corner of the world.”

In a reference to the difficult times Greece finds herself in today and talking about Mr. Papandreou, President Obama said that “like his father and his grandfather before him, the Prime Minister is leading Greece through challenging times. But as I told him during our meeting in the Oval Office today, whether in good times, or in bad times, the people of Greece will always have a friend and a partner in the United States of America.”

Prime Minister Papandreou, a Greek American himself, born in Minnesota, thanked the President for his good words and he referred to the contributions of the Greeks in the US. “The Greek American Community is a lasting link between our two countries. We are proud, and I am part of this Community, we are proud of their accomplishments in academia, in business, in culture and politics. They contribute much to the United States and they are always a source of innovation and strength as they bring their ideas and aspirations to Greece when they visit our country.”

Papandreou also invited President Obama to visit Athens and pointed out that Greece and the US are always at each other’s side in “our common quest for justice against all forms of tyranny and oppression in order to keep our world a place where it is worth living”.

Addressing the event, Archbishop Demetrios reminded all that the Greek Revolution of 1821 achieved the impossible, having gone against all odds. That should serve as an inspiration today in our struggle to consolidate democracy, freedom and peace throughout the world.

He also commended President Obama for his strong support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s right to religious freedom, his support for the reunification of Cyprus, and his commitment to the effort for a solution to FYROM name.

The reception was attended by Greek cabinet members, Ambassadors Vassilis Kaskarelis and Andreas Kakouris of Greece and Cyprus respectively, members of Congress, Metropolitan Bishops and prominent Greek Americans.
President Obama singled out his friend and basketball buddy from his Chicago days, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias who is running for Senator. “We have some outstanding members of Congress who are here, and we’ve got at least one potential member of Congress,” he said, pointing to Giannoulias.

The event menu was prepared by Greek American Chef Cat Cora and included dishes from her restaurant Kouzzina, such as Fisherman’s Stew, Lamb Chops, Grape Leaves with Truffle Avgolemeno and various Greek salads.