I. PRNEWSWIRE - Leading Greek American Association Applauds Administration's Designation of Greece as a Visa Waiver Program Nation
The leading membership-based association for the nation's three million American citizens of Greek heritage, and countless Philhellenes, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), applauds today's news that Greece has been designated a member of the United States' Visa Waiver Program, announced National President Nicholas A. Karacostas following his meeting today with officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "This is exciting and welcomed news," Karacostas said. "Greece has worked extremely hard to meet, and in some cases exceed, the United States' rigid visa waiver program criteria. We also thank the efforts of officials at the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and our champions on Capitol Hill, especially the Hellenic Caucus, for working ceaselessly to see this process through to its proper completion." He continued, "Greece's entry is a source of pride for the American Hellenic community. Now our relatives can visit us at a moment's notice if needed, commerce will flourish, and tourism to the United States will increase. Today, the long-standing strategic partnership between the United States and Greece becomes even stronger." Greece's entry into the Visa Waiver Program is a significant initiative championed by AHEPA because of the organization's historical role as a bridge between the United States and Greece for 88 years. Since January 2006, AHEPA worked with Congress to introduce legislation that designates Greece as a visa waiver nation, and hosted a public policy forum with leading administration, congressional, and policy experts to create awareness of the subject. Moreover, AHEPA worked with the Departments of State and Homeland Security to present the position of the American Hellenic community on the issue. Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, to protect individuals from the evils of bigotry and discrimination, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 350 chapters across the United States, Canada, Greece and Cyprus. The mission of AHEPA is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence. For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.
II. GREEKREPORTER - White House Celebrates Greek Independence Day
President Obama celebrated Greek Independence Day on Tuesday March 9th this year. Archbishop Demetrios, Vice president Joe Biden and the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton were present for the Greek Independence day celebration. Greek Prime minister George Papandreou who earlier had a meeting with president was also present at the East Wing where the party took place. The reason for celebrating two weeks earlier instead of the actual day on March 25th is because the President has a very heavy schedule and will be out of the country on the 25th of the month. “Greek Independence Day isn’t for another few weeks. But I’ll be on a trip to Asia, so I appreciate you coming early — not that Greeks have ever needed an excuse to celebrate, let’s face it,” the president joked. President Obama acknowledged that the country is facing troubling times but tried not to talk too much about it since this was a celebration. “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.” Mr. Obama used the Greek word “philotimo,” throughout this speech and said he grew up with Ancient Greek myths. Archbishop Demetrios, the Ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus and members of congress, were present.
III. WHITEHOUSEBLOG - Secretary Clinton Present the International Women of Courage Awards
Yesterday Labor Secretary Hilda Solis discussed her perspective on International Women’s Day, and the First Lady's role in recognizing and exemplifying the ideals behind it. Today, the State Department's DipNote blog tells us about the annual International Women of Courage Awards -- and will allow you to watch the ceremony live at 3:00. First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will host the annual International Women of Courage Awards. To mark International Women's Day, the annual International Women of Courage Award recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and advancement. This is the only Department of State award that pays tribute to emerging women leaders worldwide, and offers a unique opportunity to recognize those who work in the field of international women's issues. Secretary Clinton announced the 10 winners of this year's International Women of Courage (IWOC) award. The awardees are: Shukria Asil (Afghanistan), Col. Shafiqa Quraishi (Afghanistan), Androula Henriques (Cyprus), Sonia Pierre (Dominican Republic), Shadi Sadr (Iran), Ann Njogu (Kenya), Dr. Lee Ae-ran (Republic of Korea), Jansila Majeed (Sri Lanka), Sister Marie Claude Naddaf (Syria), and Jestina Mukoko (Zimbabwe). Read more about the honorees here.
IV. AssociatedPress - French minister's remark in Kosovo criticized
A media watchdog on Wednesday condemned French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's recent remark that a Serb reporter was "insane" for asking him a question about alleged organ trafficking in Kosovo. The South East Europe Media Organization, based in Austria, said in a statement that Kouchner's behavior was unprofessional and surprising from a French government representative. Kouchner, who was Kosovo's U.N. administrator in 1999-2001, was asked by a Voice of America reporter in Kosovo this month if he knew about allegations that minority Kosovo Serbs were kidnapped by ethnic Albanians and had their organs removed for trafficking during the 1998-99 Kosovo conflict. "But you are sick, aren't you? Do I look like someone who would traffic organs? You are insane to believe all kinds of nonsense like that," Kouchner responded. "Sir, you should consult (a doctor) ... people who talk about things like that are bastards and murderers." Europe's top right body, the Council of Europe, is currently conducting an investigation into the alleged organ trafficking — a probe let by Swiss Senator Dick Marty. Serbian officials say up to 400 Kosovo Serbs vanished without a trace during the war, and some fear a few dozen may have fallen victim to an organ trafficking operation performed in the so-called "yellow house" inside neighboring Albania. Kosovo and Albania have strongly denied the allegations of organ trafficking, which first surfaced in a book by former U.N. war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte. She portrayed the "yellow house" as a building in Albania where organs might have been surgically removed from the victims. But Kouchner said, "There was no yellow house. There was no organ trade." The media watchdog said it was unacceptable that a top official should be so aggressive at a news conference. "As a politician and a member of the French government, he should communicate professionally and responsibly with journalists," said the South East Europe Media Organization. "We would have expected Mr. Kouchner to react in a more courteous and dignified way." Asked about the organization's criticism, French Foreign Ministry officials in Paris declined to comment immediately.
V. EURONEWS - Biden attacks new Israeli settlement plan
The United States has launched a rare verbal attack on Israel over its plan to build more than 1,600 homes on occupied land. In a statement issued after he arrived 90 minutes late for dinner with the Israeli President, the US Vice President Joe Biden condemned the move, saying it “undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel.” Israel announced the new settlements would go up in Ramat Shlomo, a part of East Jerusalem Palestinians claim for a future capital. The Palestinian Authority’s spokesman said the timing showed peace was not a priority for Israel. “The proposal is another indicator that the priority for the Israeli government is to consolidate the illegal occupation,” said Ghassan Khatib. Israel’s refusal to stop settlement building has been a major obstacle to a resumption of the talks. It also puts Biden in an uncomfortable position ahead of discussions with Palestinian leaders.
Ever heard of “the Hermitage cats”? Their official residence for centuries has been one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, Russia's landmark, the Hermitage. Stray cats from the historic art palace seek “a better shelter”, looking for those who are ready to take them home. The “Want to Go Home” campaign is currently underway in St Petersburg, aimed at helping the city's stray animals find permanent homes and owners who will take care of them. Cats have fancied St Petersburg's hub of culture since its foundation by Catherine the Great. They first lived in the former residence of the Russian emperors, the Winter Palace. These cats have an eye for real art and luxury, and could probably spot a fake painting from an original quicker than professional art dealers. At least that’s what their feline demeanors seem to indicate. Their number plummeted during the deadly Leningrad Blockade. After the end of WW2, the Hermitage took care of the cats, whose vital duty is helping the museum get rid of those gnawing beasts, rats and mice. In fact, their number is strictly specified. No more than fifty cats and kittens can stay at the Hermitage, although more cats always seem to turn up.
VII. PRAVMIR - Delighting in the Gift of Childhood
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11. Not long ago, I was standing in the checkout line at K-Mart when the three-year-old in front of me began to melt down. He wanted one of those colorful, nutritionally questionable, snacks strategically – and purposely – placed at a child’s eye level. His mother told him he couldn’t have it. So he begged, whined, sobbed, bargained, spat, and publicly announced, “you don’t love me, mommy!” His mother stood her ground. Sensing that he wasn’t going to win, he pulled out the “final solution” in every toddler’s arsenal of manipulative techniques: he threw a tantrum. Clearly at the end of her rope, the mother lashed out, “Would you PUL-EEEZE act your age?!” I couldn’t stop myself from tapping her on the shoulder and saying, “He is acting his age!” “Ex-CUUUSE me, sir,” she glared. “This is really none of your business.” “I fully acknowledge that,” I responded. “I’m merely pointing out that he is acting his age.” “Well, he needs to grow up,” she retorted. “He will, in due time,” I replied. “But for now, he’s a threeyear-old acting like three-year-olds act in this kind of situation.” “Well, he shouldn’t act like this,” she snapped as she dragged her son, who surely would be sentenced to a 20-year time-out when he got home, from the store. We live in a curious time, one in which we so often and so unconsciously deprive our children of their right to be children. We’re told that plopping our infants in front of a “Baby Einstein” DVD will make them smarter – or, at least, give them an “edge” over their future pre-school peers. We organize their every waking moment with play dates with the “right” neighbors, calm them down with Mozart and Beethoven symphonies, introduce them to computers long before they can utter a simple sentence, and keep them permanently germ-free with a wide array of disinfectants and anti-bacterial soaps, sprays, spritzes, and towelettes designed to route out the evils lurking in the sandbox – which we don’t let them play in lest they get dirty. There are even those who believe that permitting children to role play or fantasize can affect them in a less-than-positive manner. A few months ago, a parishioner told me about a neighbor who would no longer allow her daughter to play with hers because she discovered that they had been playing hospital. Since they weren’t really nurses and their dolls weren’t really sick, the neighbor reasoned, such “unrealistic fantasy” could have a “negative impact on my child’s ability to discern reality from fiction.” Say what??!! The apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, writes, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” [13:11]. Countless preachers have expounded on the second half of this passage, urging their flocks to live serious adult lives, to act their age, to take responsibility for their actions, and to shun the temptation to be childish. Few, however, notice that in the first half of this passage, Saint Paul acknowledges that it’s perfectly natural for children to speak, to understand, and to think like children, precisely because that’s what they are! They’ll grow up in due time, and somewhere along the line they’ll let go of their “childish things” – hopefully. But until they do, they remain what they are – or, to be more precise, what they should be. And it is up to us, the parents and others who inhabit the “village” it takes to raise them, to allow them to delight in precious, Godgiven gift of childhood.