On Friday May 29th, 2009 the Hellenic League of America Symposium took place in White Stone, Queens (NY), at the Pan-Macedonian Studies Center, featuring three different speakers.
Nancy Biska, the head of the Pan-Macedonian Studies Center, initiated a moment of silence for Lambros Papantoniou, a patriotic Hellenic reporter, who passed away on May 28th. Mr. Lambros was a lone defender of truth on Hellenic National issues that for many years were forgotten by the system in Athens. At White House, Pentagon, U.S. State Department press briefings Mr. Lambros always asked the right questions seeking truth on Cyprus, Macedonia and Northern Epirus.
The first speaker was Nikolaos Taneris of the Hellenic League of America (HLA) and Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA). Mr. Taneris gave a very interesting speech, The Turkish State and History: Revisionism and Denial, exposing the genocidal regime's concerted effort to cover-up, not only its past crimes and atrocities in Asia Minor (for example the Hellenic and Armenian genocides), but also that nation's ongoing rape of Cyprus. Using scholarly documentation and other sources Mr. Taneris presented a strong case about Turkey's criminal history.
In addition to being the events keynote speaker Mr. Taneris also served as the Master of Ceremonies and deserves praise for a job well done.
Following Mr. Taneris was Ioannis Fidanakis, President of the Pan-Thracian Union of America. His talk, entitled The Hellenic Genocide and the Rise of Anti-Hellenism in the Early 20th Century, was a disturbing account of violence and discrimination against Greek minority communities worldwide. Most shocking were the descriptions of anti-Greek pogroms that took place here in the United States, a grim reminder that the land of opportunity wasn't always so welcoming to its newcomers.
The evening’s final speaker was Giovanni di Napoli of Nuova Patria Meridionale (New Southern Homeland). In his talk, The Mezzogiorno's Hellenic roots, Mr. di Napoli covered a broad spectrum of topics ranging from the history of the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia to the role Southern Italy and Sicily played in Greek mythology.
Mr. di Napoli continues the NPM's efforts to foster stronger ties with other Euro-American organizations and form a united front against the various problems threatening our ethno-cultural communities. He was warmly received by the packed auditorium, who were very keen on sharing their own thoughts on Southern Italy's Hellenic roots and grateful for his solidarity.
Following the presentations a very vocal question and answer session ensued.
Afterwards, the triumvirate received beautiful Pan-Macedonian Association of America pins for their efforts. Literature, books (The Pontian Question In the United Nations by Michalis Charalambidis and The Turkish State and History by Speros Vryonis, among others) and business cards were exchanged. The attendees and speakers mingled and enjoyed a delicious buffet of traditional Greek cuisine generously provided by Nancy Biska and the good people of the Pan-Macedonian Studies Center.
The Hellenic League of America in cooperation with The Pan-Macedonian Studies Center presented the joint lecture.
