Xenophon Zolotas said: “`I always wished to address this Assembly in Greek, but I realized that it would have been indeed Greek to all present in this room. I found out, however, that I could make my address in Greek which would still be English to everybody. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I shall do it now, using with the exception of articles and prepositions only Greek words”.
“Hellenic! the language i was given; Poor the house on Homer’s shores. My only care my language on Homer’s shores….” (Odysseus Elytis’ “Axion esti”, Section II – The Passion)
History is repeating itself; this is a statement in which we truly believe in, as a suggestion reminding us of an unwritten rule that help us acknowledge our mistakes and erroneous steps of the past in order to lead the way for a better future. Our world represents a mosaic of people, ideas, traditions, countries and organizations; our planet has been through dark and bright eras for millions of reasons. Periods of peace and periods of war and financial conflicts have shaped our history. Something we’ve learned in every tough period is that there are moments and events which arise to remind us that strong values do exist. Those are the moments which enrich people with the strength, the vision and the courage not to give up.
Such a moment occurred on September 1957, right after a very difficult period in Greece, the civil war. A brilliant Greek economist, Xenophon Zolotas, made a historical speech that enlightened the spirit, the substance and the grandeur of Greek Culture. It was given to a Washington audience, at the closing session of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
By Δημήτρης Δρες (Dimitris Dres)
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