The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., December 01, 1923, Page 33, Image 33

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DECEMBER, 1924
THE UNITED AMERICAN
A Plea for a More Effective Americanization From a Foreign Born
By Aleck Karahales, Vice President Hellenic American League
T N DEALING with the subject of
1 Americanization there is one thing
that constitutes the first essential to
make Americanization possible—a base
of mutuality, equality and common in-
j terest must be established so that those
who are to Americanize can meet those
who are to be Americanized on a common
ground.
The people of Greek birth have unfor-
i tunately up to the present time been
regarded by Americans as a race which
they thought inferior to themselves,
though acknowledged quite smart in
business and able to make good
money. Their faults have been magni­
fied, and if any non-English speaking
foreigner of dark complexion was ac­
cused of a grave offense, Americans were
too ready to surmise that he was of
Greek origin, and so it was publicly said
in the press under the glaring head lines,
Greeks have often been slandered by the
public and libeled by the press, with all
I kinds of unmerited comments, and they
are frequently classified as non-white.
And yet in this country where the
libraries are filled with works of Greek
literature, science and art, one should
expect a better appreciation of the de­
scendants of the world’s greatest artists
and philosophers. As in the days of old,
wherever Greeks settled they imparted
their knowledge to those with whom
they came in contact, so in our present
days, wherever they have chosen an
abode, they have been inferior to none.
Many of the Greeks that have ac­
quired renown in strange lands started
their career much like the poor unedu­
cated immigrants of this country, but
rapidly they rose to the summit of dis-
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tinction. The secret of their success lay
not only in their cleverness and busi­
ness ability, but in the deep appreciation
of the people among whom they lived.
The Greeks who have come to this
country within the last fifteen or twenty
years, have largely been without educa­
tion, without business experience, with­
out knowledge of the language, without
friends. They have struggled against
every Obstacle. Now there are thousands
of these poor immigrants who are well
to do and contribute to the wealth of
this country.
As workers they offer their bodily
strength and oftentimes their lives, as
business men they make proof of their
ingenuity and their instinctive shrewd­
ness. They have been the pioneers in
different kinds of business throughout
the country. As men of letters, they are
distinguished for their brightness of
mind and their inborn refinement; as
artists, they are inspired by their crea­
tive genius, that splendid inheritance of
their forefathers; as soldiers, they are
an example of fearlessness and bravery,
and there has not been a more loyal and
more patriotic class of foreign people in
this country than the Greeks.
We know this from the data which has
been gathered of what each race has
contributed to this country. We have
seen that the Greeks, in proportion to
their number, have offered more men
than any other race and in proportion to
their means they contributed most gen­
erously during the late war.
But of this activity of the Greeks little
or nothing is known by the average
American, therefore I like to present
some of their merits, as long as their
faults are known, without claim that
they are all angels.
The Americans ought to realize what
has been done and what is being done for
Merry
Christmas!
I
THE United States National Bank takes this opportunity
to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy
New Year.
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