By Asher Matathias,
The first general assembly of the Federation of Hellenic Societies, of New Yrok, constituted under a new president, Elias Tsekeridis, and executive board took place at the Stathakion Cultural Center, Astoria, at roughly the time it was called — 7:40, instead of the stated 7:30 PM. Alas, even with the good will for the new leadership, after the failed last administration, no more than 63 signatures were secured, out of the necessary minimum of 80, before the formal agenda could be entertained.
There followed a general discussion of the perennial issue of calling meetings with the expectation that the initial gathering will be cancelled for lack of a quorum, apartia, requiring a second week for the gathering of the minimum critical mass in order for legal work, including official decisions to procede. Of course, the frustration under such conditions is palpable for the loss of time, upsetting schedules, and the procrastination that results in postponing required decisions.
One suggestion was to tinker with the Constitution, to make it possible to enter into frutiful discussions with fewer than the present 80 requirement; another, was to simply include in announcements of forthcoming meetings a request to respond, RSVP, whether the intention of the assembly member was to be present — the better to know ahead the number to expect — and make the telephonic follow-up to assure participation of the many!
However, observers were riveted by a side-show, off stage, as it were, where several Federation representatives physically barred entry to our proceedings to Alexandros Stefanopoulos, publisher/editor of the Greek American News Agency. The ostensible reason was the perception that the journalist was writing lies, and otherwise disfaming the Federation in his reportage, making him unwelcome tonight, and forever.
It is noteworthy that this writer has had severe disagreemtns with Stefanopoulos in the past over his unusual, overcritical in the extreme, commentary of America, Israel, Jews, as they interact with interests he deemed to be contrary to Greece or Greek-Orthodoxy. Ovetime, and through periodic exchanges, we have evolved a modus vivendi that permits both his rigorous and controversial reporting, and appreciation (not always agreement) with the unique role I play as an active, proponent of ALL (America, Greece, and Israel), a Greek-Jew and immigrant, who represents the Argonauts’ Association as a delegate in the Federation.
In no way have I tried to muzzle Stefanopoulos, even if I had such power or opportunity, for I believe deeply that American Constitutional guarantees provide for an unfettered press to do its duty, reporting, commenting, and, in the process, educating us all. If anything, my own critique of the Greek press in America has consistently been that not enough such journalism has been in evidence — especially, bringing to our attention, and denouncing the anti-Semitism of individuals, and the continuing episodes of reported attacks on Jewish cemeteries, synagogues,even the Jewish Museum of Athens!
Let us view the representatives of mass media as partners with the Federation to distribute and promote our programs; to encourage the dialogue with the people we in assembly represent; truly, our impartial agents to report, comment, and disseminate our news. Sometimes, we will approve in part, or in toto, the journalists’ product, and wonder how they were so able to reflect our intent; in other times, we reserve to differ with them, but we must do so agreeably, never with personal animus. That’s not what I observed tonight, and that’s too bad, for the episode diminished the perpetrators, our collective standing as a Federation, and the prospect to expect that our new administration will be better. I still believe, it can be, it must be, for the sake of us all. Καλη Τυχη!
