By Nick Stamatakis
I was appalled to see a few days ago that one side of the divided Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York put out a poster announcing that Friday night, while the whole country of Greece will be mourning the two-year anniversary of the Tempi disaster and protesting the lack of justice, they will be celebrating the Carnival at Dionysos Taverna.
That was a horrible, disrespectful, disgusting choice… Nomiki Kastana and her clique, whom I have called “Orangutans” (one of them threatened violence against me!!), should cancel and change the date.
Question: Do some of them plan to dress as “Orangutans”? I would love to see that.
Another question: What does Philip Christopher – who is in charge of “Dionysos” – plan to get dressed as? A Cypriot donkey?
Sensitivity is in short supply in our community…
PS. The Siokis-Kalamaras side of the Federation is equally to blame as they also declined to support the victims of the Tempi disaster. They agreed to have Marinakis as a Grand Marshall, and even now, as the Greek D.A. is pushing Marinakis (and his 150 gang members) to trial, EVEN NOW, THEY REFUSE TO TAKE A STAND!! Shameful!!
February 26, 2025, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
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Niko: Once again, you have your facts wrong. I personally wrote a lengthy email to this year’s parade committee, who found me unacceptable to chair any of the numerous sub-committees notwithstanding my extensive experience in leading successful parades both financially and qualitatively, to express my personal belief that Mr. Marinakis, who I have never heard of before this year, should not be our grand marshal based upon the official criminal charges against him by the greek Justice system.
As an attorney I well know that “charges” of a crime do not necessarily mean that a person is or ever will be convicted, but that if Marinakis clears his name, that we can always reconsider the honor for a later date. At the same time, I noted that the train wreck has become very political in nature which is something that we should be mindful of when considering our parade’s honorees. Nevertheless, we extended an open invitation for the representative Mother to come to the Stathakion to speak her peace (political or otherwise) to the omogenia.
Accordingly, please stop equating the follies of the curbsiders with the proper actions of the Federation’s lawful board.
We have been bending over backwards seeking a just solution to the Federation’s dilemma.
Regrettably, you and so many others are acting like Solomon and by equally and blindly blaming “both sides”, you are effectively splitting the community in half which will harm the Federation. I strongly urge you and others that conveniently sit on the fence to truly look at all the facts and circumstances and take some responsibility and pick the side that is most right.
Nevertheless, we should and will all support the parade, grand marshals aside, as it remains our best hope to promote the excellence of our history and culture here in the land that allowed our great people to reach their highest potential.
Dimitri, I understand your point of view but I don’t understand your leadership – and I mean all of you. Sending a letter to the Parade Committee doesn’t cut it. All of you should have taken a strong stance PUBLICLY.. if you and Siokis and the rest STOOD up in a Panomogeniaki meeting and said a big NO to this atrocious choice of a grand Marshall things would be different. That’s what leaders do: They stand their ground IN PUBLIC.
Κάποιοι προτιμούν να κυκλοφορούν
με Μάσκες και να γίνονται ΚΟΥΔΟΥΝΑΤΟΙ , για να αποφύγουν
να υπερασπιστούν δίκαιους αγώνες.
Η Μάσκα στο πρόσωπο είναι το όπλο
τους για να πνίξουν την συνείδηση και
να καλύψουν την ντροπή τους,
Ασπάζομαι τα γραφόμενα του κ. Καλαμαρά που αντιστοιχούν στο έπακρο την πραγματικότητα, ωστόσο δεν μπορώ να μην συμφωνήσω με τον κ. Σταματάκη.
Εεε Ναι πρέπει επιτέλους να υποστηρίξουμε την θέση μας, τις απόψεις μας, την αλήθεια
μας Δημόσια.
Αρκετά με την παραπληροφόρηση.
Εις το όνομα της Ηθικής ζωής, του ανθρώπινου ήθους και οπωσδήποτε στο όνομα του Ανθρωποκεντρικού Ελληνικού πολιτισμού και του Οικουμενικού Ελληνισμού!