America

Published by The National Herald, December 10, 2004

Thanks, America

In a way, Turkey and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople have learned to live together. There are times when things between them are better than others, and then, they suddenly get worse.

It has been going on like that for a long time; hence, one of the dilemmas facing the Patriarchate and our community.

The question is how can the Patriarchate carry out its duties and exercise its leadership role in the religious world, when it is not even allowed to use its official, internationally recognized name by the authorities of the very country in which it is located, and in which it was established long before there was any Turkish presence whatsoever?

This is exactly what happened last week. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan lashed out against Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, downgrading him to the rank of “a simple citizen” of Turkey, rejecting the prominence, significance and genuine relevance of the Ecumenical Patiarchate’s place in global affairs, which is “only bestowed upon him from outside of Turkey.”

There is no validity for this type of strong and unreasonable reaction on the part of the Turkish Government, however. The Patriarchate does not, and can not, hurt Turkey.

On the contrary, it helps Turkey in many ways, chief among them the image Turkey can potentially project abroad as being tolerant of its non-Muslim citizenry, not to mention the financial benefits Turkey derives from so many people who visit it.

But this time, the Turkish Premier’s comments did not go unnoticed, nor did they go unanswered.

That answer came from the United States. American Ambassador to Turkey Eric Steven Edelman publicly expressed America’s full support for the Ecumenical Patriarhate.
Given recent events, the U.S. response was unexpected.

But at long last, our government took a strong and principled stand based upon core American values which not only make us proud, but which also protect the civilized world’s Democratic systems, institutions and way of life.

From another standpoint, the American action proves how extraordinarily important the Greek American community is to the future of the Patriarchate.

It would be wrong to assume that the U.S. Government had no choice but to side with the Patriarchate on this matter. The U.S. certainly had the option of remaining silent: why should America take a stand on an issue in which it is not directly involved, particularly when taking such a stand could be construed as an intervention in the domestic affairs of another country, a real no-no in today’s international affairs.

Thus, the Bush Administration’s decision to put Turkey in its place about the Patriarchate is historic, decisive and instrumental. Freedom of religious expression and practice is a serious matter, and Turkey needs to get with the program if it wants to accede to the European Union.

In our community, some of us jump at the chance to criticize Washington’s policies, so we should, with the same eagerness, wholeheartedly applaud our government when it does the right thing.

We should pause for a moment and consider Mr. Edelman’s action on behalf of our country, in defense of religious freedom. It is one of the great moments in the annals of American-Greek relations, and we ought to savor it.



Volume 6 Number 50 - Tuesday, December 14th, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY