Today, October 28, marks the anniversary of one of the most important days in the history of the world, yet few people remember it’s significance. But the Greeks do, and they celebrate OXI day, every year.

The day was October 28, 1940. At dawn that morning (4:00am), after a party in the German embassy in Athens, Mussolini (through Emanuele Grazzi, the Italian ambassador in Greece) issued an ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas to surrender, or face open war with Italy.

Metaxas, a career military officer and more importantly a proud Greek, was not inclined to acquiesce to Mussolini’s demands (surprise!), thus touching off the beginning of the Greco-Italian War and a series of unbelievable events that would eventually neutralize Italy, cripple Germany, and cost 1,000,000 Greek lives.

The Video Montage

Here is the story of Greek resistance as told through a short video. Heroic, yet sad.

For the Record

What happened next was nicely summed up by Congressman Mike Bilirakis (R-FL), Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, in a special order speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to commemorate the anniversary of OXI Day (pronounced “O-hee”). It comes straight from the Congressional Record in Washington, D.C., October 29, 2003.

The full text of Congressman Bilirakis’ remarks follow:

Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly to celebrate “oxi” day. The historical significance of this day and what it meant to the outcome of World War II cannot be overstated. The outcome of a decision made on a day in 1940, had a profound impact on the conducting of the war by Nazi Germany. We’re talking about a stand made by a small, battered and courageous nation, namely Greece, against the larger, more powerful aggressors Italy and Germany.

By October of 1940, World War II had begun, and the Nazi war machine was already in high gear. Along with Hitler’s ally, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the German and Italian forces were threatening the whole of Europe. European nations were bowing to tyranny and destruction as the Germans and the Italians marched through Europe.

Great Britain endured Germany’s aerial bombardment, forcing Hitler to seek another avenue to subdue the British. Hitler intended to eliminate British operations in the Mediterranean in order to weaken their ability to deter German advances.

To achieve this, Hitler needed the Axis powers to strike at British forces in Greece. By conquering Greece, Hitler would gain access to an important connecting link with Italian bases in the Dodecanese islands. This would give the Italians a strangle hold on British positions in Egypt, where British forces were already facing attack from the Italian army in north Africa. The British considered the defense of Egypt vital to allied positions in the oil rich Middle East.

On October 28, 1940, the Italian Ambassador in Athens presented an insulting ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Metaxas, demanding the unconditional surrender of Greece or Italy would declare war and invade Greece. Mussolini had given the Greek Prime Minister Metaxas three hours to reply.

Prime Minister Metaxas responded with the now historic word “oxi”, which means “no” in Greek. His statement embodied the true spirit of the Greek people. His words of defiance echoed the same devotion and love of country that Greek patriots exhibited during their war of independence against the Ottoman empire when they shouted the defiant words “liberty or death.” Prime Minister Metaxas’ actions marked the beginning of one of the world’s most heroic efforts against tyranny and oppression. Italy then invaded.

It is important to note that in addition to Greece having a population seven times smaller than Italy, the disparity in their armed forces was even greater: Italy had close to ten times the firepower of Greece in its army and navy and seven times the troops. Italy’s large air force had total air superiority since Greece had a very small defensive air force. However, despite their lack of equipment, the Greek army proved to be well-trained and resourceful. Within a week of the invasion, it was clear that Italian forces were suffering serious setbacks despite having control of the air and fielding superior armored vehicles.

On November 14th, the Greek army launched a counter-offensive and quickly drove the Italian forces back into Albania. By the next month, the Greeks had captured the town of Pogradec in eastern Albania. The fighting continued for a few more months…it was clear that the Greeks were not going to stand for defeat. In a last ditch effort to bring the war to a close before the Italians would be forced to ask Hitler to intervene, they launched another assault on March 12, 1941. After six days of fighting, the Italians had made only insignificant gains, and it became clear that German intervention was necessary.

On April 6, 1941, Hitler ordered the German invasion of Greece. It took the Germans five weeks to finally end the conflict. This delay proved to be critical to the outcome of the war. Italy’s inability to capture Greece enabled the British to win major victories against Mussolini’s forces in north Africa. This solidified British positions in the region as well as in Cyprus. In addition, it contributed to the failure of the German Barbarossa campaign to conquer Russia.

Due to Mussolini’s humiliating defeat by the Greeks in Albania and Greece, Hitler was compelled to capture the Balkans, mainly Yugoslavia and Greece, thus, delaying his Barbarossa plan to invade and capture the Soviet Union before the winter of 1941. The Greek resistance, both in Albania, and in the other famous battle in Crete, altered, favorably for the allies, his Barbarossa time table by at least six months.

Perhaps most importantly, the Germans never gained the advantage against the British. Although Germany had conquered much of Europe, its inability to decimate British and Russian forces early in the war would eventually prove to be fatal. Thanks to the heroic Greek resistance and their countless sacrifices, the war tide had been permanently changed for Hitler due to the delay of this critical time table.

Nearly one million Hellenes died during that time. That was 14% of the population in 1940. That is equivalent to losing 39 million people in this country TODAY in the case of a war to defend our country.

The entire Western world, discouraged and fearful of the Axis powers and the growing ugly war, took hope from these incredible victories. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said of the Greeks: “Today we say that Greeks fight like heroes, from now on we will say that heroes fight like Greeks.”

A very small number of those Greeks who fought like heroes are still alive today – some now are American citizens. One of those heroes lives in my congressional district – Mr. Demetrios Palaskas who, along with others, has shared those traumatic stories of the mountain fighting by the rag-tag Greeks against such a powerfully equipped invader. We all salute you Mr. Palaskas – you and your many fellow heroes for helping to keep the world free.

Mr. Speaker, “oxi” day is an inspiration to all those who cherish democracy and freedom. It marks defiance against terrible odds. As an American of Greek descent, I am proud to honor the memory of those brave patriots who fought for freedom for themselves and ultimately for all the free world on this important day.

I’m extremely proud to say that my grandfather, Nickolas Pozadzides, was one of those Greek heroes who fought and survived in World War II. And I’m also extremely proud to say that my other grandfather Cranford W. Gordon served our country proudly in the US Air Force.

Consequences of Resistance

• Greece was eventually forced to confront four different armies: Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, and Italy.
• Greece resisted the Axis powers for over 185 days from Oct 28, 1940 – April 31, 1941
• The Greek victory over the initial Italian offensive of October 1940 was the first Allied land victory of the Second World War, and helped raise morale in occupied Europe.
• The Greek resistance influenced the course of the entire war by forcing Germany to postpone the invasion of the Soviet Union in order to assist Italy.
• By one estimate 311,000 people, or 4.3% of the Greek population, were killed (reference). Among them 140,000 died from starvation during occupation.
• Other estimates put the death toll much higher. For example claims that “over 300,000 civilians died from starvation, thousands more through reprisals”.
• The Greek Resistance, one of the most effective resistance movements in Occupied Europe, was formed. These resistance groups launched guerrilla attacks against the occupying powers and set up large espionage networks.
• Hundreds of villages were systematically torched and almost one million Greeks left homeless.

One of the most touching episodes of the early resistance took place just after the Germans reached the Acropolis on April 27. The Germans ordered the flag guard, Evzone Konstandinos Koukidis, to retire the Greek flag. The Greek soldier obeyed, but when he was done, he wrapped himself in the flag and threw himself off of the plateau where he met death.

Quotes About the Greeks in World War II

“For the sake of historical truth i must verify that only the Greeks, of all the adversaries who confronted us fought with bold courage and highest disregard of death.”
- Adolph Hitler (From speech he delieverd to Reichstagon May 4th 1941)

“I am sorry because I am getting old and I shall not live long to thank the Greek people whose resistance decided WW2.”
– Joseph Stalin (From speech broadcast over radio after victory of Stalingrad January 31 1943)

You fought unarmed and won, small against big. We owe you gratitude because you gave us time to defend ourselves. As Russians and as people we thank you.
- Joseph Stalin

“The war with Greece proved that nothing is firm in the military and that surprises always await us.”
-Benito Mussolini 10/5/1941

“Until now we used to say that Greeks fight like heroes. Now we shall say heroes fight like Greeks.”
-Winston Churchill 1941)

Greek Photos from World War II

More Resources

• Military history of Greece during World War II
• Flickr search for Greece WWII
• Oxi Day on Wikipedia

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If your lip would keep from slips.
Five things observe with care:
To whom you speak, of whom you speak,
And how, and when, and where.

William E. Norris
English Novelist

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5 most important words: I am proud of you!
4 most important words: What is your opinion?
3 most important words: If you please.
2 most important words: Thank you.
1 most important word: You.

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If you ever work for me, and I hear one of the following excuses, you’re fired.

50 Reasons Why We / It / They Can’t Change

1. We’ve never done it before.
2. Nobody else has ever done it.
3. It has never been tried before.
4. We tried it before.
5. Another company/person tried it before.
6. We’ve been doing it this way for 25 years.
7. It won’t work in a small company.
8. It won’t work in a large company.
9. It won’t work in our company.
10. Why change — it’s working OK.
11. The boss will never buy it.
12. It needs further investigation.
13. Our competitors are not doing it.
14. It’s too much trouble to change.
15. Our company is different.
16. The ad department says it can’t be done.
17. Sales department says it can’t be done.
18. The service department won’t like it.
19. The janitor says it can’t be done.
20. It can’t be done.
21. We don’t have the money.
22. We don’t have the personnel.
23. We don’t have the equipment.
24. The union will scream.
25. It’s too visionary.
26. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
27. It’s too radical a change.
28. It’s beyond my responsibility.
29. It’s not my job.
30. We don’t have the time.
31. It will obsolete other procedures.
32. Customers won’t buy it.
33. It’s contrary to policy.
34. It will increase overhead.
35. The employees will never buy it.
36. It’s not our problem.
37. I don’t like it.
38. You’re right, but ….
39. We’re not ready for it.
40. It needs more thought.
41. Management won’t accept it.
42. We can’t take the chance.
43. We’d lose money on it.
44. It takes too long to pay out.
45. We’re doing all right as it is.
46. It needs committee study.
47. Competition won’t like it.
48. It needs sleeping on.
49. It won’t work in this department.
50. It’s impossible.

E.F. Borish
Product Manager
Milwaukee Gear Company
Product Engineering Magazine, July 20, 1959

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Ok. Since everyone and their dog has been abusing the word “inconceivable” since I used it the other day, we’re going to round out our Princess Bride movie quotes with this last one before I start moving on to other movies!

The background story is that Vincent, a Sicilian who is employed to start a war by kidnapping a princess, tends to overuse the word inconceivable. So, here’s a little compilation of the phrase throughout the movie. Frankly it is inconceivable to me that anyone took the time to put this together!

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Ok. As a follow up to my last movie quote post, which was also my first… which was also from The Princess Bride… here is another one that you are likely to hear me rattling off at any given time. Especially if I have a sword. And I’m about to kill you.

HELLO! My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!

You can even get a “Hello My Name Is Inigo Montoya” T-Shirt over on Amazon.com.

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I don’t know if you are like me… but I love to quote movie lines! I quote them all the time, but the problem is, there are some people who just haven’t seen them all. So, I’m going to start digging up the ones I say all the time and adding them to my blog so that those of you who know and love me can at least get in on the action.

This first movie quote comes from The Princess Bride. One of the greatest movies ever made! The very opening of the movie includes a discussion about a very, very important phrase that is a recurring theme of the film, “…as you wish.” If you didn’t fully understand the significance of this phrase, this little clip will clear it up for you.

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So what have we learned in two millennia?

“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

– Cicero – 55 BC

…Evidently nothing.

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The trouble with doing something right the first time, is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was.

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What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.

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I know this post is kind of random and out of the blue, but I was listening to someone on the radio making some ignorant statements and I had some thoughts I wanted out of my head…

I understand that some countries don’t like the US. I also understand that this is almost universally true when it comes to countries that lack freedom (Iran, N. Korea, China, the former USSR, etc).

But how can it ever come as a surprise to anyone when the US decides to take action? Let’s face it, you know if you’re a friend or a foe of the US LONG before anything happens.

46 years ago President Kennedy said:

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of freedom.”

Am I supposed to believe the world thinks we changed our minds?

I just thought it was important to get this out there because lately I’ve been providing information about the Opportunity Cost of the War in Iraq, quoting Bush’s hypocritical statement about nation building, and citing the new Presidential Dictatorship Doctrine.

Despite the current situation, anyone on earth would be out of their mind to even think for one split second that the US would shy away from any conflict if we felt our freedom, or that of one of our allies were seriously at risk.

I really just can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to ally with the US? Doing so gives you the biggest trading partner in the world, a great country to vacation in plus reciprocal tourism, the ability to get massive loans and foreign aid, the ability to influence US decisions, and much more. Being a foe is just bad news…

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“When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”

- Thomas Jefferson

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During a presidential debate with Al Gore in 2000 Bush said the following:

“If we don’t stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we’re going to have a serious problem.”

Now here is a quote from the incredibly one-sided Paul Sperry over at AntiWar.com:

The day after the presidential debate, in an interview with NBC’s Tim Russert, candidate Bush stressed that a “big difference” between him and Gore was “on the nation-building concept.”

“If he means using troops all around the world to serve as social workers, or policeman, or, you know, school-walk crossing guards, I’m not for that,” Bush clucked. “And I don’t think America is for that either. I think America wants judicious use of our military.”

Then on Oct. 30, 2000, Gov. Bush said:

“My opponent believes our military should be used for nation-building and peacekeeping instead of focusing on its primary job, which is to be able to fight and win wars.”

But in May 2004 Bush said:

“I sent American troops to Iraq to make its people free, not to make them American. Iraqis will write their own history and find their own way.”

So, can someone explain what we’re still doing in Iraq given the fact that Bush believes our military is only there to fight and win wars, and not build nations? It seems to me that we’re helping build their nation, and that is exactly what Bush promised he would not do.

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Everyone is born an original, but most die copies.

- Abraham Lincoln

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A while back I wrote about one of the most inspiring stories I’ve ever heard about, the father and son team of Richard Hoyt and Richard Hoyt Jr. Well, in the June 2007 issue of Men’s Health magazine Richard Jr. published a huge father’s day letter to his dad. I figured it would be appropriate to share given that we’re only a week away.

You have to realize that it takes an extraordinary effort for him to communicate in this manner, so the length and eloquence of the message are moving.

What My Father Means to Me
My name is Richard E. Hoyt Jr., and I have cerebral palsy. I cannot speak or walk. To write this story, I’m using a computer with special software. When I move my head slightly, the cursor moves across an alphabet. When it gets to the letter I want, I press a switch at the side of my head.

I am half of Team Hoyt. We are a father-and-son team, and we compete in marathons and triathlons around the world. Our goal is to educate people about how the disabled can lead normal lives. We started racing in 1979. My high school was having a road race to raise money for a lacrosse player who was paralyzed in an accident. I wanted to show this athlete that life can go on, so I asked my dad if he would push me. My wheelchair was not built for racing, but Dad managed to push me the entire 5 miles. We came in next to last, but in the photos of us crossing the finish line, I was smiling from ear to ear!

When we got home, I used my computer to tell Dad, “When I’m running, I feel like my disability disappears!” So we joined a running club, had a special running chair built, and entered our first official race. Many of the athletes didn’t want us to participate, but the executive director of the event gave us permission. Soon we were running three races a weekend, and we even did our first double event–a 3-mile run and a half-mile swim. Dad held me by the back of the neck and did the sidestroke for the entire swim. We wanted to run in the Boston Marathon, but we were not allowed to enter because we had not done a qualifying run. So in late 1980, we competed in the Marine Corps Marathon, in Washington, D.C., finishing in 2 hours, 45 minutes. That qualified us for Boston!

A few years later, after a road race in Falmouth, Massachusetts, a man came up to my dad and said, “You are quite an athlete. You should consider a triathlon.” Dad said, “Sure, as long as I can do it with Rick.” The man just walked away. The next year, the same man said the same thing. Again, Dad said he’d do it, but only with me. This time the man said, “Okay, let’s figure out what special equipment you’ll need.”

So on Father’s Day in 1985, we competed in our first triathlon. It included a 10-mile run, during which Dad pushed me; a 1-mile swim, during which Dad pulled me in a life raft with a rope tied around his chest; and a 50-mile bike ride, during which he towed me in a cart behind him. We finished next to last, but we both loved it. Soon after, we did our first Ironman Triathlon. We’ve now competed in more than 950 races, including 25 Boston Marathons and six Ironmans. During every event, I feel like my disability has disappeared.

People often ask me, “What would you do if you were not disabled?” When I was first asked, I said I’d probably play baseball or hockey. But when I thought about it some more, I realized that I’d tell my father to sit down in my wheelchair so I could push him. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably be living in a home for people with disabilities. He is not just my arms and legs. He’s my inspiration, the person who allows me to live my life to the fullest and inspire others to do the same.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. And thank you.

-Richard E. Hoyt Jr

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The trouble with facts is that there are so many of them.

– Samuel Crothers

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Most of the following list of insults from famous people came from Joe-ks.com and I thought they were funny enough to warrant publishing.

I’ll also be posting a few other oldies but goodies soon. Enjoy!

“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.”

– Clarence Darrow

“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.”

– Groucho Marx

“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”

– Mark Twain

“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.”

– Oscar Wilde

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.”

– Winston Churchill

“A modest little person, with much to be modest about.”

– Winston Churchill

“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”

– William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

“Poor Faulkner, Does he really think big emotions come from big words?”

– Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.”

– Moses Hadas

“He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.”

– Abraham Lincoln

“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend… if you have one.”

– George Bernard Shaw (to Winston Churchill)

“Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second… if there is one.”

– Winston Churchill (in response to George Bernard Shaw)

“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.”

– Stephen Bishop

“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.”

– John Bright

“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.”

– Irvin S. Cobb

“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.”

– Samuel Johnson

“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.”

– Paul Keating

“He had delusions of adequacy.”

– Walter Kerr

“There’s nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won’t cure.”

– Jack E. Leonard

“He has the attention span of a lightning bolt.”

– Robert Redford

“They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.”

– Thomas Brackett Reed

“He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears but by diligent hard work, he overcame them.”

– James Reston (about Richard Nixon)

“In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily.”

– Count Talleyrand

“He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.”

– Forrest Tucker

“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?”

– Mark Twain

“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.”

– Mae West

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”

– Oscar Wilde

“A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone’s feelings unintentionally.”

– Oscar Wilde

“I have met a lot of hardboiled eggs in my time, but you’re twenty minutes.”

– Oscar Wilde

“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts… for support rather than illumination.”

– Andrew Lang

“He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.”

– Billy Wilder

“My prayer to God is a very short one: ‘Oh, Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.’ God has granted it.”

– Voltaire

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Could it be that people have always thought that the “youth of today” are different than each of us was as a child?

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

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“Remember, a dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream.”

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I got the following e-mail passed to me the other day, and though I don’t usually condone the propagation of false information, this is just too funny not to share…

T. Bubba Bechtol, a part time City Councilman from Midland, TX, was asked on a local live radio talk show the other day just what he thought of the allegations of torture of the terrorist prisoners.

His reply prompted his ejection from the studio, but to thunderous applause from the audience. “If by hooking up an Terrorist prisoner’s scrotum to a car’s battery cables will save one American GI’s life, then I have just two things to say”:

1. “Red is positive”
2. “Black is negative”

Just for the record, this story is a known partial fabrication. There is a real T. Bubba, and he did say that, but he’s a comedian and not a city councilman anywhere. :-)

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