Today, a guest who touched our hearts and opened up new avenues of thought with his wisdom and methodical approach returns to us. Dr. Alemis, dentist, entrepreneur, author and family man, speaks to us this time about something even deeper:
-Education of the heart and mind.
– The role of the Greek parent — whether living in America, Australia, Germany or Greece itself.
– And above all, how we can raise children who feel and are Greek:
Descendants of Pericles, Plato, Sophocles, Aristotle... of Alexander the Great.
In an era where identity feels like a form to fill out, let's revisit what it really means to be Greek. Not just as a citizenship, but as a way of life.
MP. In our first Interview you touched us with the words of Euripides:
The lazy do not gain fame, but labors / are those that give birth to glory. Tell us, which ancient Greek philosophers or writers influenced you the most in your life and thought?
DR.A. Certainly Thucydides, especially with his “Epitaph”, which I often refer to, because there the concept of responsible democracy was defined and analyzed. I am also interested in Pythagoras, as he had very advanced ideas about our spiritual side. Plutarch is a source of excellent information, let's say “On the Soul” is revealing, he talks about the passage from one life to another, and even with detailed data.
MP. What books or texts would you recommend to your children, but also to young Greeks in the diaspora, to study — and why?
First of all, the “Fryktorias” are very interesting, these shows can bring us into contact with historical events from ancient times, but also with all the great personalities and their discoveries. The speakers are excellent, they usually call things by their names and you really learn. From there I met the excellent scholar of the ancient Greek language and cultural scientist Mr. George Charalambides and I began to study the translations of the ancients. I believe that for the first time we have correct translations from a Greek who truly adorns this field and produces valuable work for the country, and not translations from foreign philologists who had their own viewpoint on language and culture. And I believe that my own books are innovative and have a lot to offer, both the self-improvement books and the political economy ones. They can be easily found at www.alexalemis.gr in Greece and on Amazon for expatriates or they can send a message to info@alexalemis,gr and my colleagues will help.
MP. Many young people abroad are moving away from the Greek language and identity. Do you believe that knowing Greek philosophy can enhance their personal development and success?
DRA. Unquestionably. It is an honor to first of all carry this name and it is also a great blessing to study the Greek language, and especially the etymologies. Here you give me the opportunity to say a lot more because it is a topic that really captivates me. There were all those great people in the past. What do we really know today? My opinion is that if real creations, that is, material objects, with Greek writing had not been found in and around Greece, we would have already disappeared from the face of the Earth by now. And what about the truth? Well, a perception is created, and for most people the perception becomes reality. Therefore, when it comes to culture, the majority of people around the world have little knowledge about the real contribution of the Greeks to the world. This is done intentionally. Someone will tell me: no, you are wrong, people know about Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, etc. So, what people around the world “know” about Greek culture is what is promoted by non-Greeks who want to claim that they currently have a superior culture to that of the Greeks, who were important, but that was a long time ago. Yes, others wrote a few names and a few books about Greek monuments, but all of this was done under the auspices of non-Greeks, who believe that they have surpassed the Greek philosophers and are creating a new reality for people around the world. (Read more about this in the books of George Charalambides, he is the only one I know who makes real translations of our ancients.) I repeat, truth is manipulated and perception becomes reality. Think of the construct of the “Indo-European language”. For God’s sake, where were these “Indo-Europeans”? And where are their creations and their written language? What a fabricated lie against the Greeks, but also against the Europeans, since they too cannot get to the true roots of the words of their language, as the dictionaries claim that they are all incomprehensible Indo-European instead of telling the truth, that they are Greek, to be fully explained. One will ask: “And how can you prove this?”. Very easy! Go and study “Indo-European” for a few years and then come and tell me if you have gained a better understanding of these “Indo-European roots”; you will not. But if you study ancient Greek for a couple of years, all these “Indo-European roots” will make sense.
If the Greeks truly knew their culture, their language and the spiritual development of their ancestors, they would rise, spread and become a beacon for the world, and would not remain Psorocostian and peculiar as they appear to be today. So, with this knowledge you can become a beacon and shine wherever you are.
MP. You, as a father and Greek businessman, what do you tell your children about their origins? How important do you think it is for them to know the “why” behind “I am Greek”?
DR.A. First of all, I myself have been taking ancient Greek lessons for years. I did the same for my children. They know history, we talk about history, we maintain ties with Greece, we observe customs, we often go to our country, we visit monuments. They are very proud of their origin, of this privilege of being Greek. The word Hellene means “brilliant” or “illuminated”. (According to one etymological version, the word Hellene is a compound, from El and lin. Where El is the [god] El-ios, the life-giver, the light-giver. And lin is the infinitive of the verb lao, which means to see. A Hellene is one who lives according to the laws – and powers – of Light.) Someone is brilliant if they have knowledge. One gains knowledge through painstaking school learning, as well as through painstaking observation of life. In ancient Greece, a Greek was considered someone who had Greek learning, Greek education, Greek teachings, and not necessarily someone who was born in Greece or to Greek parents. The most important event in the history of humanity is the invention of democracy. Democracy is the contribution of each citizen to its laws and administration. Therefore, Democracy = Freedom. The construction of democracy is chronologically placed around 450 BC. Who invented democracy? The enlightened ones of the planet, the brilliant ones, the Greeks, and more specifically the Athenians! Is it possible that my children don't know this?
MP. I personally love and promote the Greek language and philosophy through education. Do you believe that these elements can and should be integrated into everyday life or teaching abroad?
DR.A. And you are doing very well, and this is how each of us here should operate, especially those who have the appropriate position. What I have observed: The Hellenistic diaspora does not learn ancient Greek history and its contribution to humanity. Ancient Greek history has been studied by philosophers and scholars all over the world. The miracle of America has been based on ancient Greek philosophy. And yet, we and our children do not even learn the
a tenth of this valuable history for humanity. Isn't it tragic? We want our children to become Greeks, but we don't tell them why. To pursue something, you have to have a reason to do it. We tell our children to strive to become Greeks, but we don't tell them why. Who among us knows what Plato, Thucydides, Solon, Xenophon, Socrates, Pericles, Alexander the Great and so many others said? Almost no one. They also don't know that most English words, and not only, have Greek roots. If you ask a Greek here about the Macedonian Question that the Skopjeans have fraudulently created, they cannot answer you and, therefore, it is impossible for them to defend it as a purely Greek national issue. But why? Why are we depriving our children of this treasure? If we taught our children our ancient history, then they would seek to learn Greek because they would want to know about this treasure. If we want our children to become Greeks, we must teach them why this is so important, and what Hellenism can really offer them today. Otherwise, there is no reason for them to learn Greek. In my book “For the Greece of the Future” I have drawn up a plan for the organization and management of the schools of the Hellenes Abroad with the aim of making them functional and efficient.
MP. Which principle or value of ancient Greek thought do you consider most useful today for a young person who wants to live with ethics, balance and success?
D.R.A. Our brilliant and enlightened ancestors were the ones who gave us the ideas of individual freedom, individual initiative, and citizen rights. That is, the ones who created and established the idea of Democracy and freedom. Which means that the real Greeks, based on the definition of a Greek, are the ones who acted in favor of the freedom of the individual and Democracy. The most famous ancient Greek saying is “gnothi sautton”. But how do you know yourself or about yourself, in spirit and body? Through research, on a spiritual and material level. Who does research to learn? The friend of wisdom, that is, the philosopher. Therefore, the real Greek does not work with doctrines but with science and logic, on all levels, spiritual and material.
MP. In our next discussion, we would like to talk about the best way to govern a society or country. Can you give us a little preview: What virtues should a leader have according to the Greek tradition and what is missing from today's forms of governance?
D.R.A. The Political System that exists in a country is what determines the success or failure of that country and its citizens. Some argue that you can succeed in any economy or in any political system. That is like saying, “Ignore the cobra or the tiger that is in the corner. If you don’t see it, it won’t eat you.” Responsible Democracy and true free enterprise combined constitute the best system of government ever developed. It takes what is naturally available in the world and distributes it in the best way possible to create as much success and happiness as possible for the people who exist and live in it. The moral of history is that the top 5% of people in any society must constantly lead a country so that the country becomes a better place, and they must constantly participate actively in the political process so that their country does well. These are people who are endowed with more kindness and observational skills than the rest of their fellow human beings. Everyone else simply does not have the qualifications they need to deal with situations and become leaders. And this is exactly what Pericles, the Father of Democracy, had argued in his famous speech, the “Epitaph” to the Athenians, that, for things to go well in the country, responsible citizens must constantly participate in political processes and public affairs. If we have enlightened citizens, active and participating, then the right leader will emerge from them.
PM. In closing, what is your message to Greeks around the world — and especially young people — who are struggling to build a better future without losing their identity?
DRA. Let us recall the definition of Greek: The word Hellene means “bright” or “illuminated”. (According to one etymological version, the word Hellene is a compound, from El and lin. Where El is the [god] El-ios, the life-giver, the light-giver. And lin is the infinitive of the verb lao, which means to see. A Hellene is one who lives according to the laws – and powers – of Light.) So Hellene means the illuminated one, the bright one, and Hellenism is brightness. Inspired by this, I came up with two more definitions: a civilized person: 1. He attempts exchanges in which everyone wins and, therefore, 2. He believes in honesty in all his agreements, 3. He does what he has agreed to do, and 4. In order to achieve the above, he seeks truth in agreements and in life in general.
Barbarian: A barbarian is someone who a. Does not aim for mutual gain, but rather aims for himself to gain and for others to suffer.
b. Will not do what he has promised and agreed to do for others or with others, c. Therefore, he is not interested in law and justice, and d. Therefore, he is not interested in truth in matters or in life.
By following these definitions you cannot lose your way. We need enlightened people, we need again the critical mass of enlightened people who make a difference in every society, as was the case in the era of classical Greece. So it is up to us to make the right choice.
photo from Mr. Alemis personal website https://alexalemis.gr/
