From: 2120788@hydra.maths.unsw.EDU.AU ()
Subject: Re: Modern Greeks
Organization: school of Mathematics UNSW
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 01:11:43 GMT

In article <1992Nov3.192935.21089@wuecl.wustl.edu> ls1@cec1.wustl.edu (Lambros Skartsis) writes:
>In article: <1992Nov2.235450.21999@usage.csd.unsw.OZ.AU>
> 2120788@hydra.maths.unsw.EDU.AU () writes:
>
>    ....
>
>>Back to Black Athena I basically agree with what he says
>>(in principle)the Greeks were heavily influenced by Afroasiatic
>>peoples.Look at the Greek alphabet (which servived the            
>>extermination of the Greek people,well according to Fallmeyrer
>>anyway)which basically stole and adapted the North-Semetic 
>>alphabet and script,ie from ALEPH TO TAU.This is rarely mentioned
>>to the sometime Anti-Semetic Northern Europeans.Indeed I believe
>>that Black Athena was written to expose the Anti-Semetic
>>disposition of modern historians.HOW A HISTORIAN CAN IGNORE 
>>EASTERN INFLUENCES ON ANCIENT GREECE cancels their right to call
>>themselves historians at all.
>>    I'm not trying to be a champion of the Afroasiatic cause,I 
>>am simply sick and tired of reading so much nonsence on Ancient
>>Greece,that I had to write this article.Maybe I'm anti-master
>>race forgive me.We must always look at history objectively(I
>>admit that I'm not on to talk),but cannot put up with Northern
>>Europeans rascist attitudes, Skopjean claims on Greek history
>>(refer to propaganda lesson a previous correspondance).
>>
>> Thank You For Reading This
>>                 Dmitri UNSW
>
>
>Dimitris,
>as I have so many times argued, there is a current "approach" to history/
>national pride that involves, certainly, the racial element. We are all
>influenced from this practice; nations boast - and broadcast how great
>they are - based on e.g. great personalities of the past, which, they
>carefully point out, were of "the same race".
>I believe that there is too much emphasis on history that leads to a 
>silly arrogance; for example see how we (the Greeks) deal with that or
>my fellow europeans (British, French, esp. Germans). In that context,
>of course, we are all guilty of all this silliness going on and
>it is truly disgusting when one accuses the other for being "laughable"
>when "protecting" his history/image (see macedonian issue). We either all
>quit this crap or accept others practising what we practise.
>
>Now the africans are definitely the big victim here. They have - practically -
>no access and power in the media and information world and cetainly are
>annoyed by the prevailing image of them being "savages until civilized
>by the Europeans" - something that modest knowledge of history is enough
>to show that it's a bunch of bull.
>These people, allow me, desperate as they are for a good historic image
>are going to extremes or, even worse, become victims of "historians" who
>write theories that will make the Africans happy - and make a good
>audience with all the financial results - but are almost childish
>[like the African roots of the greek civilization(!), or whether the
>great-great-grand father of Cleopatra was black]. 
>
>There is simply no solution to the problem of "prevailing historical
>images" of peoples in the world. These are controlled by those
>who have the power to control them and if we are lucky ("we" meaning
>whoever) will be included in a good image if appropriate ..interest exists!
>
>The only solution is a lot of careful reading of history, from a variety
>of sources, and avoidance of easy digestion of the "prevailing theories",
>especially those served to us from our school books!
>
>Regards,
>L. Skartsis

BRAVO LAMBROS
    Very few people seem to understand (or want to understand)multiple source
theories(again see Argic).I've often times heard(from educated people,no less)
that Africans are savages,this never ceases to fill me with rage.One just has 
to look at what I call a "lack of historical continuity".Ever heard the words
of a Roman poet "captive Greece made Rome captive",my point being that true
civilization is only achieved when cultures mingle spreading their respective
ideas.Would the "west" today enjoy it's position if not for Rome/Greece/Phoenicia
and Egypt each putting their two cents in.
   I understand (within reason)the black man's perspective on reading "Black           
Athena"you are right about them being caught in the crossfire.Some parts of the
book just don't seem to agree with fundamental aspects of history(ie 90% of the
Greek language is not original)but I do not take these 'fundamental aspects'
as the gospel truth anyway.
   HISTORY WILL ALWAYS BE CONTORTED TO SUIT ONE MAN/WOMANS PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR
CURRENT IDEALS.
                     EUXARISTW DHMHTRH

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