On behalf of all those who are not characterized as diasporants in the U.S., but enjoy a Greek heritage, I have several questions/observations:

Does the term ‘Diaspora’ include heirs of 20^th Century immigrants? If so, for how many generations? Is there a cut-off date? If, on the other hand, descendants of Greek immigrants are not classified as diasporants, then this editorial is directed to Greek-speaking people who happen to reside in the U.S., in a home away from their real home; and who are expected to sympathize with the toll the recent fires have taken in Greece.

It is right and proper that AHEPA and DOP of Greece and Europe came to the resque with time, talent and funds. In short, Greece and surrounding neighbors addressed the crisis. Mr. Diamataris decries the lack of response from the Archdiocese in New York. I thought the Archdiocese is the governing organization for the Greek Orthodox Church in America. Has the archdiocese of Athens and All Greece helped to contain the fires?

I believe when the Greeks in America through AHEPA and the Church do not ‘Honor the Arms’, as it were, it sends two messages: first, they may feel that’s a problem for the Greek government to deal with (we have enough fires to put out here); and second, it is possible that diasporant Greeks are diminishing in America and their descendants no longer claim the ethnic commitment of their forefathers. Perhaps they identify as Americans of Greek descent instead of Greek-Americans.

Steven P. Stamatis

Addison, IL