In the process of gathering data for this
album, it has come to our attention that there are many high achievers in our midst so many
in fact that it is impossible to name them. It is
with pride and admiration that we recognize the dreams and ideals that have been realized by by so many in just one generation. Immigrants
who came here as illiterate or semi-literate
peasants have produced sons and daughters
who are today's teachers, professors, deans
lawyers, doctors, dentists, surgeons, engineers,
architects, businessmen, administrators musicians composers, community leaders, politicians and the inventor of the automatic pilot.
Some of our young people excel in sports and
have made their mark at national levels
as well as in scholastic achievement.
In September, 1976, Toni Tripp Reimer
began her Ph.D. studies of the Greek Community of Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Reimer states in
her thesis that:
The purpose of the study was to relate the
influence of cultural factors on the micro evolution of a single population. Although confronted
by continuing acculturation pressures and a
lowing population, the Greek community is attempting to preserve many facets of the traditional way of life. Through numerous organizations church groups, sports clubs and informal
associations, members of this community maintain
close communication and interaction among
themselves and retain an 'ethnic identity' It
appears that a majority of the population has
deep commitment to the Greek Orthodox church. The combination of this commitment, a
church doctrine which strongly promotes endogamous marriages, and a high degree of ethnic
identity and cohesion within the population
resulting in a high rate of in group marriage. Thus, while
this population is politically and economically
integrated into the larger Columbus community it
is culturally distinct and, in part, reproductively
isolated.
Anthropologists and historians have always noted when writing about the Greeks that
education was of great importance to them.
Even immigrants who arrived here illiterate put a high value on providing a solid education for
their children. This was usually something that
required sacrifice. Material possessions were
passed over in favor of educating all the children in a family.
