To the Editor,
A few weeks ago, the Board of Directors of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York- where I serve as Vice President – raised an issue of historical significance: the official recognition of Astoria as New York’s ‘Little Hellas’.
During the discussion, the name ‘Greektown’ was proposed. I disagreed and suggested ‘Little Hellas’ – not out of aesthetic preference, but out of respect for our history and identity.
‘Greek’ is not the name we gave ourselves; it is a foreign designation, a legacy of the Roman ‘Graeci’. ‘Hellenes’ is the name we chose for ourselves – the name under which our nation was reborn in 1822, following the Revolution of 1821. Internationally, our state is known as the Hellenic Republic, not the Greek Republic.
I cannot accept having the largest Greek community outside Greece represented by a foreign label that reduces Hellenism to a mere tourist attraction. We are not a sightseeing spot. We are not a commercial brand. We are a people with a history spanning thousands of years; our cuisine, dances, and traditions are not merely decorations for visitors – they are integral parts of the identity we wish to honor properly, not diminish. That is why I insisted on Little Hellas. Because names matter. They shape identity, convey history, and show respect for those who fought so that we might call ourselves Hellenes.
The Federation has formally submitted a proposal to the Mamdani administration to honor the Steinway–Ditmars area with the designation Little Hellas, complete with bilingual welcome signs.
With the Federation’s nearly nine-decade history, the Greek Independence Parade on Fifth Avenue, Athens Square Park, and the largest Greek community outside Greece, Astoria does not need another ‘Greektown’. It deserves to be recognized by its true name.
Little Hellas. Not Greektown. Because our history is not written in the names others gave us, but in the names we chose for ourselves.
George A. Meintassis
New York, NY
