Speaker. I am proud to join my colleagues in paying a welldeserved tribute to the contributions to our Nation by Americans of Greek origin and to give a salute to the Order of AHEPA. made up of outstanding Greeks. which is holding its international convention here this week. As a member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration. I am quite cognizant of the priceless heritage which Greek immigrants bring to America. This story of the Greek immigrant in the United States typifies the story of America itself. The first great wave of Greek -immigration occurred in the 1890s. Many fled their native country because of economic chaos there and came here for a new opportunity and a new life. Others came in search of religious freedom. In other words. the motivating forces of Greek immigration were much the same forces motivating the English immigration to Plymouth and Jamestown nearly three centuries earlier. Many Greek Americans started out at the bottom but were very soon at the top. Never was the ragstoriches thesis more specifically dramatized than in the case of the Greek immigrants. Industry. native intelligence. and thrift made the Greek immigrant an outstanding member of the American economic community in the span of a single generation. This is a story inspiring to all.
Identified stereotypes
Generalization that Greek immigrants started at the bottom but were very soon at the top, and that industry, native intelligence, and thrift made the Greek immigrant an outstanding member of the American economic community in the span of a single generation.