Bill Text: CA SR19 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relative to Greek Independence Day.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-3)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-25 - Read. Adopted. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 401.) [SR19 Detail]
Download: California-2019-SR19-Enrolled.html
|
Enrolled
March 26, 2019 |
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Passed
IN
Senate
March 25, 2019 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
March 06, 2019 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
| Senate Resolution | No. 19 |
| Introduced by Senators Borgeas, Bates, Dodd, Hertzberg, and Nielsen (Coauthors: Senators Chang, Portantino, and Wilk) |
February 19, 2019 |
Relative to Greek Independence Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SR 19, Borgeas.
Digest Key
Bill Text
WHEREAS, March 25, 2019, marks the 198th anniversary of the rebellion and the struggle of the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire; and
WHEREAS, The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution, was a successful war waged by Greeks from 1821 to 1831, inclusive, to win independence from the Ottoman Empire; and
WHEREAS, The celebration of Greek Independence Day on March 25th draws inspiration from one of the holiest days for Greek Orthodox Christians, the Annunciation of the Theotokos. This is the day that, according to Greek Orthodox teaching, the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear a child. Bishop Germanos of Patras seized the opportunity by raising the banner of revolution in an act of defiance against the Turks, which marked the beginning of the Greek War of Independence; and
WHEREAS, Greek Independence Day reminds us of the strong principles and bonds that the United States of America and Greece share, including commitment to the democratic ideals of justice and freedom; and
WHEREAS, The United States of America’s democratic system of government traces its earliest roots back to ancient Greece. The leaders of the American Revolution and the framers of the Constitution often drew inspiration from Athenian lawmakers and philosophers as they sought to build the new nation on the foundations of representative government and free political discourse; and
WHEREAS, Greece and the United States of America have stood together as friends and allies from the time America embraced modern Greece’s struggle for independence 198 years ago. Greeks and Americans share a love of freedom, liberty, and individual rights. The friendship between our two nations is based on mutual respect, a commitment to common goals, and the sharing of fundamental values. Ties of blood and kinship also unite us: the modern community of approximately 3 million Greek Americans has established a natural and enduring bridge between our nations; and
WHEREAS, According to the United States Census Bureau, over 150,000 Californians have Greek heritage; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, the state exported $129,000,000 in goods to Greece, while importing $123,000,000 in goods from Greece during the same time period; and
WHEREAS, Since 1963, the official state motto has been the Greek word “Eureka.” This Greek word has been on the state seal since 1849. “Eureka” means “I have found it,” and refers to the discovery of gold in the state. Archimedes, the famed Greek mathematician, is said to have exclaimed “Eureka!” when, after long study, he discovered a method of determining the purity of gold; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 3 million Greek Americans have joined mainstream society and began to make significant contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and government, as well as in other areas; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate recognizes March 25, 2019, as Greek Independence Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
