Remarks by Ambassador Alexandros P. Mallias on the occasion of the Martin Luther King Memorial Project Reception at the Embassy of Greece

I heard earlier today that the Greek Embassy is the first non U.S. institution to organize an event for the Martin Luther King Memorial Project. 

This past January, I was humbled to receive the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for International Service, an honor I am most proud of.

The message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. transcends geographic and cultural boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the indispensable voice of our conscience. That is part of his greatness.

Dr. King also had a profound understanding of the ancient Greek classics, and often drew from them for his speeches.

In his Birmingham jail cell he wrote, "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment... is in reality expressing the highest respect for law." Aeschylus, in Prometheus-bound, describes the cry of Prometheus, "I knew when I transgressed, nor will deny it. In helping Man, I brought my troubles on me."

Sophocles, one of Greece's greatest playwrights, put similar words in the mouth of his reluctant heroine, Antigone, who said: "I will not obey an unjust law, and if something happens because of it -- so be it."

I feel a great debt of gratitude to Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, because it was an example that spirited many other ethnic groups, including my own, to stand up against prejudice and bias all over the world. 

Upon my arrival to Washington as Ambassador of Greece, our Embassy adopted the Brunetta C. Hill Elementary School in Birmingham. This adoption is indicative of the very special affinities Greeks feel for what Birmingham represents.

Dr. King's words are not simply relevant today; they are an inspiration and guide for current challenges. In the ancient Greek tradition, an individual must partake in the responsibility and concerns of all society.

In his words, "Our lives begin and end the day we become silent about things that matter."