Solutions for Trying Times

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to Frankly Speaking, your weekly destination for insight and inspiration,
with your host, Frank Morangos. Frankly Speaking is sponsored by
Heppa four two one Chapter of North Miami in partnership
with the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of North Miami.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Good afternoon, and welcome to another broadcast of Frankly Speaking.
As my producer Brian Mudd indicated, I'm your host, Frank
Morangos in for the next thirty minutes, I promise to
provide you with Frank talk in a lively interview concerning
the influence of the ancient Greeks and most especially the
Hellenic ideals and values of the philosopher Aristotle on our

(00:47):
contemporary culture. To do my part to help make America
Greek again. The famed Chinese philosopher Confucius one said that
words are the voice of the heart. Thousand years later,
Rudyard Kipling, the English journalists, novelist, poet, and short story writer,
described words as the most powerful drug used by mankind,

(01:10):
and then another writer anonymously advised that we should take
time to taste our words before we spit them out.
The now deceased American actor and comedian Robin Williams insisted
that no matter what people tell you, words and ideas
can change the world. In a similar fashion, Mother Teresa,
the Albanian Catholic nun and founder of the Missionaries of

(01:31):
Charity in Calcutta, warned that while kind words can be
short and easy to speak, their echoes are truly endless.
And finally, words, cautioned French philosopher Jean Paul Satra, are
loaded pistols. So today is a result of the endless
use of and misuse of words loaded as ammunition in

(01:53):
the narrative, pistols and used to reassassinate the legacy of
Charlie Kirk. I want to examine the power of words,
as words can be used to either build up or
to destroy. Confucius was correct. Words are indeed the voice
of the heart. The simple phrase of this most ancient
of Chinese philosophers also captures a profound biblical truth that

(02:17):
words are not random or accidental, but instead are an overflow,
a mirror, and a diagnostic tool for what is hidden
within us. The mouth does indeed express what the heart contains.
Words expose our inner world, revealing its true nature, the good,
the bad, even the broken. While free speech is protected

(02:38):
under the First Amendment, exceptions do include categories of using
words to incite violence, to threaten, or to defame. Other
categories of unpredicted speech include certain forms of harassment or
when used to infringe on the rights of others. Fortunately,
the threshold for losing the rights protected under the First
Amendment are very high, however, as Samuel Langhorne Clemens, the

(03:03):
American writer known by the pen name Mark Twain, once wrote,
the difference between the almost right word and the right
word is really a large matter. Tis the difference, Clemens asserts,
between the lightning bug and the lightning That is, the
difference between a soft, harmless twinkle and a flash that
strikes with loud and disruptive power. In a somewhat similar vein,

(03:27):
according to the forty fifth verse of the sixth chapter
of the Gospel of Saint Luke, while upright individuals produce
good out of their virtuous storehouse of their heart, the
manevolent produce evil out of the vile treasures in theirs.
The verse is found in a hombly attributed to Jesus
Christ that is commonly referred to as the Sermon on
the Mount in this part of his address, Jesus describes

(03:50):
how a person's character and use of words can be evaluated,
for it is out of the abundance of the heart.
Jesus contends that the mouth speaks, in other words, in
the same way that we can know a tree by
its fruit, the same holds true for our understanding of people.
In a fascinating article that I recently read, published in

(04:10):
two thousand and two by a well known medical journal,
ten cases were described to support the notion that human
organ transplants, especially heart transplants, contain the personality of their donors,
and that this inner disposition can transform the personality of
the recipient. According to the study, nine out of ten
participants reported that their personality had changed after they received

(04:33):
a heart transplant. In one case, a teenage girl with
no prior interest in medicine decided to go to medical
school following her successful surgery. We are told that the
donor wanted to be an actress, but that her father
preferred that she become a doctor. According to the recipient,
her new found love of medicine was not something that
she ever considered. She was convinced, however, that her new

(04:56):
found love of medicine was the direct result of her
transplanted heart that contained the influence of the donor's father.
While there are indeed other explanations that may account for
such transplant surgery influences, words are indeed the voice and
apparently also the pilot of our inner storehouse, inner desires,

(05:17):
in dreams. This is exactly the sentiments of Aristotle, the
philosopher who viewed words as external symbols for the affection
of the soul. According to Aristotle, while spoken words are
the primary signs of our mental states, written words are
secondary signs of the spoken words. For Aristotle, words are
meaningful because they have a connection to the real world.

(05:41):
Sentences are only true, however, if they correspond to reality,
linking language to external objects in their characteristics. It is
therefore vital. He insists that we analyze the truthfulness of
words in that they serve as tools for persuasion. Persuasive
words around us. They're on our phones and stores, on billboards,

(06:03):
computer screens. Experts calculate that while most get filtered, the
average person hears twenty to thirty thousand words a day.
That comes out to six million words a year, four
hundred and fifty million in a lifetime. While it's easy
to think that words don't matter, words do shape our life.
They are often intended to persuade our minds and inner dispositions.

(06:25):
Do Such words have the power to build or destroy.
Good words and courage inspire, teach, communicate truth. Evil words,
on the other hand, damage relationships, hurt, and spread lies
through gossip. As a spiritual repository and center of our being,
our hearts are symbolic storehouse for our thoughts, values, and beliefs.

(06:48):
Our hearts hold the image of things we think about, value,
and love. Our hearts are also the source of our character.
Our words may therefore reveal grace and forgiveness or bitterness
and real They can give life or bring death. They
can be well springs of encouragement, hope, and love, or
the futrid wells of anger, malice, and slander. They can

(07:10):
appear as graceful as lightning bugs, or strike hard as
destructive lightning bolts. As we communicate with family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues,
and so many others on any given day. Aristotle argued
that words used for communication are therefore the keys to
healthy relationships and to a virtuous society. He would add, tragically,

(07:31):
as we have all experienced, to one degree or another
during the days following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, relationships
can be built up or broken down depending on the
words we hear and speak. As such, we would be
well served to examine the quality of the treasure stored
in our respective hearts and the manner through which we
express them, as this is a modern concept. Aristotle did

(07:56):
not offer specific advice on how citizens can heal each
other using words. However, his philosophical works provide a framework
for how words can be used constructively in civil life
to foster a healthy and virtuous society. His advice is
rooted in his ethical theories on friendship, his political theories
on deliberative rhetoric, and his analysis of emotion. So Aristotle

(08:20):
outlined three types of relationships, the highest of which he
called the perfect friendship that is based on mutual virtue.
While it was originally conceived for two specific individuals, Aristotle's
principles can be easily applied to our current volatile civic interactions.
In Aristotle's ideal form of friendship, individuals should wish the

(08:42):
best for each other. To apply this to public discourse.
Citizens could start by using words to acknowledge the virtuous
intentions of others, even when disagreeing with their positions. Rather
than gossip or to manipulate words to tear down the
reputation of another, society should insist ingenuine, unselfish dialogue that

(09:02):
goes beyond simply seeking to advise and to advance our
own agendas. We could also encourage moral and intellectual honesty
in others to respectful debate and authentic communication. According to Aristotle,
a virtuous society does not use rhetoric to manipulate others,
but to discover the available means of persuasion to promote

(09:25):
the public good and to heal a fractured citizenry. Far
from advancing capitulation, we would do well to learn how
to frame our arguments around shared values and the collective
welfare of our respective neighborhoods. By using logical reasoning and
evidence rather than emotional manipulation. We could learn to manage

(09:45):
in common listener's anger by showing empathy and demonstrating that
their concerns are being heard. The ultimate goal would be
to facilitate reasoned discourse based on facts and not to
inflame passions often based on Aristotle argues that justice and
friendship are closely linked. The possibility of friendship in justice's

(10:08):
greatest in a democratic society contends where citizens are equal
and have much in common. Words that heal are those
that promote justice and reinforce a sense of shared community.
They engage a deliberation not to win a debate, but
to find common ground. It should not be a surprise
there for to learn that. Aristotle insisted that such engagement

(10:29):
is essential for a healthy political discourse. Finally, Aristotle recognized
the power of narrative in shared experience in shaping public
emotion and fostering healthy relationships. Citizens should use storytelling to
heal one another, he said. Instead of approaching a contentious
issue with abstract arguments, he suggested that we learn to

(10:51):
frame it with a story that creates a sense of
community and shared history. In two thousand and eight, Morgan Blake,
sports writer for the Atlanta Journal, wrote the following powerfully
illustrates the destructive power of malicious words that appear so
prevalent in our current volatile political environment. And I'm quoting him,

(11:13):
I am more deadly than a shell from a howitzer.
I win without killing. I tear down, break hearts, wreck lives.
I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence
is strong enough to intimidate me, No purity pure enough
to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no
respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims

(11:36):
are numerous as the sands of the sea, and often
as innocent. I never forget, I seldom forgive my name.
My name is gossip. In his eighteenth Old Testament proverb,
King Solomon states that death and life are in the
power of the tongue, and those who love it, he continued,

(11:57):
will eat its fruits. That's how powerful were can be.
They can either speak life or create despair. Rather than
using words in such relationship destroying ways, Aristotle would advise
us today to select and to use our words very carefully,
to heal, to bless to encourage, to provide wisdom and
counsel by engaging in respectful and rational deliberation. Instead of

(12:21):
using the pistol of words and the gossip and falsehood
to assail the reputation of others, Aristotle will suggest that
we should strive to use our words to remind each
other of what we have in common rather than what
divides us. When we return, I will be joined by
doctor Emmanuel Balaos, Surgical Critical care transplant surgeon. He's a

(12:44):
good friend and I can't wait to hear how his
Hellenic heritage has influenced his life journey.

Speaker 3 (12:53):
We thank the Aheba four twenty one North Miami chapter
for their sponsorship of Frankly Speaking. They promote the ancient
Hellenic ideas of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family, and individual
excellence through community service and volunteerism. They offer scholarships annually
to support students seeking higher education. I HEPA supports other organizations,

(13:14):
including the Saint Basol Academy in New York, IOCC hurricane
relief efforts, and the local Annunciation GOOC. If you're interested
in donating to help support these efforts, email i Heppa
four twenty one Northmiami at gmail dot com.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
Well, welcome back to Frankly Speaking. Apart from introducing the
greater public to the rich history, the culture, and faith
heritage of the ancient Greeks, and to discuss how that
history may provide some insight to us today, the show
also includes an interview with a noted Greek philanthropist or
an influential local personality. So today I'm thrilled to welcome
doctor Emanuel Palaos onto the show Manoli, as I call him,

(13:55):
is a good friend. He's a surgical critical care transplant
surgeon and he loves his Hellenic heritage. So welcome to
the show Manuli.

Speaker 4 (14:05):
Thank you, father, Thank you for having me.

Speaker 2 (14:07):
Sure so I know that you're in the car you're driving.
You were in Tampa, I understand, Yes, Father, did you
have a did you attend a conference?

Speaker 4 (14:18):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (14:19):
What kind of conference was it?

Speaker 4 (14:22):
It was a conference, you know about transplant and organ procurement.

Speaker 2 (14:28):
Wow, I would fall asleep, but I'm sure that you
were very interested in the conversation. Was it an entire day?

Speaker 4 (14:37):
It goes like evening and some morning sessions. Yes.

Speaker 2 (14:43):
So in my monologue, Manuli, I actually referenced a article
that I read in a medical journal in two thousand
and two that talked about transplant or transplanting organs, in
that the recipients were saying that the organs actually chang
means their personality, and that the article is actually talking

(15:04):
about the possibility of organs actually being able to do that. Now,
what's your thoughts? On that.

Speaker 4 (15:10):
Well, I have heard from several of our patients that yes,
after the trust plan, especially after liver trust plant, it's
more common, less common with kidneys. They feel like they

(15:30):
have they develop new habits. Some for example, some of
them they never they never ate ice cream before the
trust plan, and after the liver trustma they loved eat
ice cream almost on a daily basis. Or they develop

(15:51):
They like some certain shows on TV, like old movies
that they never was before. How interesting I've heard of Yes,
I've heard of this. Obviously we don't know why, how
can this happen? But it's a reality, Yes, it's there.

Speaker 2 (16:11):
See, the focus of my monologue Manoli was on Jesus
had said that it is out of the heart that
the mouth speaks. He mentioned that in the Sermon on
the Mount, and I was talking about how, you know,
we live in a society right now, in an environment
where people are hurting each other with their words, gossip,

(16:32):
you know, slander, all kinds of the environment. The political
environment is not good, and so Christ asked us to
evaluate the condition of our heart so that when we speak,
we speak words of love and kindness and peace. And
that's why I brought up that particular article.

Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yes, yes, so you're an absolute device.

Speaker 2 (16:56):
So you're a surgeon obviously you graduate in medicine, but
you're also a chanter and in full disclosure, you're the
chanter at the Greek Orthodox Church in North Miami, which
I serve on Sundays. When and why did you get
interested in Byzantine music.

Speaker 4 (17:15):
Yes, I was very blessed to grow up in a
very religious, traditional full of values, great family and a
small island. My father actually went to a seminar to
become a priest, but he did not become a priest
because he did not have a good voice that was increased.

Speaker 2 (17:38):
Well you you received the voice.

Speaker 4 (17:41):
Yeah, probably from my mother for sure. So and also
we were very close friends in the island from the
priest of our church, father Gabriel, So he will come
to our house every night. He was a here, so
he will come to have some company with us. So

(18:03):
I was exposed from a very young age to the
church environment to a very charismatic priest. So going to
the altar as an altar boy, and then learned how
to sing presents in music before the age of ten.
It was almost natural for me. So I started, you know, singing.

(18:25):
I went to the chanting station in our local church,
which by the way is also the Annunciation Church. And
before the age of ten, since I went to the psaltery,
I never left when I was yes, even when I
went to Italy to do my medical school and then

(18:45):
I came to the US for my graduate and from
my graduate studies, I never start chanting or serving our
Lord through the chanting station.

Speaker 2 (18:58):
Well, I know the church is very fortunate to have you.
I mean, not only do you know Byzantine music, which
is very rare to find someone who actually knows, especially
the notation of the that kind of chanting, but you
are a faithful person at the same time, and that's
where the heart comes in very important, because you know,

(19:20):
many of the canons of the church actually say that
the chanter should be one of have a spiritual development,
but must be mature in his Christianity, in his faith
in order to lead the people, to be able to
be an example to the people. So we're very fortunate
to have you. An interesting bit of information. And early

(19:43):
this summer I actually visited Venice and I went to
the cathedral of Saint George, where I understand you were
a chanter there while you were going to medical school.

Speaker 4 (19:55):
Yes, yes, because I went to medical school or in
Padua Ita. Unfortunately, there is no Greek Orthodo of church
in Padua, so for the first time in my life,
I couldn't go to church been in Padua. So after
looking and searching, I discovered the Saint George of the

(20:16):
beautiful Cathedral of Saint George in Venice and I was yes,
I was helping there every Sunday. That helped me go
through the difficult university and medical school of Padua.

Speaker 2 (20:37):
Well, we were visiting Venice, we didn't realize that there
was a Greek church there, Greek Orthodox Church there. In
our tour guide said I want to show you another
leaning tower, another bell tower that's leaning near the water.
We said, well, let's go see it. So when we
saw it, we realized it was the Greek Orthodox Church
at the leaning tower. So they have financial problems there
as we have trying to keep the churches going.

Speaker 4 (21:02):
Of course, So was there, Father, Yes, I'm sure that happy.
When I was there for six and a half years,
every Sunday we had four to five people attending church.
Were all the same and as you imagine with four
or five people attending the church regularly. You can imagine

(21:22):
how many financial difficulties that involves.

Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yes, when we saw the church, I actually bumped into
the priest there and I asked them, you know, what's
the typical congregation in the mornings on Sundays And he
said the same thing. He said, we get about ten
to twelve people. And it really is a shame because
the Greek, the Greek, ancient Greeks had a great influence
in the city of Venice.

Speaker 4 (21:47):
Of course, yes, yes, So.

Speaker 2 (21:49):
If you're going to give a one or two sentenced
answer to the question of what other than faith, what
other influences within Helenism would you recommend to newlyweds in
raising their family, what what? What would it be? What
advice would you give them from the ancient Greek scholars heritage?

Speaker 4 (22:13):
Yes, after the faith, you know they I think it's
important for them to follow the Greek traditions. You know,
we have were full of them, especially in the small
communities the small islands, uh And the Greek traditions is
not only having suvlaki or musakha, which most that's what

(22:38):
most of the people in the US know. But it's
to be humble, to be respectful, to trust everybody in
your community, to welcome everybody into your house, to help
everybody when they do need help. All of them are

(22:58):
you know Christian values that they are important and they're
part of the Greek culture.

Speaker 2 (23:07):
Absolutely. What a wonderful way to end our conversation, Manolia,
Thank you for talking with me, especially as you're driving
home to your to your own family to bad We
can't transplant the Greek heart and much of what you
just said in our society today, especially a society that's
actually moving away from those kinds of values. But we're

(23:28):
all doing our part to make America Greek again. And
so I thank you for being on Frankly Speaking. God
bless you, and drive safe.

Speaker 4 (23:35):
Thank you very much, Father, frank you, God bless you.

Speaker 2 (23:40):
Thank you for joining me this afternoon on Frankly Speaking.
Before concluding today's broadcast, I want to briefly discuss the
Greek word used by Jesus to describe the storehouse or
treasure of heart, namely tis of ross. The most direct
English word derived from the Greek word is a ros
is the worth of saurus, a word that refers to

(24:00):
a book of synonyms or a treasure trove of words.
Another word that shares this root in the English language
is treasure, which is a direct translation of the Greek
word related to the act of storing. And finally the
word tsavras that is derived from the ancient Greek word
for storehouse or repositories for agricultural or precious goods. And

(24:21):
so as mister gus Portocalos in My big fat Greek
wedding always says, there you go. Give me any word
and I will show you its Greek root. Thank you
for joining me today on Frankly Speaking show that seeks
to provide frank talk and lively interviews, but the influence
of ancient Hellenic ideals, values, and faith on our contemporary
culture to help make America Greek again. If you would

(24:44):
like to share a question and or suggest a future
guest or topic, I would love to hear from you
at frank the Franktalkradio dot gov.