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The below e-mail was sent to Youssef Nasr, Chairman of HSBC Bank, in protest of a commercial being shown on TV that displays little Greek children with their Yia-Yia doing the *NA* hand gesture and laughing about it.

After reading this, I would appreciate your assistance in getting the message out to all Greek and Greek American media so that we could get this offensive commercial off the air. I am even told that there will be similar commercials coming. Mr. Nasr's e-mail address is youssef.a.nasr@US.HSBC.com

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do as well. Thank you.

Kyra Demoleas
----- Original Message -----
From: Stella Demoleas
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2002 9:01 PM
To: youssef.a.nasr@us.hsbc.com
Subject: OFFENSIVE Gesture Commercial About Greece

I am deeply offended and appauled with this commercial, being an American of Greek descent. I would like to know who the creative person behind this advertising campaign is because it is obvious (1) They are not Greek and (2) They did not do any research on this matter. Your commercial says that in some parts of Greece this gesture is offensive, but not in other parts. This an obscene gesture, insulting any Greek no matter where they are in the world and to show little children doing this on TV with their Yia-Yia (Greek word for Grandmother) with them is a true disgrace.

As a child if we did this gesture to anyone, especially our Yia-Yia, we would have been severly punished. Now, after your commercial people are coming up to us giving us this gesture, which is equivalent to someone giving one the finger, and asking us why are you getting so angry when HSBC says this isn't offensive in this country. We have children thinking this gesture is cute from your commercial and they are doing it. How would you like to see a Lebonese commercial in which a child gives the finger to someone and everyone laughs because it's not offensive everywhere. I can't believe HSBC could't think of a better way to represent the Greek people, with all the culture we have contributed to the world.

Working for an advertising company, having a broad scope within the communication industry and being active in my Greek community, I am forming a campaign to pull this commercial off the air. I have already contacted the Greek newspapers, radio & church organizations. Also, my friends and family throughout the United States and Canada will be doing the same.

I am glad that my grandparents and and ansectors who came to this country via Ellis Island are not alive to see this. I cannot believe that such a reputable bank like HSBC would allow themselves to not thoroughly screen this commercial and also to employ such an unprofessional advertising agency. In the meantime I will keep on with my campaign until this commercial is taken off the air. Many Greeks in Greece and Greek Americans have informed me that they are willing to even take their money out of HSBC if this matter is not rectified soon.

I hope that you will do the right thing and await your response to this matter.

Kyra Demoleas

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