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Author To Detail Grandmother'S Hardships During Armenian Genocide

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  • Author To Detail Grandmother'S Hardships During Armenian Genocide

    AUTHOR TO DETAIL GRANDMOTHER'S HARDSHIPS DURING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
    By Kristin Ross

    SU The Daily Orange
    http://www.dailyorange.com/news/author-to-detail-grandmother-s-hardships-during-armenian-genocide-1.2718474
    Syracuse University Student Newspaper
    Nov 30 2011
    NY

    Author Peter Balakian will retell the past hardships his grandmother
    faced during the Armenian Genocide with Syracuse University students
    Wednesday.

    Balakian's lecture will continue the Fall 2011 Raymond Carver Reading
    Series in Gifford Auditorium. Students from the ETS 107: "Living
    Writers" class will conduct a Q-and-A with Balakian about his book
    "Black Dog of Fate" at 3:45 p.m., followed by Balakian performing a
    reading at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

    "Black Dog of Fate," listed as a New York Times Notable Book, is a
    memoir that focuses on uncovering the stories of Balakian's ancestry.

    The book describes the life of his grandmother, who was a survivor
    of the Armenian Genocide just after World War I in the Ottoman Empire.

    Balakian is an English professor at Colgate University and has written
    multiple poetry collections.

    Janine Halsey, an undeclared sophomore in the School of Education,
    is enrolled in "Living Writers." Although she said this "bulky,
    history-based book" is not her style, Halsey said it was well-written
    and is looking forward to hearing what Balakian has to say about it.

    She said she first heard of the Armenian Genocide by reading Balakian's
    book. But because the book was written as a memoir about Balakian's
    life, she said she does not think reading "Black Dog of Fate" is the
    best way to inform people of the historical facts about the event,
    and it certainly should not be the first source for those looking to
    learn about it.

    Halsey said she thinks the Armenian Genocide should be taught in
    history classes.

    "I definitely learned that it was as big of a deal as the Holocaust,"
    Halsey said, "but it was interesting that not a lot of people have
    heard of it before."

    After her class read the book, Halsey said her classmates generally
    had a positive reaction to it and, like herself, knew little or
    nothing about the Armenian Genocide beforehand.

    Mildred Barya, one of the teaching assistants of "Living Writers,"
    said she is looking forward to hear Balakian speak about his memoir
    and said there are not enough books written like this.

    When dealing with traumatic experiences, Barya said people need to
    be able to talk openly about them instead of remaining silent for
    long periods of time for change to begin.

    "It is important to talk for healing to happen, and also for
    awareness," she said in an email.

    Barya, also a graduate student in the English department, said she
    described Balakian as a courageous writer. She said she hopes he
    discusses the significance of embracing diversity, tolerance and
    inclusion.

    Said Barya: "If he can talk about that and shed some light on a
    solution, that will be awesome to hear."



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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