Tweet
Newton Human Rights Commission Ceases Participation in NPFH
Town Refuses to be 'On the Same Boat' with ADL
By Khatchig Mouradian
The Armenian weekly
Sept. 12, 2007
NEWTON, Mass. (A.W.)-Generations of Americans converged at Newton City Hall
on Sept. 11 to make their voices heard to the local Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) meeting, which, after deliberations, unanimously voted to
"immediately cease participation" in ADL's No Place for Hate (NPFH) program
until the former unequivocally recognizes the Armenian genocide and supports
H.R.106 in Congress, thereby affirming the historical record.
Commissioners and Advisory Council Members
In a letter dated Aug. 24, the NHRC had asked the ADL to recognize the
Armenian genocide, actively support H.R.106 and rehire the ADL's New England
regional director Andrew Tarsy.
During the Sept. 11 meeting, commissioner Marianne Ferguson noted that
although Tarsy has since been rehired, unequivocal recognition and support
for the Genocide Resolution had not been achieved.
Advisory Council member Dianne Chilingerian expressed concern about the ADL's
position on the Genocide Resolution, which she considered inconsistent with
its mission. She said that she is bothered by the ADL's position as a human
rights activist, and that this is not just an Armenian issue. Student
Advisory council member David Fisher asked how we expect to end genocide
campaigns today "when we still can't recognize what happened 92 years ago."
ADL Regional Board Members
Emphasizing that he was not speaking on behalf of the ADL, the organization's
NE Regional Board member Gerry Tishler said, "I have studied, thought and
written about the Armenian genocide and it wasn't 'tantamount to genocide'
it was genocide. . I am also in favor of the U.S. government acknowledging
and commemorating the Armenian genocide." He noted that the meeting of the
ADL's national commissioners will discuss the issue in November, though said
that continuing with the NPFH should not be based on that outcome. "If you
make it conditional, you are making a bad mistake," he said, noting how much
the ADL has added to the town's programs.
NE Regional Board member Beth Tishler also argued the importance of not
dissociating from the NPFH, adding, "We have stood up and gone against our
national leadership. We have heard you. The National ADL has heard you."
ADL National commissioner David Apel said that ADL national director Abe
Foxman "is not empowered" to support the Genocide Resolution, and that "your
message will be brought forth to the national commissioners in November." In
response, members of the audience pointed out that while Foxman seems to be
able to change his position daily on the Armenian issue, he needs the green
light from the commissioners to properly acknowledge the truth about 1915.
"I reject the notion that we are misguided citizens," continued Apel. He
said the last few months had been a learning experience for him and many
others, and that everyone in the room was on the same boat. "Give us time
till November," he added.
Members of the Audience
Newton residents, university professors, human rights activists, students,
descendents of Armenian genocide and Holocaust survivors, spoke about the
need to send the right message by severing ties with the ADL.
Newton resident David Boyajian, whose letter to the Watertown Tab sparked
the ADL controversy, said that the "ADL's [genocide] acknowledgement was
thinly disguised denial," and that its "verbal gymnastics show bad faith."
He stressed that the ADL will not change its position without pressure from
the towns, and asked that Newton sever its ties immediately.
Newton resident Sonya Merian, whose mother was on one of the earliest Newton
Human Rights commissions, read a letter by the ANC of Eastern Massachusetts
addressed to the NHRC members and Newton mayor David Cohen. "Foxman
apologized to the Prime Minister of Turkey for having put his government 'in
a difficult position,' expressing his 'sorrow over what we have caused for
the leadership and people of Turkey.' No apology to the heirs of Armenian
Genocide survivors has been issued to date," she said.
Prof. Jack Nusan Porter, treasurer of the International Association of
Genocide Scholars (IAGS), stressed the importance of severing ties with the
ADL until Foxman resigns or changes course. "Turkey cannot harm a single
hair of a single Jew," he said, referring to Foxman's stated concern that
supporting the Genocide Resolution would harm the Turkish-Jewish community.
"Is Israel, with its army, afraid of Turkey?" he asked.
Newton resident Nancy Akanian said she was startled that the NPFH has an
annual re-certification process for all participating towns, and said the
ADL was hardly in a position to grade anyone on their human rights
performance.
"The ADL lacks the moral leadership and courage and any program sponsored by
the ADL cannot be accepted," said Newton resident Michael Mensoyan.
Newton resident and Armenian Youth federation (AYF) member Nora Kaleshian
said, "My family and I are deeply hurt [by ADL's practices]," expressing
hope that it promotes the Human Rights of all people.
Prominent human rights activist and author of Our Bodies, Ourselves, Judy
Norsigian, also from Newton, noted that "the time is ripe to make this a
national issue." She underlined the position and authority of Newton to send
a strong message to the ADL by severing ties.
Newton resident Bethel Charkoudian introduced her father, a genocide
survivor and thanked the NHRC for their stance. "My father survived the
genocide and came here because he knew people understood his suffering," she
said.
Associate professor of philosophy at Worcester State College Henry Theriault
said that while people were used to the denial of the Armenian genocide by
Turkey, it was shocking to see a human rights organization engaging in the
denial, adopting similar hate speech and lobbying against genocide
recognition.
"There is no such thing as 'degree of genocide,'" said Newton resident Salpi
Sarafian. "The ADL has spoken in absolute clarity against Sudan, Bosnia and
Afghanistan. They need to do the same regarding the Armenian genocide."
In a poignant speech, activist Berge Jololian underscored the importance of
realizing that recognizing the Armenian genocide is a moral issue and not a
political one. "ADL was established in 1913, the Armenian genocide occured
in 1915. ADL had 92 years to acknowledge this crime," he said.
Activist Narini Badalian recounted her experience at a recent lecture by
Foxman in New York. Badalian had confronted Foxman to say whether ADL's
position is consistent with that of a Human Rights organization. Foxman had
responded, "It is up to you to decide." Badalian urged, "It is time for us
to decide."
Activist Luder Sahagian made strong points about the failure of the ADL to
"rigorously uphold settled history." He said, "The ADL has yet to subscribe
to the wisdom of the esteemed Rabbi Hillel, who many, many years ago
advised, 'What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.That is the
entire law. All the rest is commentary.'"
Visiting professor of Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University Dikran
Kaligian said, "The ADL has made itself complicit in [Turkey's]
multi-million dollar denial campaign." When the ADL controversy first broke,
he explained, the ADL's first reaction was not to approach the Armenian
community but to hire a leading PR company. "Foxman does not see this as a
moral issue, but a PR problem," Kaligian said, adding, "We need to take the
necessary steps for them to get the message."
In an emotional speech, activist Alik Arzoumanian responded to the numerous
calls on the NHRC and on Armenians to wait until the November meeting before
deciding to sever ties. "We have been waiting all our lives," she said, and
explained how offended she was by Foxman's claim that a Genocide Resolution
was "counter-productive." Foxman considers "our struggle to recover our
dignity" to be counterproductive, she added. "I don't want to give National
ADL one more day."
Mayor Cohen
Newton mayor David Cohen spoke next, and said that "there is a tremendous
amount of common ground here." He called the ADL National's failure to "make
a forthright statement" recognizing the genocide and supporting the
resolution as "an ongoing injustice."
"The resolution that we have in the U.S. Congress is one of the best pieces
of legislation that deserves passage," he said, referring to H.R.106. "It is
incumbent on the ADL" to support it, he added.
On the same boat?
ADL Regional Board members emphasized several times during the meeting that
everyone in the room was "on the same boat," though they went on to say that
suspending ties with the NPFH and ADL was not the answer. Asked to comment
near the end of the meeting, however, Student Advisory Council member Fisher
said, "Hearing the voices of the Armenian community and my own Jewish
conscience, I cannot be on the same boat with you."
The NHRC voted unanimously to cease participation in the NPFH, pending the
ADL's unambiguous recognition of the Armenian genocide and support of HR106.
Town Refuses to be 'On the Same Boat' with ADL
By Khatchig Mouradian
The Armenian weekly
Sept. 12, 2007
NEWTON, Mass. (A.W.)-Generations of Americans converged at Newton City Hall
on Sept. 11 to make their voices heard to the local Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) meeting, which, after deliberations, unanimously voted to
"immediately cease participation" in ADL's No Place for Hate (NPFH) program
until the former unequivocally recognizes the Armenian genocide and supports
H.R.106 in Congress, thereby affirming the historical record.
Commissioners and Advisory Council Members
In a letter dated Aug. 24, the NHRC had asked the ADL to recognize the
Armenian genocide, actively support H.R.106 and rehire the ADL's New England
regional director Andrew Tarsy.
During the Sept. 11 meeting, commissioner Marianne Ferguson noted that
although Tarsy has since been rehired, unequivocal recognition and support
for the Genocide Resolution had not been achieved.
Advisory Council member Dianne Chilingerian expressed concern about the ADL's
position on the Genocide Resolution, which she considered inconsistent with
its mission. She said that she is bothered by the ADL's position as a human
rights activist, and that this is not just an Armenian issue. Student
Advisory council member David Fisher asked how we expect to end genocide
campaigns today "when we still can't recognize what happened 92 years ago."
ADL Regional Board Members
Emphasizing that he was not speaking on behalf of the ADL, the organization's
NE Regional Board member Gerry Tishler said, "I have studied, thought and
written about the Armenian genocide and it wasn't 'tantamount to genocide'
it was genocide. . I am also in favor of the U.S. government acknowledging
and commemorating the Armenian genocide." He noted that the meeting of the
ADL's national commissioners will discuss the issue in November, though said
that continuing with the NPFH should not be based on that outcome. "If you
make it conditional, you are making a bad mistake," he said, noting how much
the ADL has added to the town's programs.
NE Regional Board member Beth Tishler also argued the importance of not
dissociating from the NPFH, adding, "We have stood up and gone against our
national leadership. We have heard you. The National ADL has heard you."
ADL National commissioner David Apel said that ADL national director Abe
Foxman "is not empowered" to support the Genocide Resolution, and that "your
message will be brought forth to the national commissioners in November." In
response, members of the audience pointed out that while Foxman seems to be
able to change his position daily on the Armenian issue, he needs the green
light from the commissioners to properly acknowledge the truth about 1915.
"I reject the notion that we are misguided citizens," continued Apel. He
said the last few months had been a learning experience for him and many
others, and that everyone in the room was on the same boat. "Give us time
till November," he added.
Members of the Audience
Newton residents, university professors, human rights activists, students,
descendents of Armenian genocide and Holocaust survivors, spoke about the
need to send the right message by severing ties with the ADL.
Newton resident David Boyajian, whose letter to the Watertown Tab sparked
the ADL controversy, said that the "ADL's [genocide] acknowledgement was
thinly disguised denial," and that its "verbal gymnastics show bad faith."
He stressed that the ADL will not change its position without pressure from
the towns, and asked that Newton sever its ties immediately.
Newton resident Sonya Merian, whose mother was on one of the earliest Newton
Human Rights commissions, read a letter by the ANC of Eastern Massachusetts
addressed to the NHRC members and Newton mayor David Cohen. "Foxman
apologized to the Prime Minister of Turkey for having put his government 'in
a difficult position,' expressing his 'sorrow over what we have caused for
the leadership and people of Turkey.' No apology to the heirs of Armenian
Genocide survivors has been issued to date," she said.
Prof. Jack Nusan Porter, treasurer of the International Association of
Genocide Scholars (IAGS), stressed the importance of severing ties with the
ADL until Foxman resigns or changes course. "Turkey cannot harm a single
hair of a single Jew," he said, referring to Foxman's stated concern that
supporting the Genocide Resolution would harm the Turkish-Jewish community.
"Is Israel, with its army, afraid of Turkey?" he asked.
Newton resident Nancy Akanian said she was startled that the NPFH has an
annual re-certification process for all participating towns, and said the
ADL was hardly in a position to grade anyone on their human rights
performance.
"The ADL lacks the moral leadership and courage and any program sponsored by
the ADL cannot be accepted," said Newton resident Michael Mensoyan.
Newton resident and Armenian Youth federation (AYF) member Nora Kaleshian
said, "My family and I are deeply hurt [by ADL's practices]," expressing
hope that it promotes the Human Rights of all people.
Prominent human rights activist and author of Our Bodies, Ourselves, Judy
Norsigian, also from Newton, noted that "the time is ripe to make this a
national issue." She underlined the position and authority of Newton to send
a strong message to the ADL by severing ties.
Newton resident Bethel Charkoudian introduced her father, a genocide
survivor and thanked the NHRC for their stance. "My father survived the
genocide and came here because he knew people understood his suffering," she
said.
Associate professor of philosophy at Worcester State College Henry Theriault
said that while people were used to the denial of the Armenian genocide by
Turkey, it was shocking to see a human rights organization engaging in the
denial, adopting similar hate speech and lobbying against genocide
recognition.
"There is no such thing as 'degree of genocide,'" said Newton resident Salpi
Sarafian. "The ADL has spoken in absolute clarity against Sudan, Bosnia and
Afghanistan. They need to do the same regarding the Armenian genocide."
In a poignant speech, activist Berge Jololian underscored the importance of
realizing that recognizing the Armenian genocide is a moral issue and not a
political one. "ADL was established in 1913, the Armenian genocide occured
in 1915. ADL had 92 years to acknowledge this crime," he said.
Activist Narini Badalian recounted her experience at a recent lecture by
Foxman in New York. Badalian had confronted Foxman to say whether ADL's
position is consistent with that of a Human Rights organization. Foxman had
responded, "It is up to you to decide." Badalian urged, "It is time for us
to decide."
Activist Luder Sahagian made strong points about the failure of the ADL to
"rigorously uphold settled history." He said, "The ADL has yet to subscribe
to the wisdom of the esteemed Rabbi Hillel, who many, many years ago
advised, 'What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.That is the
entire law. All the rest is commentary.'"
Visiting professor of Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University Dikran
Kaligian said, "The ADL has made itself complicit in [Turkey's]
multi-million dollar denial campaign." When the ADL controversy first broke,
he explained, the ADL's first reaction was not to approach the Armenian
community but to hire a leading PR company. "Foxman does not see this as a
moral issue, but a PR problem," Kaligian said, adding, "We need to take the
necessary steps for them to get the message."
In an emotional speech, activist Alik Arzoumanian responded to the numerous
calls on the NHRC and on Armenians to wait until the November meeting before
deciding to sever ties. "We have been waiting all our lives," she said, and
explained how offended she was by Foxman's claim that a Genocide Resolution
was "counter-productive." Foxman considers "our struggle to recover our
dignity" to be counterproductive, she added. "I don't want to give National
ADL one more day."
Mayor Cohen
Newton mayor David Cohen spoke next, and said that "there is a tremendous
amount of common ground here." He called the ADL National's failure to "make
a forthright statement" recognizing the genocide and supporting the
resolution as "an ongoing injustice."
"The resolution that we have in the U.S. Congress is one of the best pieces
of legislation that deserves passage," he said, referring to H.R.106. "It is
incumbent on the ADL" to support it, he added.
On the same boat?
ADL Regional Board members emphasized several times during the meeting that
everyone in the room was "on the same boat," though they went on to say that
suspending ties with the NPFH and ADL was not the answer. Asked to comment
near the end of the meeting, however, Student Advisory Council member Fisher
said, "Hearing the voices of the Armenian community and my own Jewish
conscience, I cannot be on the same boat with you."
The NHRC voted unanimously to cease participation in the NPFH, pending the
ADL's unambiguous recognition of the Armenian genocide and support of HR106.