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ISRAEL CHARNY: WE NEED TO JOIN TOGETHER IN RECOGNIZING VICTIMS OF ALL GENOCIDES
armradio.am
25.04.2012 14:05
About 2,000 Armenian-Americans, as well as friends and supporters
gathered Tuesday at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument at Bicknell
Park to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the genocide.
Speakers, including elected officials, scholars and professionals,
gave voice to the frustration of the continued denial of the slaughter
of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire from 1915
to 1923.
"The continued failure of the U.S. government to recognize the Armenia
genocide is deeply disturbing and from a human rights point of view,
terribly counterproductive," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena. "If we
are to lead the fight against genocide in Darfur or elsewhere, we must
be willing to recognize genocide wherever and whenever it has occurred.
"We cannot pick and choose among genocides."
The monument, at 901 Via San Clemente, was approved by the Montebello
City Council in 1965. It symbolizes the first genocide of the
20th century and is in memory of the those who were systematically
massacred. It was unveiled in April 1968 to honor the Armenians and
all victims of crimes against humanity.
"Armenian genocide recognition demands for the formal acceptance that
the massacre and forced deportation of Armenians committedby the
Ottoman Empire constitutes genocide," said Tom Alexanian, a board
member of the United Armenian Council of Los Angeles, the event's
sponsor.
"As of 2009, 21 countries, including France, Canada, Argentina and
Sweden, and 43 states of the United States of America, have followed
suit," he added.
United Armenian Fund President Harout Sasounian chided elected
officials, including President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe
Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for not acknowledging
the genocide.
"They act as politicians versus those elected officials here today,"
Sasounian said.
The keynote speaker was Israel Charny, the executive director of the
Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide.
"This is a holy day," Charny said. "It's to remember and honor the
memories of victims, communities and Armenian nation. We have to
fight for full acknowledgment and apologies, reparation and redress."
Charny acknowledged the tension he receives from the Jewish community
when he speaks about the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide.
But he implored those in attendance, "We need to join together in
recognizing victims of all genocides."
The event also included a religious service led by all denominations
of the Armenian community, a flag ceremony performed by the Homenetmen
and the Armenian General Benevolent Union scouts and the placement
of wreaths by various organizations.
armradio.am
25.04.2012 14:05
About 2,000 Armenian-Americans, as well as friends and supporters
gathered Tuesday at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument at Bicknell
Park to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the genocide.
Speakers, including elected officials, scholars and professionals,
gave voice to the frustration of the continued denial of the slaughter
of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire from 1915
to 1923.
"The continued failure of the U.S. government to recognize the Armenia
genocide is deeply disturbing and from a human rights point of view,
terribly counterproductive," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena. "If we
are to lead the fight against genocide in Darfur or elsewhere, we must
be willing to recognize genocide wherever and whenever it has occurred.
"We cannot pick and choose among genocides."
The monument, at 901 Via San Clemente, was approved by the Montebello
City Council in 1965. It symbolizes the first genocide of the
20th century and is in memory of the those who were systematically
massacred. It was unveiled in April 1968 to honor the Armenians and
all victims of crimes against humanity.
"Armenian genocide recognition demands for the formal acceptance that
the massacre and forced deportation of Armenians committedby the
Ottoman Empire constitutes genocide," said Tom Alexanian, a board
member of the United Armenian Council of Los Angeles, the event's
sponsor.
"As of 2009, 21 countries, including France, Canada, Argentina and
Sweden, and 43 states of the United States of America, have followed
suit," he added.
United Armenian Fund President Harout Sasounian chided elected
officials, including President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe
Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for not acknowledging
the genocide.
"They act as politicians versus those elected officials here today,"
Sasounian said.
The keynote speaker was Israel Charny, the executive director of the
Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide.
"This is a holy day," Charny said. "It's to remember and honor the
memories of victims, communities and Armenian nation. We have to
fight for full acknowledgment and apologies, reparation and redress."
Charny acknowledged the tension he receives from the Jewish community
when he speaks about the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide.
But he implored those in attendance, "We need to join together in
recognizing victims of all genocides."
The event also included a religious service led by all denominations
of the Armenian community, a flag ceremony performed by the Homenetmen
and the Armenian General Benevolent Union scouts and the placement
of wreaths by various organizations.