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OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
asbarez
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
A young Armenian holds a sign: "1915 is never forgotten" The Armenian
Youth Federation Western US issued an open letter to President Obama
Urging him to recognize the Genocide. Below is the text of the letter.
April 24, 2012 President Barak Obama 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
In 2008 when you ran for president of the United States, thousands of
American Armenians registered to vote to elect a president who would
properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. Believing in your words that
"as president, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide" the Armenian
community supported your campaign, became civically active and voted
for "hope" and "change." We voted for hope that this nation would
have a leader who stands up for human rights and for change from
former Presidents who were complicit in genocide denial.
Yet your promise for hope and change to the American Armenian community
to finally rectify past injustices remains unfulfilled. For the past
three years, American Armenians have been glued to the television
screen on April 24th, expecting to hear the word 'Genocide' in your
statement directed to our community. Since your election, the American
Armenians have been disappointed with your characterization of the
Armenian Genocide as the "Medz Yeghern" and the like, which fall short
of proper recognition. Not only have you failed to acknowledge the
Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians; your statements also failed to bring
the justice that was promised to us during your Presidential campaign.
Your record in regards to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
committed by the Ottoman Turkish government from 1915 to 1923 goes
against the principled position adopted by your Administration on
various human rights issues, including condemnation of Genocides.
Since your election, you have pursued a policy of sanctions and tough
diplomatic rhetoric towards the government of the Sudan, which has
conducted a genocidal policy against its own people in the region of
Darfur. There was no hesitation on your end to correctly classify the
events in Darfur as Genocide. We, the American Armenians, ask today:
why is it so difficult for you to use the same word in regards to
the experience of the Armenian people?
As the first term of your presidency comes to a close and you seek
re-election, the Armenian community feels deceived and betrayed. We
invested a lot of time, energy, and resources in your election and
after almost four years in office, it is apparent that your promises
were merely campaign rhetoric. But in the final hours of your first
term, you have the ability to fulfill your campaign promise.
In 2008 you catalyzed a new voting block of young Americans, appealing
to notions of universal justice, fairness, and decency. The American
Armenians share those values and expect that our President will
do what is right when it comes to an issue, which is important to
every American Armenian. This April 24th, do not turn your back on
our community. We ask, once again, for you to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide and help bring justice to those who perished from
the hands of the genocidal Turkish state.
asbarez
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
A young Armenian holds a sign: "1915 is never forgotten" The Armenian
Youth Federation Western US issued an open letter to President Obama
Urging him to recognize the Genocide. Below is the text of the letter.
April 24, 2012 President Barak Obama 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
In 2008 when you ran for president of the United States, thousands of
American Armenians registered to vote to elect a president who would
properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. Believing in your words that
"as president, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide" the Armenian
community supported your campaign, became civically active and voted
for "hope" and "change." We voted for hope that this nation would
have a leader who stands up for human rights and for change from
former Presidents who were complicit in genocide denial.
Yet your promise for hope and change to the American Armenian community
to finally rectify past injustices remains unfulfilled. For the past
three years, American Armenians have been glued to the television
screen on April 24th, expecting to hear the word 'Genocide' in your
statement directed to our community. Since your election, the American
Armenians have been disappointed with your characterization of the
Armenian Genocide as the "Medz Yeghern" and the like, which fall short
of proper recognition. Not only have you failed to acknowledge the
Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians; your statements also failed to bring
the justice that was promised to us during your Presidential campaign.
Your record in regards to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
committed by the Ottoman Turkish government from 1915 to 1923 goes
against the principled position adopted by your Administration on
various human rights issues, including condemnation of Genocides.
Since your election, you have pursued a policy of sanctions and tough
diplomatic rhetoric towards the government of the Sudan, which has
conducted a genocidal policy against its own people in the region of
Darfur. There was no hesitation on your end to correctly classify the
events in Darfur as Genocide. We, the American Armenians, ask today:
why is it so difficult for you to use the same word in regards to
the experience of the Armenian people?
As the first term of your presidency comes to a close and you seek
re-election, the Armenian community feels deceived and betrayed. We
invested a lot of time, energy, and resources in your election and
after almost four years in office, it is apparent that your promises
were merely campaign rhetoric. But in the final hours of your first
term, you have the ability to fulfill your campaign promise.
In 2008 you catalyzed a new voting block of young Americans, appealing
to notions of universal justice, fairness, and decency. The American
Armenians share those values and expect that our President will
do what is right when it comes to an issue, which is important to
every American Armenian. This April 24th, do not turn your back on
our community. We ask, once again, for you to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide and help bring justice to those who perished from
the hands of the genocidal Turkish state.