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ASA STUDENTS PROTEST IN SILENCE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
February 6, 2013 Campus, News No Comments
Josh Goodmacher
Student protesters from the Armenian Student Association gathered
at the eternal flame last Thursday, Jan. 31, with red tape covering
their mouths to symbolize the repression of justice and lack of
acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. In an attempt to increase
awareness of the genocide and the ensuing denial campaign by the
Turkish Government, University of California, Santa Barbara's Armenian
Students Association, in coordination with ASA clubs across California
including on Capital Hill and in Washington D.C, participated in the
second annual silent protest, The Stain of Denial.
The choice to protest at the eternal flame was a symbolic and
meaningful one, as the flame itself represents a commitment to peace.
The Stain of Denial protest is essentially that; it is an attempt to
raise awareness of the denial of the Armenian Genocide, the systematic
killing of 1 to 1.5 million Armenians at the hand of the Turkish
government, and to the continued issue of genocide in general.
It's goal is one of humanity and the recognition of atrocity.
"There is a line between humanity and politics. When it comes down
to a genocide, politics shouldn't take a role," said ASA member and
fourth-year political science major Shant Mirziains.
Over 20 countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide as a genocide,
but the United States and Turkish governments have not officially done
so. This year's protest in particular was one of importance for the
movement, it happened in the wake of President Barack Obama's inaugural
address. The president has continually made promises to the Armenian
community to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide as a genocide
but the promise has fallen through. He has mentioned the atrocity
multiple times but has never used the word genocide. This is because
Turkey is one of America's few allies in the Middle East, and has
the second biggest standing army in North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Adam Jaratanian, President of UCSB's ASA and a fourth-year political
science major, along with many others in the movement, believes that if
the U.S. government officially recognizes the genocide, the political
pressure will be such that the Turkish Government will be forced
to do so as well. The issue has become one of political pressure
through public awareness by means of protests and other methods,
including calling attention to the actual commemoration on April 24.
"If even one person gets educated, that's a success," said Jaratanian.
Anna Kupchyan, ASA representative and a fourth-year black studies
major, regards the protest as a complete success because it has stuck
in the minds of those who witnessed it.
"Throughout the protest people came up to me and said things like,
'I remember you guys from last year,'" said Kupchyan. She describes
that the movement's goal in the end was "to fight for human rights"
and for the "peace of mind" for the Armenian community.
"You don't want them to have died in vain," said Jaratanian.
The ASA is very active within the community and works with humanitarian
efforts in the Republic of Armenia, including the Hidden Road
Initiative, an effort to help rural communities and schools in
Armenia. It equally works with other Middle Eastern culture groups
in preserving and celebrating their unique cultural heritages.
http://thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2013/02/asa-students-protest-in-silence-for-armenian-genocide-recognition
From: A. Papazian
February 6, 2013 Campus, News No Comments
Josh Goodmacher
Student protesters from the Armenian Student Association gathered
at the eternal flame last Thursday, Jan. 31, with red tape covering
their mouths to symbolize the repression of justice and lack of
acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. In an attempt to increase
awareness of the genocide and the ensuing denial campaign by the
Turkish Government, University of California, Santa Barbara's Armenian
Students Association, in coordination with ASA clubs across California
including on Capital Hill and in Washington D.C, participated in the
second annual silent protest, The Stain of Denial.
The choice to protest at the eternal flame was a symbolic and
meaningful one, as the flame itself represents a commitment to peace.
The Stain of Denial protest is essentially that; it is an attempt to
raise awareness of the denial of the Armenian Genocide, the systematic
killing of 1 to 1.5 million Armenians at the hand of the Turkish
government, and to the continued issue of genocide in general.
It's goal is one of humanity and the recognition of atrocity.
"There is a line between humanity and politics. When it comes down
to a genocide, politics shouldn't take a role," said ASA member and
fourth-year political science major Shant Mirziains.
Over 20 countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide as a genocide,
but the United States and Turkish governments have not officially done
so. This year's protest in particular was one of importance for the
movement, it happened in the wake of President Barack Obama's inaugural
address. The president has continually made promises to the Armenian
community to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide as a genocide
but the promise has fallen through. He has mentioned the atrocity
multiple times but has never used the word genocide. This is because
Turkey is one of America's few allies in the Middle East, and has
the second biggest standing army in North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Adam Jaratanian, President of UCSB's ASA and a fourth-year political
science major, along with many others in the movement, believes that if
the U.S. government officially recognizes the genocide, the political
pressure will be such that the Turkish Government will be forced
to do so as well. The issue has become one of political pressure
through public awareness by means of protests and other methods,
including calling attention to the actual commemoration on April 24.
"If even one person gets educated, that's a success," said Jaratanian.
Anna Kupchyan, ASA representative and a fourth-year black studies
major, regards the protest as a complete success because it has stuck
in the minds of those who witnessed it.
"Throughout the protest people came up to me and said things like,
'I remember you guys from last year,'" said Kupchyan. She describes
that the movement's goal in the end was "to fight for human rights"
and for the "peace of mind" for the Armenian community.
"You don't want them to have died in vain," said Jaratanian.
The ASA is very active within the community and works with humanitarian
efforts in the Republic of Armenia, including the Hidden Road
Initiative, an effort to help rural communities and schools in
Armenia. It equally works with other Middle Eastern culture groups
in preserving and celebrating their unique cultural heritages.
http://thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2013/02/asa-students-protest-in-silence-for-armenian-genocide-recognition
From: A. Papazian