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ANC-PAC CITES COHEN FOR PRACTICING "SELECTIVE AMNESIA" ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
armradio.am
03.06.2008 10:12
The Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee (ANC-PAC)
is calling for Congressman Stephen Cohen (D-TN) to end his shameful
denial of the Armenian Genocide. Cohen, a Democrat who represents the
Ninth Congressional District in Tennessee, is a known genocide denier
who has actively worked to oppose legislation to mark the murder of
1.5 million Armenian Christians who died in the first genocide of
the 20th century.
Cohen, a member of the Congressional Turkish Caucus, was elected to the
U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 to a majority African American
district in and around Memphis, Tennessee. His victory was largely
seen by political pundits and observers as the result of a Democratic
primary that included 14 candidates, most of them African Americans,
who split the vote, thereby allowing Cohen to prevail. In 2008, the
African American community has largely rallied around candidate Nikki
Tinker, who is challenging Cohen in a Democratic primary slated for
this August.
"Congressman Cohen practices what I charitably call selective
amnesia on the Armenian Genocide," commented Cohen's constituent,
Dany Beylerian from Memphis. "He should be ashamed for wantonly
kowtowing to a foreign government's [Republic of Turkey] demand
that the premeditated murder of the Armenian people be denied. It is
unbelievable that the Congressman talks about the Holocaust and the
ongoing genocide in Darfur from one side of his mouth and uses the
other to deny the Armenian Genocide," added Beylerian.
On October 17, 2007, just seven days after the House Foreign Affairs
Committee adopted the Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res. 106),
Cohen joined Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense at a press conference to urge
the House Leadership to not bring the Armenian Genocide Resolution
to the House Floor for a vote.
Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), chairman of the Congressional Turkish
Caucus, also participated in this genocide denial press conference.
In an October 18, 2007 article by New York Times reporter Carl Hulse,
Cohen was quoted explaining his opposition to the Armenian Genocide
resolution: "I've got the compassion for the people, the Armenians
that are fighting for their ancestors," said Cohen. "But these are
real-life situations, and sometimes your heart has to give in to your
head and do what makes sense for your country."
Earlier this month, Cohen was asked at a town hall meeting in Memohis
why he has chosen to engage in the ugly and immoral practice of
genocide denial. He responded by sharing with his constituents that
Congress should not legislate history. In an ironic twist, Cohen has
introduced legislation apologizing for slavery, himself promoting
the legislating of history.
In answering Beylerian at the town hall meeting, Cohen carefully
crafted his statements so as not to use the word "genocide." He
claimed that Turkey was too important an ally and referred to the
Armenian Genocide as a war between Armenian and Turkey. Knowingly
or unknowingly, his response is drawn directly from the genocide
denial arguments crafted by firms lobbying on behalf of the Turkish
government that are paid over $2 million annually to deny the Armenian
Genocide. When pressed whether he would promote the interests of a
German government that denies the Holocaust, Cohen did not provide
an answer.
In January of this year Cohen was confronted on his genocide denial
in Los Angeles at a fundraiser being held by the Chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, Howard Berman. A number of Armenian
Americans present at the event to thank Congressman Berman for his
support on all issues of importance to Armenian Americans approached
Cohen to ask why he was denying the Armenian Genocide. Cohen replied
that he knew the "issue was an emotional one" and that he did not
think Congress should legislate history.
The Congressman was told that his genocide denial is not welcome
in the City of Angels and that Armenian Americans were offended by
his position.
armradio.am
03.06.2008 10:12
The Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee (ANC-PAC)
is calling for Congressman Stephen Cohen (D-TN) to end his shameful
denial of the Armenian Genocide. Cohen, a Democrat who represents the
Ninth Congressional District in Tennessee, is a known genocide denier
who has actively worked to oppose legislation to mark the murder of
1.5 million Armenian Christians who died in the first genocide of
the 20th century.
Cohen, a member of the Congressional Turkish Caucus, was elected to the
U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 to a majority African American
district in and around Memphis, Tennessee. His victory was largely
seen by political pundits and observers as the result of a Democratic
primary that included 14 candidates, most of them African Americans,
who split the vote, thereby allowing Cohen to prevail. In 2008, the
African American community has largely rallied around candidate Nikki
Tinker, who is challenging Cohen in a Democratic primary slated for
this August.
"Congressman Cohen practices what I charitably call selective
amnesia on the Armenian Genocide," commented Cohen's constituent,
Dany Beylerian from Memphis. "He should be ashamed for wantonly
kowtowing to a foreign government's [Republic of Turkey] demand
that the premeditated murder of the Armenian people be denied. It is
unbelievable that the Congressman talks about the Holocaust and the
ongoing genocide in Darfur from one side of his mouth and uses the
other to deny the Armenian Genocide," added Beylerian.
On October 17, 2007, just seven days after the House Foreign Affairs
Committee adopted the Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res. 106),
Cohen joined Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense at a press conference to urge
the House Leadership to not bring the Armenian Genocide Resolution
to the House Floor for a vote.
Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), chairman of the Congressional Turkish
Caucus, also participated in this genocide denial press conference.
In an October 18, 2007 article by New York Times reporter Carl Hulse,
Cohen was quoted explaining his opposition to the Armenian Genocide
resolution: "I've got the compassion for the people, the Armenians
that are fighting for their ancestors," said Cohen. "But these are
real-life situations, and sometimes your heart has to give in to your
head and do what makes sense for your country."
Earlier this month, Cohen was asked at a town hall meeting in Memohis
why he has chosen to engage in the ugly and immoral practice of
genocide denial. He responded by sharing with his constituents that
Congress should not legislate history. In an ironic twist, Cohen has
introduced legislation apologizing for slavery, himself promoting
the legislating of history.
In answering Beylerian at the town hall meeting, Cohen carefully
crafted his statements so as not to use the word "genocide." He
claimed that Turkey was too important an ally and referred to the
Armenian Genocide as a war between Armenian and Turkey. Knowingly
or unknowingly, his response is drawn directly from the genocide
denial arguments crafted by firms lobbying on behalf of the Turkish
government that are paid over $2 million annually to deny the Armenian
Genocide. When pressed whether he would promote the interests of a
German government that denies the Holocaust, Cohen did not provide
an answer.
In January of this year Cohen was confronted on his genocide denial
in Los Angeles at a fundraiser being held by the Chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, Howard Berman. A number of Armenian
Americans present at the event to thank Congressman Berman for his
support on all issues of importance to Armenian Americans approached
Cohen to ask why he was denying the Armenian Genocide. Cohen replied
that he knew the "issue was an emotional one" and that he did not
think Congress should legislate history.
The Congressman was told that his genocide denial is not welcome
in the City of Angels and that Armenian Americans were offended by
his position.