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U.S. REPRESENTATIVES STRESS VIGILANCE AS THE KEY TO ENDING THE CYCLE OF GENOCIDE
AZG Armenian Daily
21/03/2008
Armenian Genocide
Members of Congress, speaking to anti-genocide activists from around
the nation at a Capitol Hill program hosted by the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) and Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net),
urged continued civic education and advocacy to bring about the types
of U.S. action and international response needed to end the cycle
of genocide.
The activists were gathered in Washington, DC for three-days of
Congressional meetings as part of Capitol Hill Advocacy days held
from March 12th to 14th. They were joined by local activists from
the Greater Washington, DC area.
Nine House Members, among them Representatives Jim Costa(D-CA),
Rush Holt (D-NJ), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Betty McCollum (D-MN),
James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ),
Laura Richardson (D-CA), and John Tierney (D-MA), joined the citizen
activists, many offering poignant remarks regarding the importance
of vigilance in recognizing past genocides, even as the world works
to stop the current genocide in Darfur and prevent future genocides.
"What you do in keeping that issue [the Armenian Genocide] alive,
making sure that all of us stay involved in it and that we don't let
it slide to the back burner is exceedingly important," noted Rep. John
Tierney in his opening remarks for the evening.
Rep. Patrick Kennedy concurred, noting that, "Armenia has always
met our values but they've been discarded in favor of Turkey, for
expediency purposes, and that's something that we've always got to
fight against because it goes against our values as a nation."
Many Members of Congress expressed frustration at the Turkish
government's worldwide campaign of genocide denial, citing the Turkish
threats used to delay the full House's consideration of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) following its passage last October in
the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I am sad to say that Congress
didn't have the backbone to stand up to a well-financed lobby by the
Turkish government and do the right thing, but we're going to come
back, and come back, and come back until we do the right thing," noted
Rep. McGovern. "This isn't over so anyone who thinks it is, is wrong."
Rep. Napolitano concurred, noting that "If they [Turkish lobbyists]
want to challenge me, fine, challenge me. But I'll back it up with
whatever I know, and I know this [the Armenian Genocide] to be a fact
and the truth. That's why I am very, very supportive and continuing
to work on this."
Rep. Richardson, who cosponsored H.Res.106 within weeks of joining
Congress in a special election, stated, "I've made a commitment to
support [H.Res.106] and you can keep me on that list until we get
this done."
Commenting on the often-repeated refrain that it is not the right
time to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Rep. Costa noted that,
"the timing will never be 'right' and therefore we must continue. We
must continue these efforts because, eventually, Turkey will have to
deal with the reality of its history...
It's important to recognize the Armenian Genocide because, sadly,
man's inhumanity to man continues."
Rep. McCollum summed up Congressional and anti-genocide advocate
concerns alike, stating "I'm very proud of the leadership that your
community has taken with what is happening in Darfur... You're an
inspiration for all of us to be here to stand up for what is best in
human beings when they try to save one another's lives and stand up
for basic human rights.
That's what your movement is all about and the only way we can do that,
as a former history teacher, is by recognizing our history. You can't
go forward until you know where you've been."
AZG Armenian Daily
21/03/2008
Armenian Genocide
Members of Congress, speaking to anti-genocide activists from around
the nation at a Capitol Hill program hosted by the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) and Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net),
urged continued civic education and advocacy to bring about the types
of U.S. action and international response needed to end the cycle
of genocide.
The activists were gathered in Washington, DC for three-days of
Congressional meetings as part of Capitol Hill Advocacy days held
from March 12th to 14th. They were joined by local activists from
the Greater Washington, DC area.
Nine House Members, among them Representatives Jim Costa(D-CA),
Rush Holt (D-NJ), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Betty McCollum (D-MN),
James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ),
Laura Richardson (D-CA), and John Tierney (D-MA), joined the citizen
activists, many offering poignant remarks regarding the importance
of vigilance in recognizing past genocides, even as the world works
to stop the current genocide in Darfur and prevent future genocides.
"What you do in keeping that issue [the Armenian Genocide] alive,
making sure that all of us stay involved in it and that we don't let
it slide to the back burner is exceedingly important," noted Rep. John
Tierney in his opening remarks for the evening.
Rep. Patrick Kennedy concurred, noting that, "Armenia has always
met our values but they've been discarded in favor of Turkey, for
expediency purposes, and that's something that we've always got to
fight against because it goes against our values as a nation."
Many Members of Congress expressed frustration at the Turkish
government's worldwide campaign of genocide denial, citing the Turkish
threats used to delay the full House's consideration of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) following its passage last October in
the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I am sad to say that Congress
didn't have the backbone to stand up to a well-financed lobby by the
Turkish government and do the right thing, but we're going to come
back, and come back, and come back until we do the right thing," noted
Rep. McGovern. "This isn't over so anyone who thinks it is, is wrong."
Rep. Napolitano concurred, noting that "If they [Turkish lobbyists]
want to challenge me, fine, challenge me. But I'll back it up with
whatever I know, and I know this [the Armenian Genocide] to be a fact
and the truth. That's why I am very, very supportive and continuing
to work on this."
Rep. Richardson, who cosponsored H.Res.106 within weeks of joining
Congress in a special election, stated, "I've made a commitment to
support [H.Res.106] and you can keep me on that list until we get
this done."
Commenting on the often-repeated refrain that it is not the right
time to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Rep. Costa noted that,
"the timing will never be 'right' and therefore we must continue. We
must continue these efforts because, eventually, Turkey will have to
deal with the reality of its history...
It's important to recognize the Armenian Genocide because, sadly,
man's inhumanity to man continues."
Rep. McCollum summed up Congressional and anti-genocide advocate
concerns alike, stating "I'm very proud of the leadership that your
community has taken with what is happening in Darfur... You're an
inspiration for all of us to be here to stand up for what is best in
human beings when they try to save one another's lives and stand up
for basic human rights.
That's what your movement is all about and the only way we can do that,
as a former history teacher, is by recognizing our history. You can't
go forward until you know where you've been."