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REFLECTING ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Dave Canfield
Troy Record
April 19 2010
NY
WATERVLIET -- Forced marches through the desert, the taking of
children, tales of rape and murder but also of hope and courage. One
after another, children came to the podium at St. Peter's Armenian
Church on Sunday to share what their relatives endured at the hands
of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.
"We all, when we were growing up, heard the stories from our parents
and our grandparents about what happened. It's personal for each of
us," said Father Bedros Shetilian of Troy's Holy Cross Armenian Church.
The two churches gathered Sunday to commemorate the Armenian Genocide,
which saw upwards of 1.5 million Armenians killed beginning April 24,
1915 -- a day "any Armenian knows," Shetilian said. But beyond the
prayers and memorials was another purpose.
Despite the expressed intent of President Barack Obama to do so, the
United States has yet to join 20 nations and more than 40 of its own
states in officially proclaiming the mass deaths an act of genocide.
The legislation is languishing largely to avoid political tension with
the Turkish government, which describes the actions of its predecessor
as the consequences of war and not an attempted extermination.
"The Armenian in me is tired of waiting," said Herand Markarian,
a playwright and scientist who served as Sunday's keynote speaker.
Markarian said the Armenian diaspora, which was created by those who
fled during the massacres, is used as a political tool in the debate.
Despite governments being comprised of individuals, "individuals have
consciences and governments don't. They have interests," he said.
"It's a poker game for them. It depends on who has the stronger cards.
Unfortunately, the word 'justice' has no place."
The acts of the Ottoman Empire were carried out with the intent of
eliminating the Armenian minority to allow for an expanded Turkish
state. The roughly 1.5 million Armenians killed represented roughly
half of the population.
Flowers were planted outside St. Peter's to remember the victims
alongside a monuments that exists for the same purpose.
On Saturday, April 24, local Armenians and supporters will march
from Monument Square in Troy across the Hudson River to The Armenian
American Community Center on Third Avenue in Watervliet to recognize
the genocide.
New York is among the American states that recognize the killings as
an act of genocide, and it does so in strong words. It recognizes
April 24 as a day to commemorate, "in the interest of historical
truth and accuracy," a genocide which utilized "some of the most
inhumane methods."
"It is fitting that all New Yorkers recognize the hardships Armenians
faced, for the purpose of preventing tragedies such as the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-23 from recurring, and in appreciation of the
United States' role as a place of refuge for all oppressed people,"
the proclamation signed by Gov. David Paterson reads.
"There are three references in the Governor's proclamation to the
'genocide,'" said Paul DerOhannesian, a local attorney who introduced
Sunday's speakers. "That is the word we must use to describe what
happened."
Markarian said it may be time for Armenians to stop waiting. He
noted that the Armenian diaspora across nations lacks both unity and
a figurehead to sit down at the table with Turkey. He called for a
more proactive approach.
"Why don't we go to the White House and yell, 'Mr. President, you
promised. ... Don't hide behind these political issues,'" Markarian
said. "We didn't do it. And we expect the world to come to us?"
By Dave Canfield
Troy Record
April 19 2010
NY
WATERVLIET -- Forced marches through the desert, the taking of
children, tales of rape and murder but also of hope and courage. One
after another, children came to the podium at St. Peter's Armenian
Church on Sunday to share what their relatives endured at the hands
of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.
"We all, when we were growing up, heard the stories from our parents
and our grandparents about what happened. It's personal for each of
us," said Father Bedros Shetilian of Troy's Holy Cross Armenian Church.
The two churches gathered Sunday to commemorate the Armenian Genocide,
which saw upwards of 1.5 million Armenians killed beginning April 24,
1915 -- a day "any Armenian knows," Shetilian said. But beyond the
prayers and memorials was another purpose.
Despite the expressed intent of President Barack Obama to do so, the
United States has yet to join 20 nations and more than 40 of its own
states in officially proclaiming the mass deaths an act of genocide.
The legislation is languishing largely to avoid political tension with
the Turkish government, which describes the actions of its predecessor
as the consequences of war and not an attempted extermination.
"The Armenian in me is tired of waiting," said Herand Markarian,
a playwright and scientist who served as Sunday's keynote speaker.
Markarian said the Armenian diaspora, which was created by those who
fled during the massacres, is used as a political tool in the debate.
Despite governments being comprised of individuals, "individuals have
consciences and governments don't. They have interests," he said.
"It's a poker game for them. It depends on who has the stronger cards.
Unfortunately, the word 'justice' has no place."
The acts of the Ottoman Empire were carried out with the intent of
eliminating the Armenian minority to allow for an expanded Turkish
state. The roughly 1.5 million Armenians killed represented roughly
half of the population.
Flowers were planted outside St. Peter's to remember the victims
alongside a monuments that exists for the same purpose.
On Saturday, April 24, local Armenians and supporters will march
from Monument Square in Troy across the Hudson River to The Armenian
American Community Center on Third Avenue in Watervliet to recognize
the genocide.
New York is among the American states that recognize the killings as
an act of genocide, and it does so in strong words. It recognizes
April 24 as a day to commemorate, "in the interest of historical
truth and accuracy," a genocide which utilized "some of the most
inhumane methods."
"It is fitting that all New Yorkers recognize the hardships Armenians
faced, for the purpose of preventing tragedies such as the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-23 from recurring, and in appreciation of the
United States' role as a place of refuge for all oppressed people,"
the proclamation signed by Gov. David Paterson reads.
"There are three references in the Governor's proclamation to the
'genocide,'" said Paul DerOhannesian, a local attorney who introduced
Sunday's speakers. "That is the word we must use to describe what
happened."
Markarian said it may be time for Armenians to stop waiting. He
noted that the Armenian diaspora across nations lacks both unity and
a figurehead to sit down at the table with Turkey. He called for a
more proactive approach.
"Why don't we go to the White House and yell, 'Mr. President, you
promised. ... Don't hide behind these political issues,'" Markarian
said. "We didn't do it. And we expect the world to come to us?"