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ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY PARTICIPATES IN UCSD HOLOCAUST LIVING WORKSHOP
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 4, 2010 - 11:39 AMT 06:39 GMT
The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) participated in the
University of California San Diego (UCSD) Holocaust Living History
Workshop symposium "From Racism to Genocide: Towards a Hate-Free
Campus" last month as part of its efforts to raise awareness about
the importance of genocide prevention and the dangers of denial.
Hosted jointly by the UCSD International Affairs Group and the Hillel
Center, the event explored examples of racism in the 20th century that
led to mass murder and genocide. It marked the first in a series of
seminars held on campus to encourage greater sensitivity and awareness
among the student body on issues relating to everyday cases of racism
and genocide.
Moderated by Marina Triner, Program Coordinator for the UCSD Holocaust
Living Workshop, the symposium featured the Assembly's Western Region
Director Yeghig Keshishian, who focused on the Armenian Genocide,
and examined discriminatory laws and regulations in the Ottoman Empire
that fostered intolerance and legitimized racially motivated actions
based on certain long-held stereotypes.
"The experience of the Armenian Genocide is paramount to any
discussion of genocide, intolerance, and hatred. It is a tragic story,
because of its present denial by the modern Republic of Turkey, the
successor state of the Ottoman Empire responsible for the genocide,"
stated Triner. "Including the story of the Armenians in the present
discussion of racism on the UCSD campus was so important to me,
because the Ottoman Turks relied on the use of certain stereotypes to
fuel their genocidal campaign, and because denial is still occurring,
even in the U.S."
The program closed with a moving and personal account by Holocaust
survivor Agatha Ehrenfried who explained how hatred creates major
disruptions in society which, in turn, are used to legitimize acts
of violence and the devaluation of human life.
Program Coordinator Triner also touched on the problem of denial
and why it is important to confront it. "Denial is always the easy
way out for those whose lives have not been touched by tragedy, but
it is acknowledgment, both for the Armenian case and for our own,
that could bring about change and a healing of the soul for all who
have ever been impacted by acts of hatred. I am thankful that the
Armenian experience will be shared on our campus and hopeful that
it will teach us to speak the truth and to recognize our own biases,
large and small, in our everyday lives," stated Triner.
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 4, 2010 - 11:39 AMT 06:39 GMT
The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) participated in the
University of California San Diego (UCSD) Holocaust Living History
Workshop symposium "From Racism to Genocide: Towards a Hate-Free
Campus" last month as part of its efforts to raise awareness about
the importance of genocide prevention and the dangers of denial.
Hosted jointly by the UCSD International Affairs Group and the Hillel
Center, the event explored examples of racism in the 20th century that
led to mass murder and genocide. It marked the first in a series of
seminars held on campus to encourage greater sensitivity and awareness
among the student body on issues relating to everyday cases of racism
and genocide.
Moderated by Marina Triner, Program Coordinator for the UCSD Holocaust
Living Workshop, the symposium featured the Assembly's Western Region
Director Yeghig Keshishian, who focused on the Armenian Genocide,
and examined discriminatory laws and regulations in the Ottoman Empire
that fostered intolerance and legitimized racially motivated actions
based on certain long-held stereotypes.
"The experience of the Armenian Genocide is paramount to any
discussion of genocide, intolerance, and hatred. It is a tragic story,
because of its present denial by the modern Republic of Turkey, the
successor state of the Ottoman Empire responsible for the genocide,"
stated Triner. "Including the story of the Armenians in the present
discussion of racism on the UCSD campus was so important to me,
because the Ottoman Turks relied on the use of certain stereotypes to
fuel their genocidal campaign, and because denial is still occurring,
even in the U.S."
The program closed with a moving and personal account by Holocaust
survivor Agatha Ehrenfried who explained how hatred creates major
disruptions in society which, in turn, are used to legitimize acts
of violence and the devaluation of human life.
Program Coordinator Triner also touched on the problem of denial
and why it is important to confront it. "Denial is always the easy
way out for those whose lives have not been touched by tragedy, but
it is acknowledgment, both for the Armenian case and for our own,
that could bring about change and a healing of the soul for all who
have ever been impacted by acts of hatred. I am thankful that the
Armenian experience will be shared on our campus and hopeful that
it will teach us to speak the truth and to recognize our own biases,
large and small, in our everyday lives," stated Triner.