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GLENDALE THEATER HOSTS GENOCIDE COMMEMORATING PERFORMANCE
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 - 13:45 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Nearly 1,400 people who packed the Alex Theatre
in Glendale on Tuesday, April 24 night at a city-sponsored event
commemorating the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which
began in 1915 when the Ottoman Empire massacred roughly 1.5 million
Armenians.
According to Glendale News-Press, missing from the audience, though,
was reality star Kim Kardashian, who was personally invited by
Councilman Ara Najarian last week after news circulated that she
planned to take the Glendale mayoral seat within five years.
Najarian said Kardashian sent her regrets and created a video to
present during the event, but the file was incompatible with the
theater technology. The video described the general importance of
remembering the genocide, Najarian said.
Kardashian tweeted similar sentiments earlier Tuesday. "Today lets all
stand together & remember the 1.5 million people who were massacred
in the Armenian Genocide. April 24th, 1915. #NEVERFORGET," she tweeted.
However, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) flew in from Washington to attend
several genocide commemoration events, including a march throughout
Hollywood that flooded the streets with thousands of people and
clogged traffic for hours. "It's a very solemn moment," he said,
before speaking at the Alex Theatre event.
City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian made the opposite commute. On Wednesday he
plans to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Capitol Hill observance
of the Armenian Genocide.
The Glendale event included speeches by Canadian parliamentary member
Jim Karygiannis and filmmaker Eric Nazarian, whose recent work features
a musician searching for a family heirloom lost during the genocide.
Najarian and Councilman Rafi Manoukian said the commemoration
symbolized the fight for recognition.
"Years ago, Armenians would remember the genocide once a year, but
lately Armenians around the world have been talking about the event
on a daily basis in an attempt to get it recognized by all nations,"
Najarian said.
"Instead of getting weaker and weaker over time, our cause is getting
stronger," Najarian said.
Manoukian, Schiff and others at the commemoration said they were
upset that in a statement released by the White House, President
Obama called for a "just acknowledgement of the facts" but did not
use the word genocide when describing the massacre.
"It was very disappointing," Manoukian said.
Although some were upset, others said they didn't think much of it.
"We weren't expecting anything," said Glendale resident Aline Miskjian.
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 - 13:45 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Nearly 1,400 people who packed the Alex Theatre
in Glendale on Tuesday, April 24 night at a city-sponsored event
commemorating the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which
began in 1915 when the Ottoman Empire massacred roughly 1.5 million
Armenians.
According to Glendale News-Press, missing from the audience, though,
was reality star Kim Kardashian, who was personally invited by
Councilman Ara Najarian last week after news circulated that she
planned to take the Glendale mayoral seat within five years.
Najarian said Kardashian sent her regrets and created a video to
present during the event, but the file was incompatible with the
theater technology. The video described the general importance of
remembering the genocide, Najarian said.
Kardashian tweeted similar sentiments earlier Tuesday. "Today lets all
stand together & remember the 1.5 million people who were massacred
in the Armenian Genocide. April 24th, 1915. #NEVERFORGET," she tweeted.
However, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) flew in from Washington to attend
several genocide commemoration events, including a march throughout
Hollywood that flooded the streets with thousands of people and
clogged traffic for hours. "It's a very solemn moment," he said,
before speaking at the Alex Theatre event.
City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian made the opposite commute. On Wednesday he
plans to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Capitol Hill observance
of the Armenian Genocide.
The Glendale event included speeches by Canadian parliamentary member
Jim Karygiannis and filmmaker Eric Nazarian, whose recent work features
a musician searching for a family heirloom lost during the genocide.
Najarian and Councilman Rafi Manoukian said the commemoration
symbolized the fight for recognition.
"Years ago, Armenians would remember the genocide once a year, but
lately Armenians around the world have been talking about the event
on a daily basis in an attempt to get it recognized by all nations,"
Najarian said.
"Instead of getting weaker and weaker over time, our cause is getting
stronger," Najarian said.
Manoukian, Schiff and others at the commemoration said they were
upset that in a statement released by the White House, President
Obama called for a "just acknowledgement of the facts" but did not
use the word genocide when describing the massacre.
"It was very disappointing," Manoukian said.
Although some were upset, others said they didn't think much of it.
"We weren't expecting anything," said Glendale resident Aline Miskjian.