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Turks Counter High School Genocide Classes
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/08/13/turks-counter-high-school-genocide-classes/
Opinion | August 13, 2012 2:14 pm
By Tom Vartabedian
Just when you think life has dealt you a pat hand, along comes a
conniver to steal your pot.
For the past four years, members of our Armenian Genocide Education
Committee of Merrimack Valley have filtered in and out of high schools
north of Boston.
We have also expanded our reach to include schools around Greater
Boston, like Newton South. Scores of children have benefited by our
lessons. In most every case, instructors have been overwhelmed by the
impact being made for they, too, come out learning a valuable lesson
in history.
There hasn't been one repercussion, not even a grunt from a naysayer -
until now. A vile and vindictive article from a pro-Turkish website
(www.historyoftruth.com) enraged me, bearing the headline: `Armenians
Spreading Their Lies at High Schools.'
The gutless piece failed to carry a by-line, thus making it more
intolerable. What's more, a photograph of Wilmington High students
holding samples of postage stamps they had designed carried the
inscription: `Their Lies Reached Schools.'
The group photo also had the two presenters that day - myself and
Albert S. Movsesian. The event was to generate ideas for a postage
stamp to be sent to the Postmaster General of the United States in an
effort to get a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide in 2015.
A completely harmless project meant to both elucidate and arouse our
younger non- Armenian population was slurred with malice.
The rebuttal was generated in response to an all-encompassing piece
written by Chairman Dro Kanayan, giving readers a fairly detailed
account of the progress made in schools this year. How effective has
it been?
While attending a grand-niece's Chelmsford High graduation party the
week before, I approached a table occupied by students who had been
addressed during a genocide class taught by Jennifer Doak.
`Hey, you look familiar. Aren't you the guy who spoke to us about the
Armenian Genocide?' a co-ed remarked.
`Yes, that's me,' I replied. `What do you remember most about the
class?' `How difficult it was for your race to be slaughtered like
that,' she replied. `We loved the story about the Calvin Coolidge
Orphan Rug and how it found its way to the White House.'
The article goes go to say that the `Armenian Diaspora is spreading
its lies by telling them at high schools.'
The next paragraph quoted Kanayan's story:
`Armenian researcher Dro Kanayan said for those people who feel that
our elders and the youth cannot work together, don't worry.
`Kanayan and both of his peers, Albert Movsesian and Tom Vartabedian,
have been working together to have the so-called Armenian Genocide
included in the high school curriculum on Human Rights in the
Merrimack Valley.
`They are teaching students about the so- called Armenian Genocide and
Armenian culture.'
The story goes on to say how we have `poisoned' the students in over
10 high schools, providing individual classroom presentation on
comparative genocides over the past 100 years The account proceeded to
implement other high schools including a deaf student we had
encountered at Newton South who learned about the Genocide through
American Sign Language.
Adding more insult to injury, a second photo was used of Dro Kanayan
holding a picture of his famous grandfather General Dro, who led the
siege at Bash Abaran during World War I.
I should be fuming over such poppycock. Instead, I hold no regret over
those who are ill-informed and continue to show their absurdity. The
more Turkey refutes histori- cal fact, the more scornful it becomes.
The more truth will prevail and people will see how superficial the
Turkish government continues to remain.
I recall once how vandals had climbed to the top of a billboard in
Watertown and defaced a Genocide sign that had been sponsored by
activist/artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian. For years, Hejinian has been
putting up these notices to draw attention during April 24.
For the most part, the Armenian papers have publicized the act, but
nothing ever caught the attention of the American press, which matters
more.
The fact that some screwball scaled a building at night to commit an
act of degradation suddenly became media hype. It appeared in
newspapers and television networks, giving the Armenian Genocide more
exposure than normal.
During a commemoration that week in Merrimack Valley, a local priest
approached the podium and remarked about the insanity.
`If that's the way our genocide is going to catch the outside public's
eye, then let the billboards be vandalized,' he lashed out. `And let
those responsible find guilt in the process.'
Armenians spreading their lies in our high schools? Students being
misinformed? Human rights not being violated?
We must be living in a Utopia.
(Tom Vartabedian is a former photographer journalist for The Haverhill
Gazette and a frequent contributor to the Mirror-Spectator.)
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/08/13/turks-counter-high-school-genocide-classes/
Opinion | August 13, 2012 2:14 pm
By Tom Vartabedian
Just when you think life has dealt you a pat hand, along comes a
conniver to steal your pot.
For the past four years, members of our Armenian Genocide Education
Committee of Merrimack Valley have filtered in and out of high schools
north of Boston.
We have also expanded our reach to include schools around Greater
Boston, like Newton South. Scores of children have benefited by our
lessons. In most every case, instructors have been overwhelmed by the
impact being made for they, too, come out learning a valuable lesson
in history.
There hasn't been one repercussion, not even a grunt from a naysayer -
until now. A vile and vindictive article from a pro-Turkish website
(www.historyoftruth.com) enraged me, bearing the headline: `Armenians
Spreading Their Lies at High Schools.'
The gutless piece failed to carry a by-line, thus making it more
intolerable. What's more, a photograph of Wilmington High students
holding samples of postage stamps they had designed carried the
inscription: `Their Lies Reached Schools.'
The group photo also had the two presenters that day - myself and
Albert S. Movsesian. The event was to generate ideas for a postage
stamp to be sent to the Postmaster General of the United States in an
effort to get a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide in 2015.
A completely harmless project meant to both elucidate and arouse our
younger non- Armenian population was slurred with malice.
The rebuttal was generated in response to an all-encompassing piece
written by Chairman Dro Kanayan, giving readers a fairly detailed
account of the progress made in schools this year. How effective has
it been?
While attending a grand-niece's Chelmsford High graduation party the
week before, I approached a table occupied by students who had been
addressed during a genocide class taught by Jennifer Doak.
`Hey, you look familiar. Aren't you the guy who spoke to us about the
Armenian Genocide?' a co-ed remarked.
`Yes, that's me,' I replied. `What do you remember most about the
class?' `How difficult it was for your race to be slaughtered like
that,' she replied. `We loved the story about the Calvin Coolidge
Orphan Rug and how it found its way to the White House.'
The article goes go to say that the `Armenian Diaspora is spreading
its lies by telling them at high schools.'
The next paragraph quoted Kanayan's story:
`Armenian researcher Dro Kanayan said for those people who feel that
our elders and the youth cannot work together, don't worry.
`Kanayan and both of his peers, Albert Movsesian and Tom Vartabedian,
have been working together to have the so-called Armenian Genocide
included in the high school curriculum on Human Rights in the
Merrimack Valley.
`They are teaching students about the so- called Armenian Genocide and
Armenian culture.'
The story goes on to say how we have `poisoned' the students in over
10 high schools, providing individual classroom presentation on
comparative genocides over the past 100 years The account proceeded to
implement other high schools including a deaf student we had
encountered at Newton South who learned about the Genocide through
American Sign Language.
Adding more insult to injury, a second photo was used of Dro Kanayan
holding a picture of his famous grandfather General Dro, who led the
siege at Bash Abaran during World War I.
I should be fuming over such poppycock. Instead, I hold no regret over
those who are ill-informed and continue to show their absurdity. The
more Turkey refutes histori- cal fact, the more scornful it becomes.
The more truth will prevail and people will see how superficial the
Turkish government continues to remain.
I recall once how vandals had climbed to the top of a billboard in
Watertown and defaced a Genocide sign that had been sponsored by
activist/artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian. For years, Hejinian has been
putting up these notices to draw attention during April 24.
For the most part, the Armenian papers have publicized the act, but
nothing ever caught the attention of the American press, which matters
more.
The fact that some screwball scaled a building at night to commit an
act of degradation suddenly became media hype. It appeared in
newspapers and television networks, giving the Armenian Genocide more
exposure than normal.
During a commemoration that week in Merrimack Valley, a local priest
approached the podium and remarked about the insanity.
`If that's the way our genocide is going to catch the outside public's
eye, then let the billboards be vandalized,' he lashed out. `And let
those responsible find guilt in the process.'
Armenians spreading their lies in our high schools? Students being
misinformed? Human rights not being violated?
We must be living in a Utopia.
(Tom Vartabedian is a former photographer journalist for The Haverhill
Gazette and a frequent contributor to the Mirror-Spectator.)