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Interview with Harut Sassounian
http://www.armenianlife.com/2012/05/11/interview-with-harut-sassounian/
- May 11, 2012
Harut Sassounian
By: Armenia My Friend (a French-Armenian website)
Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier
Armenia My Friend : Can we consider denial of the Armenian genocide as
a grave inexcusable act?
Harut Sassounian : No excuse can be made for genocide denial. Denial
is the final stage of genocide. Genocide denial is not a matter of
free speech; it is hate speech which is condemned by many countries
around the world.
AMF : Is the Armenian diaspora sufficiently persistent, forceful and
unambiguous or, in your opinion, is it too moderate, timid, and
deferential to traditional approaches and, even more worrisome, all
too ready to compromise because of Armenia, its particular situation,
and its leaders?
Harut Sassounian : The Armenian Diaspora is not monolithic. The
Diaspora's opinions vary from self-defeatist to moderate, activist or
aggressive.
AMF : Do we know how to take advantage of our diaspora status that
gives us the possibility to act, be uninhibited, audacious,
implacable, and unforgiving to the deniers and their supporters?
Harut Sassounian : The Armenian Diaspora can be a powerful actor in
the fight for our cause. If Armenians don't defend their own cause,
who will? Unfortunately, the Diaspora's efforts are not organized, not
coordinated, and not led properly. That is why our resources and
capabilities are squandered and not put to use in an optimum way.
AMF : Can the American society get organized against this type of
civilized and latent racism, this `torture by opinion' (apology of a
crime) and obtain sanctions under civil rights?
Harut Sassounian : Under U.S. laws, it is not possible to penalize
genocide denial. Even the denial of the Holocaust is not against the
law in the United States. However, if Armenian-Americans were
politically powerful, no one in America would dare to question the
Armenian Genocide, for fear of losing their jobs and being ostracized
by the community at large.
AMF : Doesn't lucid and righteous mockery have, in your opinion, a
role to play along with audaciousness?
Harut Sassounian : Humor, satire and mockery can be powerful tools to
get our message across, even more so than a serious text. We need to
explore new and creative ways of transmitting our demands to the
larger society.
http://www.armenianlife.com/2012/05/11/interview-with-harut-sassounian/
- May 11, 2012
Harut Sassounian
By: Armenia My Friend (a French-Armenian website)
Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier
Armenia My Friend : Can we consider denial of the Armenian genocide as
a grave inexcusable act?
Harut Sassounian : No excuse can be made for genocide denial. Denial
is the final stage of genocide. Genocide denial is not a matter of
free speech; it is hate speech which is condemned by many countries
around the world.
AMF : Is the Armenian diaspora sufficiently persistent, forceful and
unambiguous or, in your opinion, is it too moderate, timid, and
deferential to traditional approaches and, even more worrisome, all
too ready to compromise because of Armenia, its particular situation,
and its leaders?
Harut Sassounian : The Armenian Diaspora is not monolithic. The
Diaspora's opinions vary from self-defeatist to moderate, activist or
aggressive.
AMF : Do we know how to take advantage of our diaspora status that
gives us the possibility to act, be uninhibited, audacious,
implacable, and unforgiving to the deniers and their supporters?
Harut Sassounian : The Armenian Diaspora can be a powerful actor in
the fight for our cause. If Armenians don't defend their own cause,
who will? Unfortunately, the Diaspora's efforts are not organized, not
coordinated, and not led properly. That is why our resources and
capabilities are squandered and not put to use in an optimum way.
AMF : Can the American society get organized against this type of
civilized and latent racism, this `torture by opinion' (apology of a
crime) and obtain sanctions under civil rights?
Harut Sassounian : Under U.S. laws, it is not possible to penalize
genocide denial. Even the denial of the Holocaust is not against the
law in the United States. However, if Armenian-Americans were
politically powerful, no one in America would dare to question the
Armenian Genocide, for fear of losing their jobs and being ostracized
by the community at large.
AMF : Doesn't lucid and righteous mockery have, in your opinion, a
role to play along with audaciousness?
Harut Sassounian : Humor, satire and mockery can be powerful tools to
get our message across, even more so than a serious text. We need to
explore new and creative ways of transmitting our demands to the
larger society.