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Standing in Silence: Armenian Student Organization brings awareness of genocide
By Allen Huddleston | April 25, 2013
The Armenian Student Organization, composed of Fresno State students,
silently stood in the free speech area on Wednesday to remember the
lives lost in the Armenian Genocide. This year marks the 98th
anniversary commemoration of the genocide. The genocide refers to the
deliberate destruction to the Armenian population in which 1.5 million
Armenian were killed.
"This event is very important to us because it educates the youth and
community. That tragedy had struck our culture years ago, and we want
recognition," said Marine Vardanyan, a member of the Armenian Student
Organization at Fresno State A student with Fresno State's Armenian
Student Organization, waves the Armenian national flag while standing
in the university's free speech area at Wednesday's Silent
Protest. Photo by Khlarissa Agee / The Collegian
A student with Fresno State's Armenian Student Organization, waves the
Armenian national flag while standing in the university's free speech
area at Wednesday's Silent Protest.
Photo by Khlarissa Agee / The Collegian
The systematic destruction of Armenians in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire
sometimes seems to go unnoticed in modern day society. Some attribute
this to the fact that the Turkish government denies the fact that the
genocide took place.
"As an Armenian, we know about the events that took place in 1915,"
said Vardanyan. "We want the Turkish government to acknowledge what
they have done and give us justice that is long overdue."
The Armenian genocide started April 24, 1915, when Ottoman authorities
arrested 250 Armenians including community leaders in
Constantinople. Massacres, deportation, death marches, rape and sexual
assault were all used as mechanisms by the Ottoman Empire to eliminate
the Armenian population, he said.
"I am motivated by the fact that some Armenians did survive," said
Hagop Ohanessian, president of the Armenian Student Organization. "My
great-grandparents survived this tragedy, which brings me here today,
and we understand that we are blessed to be here in the United States
to promote our culture."
According to Ohanessian, the genocide happened for two reasons. First
the Turkish government did not see Armenians fit for their
society. Turkish rule wanted to "Turkify" everyone in Central Asia,
and the Armenian population was the only race standing in its way of
completing this objective. To "Turkify" people that lived within the
Turkish society, individuals would have to practice the same religion
as Turkish people, regardless of racial background.
He says also the Turkish government could not "Turkify" the Armenian
race because of religion. The Turkish government promotes and
advocates for Muslims, while the Armenians practiced Christianity.
The timing of this event played a large role as well. The genocide
took place in the middle of World War I and is considered the
second-largest genocide behind the Jewish Holocaust of World War II.
Many Armenians managed to escape the grasps of the Turkish government
and relocated to other areas. Many came to the United States where
they could practice their religion and other cultural aspects in
relative peace. Many of those Armenians moved to Fresno. By the 1950s,
Fresno County was home to the second-largest Armenian community
outside of Armenia. Today, that has changed. Los Angeles has the
second-largest Armenian following outside of the nation itself.
"Silent protesting is significant to me for my family." Marine
Vardanyan said. "My great-uncle disguised himself as a woman and went
through deportation just to survive. That's the reason why he
escaped. What he went through is why I am here today, standing here,
advocating and speaking for those who lost their lives."
A verified e-mail address is required to post a comment. Views
expressed in the comments section are not representative of The
Collegian unless so specified. Comments must be approved by a
moderator before they are published. Comments that are inflammatory,
profane, libelous and/or posted under a false name may be removed at
the discretion of The Collegian. Comments may be used in the print
edition of the newspaper.
http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2013/04/25/standing-in-silence-armenian-student-organization-brings-awareness-of-genocide/
Standing in Silence: Armenian Student Organization brings awareness of genocide
By Allen Huddleston | April 25, 2013
The Armenian Student Organization, composed of Fresno State students,
silently stood in the free speech area on Wednesday to remember the
lives lost in the Armenian Genocide. This year marks the 98th
anniversary commemoration of the genocide. The genocide refers to the
deliberate destruction to the Armenian population in which 1.5 million
Armenian were killed.
"This event is very important to us because it educates the youth and
community. That tragedy had struck our culture years ago, and we want
recognition," said Marine Vardanyan, a member of the Armenian Student
Organization at Fresno State A student with Fresno State's Armenian
Student Organization, waves the Armenian national flag while standing
in the university's free speech area at Wednesday's Silent
Protest. Photo by Khlarissa Agee / The Collegian
A student with Fresno State's Armenian Student Organization, waves the
Armenian national flag while standing in the university's free speech
area at Wednesday's Silent Protest.
Photo by Khlarissa Agee / The Collegian
The systematic destruction of Armenians in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire
sometimes seems to go unnoticed in modern day society. Some attribute
this to the fact that the Turkish government denies the fact that the
genocide took place.
"As an Armenian, we know about the events that took place in 1915,"
said Vardanyan. "We want the Turkish government to acknowledge what
they have done and give us justice that is long overdue."
The Armenian genocide started April 24, 1915, when Ottoman authorities
arrested 250 Armenians including community leaders in
Constantinople. Massacres, deportation, death marches, rape and sexual
assault were all used as mechanisms by the Ottoman Empire to eliminate
the Armenian population, he said.
"I am motivated by the fact that some Armenians did survive," said
Hagop Ohanessian, president of the Armenian Student Organization. "My
great-grandparents survived this tragedy, which brings me here today,
and we understand that we are blessed to be here in the United States
to promote our culture."
According to Ohanessian, the genocide happened for two reasons. First
the Turkish government did not see Armenians fit for their
society. Turkish rule wanted to "Turkify" everyone in Central Asia,
and the Armenian population was the only race standing in its way of
completing this objective. To "Turkify" people that lived within the
Turkish society, individuals would have to practice the same religion
as Turkish people, regardless of racial background.
He says also the Turkish government could not "Turkify" the Armenian
race because of religion. The Turkish government promotes and
advocates for Muslims, while the Armenians practiced Christianity.
The timing of this event played a large role as well. The genocide
took place in the middle of World War I and is considered the
second-largest genocide behind the Jewish Holocaust of World War II.
Many Armenians managed to escape the grasps of the Turkish government
and relocated to other areas. Many came to the United States where
they could practice their religion and other cultural aspects in
relative peace. Many of those Armenians moved to Fresno. By the 1950s,
Fresno County was home to the second-largest Armenian community
outside of Armenia. Today, that has changed. Los Angeles has the
second-largest Armenian following outside of the nation itself.
"Silent protesting is significant to me for my family." Marine
Vardanyan said. "My great-uncle disguised himself as a woman and went
through deportation just to survive. That's the reason why he
escaped. What he went through is why I am here today, standing here,
advocating and speaking for those who lost their lives."
A verified e-mail address is required to post a comment. Views
expressed in the comments section are not representative of The
Collegian unless so specified. Comments must be approved by a
moderator before they are published. Comments that are inflammatory,
profane, libelous and/or posted under a false name may be removed at
the discretion of The Collegian. Comments may be used in the print
edition of the newspaper.
http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2013/04/25/standing-in-silence-armenian-student-organization-brings-awareness-of-genocide/