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PULLING THE RUG OUT
Pasadena Weekly, CA
Nov 14 2013
Schiff blasts Obama for refusing to allow display of Armenian
Genocide rug
By Andre Coleman 11/14/2013
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Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) took the Obama administration to task
on Tuesday for refusing to display a symbol of gratitude given to
the US by Armenians shortly after the Armenian Genocide.
In 1925, Armenians presented a rug to President Calvin Coolidge as
a symbol of thanks for the assistance that the US gave to Armenians
during the Genocide, which began in 1915 and ended in 1923, resulting
in the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by soldiers with the Turkish
Ottoman Empire.
The rug has been kept in storage in the White House since it was
presented to Coolidge and was scheduled to be exhibited at the
Smithsonian Museum as part of the launch for the book "President Calvin
Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug." But that event was canceled
after the White House refused to allow the rug to be displayed without
any explanation.
Despite promises during his presidential campaign in 2008, President
Obama has been reluctant to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, which
Turkish officials have historically denied ever happened.
"The decision by the administration to block display of the Armenian
Genocide rug is as inexplicable as it is hurtful to the Armenian
community," Schiff said in a prepared statement. "The rug is not only a
symbol of the resilience of the Armenian people through their darkest
days; it also serves as a tangible expression of the inherent truth
that not only were 1.5 million people killed in the first genocide
of the 20th century, but that the American government was a central
player in efforts to call attention to the plight of the Armenian
people and provide relief to survivors."
The rug was hand-woven by orphans of the Armenian Genocide in an
American-sponsored orphanage run by a US charity created by an act
of Congress. The rug has more than 4 million hand-tied knots.
According to Schiff, Armenian organizations have been denied numerous
times over the past decade when seeking to have the rug displayed.
"The Armenian Orphan Rug is a piece of American history and it belongs
to the American people," Schiff wrote. "For over a decade, Armenian
American organizations have sought the public display of the rug and
have requested the White House and the State Department grant their
request on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, Armenian Americans have
yet to have their requests granted."
http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/pulling_the_rug_out/12601/
Pasadena Weekly, CA
Nov 14 2013
Schiff blasts Obama for refusing to allow display of Armenian
Genocide rug
By Andre Coleman 11/14/2013
Like it? Tweet it! SHARE IT!
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) took the Obama administration to task
on Tuesday for refusing to display a symbol of gratitude given to
the US by Armenians shortly after the Armenian Genocide.
In 1925, Armenians presented a rug to President Calvin Coolidge as
a symbol of thanks for the assistance that the US gave to Armenians
during the Genocide, which began in 1915 and ended in 1923, resulting
in the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by soldiers with the Turkish
Ottoman Empire.
The rug has been kept in storage in the White House since it was
presented to Coolidge and was scheduled to be exhibited at the
Smithsonian Museum as part of the launch for the book "President Calvin
Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug." But that event was canceled
after the White House refused to allow the rug to be displayed without
any explanation.
Despite promises during his presidential campaign in 2008, President
Obama has been reluctant to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, which
Turkish officials have historically denied ever happened.
"The decision by the administration to block display of the Armenian
Genocide rug is as inexplicable as it is hurtful to the Armenian
community," Schiff said in a prepared statement. "The rug is not only a
symbol of the resilience of the Armenian people through their darkest
days; it also serves as a tangible expression of the inherent truth
that not only were 1.5 million people killed in the first genocide
of the 20th century, but that the American government was a central
player in efforts to call attention to the plight of the Armenian
people and provide relief to survivors."
The rug was hand-woven by orphans of the Armenian Genocide in an
American-sponsored orphanage run by a US charity created by an act
of Congress. The rug has more than 4 million hand-tied knots.
According to Schiff, Armenian organizations have been denied numerous
times over the past decade when seeking to have the rug displayed.
"The Armenian Orphan Rug is a piece of American history and it belongs
to the American people," Schiff wrote. "For over a decade, Armenian
American organizations have sought the public display of the rug and
have requested the White House and the State Department grant their
request on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, Armenian Americans have
yet to have their requests granted."
http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/pulling_the_rug_out/12601/