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GUEST SPEAKERS DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Neon Tommy
April 17 2014
Anne Artley |
The Armenian Students' Association at the University of Southern
California brought in two guest speakers to discuss the Armenian
genocide, since April 24th marks the 99th anniversary of the atrocities
the Ottoman rulers inflicted upon this ethnic minority. The talk is
part of the USC Genocide Awareness month.
"When we were out selling donuts on Trousdale students were asking what
an Armenian is," said Nerses Aposhian, a USC senior and the group's
public relations coordinator. "We're hoping to start a movement to
change that."
The speakers, Gevork Nazaryan and Movses Ter-Oganesyan, said the
Turkish government does not acknowledge that the genocide took place,
and dismisses the evidence of atrocities as unfounded accusations.
The once-powerful empire began to decline in the early 20th century,
allowing a political group called the Young Turks to seize control.
The new rulers endorsed a nationalistic agenda that pushed for an
exclusive Turkish state. When World War I broke out, the Ottoman
armies used the fighting as an opportunity to eliminate the Armenian
population.
The Turks were largely successful in creating a united republic,
as they wiped out about a million and a half Armenians. The refugees
scattered around the world and only a fraction of their historic land
survived as part of the Soviet Union.
Armenian speakers, artists and musicians will congregate in front of
Tommy Trojan on April 24th at noon in a celebration of the culture.
Aposhian said he wants to highlight the positive contributions of
Armenians rather than just focusing on the violence.
"By showcasing music and art we will bring attention to the Armenian
culture that's been kept alive in the past 99 years even despite the
tragedies that occurred almost a century ago," he said.
http://www.neontommy.com/news/2014/04/guest-speakers-discuss-armenian-genocide
Neon Tommy
April 17 2014
Anne Artley |
The Armenian Students' Association at the University of Southern
California brought in two guest speakers to discuss the Armenian
genocide, since April 24th marks the 99th anniversary of the atrocities
the Ottoman rulers inflicted upon this ethnic minority. The talk is
part of the USC Genocide Awareness month.
"When we were out selling donuts on Trousdale students were asking what
an Armenian is," said Nerses Aposhian, a USC senior and the group's
public relations coordinator. "We're hoping to start a movement to
change that."
The speakers, Gevork Nazaryan and Movses Ter-Oganesyan, said the
Turkish government does not acknowledge that the genocide took place,
and dismisses the evidence of atrocities as unfounded accusations.
The once-powerful empire began to decline in the early 20th century,
allowing a political group called the Young Turks to seize control.
The new rulers endorsed a nationalistic agenda that pushed for an
exclusive Turkish state. When World War I broke out, the Ottoman
armies used the fighting as an opportunity to eliminate the Armenian
population.
The Turks were largely successful in creating a united republic,
as they wiped out about a million and a half Armenians. The refugees
scattered around the world and only a fraction of their historic land
survived as part of the Soviet Union.
Armenian speakers, artists and musicians will congregate in front of
Tommy Trojan on April 24th at noon in a celebration of the culture.
Aposhian said he wants to highlight the positive contributions of
Armenians rather than just focusing on the violence.
"By showcasing music and art we will bring attention to the Armenian
culture that's been kept alive in the past 99 years even despite the
tragedies that occurred almost a century ago," he said.
http://www.neontommy.com/news/2014/04/guest-speakers-discuss-armenian-genocide