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ARMENIANS, UKRANIANS HONOR THEIR ANCESTORS
Troy Record, NY
April 30 2014
By Danielle Sanzone
LATHAM >> While you would be hard-pressed to find someone who is
not familiar with either the Jewish Holocaust during World War II or
the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, equally horrible genocides have also
occurred throughout history, including the Armenian and Ukrainian
Genocides in the early 20th century.
A group of about 50 people from around the Capital District, many
of Ukrainian or Armenian heritage, gathered at the Latham Masonic
Lodge Monday evening for a memorial service not only honoring their
ancestors who lost their lives in those two tragedies, but also to
pay homage to all genocide victims.
"We share the tragedy and the heartache," said Dikran Abajian, 72,
an Armenian who has lived in the United States for more than four
decades. "I am a survivor. I have very few ancestors because of the
genocide. The history of my family before my grandparents is gone."
According to historians, the Armenian Genocide, which started in 1915,
was the Ottoman government's systematic extermination of its minority
Armenian subjects from their historic homeland in the territory
constituting the present-day Republic of Turkey.
"We feel their pain and I hope they feel ours," said Abajian,
referring to how Ukrainians likely felt following a man-made famine
starting in 1932 and 1933 which claimed millions of lives. According
to Wikipedia, it remains unclear in most countries whether the famine
can technically meet the definition of an ethnic genocide, however,
it has been recognized as a crime against humanity.
"It's about empathy," said Ida Edgarian, 70, of Clifton Park.
"I wish more people would be aware of these historical tragedies so
it does not repeat again and again and again," said Abajian.
Olha Bertsch, 74, remembered that her father tried to organize aid to
the central and eastern portions of Ukraine which were most affected.
She noted that many in the Capital District with Ukrainian heritage
are from the country's western section.
She said that Ukrainian borders were sealed and many farmers there
resisted giving up their private property, as ordered by then-Soviet
leader Joseph Stalin. These actions, along with a drought, resulted
in a massive famine and many deaths. Historians average that there
were about 25,000 deaths per day, and half of them were children.
John Uruskyj of Waterford said his mother, then 7 years old, was one
of the few survivors because his grandfather would sneak across the
border to get food - which usually consisted of bread.
"She did not like to talk about it but she said it was very difficult,"
Uruskyj said, noting that his mother's younger brother did not survive.
Event and memorial organizer Rafi Topalian said there were similarities
between the two genocides including that the perpetrating countries -
Turkey and Russia - do not recognize that the crimes against humanity
occurred.
"There is power in unity," Topalian said. He hoped that similar events
bringing multiple cultures together could be organized in the future.
http://www.troyrecord.com/events/20140430/armenians-ukranians-honor-their-ancestors
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Troy Record, NY
April 30 2014
By Danielle Sanzone
LATHAM >> While you would be hard-pressed to find someone who is
not familiar with either the Jewish Holocaust during World War II or
the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, equally horrible genocides have also
occurred throughout history, including the Armenian and Ukrainian
Genocides in the early 20th century.
A group of about 50 people from around the Capital District, many
of Ukrainian or Armenian heritage, gathered at the Latham Masonic
Lodge Monday evening for a memorial service not only honoring their
ancestors who lost their lives in those two tragedies, but also to
pay homage to all genocide victims.
"We share the tragedy and the heartache," said Dikran Abajian, 72,
an Armenian who has lived in the United States for more than four
decades. "I am a survivor. I have very few ancestors because of the
genocide. The history of my family before my grandparents is gone."
According to historians, the Armenian Genocide, which started in 1915,
was the Ottoman government's systematic extermination of its minority
Armenian subjects from their historic homeland in the territory
constituting the present-day Republic of Turkey.
"We feel their pain and I hope they feel ours," said Abajian,
referring to how Ukrainians likely felt following a man-made famine
starting in 1932 and 1933 which claimed millions of lives. According
to Wikipedia, it remains unclear in most countries whether the famine
can technically meet the definition of an ethnic genocide, however,
it has been recognized as a crime against humanity.
"It's about empathy," said Ida Edgarian, 70, of Clifton Park.
"I wish more people would be aware of these historical tragedies so
it does not repeat again and again and again," said Abajian.
Olha Bertsch, 74, remembered that her father tried to organize aid to
the central and eastern portions of Ukraine which were most affected.
She noted that many in the Capital District with Ukrainian heritage
are from the country's western section.
She said that Ukrainian borders were sealed and many farmers there
resisted giving up their private property, as ordered by then-Soviet
leader Joseph Stalin. These actions, along with a drought, resulted
in a massive famine and many deaths. Historians average that there
were about 25,000 deaths per day, and half of them were children.
John Uruskyj of Waterford said his mother, then 7 years old, was one
of the few survivors because his grandfather would sneak across the
border to get food - which usually consisted of bread.
"She did not like to talk about it but she said it was very difficult,"
Uruskyj said, noting that his mother's younger brother did not survive.
Event and memorial organizer Rafi Topalian said there were similarities
between the two genocides including that the perpetrating countries -
Turkey and Russia - do not recognize that the crimes against humanity
occurred.
"There is power in unity," Topalian said. He hoped that similar events
bringing multiple cultures together could be organized in the future.
http://www.troyrecord.com/events/20140430/armenians-ukranians-honor-their-ancestors
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress