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OBITER DICTUM: IT HAS BEEN 13 YEARS
Belmont Wicked Local, MA
Sept 11 2014
By EDWARD KAZANJIAN
BELMONT
On that tragic day, now simply referred to as 9/11, almost 3,000
Americans perished, including 393 firefighters and law enforcement
personnel and 125 military and civilians at the Pentagon. There were
115 different nationalities among those who died at the hands of
Muslim extremists. Thirteen years and terrorists continue to threaten
the United States, perpetrate genocide on the Christians in Syria and
there is the threat of genocide of the Jews by Hamas. Are we really
surprised? In recent years, Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda and Darfur all
have experienced genocide. History teaches us nothing.
In April 2015, it will be 100 years since the Turks attempted the
genocide of the Armenians. The first case of genocide of the 20th
century, as 1.6 million Armenians were systematically massacred at
the hands of the Ottoman Turks. That atrocity prompted the largest
humanitarian effort ever by the United States, Near East Relief. There
were over 100 reports of the genocide in the New York Times and
hundreds of first hand reports from Ambassadors and Missionaries of
several countries.
Yet today, given that historic documentation the United States
government will not acknowledge that this tragedy took place. They
defer to the desire of wealthy lobbyists from our supposed Turkish
ally to deny that which the world acknowledges. It has been 75 years
since Adolph Hitler's infamous comment, "Who still talks nowadays
of the extermination of the Armenians?" as he began the conquest of
Poland and the beginning of the Holocaust.
With few exceptions, our so called leaders continue to lack the
backbone to do what is right. They do not aggressively deal with those
governments who continue to trample human rights. Today we only give
lip service to the terrorists in the world.
Do Americans today feel safer and more secure that we were 13 years
ago? Does the future bode well for our children and grandchildren?
While One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) has risen from the
ashes 1,776 feet tall, a symbol of American resilience and spirit,
and the adjacent Memorial Plaza lists the names of the almost three
thousand killed, is the world really a safer place? Are we prepared
to live through another tragedy possibly greater than that of 9/11?
Today, our country is facing certain threats, uncertain times, and I
for one am extremely concerned that our government has learned nothing
from recent history let alone that of 100, 75, or even 13 years ago.
Edward A Kazanjian is a Town Meeting member, precinct 6. He was born
July 4.
http://belmont.wickedlocal.com/article/20140910/NEWS/140919204/12456/OPINION
From: A. Papazian
Belmont Wicked Local, MA
Sept 11 2014
By EDWARD KAZANJIAN
BELMONT
On that tragic day, now simply referred to as 9/11, almost 3,000
Americans perished, including 393 firefighters and law enforcement
personnel and 125 military and civilians at the Pentagon. There were
115 different nationalities among those who died at the hands of
Muslim extremists. Thirteen years and terrorists continue to threaten
the United States, perpetrate genocide on the Christians in Syria and
there is the threat of genocide of the Jews by Hamas. Are we really
surprised? In recent years, Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda and Darfur all
have experienced genocide. History teaches us nothing.
In April 2015, it will be 100 years since the Turks attempted the
genocide of the Armenians. The first case of genocide of the 20th
century, as 1.6 million Armenians were systematically massacred at
the hands of the Ottoman Turks. That atrocity prompted the largest
humanitarian effort ever by the United States, Near East Relief. There
were over 100 reports of the genocide in the New York Times and
hundreds of first hand reports from Ambassadors and Missionaries of
several countries.
Yet today, given that historic documentation the United States
government will not acknowledge that this tragedy took place. They
defer to the desire of wealthy lobbyists from our supposed Turkish
ally to deny that which the world acknowledges. It has been 75 years
since Adolph Hitler's infamous comment, "Who still talks nowadays
of the extermination of the Armenians?" as he began the conquest of
Poland and the beginning of the Holocaust.
With few exceptions, our so called leaders continue to lack the
backbone to do what is right. They do not aggressively deal with those
governments who continue to trample human rights. Today we only give
lip service to the terrorists in the world.
Do Americans today feel safer and more secure that we were 13 years
ago? Does the future bode well for our children and grandchildren?
While One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) has risen from the
ashes 1,776 feet tall, a symbol of American resilience and spirit,
and the adjacent Memorial Plaza lists the names of the almost three
thousand killed, is the world really a safer place? Are we prepared
to live through another tragedy possibly greater than that of 9/11?
Today, our country is facing certain threats, uncertain times, and I
for one am extremely concerned that our government has learned nothing
from recent history let alone that of 100, 75, or even 13 years ago.
Edward A Kazanjian is a Town Meeting member, precinct 6. He was born
July 4.
http://belmont.wickedlocal.com/article/20140910/NEWS/140919204/12456/OPINION
From: A. Papazian