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SOAD join discussion on Armenian Genocide centenary
April 3, 2015 - 08:36 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - In a rare instance, the worlds of music, politics,
academia and activism came together to call for justice and
recognition ahead of the Armenian Genocide Centennial.
Members of the Grammy Award winning System of a Down, Serj Tankian and
John Dolmayan joined Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Turkish historian
Taner Akcam and the Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee of America Aram Hamparian spoke of the global imperative for
justice for the Armenian Genocide during a telephone press conference
on Wednesday, April 1, according to Asbarez.
"Genocide is a disease that continues until today," Tankian told
reporters. "As Armenian-Americans and as band members who have had
family members perish in this horrible tragedy, it's important for us
not just to raise awareness, but to help bring justice to this cause."
Tankian stressed that it was important for the international community
to come to an agreement that when it comes to countries that commit
Genocide, or in the case of Turkey continue to deny the Armenian
Genocide, "everything must stop" in order for a clear message to be
sent that such human rights violations will not be tolerated.
Tankian and Dolmayan along with fellow System of a Down members Daron
Malakian and Shavo Odadjian will kick off the band's "Wake Up the
Souls" tour on Monday at the Forum in Los Angeles. The tour, dedicated
to the Genocide centennial will travel through Europe, Russia and will
culminate is the band's first-ever performance in Armenia--a free
concert at Republic Square on the evening of April 23.
"It is a big honor for us to be doing our first show there at the
100th year commemoration of the Genocide," said Tankian.
"It is inspiring," Dolmayan said of the tour, adding that justice for
the Armenian Genocide was "something that transcends the music."
"This is a world issue. We want to prevent this happening to other
people," he said.
Dr. Akacm, who is a history professor and the holder of the Robert
Aram, Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair in
Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.,
said that pinning national interests against morality was wrong, thus
faulting the U.S. for failing to properly recognize the Armenian
Genocide.
"By supporting a denialist regime, the United States contributes to
instability not just in the region but here at home," said Akcam,
adding that by recognizing the Genocide, the U.S. would guarantee
security at home, since much of the current Middle East situation is
predicated on the past.
Akcam said he first started working on the Armenian Genocide in 1990,
adding that since then "Turkey has changed and is continuing to
change, especially after the assassination of Hrant Dink in Istanbul.
People began commemorating the Armenian Genocide in Turkey."
"To put national interests against morality is plain wrong," said
Akçam, adding that attitudes in Turkey are slowly changing. "I first
started working on the Armenian Genocide in 1990. Since then, said
Akçam.
He also noted that he expects hundreds of diasporan Armenians to join
the ever-growing number of Turkish citizens who bravely hold
demonstrations in Turkey on April 24.
"With only a handful of survivors left, we feel a moral obligation to
speak the truth about the genocide and ensure it is never forgotten,"
said Schiff, who also announced that on April 22nd, for an entire hour
on the House Floor, he will read names of Armenian Genocide victims.
"In a single hour, I will only be able to read the names of a mere
fraction of those who were killed," said Schiff, adding that "to read
all of the names of the more than 1.5 million people murdered at the
time, would take many weeks and weeks." Schiff said that he hoped that
the recitation of victims' names will help call attention to the
magnitude of the crime. He also urged those who lost family and loved
ones during the genocide to send their names, all of which will be
entered into the Congressional Record.
Schiff also provided details about the Armenian Genocide Truth and
Justice Resolution, which was introduced on March 18 by
Representatives Schiff, Robert Dold (R-Ill.), David Valadao
(R-Calif.), and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), along with 40 other members of
the House of Representatives. The bipartisan resolution calls upon the
president to work toward equitable, constructive, and durable
Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey's full
acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian
Genocide.
"Turkey not only denies the truth of the crime, but also obstructs its
justice," said Hamparian in his introductory remarks.
"We want to see real peace between Turks and Armenians," he said,
adding that peace must be built on a foundation of truth and justice.
Hamparian explained that the March to Justice is an interactive global
online platform for the growth of sustained grassroots engagement in
support of justice for the Armenian Genocide and durable security for
the Armenian nation. He also told how the ANCA has been pushing
President Barack Obama to honor his 2008 pledge to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, and working hard with congress to end Turkey's gag
rule.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/190185/
From: Baghdasarian
April 3, 2015 - 08:36 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - In a rare instance, the worlds of music, politics,
academia and activism came together to call for justice and
recognition ahead of the Armenian Genocide Centennial.
Members of the Grammy Award winning System of a Down, Serj Tankian and
John Dolmayan joined Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Turkish historian
Taner Akcam and the Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee of America Aram Hamparian spoke of the global imperative for
justice for the Armenian Genocide during a telephone press conference
on Wednesday, April 1, according to Asbarez.
"Genocide is a disease that continues until today," Tankian told
reporters. "As Armenian-Americans and as band members who have had
family members perish in this horrible tragedy, it's important for us
not just to raise awareness, but to help bring justice to this cause."
Tankian stressed that it was important for the international community
to come to an agreement that when it comes to countries that commit
Genocide, or in the case of Turkey continue to deny the Armenian
Genocide, "everything must stop" in order for a clear message to be
sent that such human rights violations will not be tolerated.
Tankian and Dolmayan along with fellow System of a Down members Daron
Malakian and Shavo Odadjian will kick off the band's "Wake Up the
Souls" tour on Monday at the Forum in Los Angeles. The tour, dedicated
to the Genocide centennial will travel through Europe, Russia and will
culminate is the band's first-ever performance in Armenia--a free
concert at Republic Square on the evening of April 23.
"It is a big honor for us to be doing our first show there at the
100th year commemoration of the Genocide," said Tankian.
"It is inspiring," Dolmayan said of the tour, adding that justice for
the Armenian Genocide was "something that transcends the music."
"This is a world issue. We want to prevent this happening to other
people," he said.
Dr. Akacm, who is a history professor and the holder of the Robert
Aram, Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair in
Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.,
said that pinning national interests against morality was wrong, thus
faulting the U.S. for failing to properly recognize the Armenian
Genocide.
"By supporting a denialist regime, the United States contributes to
instability not just in the region but here at home," said Akcam,
adding that by recognizing the Genocide, the U.S. would guarantee
security at home, since much of the current Middle East situation is
predicated on the past.
Akcam said he first started working on the Armenian Genocide in 1990,
adding that since then "Turkey has changed and is continuing to
change, especially after the assassination of Hrant Dink in Istanbul.
People began commemorating the Armenian Genocide in Turkey."
"To put national interests against morality is plain wrong," said
Akçam, adding that attitudes in Turkey are slowly changing. "I first
started working on the Armenian Genocide in 1990. Since then, said
Akçam.
He also noted that he expects hundreds of diasporan Armenians to join
the ever-growing number of Turkish citizens who bravely hold
demonstrations in Turkey on April 24.
"With only a handful of survivors left, we feel a moral obligation to
speak the truth about the genocide and ensure it is never forgotten,"
said Schiff, who also announced that on April 22nd, for an entire hour
on the House Floor, he will read names of Armenian Genocide victims.
"In a single hour, I will only be able to read the names of a mere
fraction of those who were killed," said Schiff, adding that "to read
all of the names of the more than 1.5 million people murdered at the
time, would take many weeks and weeks." Schiff said that he hoped that
the recitation of victims' names will help call attention to the
magnitude of the crime. He also urged those who lost family and loved
ones during the genocide to send their names, all of which will be
entered into the Congressional Record.
Schiff also provided details about the Armenian Genocide Truth and
Justice Resolution, which was introduced on March 18 by
Representatives Schiff, Robert Dold (R-Ill.), David Valadao
(R-Calif.), and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), along with 40 other members of
the House of Representatives. The bipartisan resolution calls upon the
president to work toward equitable, constructive, and durable
Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey's full
acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian
Genocide.
"Turkey not only denies the truth of the crime, but also obstructs its
justice," said Hamparian in his introductory remarks.
"We want to see real peace between Turks and Armenians," he said,
adding that peace must be built on a foundation of truth and justice.
Hamparian explained that the March to Justice is an interactive global
online platform for the growth of sustained grassroots engagement in
support of justice for the Armenian Genocide and durable security for
the Armenian nation. He also told how the ANCA has been pushing
President Barack Obama to honor his 2008 pledge to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, and working hard with congress to end Turkey's gag
rule.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/190185/
From: Baghdasarian