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GEORGE CLOONEY, MEET KIM KARDASHIAN... IN ARMENIA
Huffington Post
April 9 2015
Posted: 04/09/2015 3:59 pm EDT
Kristy Khachigian , Former Director, Orran USA
What does rock band System of a Down, George Clooney, sci fi thriller
"1915" and the Kardashian's annual family trip all have in common?
By marking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide each can
help to eliminate denial, and eradicate genocide worldwide.
This week the most well-known Armenian in pop culture plans to visit
the country of her heritage for the first time. My question still
stands, Kourtney and Kim, will you take Orran?
Even more importantly though, will you call attention to the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide?
On this visit the Kardashian's have one chance to use the 100th
anniversary to invoke an end to denial of the Armenian Genocide. Many
say denial of this first modern day genocide led others to take place
including the Jewish Holocaust, and in Rwanda, Sudan and Cambodia.
Hitler himself referred to the Armenian Genocide in 1939 in
planning the Jewish holocaust when he said, "Who speaks today of the
extermination of the Armenians?"
100 years ago 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by neighboring
Turkey. Despite being well-documented, this event is denied by Turkey
and the Obama Administration. Millions of Armenians all over the
world are planning events to commemorate this poignant anniversary.
Birthright Armenia is leading a campaign for individuals to put "A"
and "G" on the back of their hands and share via social media.
Heavy metal rock band System of a Down led by Serj Tankian just
launched its #wakeupthesouls tour. Drummer John Dolmayan told Rolling
Stone magazine, "we want to help prevent what happened to the Armenians
happening to other people."
"1915" is a sci fi thriller which comes out later this month.
Co-writers/directors Garin Hovannisian and Alec Mouhibian say the
movie is about "denial, what happens when the past is ignored."
I truly believe April 24th signifies a monumental opportunity for
Armenians. It is the one and only time we can educate the world of the
atrocities that took place in 1915, forcing an end to the denial. And,
we can use this event to urge individuals, world organizations and
governments to work toward an end to all genocide.
Everyone can play a role. What if 100 members of the U.S. Armenian
Congressional Caucus (doesn't Armenian Genocide Caucus have a better
ring to it?) stood on the steps of the Capitol with A and G tattoos
on their hands to pressure President Obama to use the word "Genocide"
in his April 24th proclamation? What if every high profile Armenian
used their social media platform to recognize the 100th anniversary?
Rumor has it that George Clooney may visit Armenia later this month
(his wife Amal Clooney is representing Armenia for reparations before
the European Court). He recently joined the efforts of 100 Lives,
an organization started by Armenians to combat genocide and advance
human rights.
Anyone who sympathizes with the atrocities of genocide should recognize
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. If there are at least
1.5 million Tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram photos, each would
represent a life lost in 1915.
My family will come together in San Francisco on April 24th
to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. We do so in memory of our
grandfather, Ohannes (John) Khachigian, who lost his mother, sister
and brother to starvation and disease as a result of being driven
into the Syrian desert from their ancestral home in the village of
Chomakhlou in central Turkey.
There are millions in this world who don't know what happened to
the Armenians in 1915. I urge anyone who thinks genocide should be
a thing of the past to use the 100th anniversary to denounce it.
Join us.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristy-khachigian/george-clooney-meet-kim-k_b_7026468.html
Huffington Post
April 9 2015
Posted: 04/09/2015 3:59 pm EDT
Kristy Khachigian , Former Director, Orran USA
What does rock band System of a Down, George Clooney, sci fi thriller
"1915" and the Kardashian's annual family trip all have in common?
By marking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide each can
help to eliminate denial, and eradicate genocide worldwide.
This week the most well-known Armenian in pop culture plans to visit
the country of her heritage for the first time. My question still
stands, Kourtney and Kim, will you take Orran?
Even more importantly though, will you call attention to the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide?
On this visit the Kardashian's have one chance to use the 100th
anniversary to invoke an end to denial of the Armenian Genocide. Many
say denial of this first modern day genocide led others to take place
including the Jewish Holocaust, and in Rwanda, Sudan and Cambodia.
Hitler himself referred to the Armenian Genocide in 1939 in
planning the Jewish holocaust when he said, "Who speaks today of the
extermination of the Armenians?"
100 years ago 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by neighboring
Turkey. Despite being well-documented, this event is denied by Turkey
and the Obama Administration. Millions of Armenians all over the
world are planning events to commemorate this poignant anniversary.
Birthright Armenia is leading a campaign for individuals to put "A"
and "G" on the back of their hands and share via social media.
Heavy metal rock band System of a Down led by Serj Tankian just
launched its #wakeupthesouls tour. Drummer John Dolmayan told Rolling
Stone magazine, "we want to help prevent what happened to the Armenians
happening to other people."
"1915" is a sci fi thriller which comes out later this month.
Co-writers/directors Garin Hovannisian and Alec Mouhibian say the
movie is about "denial, what happens when the past is ignored."
I truly believe April 24th signifies a monumental opportunity for
Armenians. It is the one and only time we can educate the world of the
atrocities that took place in 1915, forcing an end to the denial. And,
we can use this event to urge individuals, world organizations and
governments to work toward an end to all genocide.
Everyone can play a role. What if 100 members of the U.S. Armenian
Congressional Caucus (doesn't Armenian Genocide Caucus have a better
ring to it?) stood on the steps of the Capitol with A and G tattoos
on their hands to pressure President Obama to use the word "Genocide"
in his April 24th proclamation? What if every high profile Armenian
used their social media platform to recognize the 100th anniversary?
Rumor has it that George Clooney may visit Armenia later this month
(his wife Amal Clooney is representing Armenia for reparations before
the European Court). He recently joined the efforts of 100 Lives,
an organization started by Armenians to combat genocide and advance
human rights.
Anyone who sympathizes with the atrocities of genocide should recognize
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. If there are at least
1.5 million Tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram photos, each would
represent a life lost in 1915.
My family will come together in San Francisco on April 24th
to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. We do so in memory of our
grandfather, Ohannes (John) Khachigian, who lost his mother, sister
and brother to starvation and disease as a result of being driven
into the Syrian desert from their ancestral home in the village of
Chomakhlou in central Turkey.
There are millions in this world who don't know what happened to
the Armenians in 1915. I urge anyone who thinks genocide should be
a thing of the past to use the 100th anniversary to denounce it.
Join us.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristy-khachigian/george-clooney-meet-kim-k_b_7026468.html