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CONGRESSMAN SMITH JOINS COMMEMORATION OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Congressional Documents and Publications
April 12, 2015
Event Held at Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education
at Brookdale Community College in Monmouth Co.; Rep. Chris Smith
(R-NJ) News Release
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) was a guest at an event today
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. The
event included the opening of two exhibits and a book release, and
was sponsored by the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights, and Genocide
Education (Chhange) at Brookdale Community College in the Lincroft
section of Middletown, N.J.
"Genocide is the most terrible crime a people can undergo, or another
people can commit. It must never be forgotten-to forget it would be to
dull our consciences and diminish our own humanity. It must never be
denied, but fully acknowledged - otherwise any meaningful attempt at
reconciliation will be thwarted," said Smith, a longtime human rights
advocate in Congress, senior member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee and chairman of the House global human rights subcommittee.
"For my part, I am preparing to chair a congressional hearing
on April 23--the day before Armenian Remembrance Day (April
24)--which this year marks the 100th anniversary of the genocide,"
he said. "When political leaders fail to lead or denounce violence,
the void is not only demoralizing to the victims but silence
actually enables the wrongdoing. Silence by elected officials
in particular conveys approval--or at least acquiescence--and can
contribute to a climate f fear and a sense of vulnerability. History
has taught us that silence is not an option. We must do more." Go to:
http://chrissmith.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Brookdale_College_Armenian_Genocide_Information__E xhibit_April_12_2015.pdf
to read his statement.
Smith has long been a passionate voice in support of the moral duty of
governments, including the U.S. government, to recognize the Armenian
genocide. In 2000 he chairedCongress's first hearing on the Armenian
genocide. He has long been one of Congress's strongest voices in
support of passing the Armenian genocide resolution, which calls on
the President to officially recognize the genocidal nature of the
terrible crime committed against the Armenian people beginning in 1915.
On display at Brookdale are the two exhibits, A Journey to Life :
Armenia, which teaches the history of the Armenian Genocide through
the lives of local Armenian Genocide Survivors who settled in Monmouth
County, and Illuminating Images: A Hundred Year Remembrance is an art
exhibit created by middle school, high school and college students
from across the county and beyond. Also released on Sunday was
Hundred-Year Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide: Celebrating the
Lives of Armenian Genocide Survivors in Our Community, which features
the personal histories of 54 Survivors who lived in Monmouth County.
Smith (NJ-04) has been a strong supporter of Chhange. In December 2014,
he hosted "100 Days of Silence," a unique art exhibition coordinated
by Chhange to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 1994 Rwanda
Genocide. The collection brought together works created by over 450
New Jersey students and includes more than 60 life-size human forms
which illustrate students' artistic responses to learning about the
genocide, the silence of the world, and the importance of becoming
involved, concerned citizens.
The 100 Days of Silence exhibit corresponded with the 100 days in
1994 when some 800,000 Rwandan men, women and children were killed
by Hutu extremists. Originally exhibited at Brookdale from April
through August 2014, Smith helped arrange an exhibition on Dec. 4 in
the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer.
Smith is Chairman of U.S. Helsinki Commission and an Executive Member
of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
Read this original document at:
http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398023
Congressional Documents and Publications
April 12, 2015
Event Held at Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education
at Brookdale Community College in Monmouth Co.; Rep. Chris Smith
(R-NJ) News Release
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) was a guest at an event today
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. The
event included the opening of two exhibits and a book release, and
was sponsored by the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights, and Genocide
Education (Chhange) at Brookdale Community College in the Lincroft
section of Middletown, N.J.
"Genocide is the most terrible crime a people can undergo, or another
people can commit. It must never be forgotten-to forget it would be to
dull our consciences and diminish our own humanity. It must never be
denied, but fully acknowledged - otherwise any meaningful attempt at
reconciliation will be thwarted," said Smith, a longtime human rights
advocate in Congress, senior member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee and chairman of the House global human rights subcommittee.
"For my part, I am preparing to chair a congressional hearing
on April 23--the day before Armenian Remembrance Day (April
24)--which this year marks the 100th anniversary of the genocide,"
he said. "When political leaders fail to lead or denounce violence,
the void is not only demoralizing to the victims but silence
actually enables the wrongdoing. Silence by elected officials
in particular conveys approval--or at least acquiescence--and can
contribute to a climate f fear and a sense of vulnerability. History
has taught us that silence is not an option. We must do more." Go to:
http://chrissmith.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Brookdale_College_Armenian_Genocide_Information__E xhibit_April_12_2015.pdf
to read his statement.
Smith has long been a passionate voice in support of the moral duty of
governments, including the U.S. government, to recognize the Armenian
genocide. In 2000 he chairedCongress's first hearing on the Armenian
genocide. He has long been one of Congress's strongest voices in
support of passing the Armenian genocide resolution, which calls on
the President to officially recognize the genocidal nature of the
terrible crime committed against the Armenian people beginning in 1915.
On display at Brookdale are the two exhibits, A Journey to Life :
Armenia, which teaches the history of the Armenian Genocide through
the lives of local Armenian Genocide Survivors who settled in Monmouth
County, and Illuminating Images: A Hundred Year Remembrance is an art
exhibit created by middle school, high school and college students
from across the county and beyond. Also released on Sunday was
Hundred-Year Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide: Celebrating the
Lives of Armenian Genocide Survivors in Our Community, which features
the personal histories of 54 Survivors who lived in Monmouth County.
Smith (NJ-04) has been a strong supporter of Chhange. In December 2014,
he hosted "100 Days of Silence," a unique art exhibition coordinated
by Chhange to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 1994 Rwanda
Genocide. The collection brought together works created by over 450
New Jersey students and includes more than 60 life-size human forms
which illustrate students' artistic responses to learning about the
genocide, the silence of the world, and the importance of becoming
involved, concerned citizens.
The 100 Days of Silence exhibit corresponded with the 100 days in
1994 when some 800,000 Rwandan men, women and children were killed
by Hutu extremists. Originally exhibited at Brookdale from April
through August 2014, Smith helped arrange an exhibition on Dec. 4 in
the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer.
Smith is Chairman of U.S. Helsinki Commission and an Executive Member
of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
Read this original document at:
http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398023