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BY ALLEN YEKIKAN
LAKEWOOD,
CA--Hundreds of tenth and eleventh grade history students
gathered in the Lakewood High School Library on Monday to
participate in a discussion on genocide with members of the
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF).
The discussion covered a range of issues, from the basic history
of the Armenian Genocide to how its denial put into motion a
cycle of genocide that has characterized the 20th century, as
the bloodiest in history. The recurrence of that cycle today in
the 21st century was underscored as the root cause of the
genocide currently taking place in Darfur.
Lakewood High teacher Angela Wood, who had taken the lead on
teaching the Armenian Genocide in her history classes, reached
out to the AYF to organize the discussion with class. “We've
been teaching WWI History to our students for many years and
seeing as the Armenian Genocide occurred at this time, we've
always wanted our students to be aware of this issue,” she
explained.
Vache Thomassian, the AYF's chairperson, led the discussion
covering the five phases of the Genocide, focusing on how
Turkey's ongoing denial of its crime continues to provide
genocidal regimes with ample precedents for how to carry out
their crimes.
“The denial aspect is arguably the most disheartening, because
not only has the Turkish government committed the crime, but now
they are trying to rewrite our ancestor's history by distorting
the truth, and this has led to other perpetrators believing that
they can get away with doing the same thing,” said Thomassian.
“We are thankful that Ms. Wood has allowed for us to come here
today to talk about the reasons and the means that our
generation has confronted in order to prevent the government
from completing this act of inhumanity.”
The presentation itself lasted for 4 class periods, with
Thomassian and fellow AYF member Arek Santikian speaking to over
200 mostly non-Armenian students about the evils of genocide.
“It was amazing how motivated these students were by the
discussion,” exclaimed Santikian, adding that many were anxious
to find out ways they could make their voices heard on the
issue.
Lakewood's congressional representative, Linda Sanchez, is
currently not signed on as a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, H.Res.252. Santikian urged the students to call
their congresswoman and share their concern over the cycle of
genocide.
“The best way for any individual in America to get their voice
heard is to reach out to their representative in congress and
urge them to do the right thing,” he said.
At the end of every discussion, Thomassian and Santikian passed
out fliers, sponsored by the Armenian National Committee of
America, detailing all the simple ways to reach out to
congressional representatives on this and other issues.
The ANCA on Monday launched a nationwide online and print
campaign, urging concrete action to end the Darfur genocide and
full U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Titled the
"Fierce
Urgency of Now," the grassroots campaign gives
anti-genocide activists across the U.S. an opportunity to learn
more about the worsening humanitarian situation in Darfur and
how this atrocity fits into the cycle of genocide that started
with the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. Individual's can use
the campaign's website to send webfaxes to members of congress
and President Obama.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) has grown
to become the largest and most influential Armenian American
youth organization; with chapters throughout the United States
and affiliated organizations around the world. Inspired by our
past and motivated by the needs of the future, the AYF actively
strives to advance the social, political, educational and
cultural awareness of all Armenian youth.
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