The scars of Genocide of 1915 remain deeply embedded in Armenian history and
in the US conscience: US Congresswoman
Arminfo Agency
2007-04-28 17:30:00
Senators and Representatives joined Armenians around the world this
week in commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
in statements on the floors of their respective chambers of Congress,
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) told ArmInfo.
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. Our voices, as well as those of Armenian
-Americans across the Nation, are essential in the effort to bring
needed attention to such a historic tragedy. The Armenian -American
community has made tremendous contributions to our country, and their
efforts and passion will help ensure that those who lost their lives
will not be forgotten… I will keep fighting to ensure that the
Armenian Genocide is appropriately recognized," said Congressman
James R. Langevin.
"Once the genocide ended, many survivors rose above their anguish and
terrible experiences to rebuild their lives. Armenian communities
began to flourish as numerous immigrants found a new home here in
the United States, as well as in my home state of California. Even
though their communities discovered solace and success in America,
the scars of genocide remain deeply embedded in their history and
in our conscience… Together we can educate, commemorate, remember,
and stand united in promoting a clear message that the United States
does not condone, nor does it tolerate acts of genocide," Congresswoman
Hilda L. Solis noted.
"The writer Milan Kundera once wrote that ‘The struggle of man against
power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.’ There are those
that would deny the Armenian Genocide… In commemorating the Armenian
Genocide we collectively engage in that struggle of memory against
forgetting… to reaffirm our commitment to prevent such things from
ever happening again, and to strive towards making a better future
for the Armenian people," Congressman Edward J. Markey said.
"Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term ‘genocide’ in 1944, and who
was the earliest proponent of the United Nations Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, invoked the Armenian
case as a definitive example of genocide in the 20th century. The
time is now for the Administration to describe what occurred as a
genocide. There is no option for continued denial… Now more than
ever, as the world is gripped by unrest and terrorism, the memory of
the Armenian Genocide underscores our responsibility to help convey
our cherished traditions of respect for fundamental human rights and
opposition to mass slaughter," emphasized Congressmen John Conyers,
Jr. "I have always supported the Armenian community. In 2003, I had
the opportunity to visit Armenia and to plant a tree at the Genocide
memorial. We must never forget the horrors that took place 92 years
ago. Let us never forget the 1.5 minion Armenians who perished in 1915
and 1916. We know such mass murder is not a tragedy from a distant
past, but a continuation of the failing to recognize these barbaric
acts before they are executed," stressed Congressman Joseph Crowley.