Selectmen back Human Rights Committee’s letter to the Anti-Defamation League
By Steven Ryan
GateHouse News Service
Thu Sep 20, 2007, 12:00 AM EDT
Needham –
The Needham Human Rights Committee’s letter to the Anti-Defamation
League criticizing the national organization’s controversial stance on
the Armenian Genocide spoke volumes, according to members of the Board
of Selectmen.
"I think it was an exceptional letter," said Selectman John Bulian.
Selectman Jack Cogswell felt the Human Rights Committee’s letter to
the ADL was a strong course of action, expressing the town’s feeling
that the ADL must back Congressional legislation recognizing the mass
deportation and murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire
during the World War I era, as genocide.
"In our opinion, the longer the national board waits, the more
credibility the organization loses, and the more difficult it is for
us as a committee for human rights to carry on our work with the ADL,"
wrote Human Rights Committee Chairwoman Debbie Watters.
Needham’s main involvement with No Place for Hate revolves around
student-led activities at the high school during the month of March.
"I support precisely what it was [Watters] said in the letter," Cogswell said.
The Board of Selectmen, which has the final say on Needham’s
involvement with the ADL-co-sponsored No Place for Hate program, has
no plans to overstep the Human Rights Committee in their handling of
the controversy, according to board members.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association, the other co-sponsor of No
Place for Hate, designated Needham a No Place for Hate town in 2000
through the Board of Selectmen. Selectmen could end that designation
with or without input from the Human Rights Committee. Members of the
board said they would not consider taking such unilateral action.
"We’re not going to," Cogswell said. "We’re waiting for a
recommendation from the Human Rights Committee."
The ADL first came under fire in Watertown, where the Town Council
ended its involvement with No Place for Hate, citing the ADL’s alleged
denial of the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish government rejects the
characterization of events as genocide.
Over the past couple of months, the ADL fired Regional Director Andrew
Tarsy after he publicly acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. He was
rehired on Monday, Aug. 27. In between the firing and rehiring, the
ADL’s national director, Abraham Foxman, issued a statement claiming
the tragic events of more than 90 years ago were "tantamount to
genocide," a statement many in the Armenian-American community feel
falls short. The ADL does not support the Congressional legislation.
"What does ‘tantamount to genocide’ mean?" said Charles Sahagian, of
Hunting Road, at a meeting of the Human Rights Committee earlier this
month. "Isn’t it genocide?"
Bulian said the Human Rights Committee is "taking the right course,"
reiterating his personal view that "there absolutely was a genocide."
"I support the Congressional resolution," Bulian said.
Selectman Jerry Wasserman, who is on the board of the MMA, believes
the Human Rights Committee’s approach could be more effective than
just taking immediate action and severing ties with the organization.
The national ADL will hold its annual meeting in November, at which it
plans to discuss the organization’s position on the Armenian Genocide
and on the legislation.
"The advantage of not pulling out before then is it puts more pressure
on them to change their position," Wasserman said. "Needham, combined
with the MMA and other communities [taking this course of action] will
have that influence."
The MMA issued a proclamation last week supporting the Congressional
legislation on the Armenian Genocide, calling it "an essential act to
heal and bring parties together." But the MMA didn’t sever ties with
the ADL, saying it would "subsequently re-evaluate its official
sponsorship of the No Place for Hate program after the national ADL
determines whether to adopt the position taken by the Executive
Committee of the New England Region."
Selectman Dan Matthews joined his fellow selectmen in throwing his
support behind the Human Rights Committee, feeling the committee is
"taking a sound approach" with its letter.
"The town’s approach is patient but persistent," Matthews said. "The
issue is new to us in town government. [The ADL] is a national
organization, a good organization. It’s a good organization that made
a bad decision."
Steven Ryan can be reached at [email protected].
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Massachusett s Municipal Association
Whereas the Massachusetts Municipal Association believes that in order
to build and nurture strong and vibrant communities throughout the
commonwealth and our nation, it is essential that all people strive to
promote and protect basic human rights, understanding and
reconciliation; and
Whereas this applies to both historical and present-day events, as
each affects and guides the future:
Therefore the Massachusetts Municipal Association hereby resolves the following:
· The tragic events and horrible crimes against humanity initiated
against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 must be
recognized by all as genocide;
· The MMA applauds and supports the position of the New England
Regional Director and New England Regional Executive Committee of the
ADL for their leadership in calling for the unequivocal recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and support for the Congressional Resolution
before the U.S. House and Senate;
· The MMA partnered with the New England Region of the ADL as a
founding sponsor of the NPFH Program because of the region’s
demonstrated expertise and commitment as a human rights organization
that provides high-quality community-based programs that unite people;
· The MMA applauds the success of the No Place For Hate Program in 60
communities in Massachusetts and expresses its desire that the program
and its good work promoting tolerance, understanding and
reconciliation, fighting hatred, racism, ethnic and religious
discrimination, and engaging in both community-building and pro-active
efforts to protect all members of the community, will be able to
continue and flourish;
· The MMA recognizes and appreciates the national ADL’s recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and the reinstatement of the New England
Regional Director, a respected, dedicated, compassionate and skilled
leader and partner in community-based work, yet sees these as steps in
addressing the issues that have been raised during the past month, not
final actions;
· The MMA respectfully calls on the national ADL to support the
Congressional Resolution as the essential act to heal and bring all
parties together; and
· The MMA will continue to review and monitor this matter, guided by
the wishes and policies of our members and the participating
communities, recognizing that while progress has been made, the MMA
will subsequently re-evaluate its official sponsorship of the No Place
for Hate program after the national ADL determines whether to adopt
the position taken by the Executive Committee of the New England
Region.
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