Group not ready to sever ADL ties
By Ian B. Murphy/Staff Writer
GateHouse News Service
New! Thu Sep 27, 2007, 06:37 AM EDT
Lexington –
The No Place For Hate committee still exists in Lexington. But it was
clear Monday that a passionate and strong-willed Armenian-American
community also exists in Lexington, and to them anything short of a
full severance of ties between the town’s No Place For Hate committee
and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is unacceptable.
That community showed up in force at the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in
Town Hall this week, so much so that Chairman Jeanne Krieger had to
call the meeting to order and then quickly adjourn to move the
gathering to Cary Memorial Hall in order to accommodate the crowd of
more than 130.
There, both Armenian-American and Jewish residents spoke out against
the ADL’s ambiguous position on the Armenian genocide at the hands of
the Ottoman Turks in 1915. They pointed out that according to the
ADL’s own guidelines, genocide denial is the final stage of genocide
and that it is the highest form of hate-speech. Each speaker came back
to the same theme: the ADL was a hypocritical organization that had
lost its moral authority to back any program that seeks to promote
diversity and squelch hate.
"Real tolerance is only possible when you don’t discriminate," said
Nairi Kachatourian, an Armenian-American senior at Lexington High
School. "The ADL does."
Jill Smilow, the chair of the No Place For Hate committee, gave a
statement from the group’s steering committee saying it was not ready
to recommend cutting ties to the ADL.
"While the Lexington No Place for Hate Steering Committee members
recognize the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century as one of
the world’s greatest atrocities, the steering committee is not yet
prepared to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen regarding
severance from ADL and wishes to have further dialogue, discussion,
and gather more information on this extremely important matter for our
community before doing so," she said.
Smilow pointed to the many good works No Place for Hate had done in
the past, as well as its close affiliation with the New England
regional ADL, which has publicly recognized the Armenian genocide.
Smilow is a member of the regional ADL board of directors.
The Armenian-Americans were not concerned with No Place For Hate’s
record. Most speakers acknowledged that the group had done excellent
work in town, and that the group was important. They said No Place For
Hate’s past deeds did not exonerate the ADL from denying the genocide,
and many residents proposed that a new committee with the same mission
be formed in town without the financial or moral support from the ADL.
"Clearly there is something worth preserving because of the work they
have done," said Noubar Afeyan, a resident of Sunset Ridge. "The real
urgency of it is to take steps to make the program as uncompromised as
it can be and it has always been, especially with its mission [of
removing hate in the community]. It’s not urgent because Armenian
Americans think it’s urgent; it’s urgent because it’s important to
return to the uncompromised status of this very important program."
Afeyan told the selectmen that both parties had a responsibility to
act. Armenian Americans feel a responsibility because if they don’t
speak out about what happened to their relatives, 1.5 million
Armenians will have died for nothing. The Board of Selectman had to
act because any program in town sponsored by a group that denied the
genocide alienates an ethnic group of residents, Afeyan said.
"To be dependent financially, morally, or informationally (sic) on an
organization that is compromised is wrong," said Afeyan.
Jack Porter, the treasurer of the International Association of
Genocide Scholars and Newton resident, urged the selectmen to take a
position on the matter before the ADL’s November meeting, where he
said the organization could be torn apart from within.
"In November, the ADL meets with its national executives," said
Porter. "If they don’t change their position on the Armenian genocide,
one of two things will happen. Either (ADL national director Abraham)
Foxman will have to retire, or the ADL will be torn apart. It’s an
existential moment for the ADL. It’s do or die. Either it moves
forward, or it goes under, and then the good work will just crumble
away."
Smilow’s husband, Howard Brick, who is also a member of the regional
ADL board of directors, advised the selectmen to remember that part of
the issue involved a bill in the U.S. Congress recognizing the
genocide, and not to confuse this local issue with the geopolitical
tangles involved with the resolution.
The selectmen took in all of the comments of the evening, but did not
offer their own comments as the item was not on their agenda.
"I believe that we have an obligation to listen to the Armenian
community, but I also want NPFH to have an opportunity to discuss how
they are going to formulate themselves to continue to serve
Lexington," said chairman Jeanne Krieger.
The selectmen have not yet set a date to hold their own discussion
about the issue.
"[Not discussing the issue isn’t] an attempt to duck anything," said
Selectman Hank Manz. "It’s not an attempt to marginalize the issue. It
is an attempt to handle it correctly. We did not want to have to
demand a speaker’s list. Obviously this is a huge issue."
To learn more about HR 106, "An affirmation of the United States’
Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution," contact Rep. Edward
Markey at 5 High St., Suite 101, Medford MA 02155 or call
617-722-1432. The full text of HR 106 is available at
No Place for hate’s position
The following statement was made to Lexington’s Board of Selectmen by
Jill Smilow, chairman of the Lexington No Place for Hate Steering
Committee.
The members of Lexington’s No Place for Hate Steering Committee met
last Friday with Armenian-American residents of our town who presented
their request that the town disassociate from the Anti-Defamation
League (ADL), thus ending the No Place for Hate Program in Lexington.
A lengthy discussion among everyone present followed their presentation.
While the Lexington No Place for Hate Steering Committee members
recognize the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century as one of
the world’s greatest atrocities, the steering committee is not yet
prepared to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen regarding
severance from ADL and wishes to have further dialogue, discussion,
and gather more information on this extremely important matter for our
community before doing so.
Source: 055597