Tracy Press, CA
Oct 14 2007

Genocide resolution sends vital message

Tracy Press / Saturday, 13 October 2007

An op-ed by Assemblymen Greg Aghazarian and Paul Krekorian

This week, members of the House Foreign Relations Committee sent a
powerful message heard around the world that brutality and inhumane
acts will never be tolerated by the land of the free and the home of
the brave.

Members of the committee stood together and courageously voted to
pass House Resolution 106, important human rights legislation
authored by Congressman Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, and co-sponsored by
members from both parties.

HR 106 will put the U.S. government on record once and for all in
recognizing the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire following
the onset of World War I for what they were – a mass genocide
conducted against an innocent people in an act of ethnic cleansing.
Those who voted to support the resolution courageously ignored a
vocal and intense opposition, and some not-so-idle threats from the
Turkish government, to do the right thing for our country.

What occurred during that dark period in world history is without
question. Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Turks expelled nearly 2
million Armenians from what had been their homeland for more than
2,500 years. More than 1.5 million men, women and children were
brutally murdered, targeted for no other reason than who they were as
a people.

Another 500,000 Armenians were sent fleeing from their homes and
lives into exile around the world. Many of these exiles eventually
settled in the U.S., and we’re proud that so many eventually called
California their home.

At the time, the leaders of the Allied Powers – England, France and
Russia – called the actions by the Ottoman Turks `a crime against
humanity.’ The U.S. ambassador at the time, Henry Morgenthau,
described it as a `campaign of race extermination.’ Even the post-war
Turkish government took action against the Ottoman leaders involved
in the acts of barbarism against the Armenians, trying and convicting
them for these massacres.

We are pleased to see Democrats and Republicans in Congress finally
stand with us in California in honoring the steely resolve of the
Armenian people and remembering this tremendous atrocity that
needlessly claimed the lives of so many innocent people. For years,
the state of California has gone on record in condemning this
barbaric act of genocide by the Ottoman Turks. This year, we were
pleased to jointly author Assembly Joint Resolution 15, which called
upon Congress to join the California Legislature in recognizing the
Armenian genocide.

Standing up for human rights and defending freedom at home and around
the world is not a partisan issue. Every year, lawmakers from both
parties in the California Legislature set aside our differences and
join together in a solemn ceremony in solidarity with the survivors
of this horrible atrocity. Two years ago, the Legislature unanimously
passed Senate Bill 424 by former Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno, to
declare in state law that, in California, April 24 each year will be
officially designated as a day of remembrance for the Armenian
genocide.

We commend our colleagues in Washington, D.C., for taking this
historic vote, and encourage the entire House to quickly follow their
purposeful example. Not only will this allow the few remaining
survivors to finally heal the emotional wounds that they have carried
with them for a lifetime, but it also reinforces the moral authority
of the U.S. as a beacon of freedom and democracy.

It is shocking to think that such inhumane acts could have occurred
less than 100 years ago. That’s why passing legislation like HR 106
is so important. Going forward, it is up to us – the survivors, their
descendants and freedom-loving people around the world – to ensure
that never again will innocent people be persecuted because of their
ethnic background, country of origin or religion.

– Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton, represents the 26th Assembly District
and Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank, represents the 43rd Assembly District.
They are of Armenian descent.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress