THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EDUCATED ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
15.05.2008 10:31

In continuation with the New Jersey State mandate on genocide
education, Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region
(ANCA-ER) Executive Director Karine Birazian presented a series of
lectures to The Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, New Jersey and
Chatham High School in Chatham, New Jersey on the topic of genocide.

"It is always a true honor to be invited to speak at local high
schools. The impact we can make by educating students on this important
human rights issue is vital to the prevention of the crime genocide,"
commented Birazian.

In mid April, the Academy of Holy Angels invited Birazian to be
part of their annual Awareness Day, where this year, the title of
the one-day workshop for students was called "Think Globally, Act
Locally." Students were able to select from a variety of workshops
pertaining to global issues and problems our society faces and ways
to take action. Birazian’s topic entitled "Never Again?" touched
upon genocides that have occurred throughout the 20th century and
the ongoing genocide today in Darfur. Students also gained insight
on how they can get involved and take action.

Jennifer Cucchisi, a social studies teacher at the school commented:
"It is important that every generation learns about genocide in order
to achieve the goal of "never again." Some students may not want to
hear about it, they may turn their heads at the pictures, but the only
way to stop genocides from happening is to make sure that everyone is
educated on the horrors of them. The pictures and stories, however
graphic they may be, are necessary and they help us to ensure that
what happened during these senseless slaughters is never forgotten."

Birazian also spoke to the students at Chatham High School at their
annual Holocaust Remembrance Program where she presented on the
history of the Armenian Genocide and the current battle in Congress
on trying to pass legislation recognizing this atrocity. Steve Maher,
Social Studies Supervisor for the high school has worked to coordinate
activities revolving around genocide awareness and remembrance. In
the past, the school has studied the Killing Fields in Cambodia, as
well as Darfur, Rwanda, and the former Yugoslavia. "We seem to have
our greatest success in touching the lives of students when we bring
history closer to their experience, particularly with survivors of
the European Holocaust," commented Maher.

Following the lecture, Birazian met with the activists from the Darfur
student group and spoke about additional ways they can get active on
this important issue.

During her lectures, Birazian touched upon a recent event that took
place at the Springfield Library. Last month, Birazian, ANC of NJ
members, community activists, along with Dr. Seymour Siegler, Ed.D,
Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies at Brookdale Community College, spoke before the Library Board
regarding the decision by the Library to allow a special hosting of the
film the "Armenian Revolt" followed by a question and answer session
led by Dr. Guenter Lewy, a professor emeritus of political science
at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Lewy, who has written
several articles questioning the history of the Armenian Genocide,
was invited by the Society of Turkish- American Architects Engineers
and Scientists (MIM).

Birazian and others expressed deep concern that showing the film and
having an Armenian Genocide denialist come and speak at the library
would be detrimental and constitute a form of "hate speech," pointing
to the example that the library would never have allowed Holocaust
deniers come to speak on Holocaust denial at the library. The members
of the Library Board still agreed to host the event, and responded
by indicating that if Holocaust deniers want to come to present at
the library, they would be permitted because it is freedom of speech.

Birazian stressed to the students that "freedom of speech" can
eventually turn into hate speech and denial of history when pushed
to the limit, and as informed citizens, we must do all we can to make
sure that genocide denial be confronted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress