Daily Free Press , MA
Boston University Student Paper
Dec 7 2007
Armenian students look to recognize genocide
Steven Loehr
Millions of Armenians were deported and massacred during World War
I, but the United States does not classify these events as genocide
— an attitude some worry will prevent the world from preventing
similar massacres in the future.
Academics at yesterday’s Genocide and Denial forum said the most
important issue is ensuring that such events never occur again.
Hosted by the Boston University Armenian Student Association, the
forum attracted about 40 people to the Kenmore Classroom Building.
According to the BBC, Turkish forces deported or massacred between 2
to 3 million Armenians during World War I, and death toll estimates
range from roughly 300,000 to nearly 1.5 million.
ASA treasurer Jacques Minoyan, a College of Arts and Sciences senior,
said the group was inspired to host the panel after the U.S. Senate
Foreign Affairs Committee’s resolution, which formally recognized the
events in Turkey as Genocide, was not accepted by the entire Senate.
The group was also influenced by the city of Watertown’s move to
sever its relationship with the Anti-Defamatory League — which
denies the incident was genocide — in August, Minoyan said.
BU Armenian History and Literature chairman Simon Payaslian said a
split between the ADL and local communities is a positive step, but
it will do little to change the federal government’s stance on the
Armenian massacre until the demand for its recognition becomes a
nationwide movement.
The Senate committee’s resolution has met opposition from those who
fear it would result in strained relations between the United States
and Turkey, a valuable ally in the war in Iraq. Because of the
strategic relationship, Payaslian said, "the moral argument doesn’t
stand a chance."
Clark University Holocaust History professor Deborah Dwork said
during the panel discussion that denying the incident was genocide
would ultimately haunt the United States. She said that although the
Armenian violence was less publicized, the effect of the persecution
on Armenians was similar to that of Jews who survived the Holocaust.
"There are many points at which the parallel histories are too close
for comfort . . . most specifically, the experiences of refugees,"
Dwork said.
While the federal government is reluctant to acknowledge the events
as genocide, those well educated about the incident realize it was,
she said.
"There is no question about [the scholarly] position . . . the jury
has long been in," Dwork said.
She also said the Armenian violence is a prime example of the old
adage that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
"Historical events are not blueprints for the present or the future,
but they are models which we will look at critically and analytically
for patterns of accelerators of genocide," she said.
College of Arts and Science sophomore Nick Dahlberg said more people
should recognize genocide worldwide.
"I have quite a few Armenian friends and even though I’m not
Armenian, everyone should be aware of the Armenian Genocide, the
Holocaust [and] the Rwandan Genocide," Dahlberg said. "More students
need to attend events like this."
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