AYF LEADS DISCUSSION ON GENOCIDE WITH STUDENTS AT LAKEWOOD HIGH
By Allen Yekikan
026_3/31/2009_1
Tuesday March 31, 2009
LAKEWOOD, CA–Hundreds of tenth and eleventh grade history students
gathered in the Lakewood High School Library on Monday to participate
in a discussion on genocide with members of the Armenian Youth
Federation (AYF).
The discussion covered a range of issues, from the basic history of
the Armenian Genocide to how its denial put into motion a cycle of
genocide that has characterized the 20th century, as the bloodiest
in history. The recurrence of that cycle today in the 21st century
was underscored as the root cause of the genocide currently taking
place in Darfur.
Lakewood High teacher Angela Wood, who had taken the lead on teaching
the Armenian Genocide in her history classes, reached out to the
AYF to organize the discussion with class. "We’ve been teaching WWI
History to our students for many years and seeing as the Armenian
Genocide occurred at this time, we’ve always wanted our students to
be aware of this issue," she explained.
Vache Thomassian, the AYF’s chairperson, led the discussion covering
the five phases of the Genocide, focusing on how Turkey’s ongoing
denial of its crime continues to provide genocidal regimes with ample
precedents for how to carry out their crimes.
"The denial aspect is arguably the most disheartening, because not
only has the Turkish government committed the crime, but now they are
trying to rewrite our ancestor’s history by distorting the truth,
and this has led to other perpetrators believing that they can get
away with doing the same thing," said Thomassian. "We are thankful
that Ms. Wood has allowed for us to come here today to talk about the
reasons and the means that our generation has confronted in order to
prevent the government from completing this act of inhumanity."
The presentation itself lasted for 4 class periods, with Thomassian
and fellow AYF member Arek Santikian speaking to over 200 mostly
non-Armenian students about the evils of genocide.
"It was amazing how motivated these students were by the discussion,"
exclaimed Santikian, adding that many were anxious to find out ways
they could make their voices heard on the issue.
Lakewood’s congressional representative, Linda Sanchez, is currently
not signed on as a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
H.Res.252. Santikian urged the students to call their congresswoman
and share their concern over the cycle of genocide.
"The best way for any individual in America to get their voice heard
is to reach out to their representative in congress and urge them to
do the right thing," he said.
At the end of every discussion, Thomassian and Santikian passed out
fliers, sponsored by the Armenian National Committee of America,
detailing all the simple ways to reach out to congressional
representatives on this and other issues.
The ANCA on Monday launched a nationwide online and print
campaign, urging concrete action to end the Darfur genocide and full
U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Titled the "Fierce Urgency
of Now," the grassroots campaign gives anti-genocide activists
across the U.S. an opportunity to learn more about the worsening
humanitarian situation in Darfur and how this atrocity fits into
the cycle of genocide that started with the Armenian Genocide
of 1915-1923. Individual’s can use the campaign’s website to send
webfaxes to members of congress and President Obama.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) has grown
to become the largest and most influential Armenian American youth
organization; with chapters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world. Inspired by our past and motivated
by the needs of the future, the AYF actively strives to advance
the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of all
Armenian youth.