‘LOOK AT DARFUR,’ ARMENIANS SAY
By Mike Elfland Telegram & Gazette Staff
Worcester Telegram, MA
April 23 2007
Genocide remembrance resonates
WORCESTER- The region’s Armenian community yesterday recognized a
genocide that for many has a meaning with an intensifying importance.
References to Darfur and the recent slaying of a journalist who defied
the Turkish government were made throughout yesterday’s commemoration
of what is known as the Armenian genocide. On April 24, 1915, hundreds
of Armenian intellectuals, notably political leaders, were rounded
up and eventually killed by the Turkish government. More than 1.5
million Armenians would later die at the hands of the Ottoman Turks,
with thousands forcibly removed from Armenia to Syria, where many
died in the desert of thirst and hunger.
"We say, ‘Look at Darfur,’ " said Richard O. Asadoorian, the host
speaker at the commemoration, referring to the region in Sudan where
black Africans are being massacred by militias supported by the
Arab-dominated government. Mr. Asadoorian urged Armenians not to let
time lessen the importance of what happened 92 years ago.
Many survivors of the genocide eventually settled in the Worcester
area. A significant Armenian population remains, and their pride
in their ancestry was evident yesterday at the Armenian Church of
Our Saviour Cultural Center on Boynton Street, where more than 200
gathered for a welcome history lesson.
Nancy Hovhanesian, Thomas Tashjian and Ara G. Asadoorian recounted
stories told to them by grandparents and other older relatives who
survived the genocide. Ms. Hovhanesian talked of the great-grandparents
she never knew and of how her grandparents’ pain was absorbed by
her mother.
Andrea Kisiel, a sophomore at South High Community School, shared
her views of the genocide in an award-winning essay. Andrea took top
honors for her take on "The Contemporary Relevance of the Armenian
Genocide," the subject of an essay contest sponsored by the Greater
Worcester Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee.
Andrea, who is not of Armenian descent, wrote of a recent trip to
Washington, where she visited the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum and had an eye-opening experience about history.
She wrote: "Then, I saw something that astounded me, surprised me,
wrenched my heart out of my chest. There, on the wall commemorating
all of the poor souls who had been discriminated against, snatched
away from familiarity, and tortured ruthlessly until put to death,
was inscribed my family name. My name which was not from Jewish
descent. My name which was Polish and Catholic. My name that I had not
the slightest idea could possibly be connected with a mass genocide. My
very own name, there on the wall."
Although she has no known relatives who died in the Holocaust, said
Andrea, the experience in Washington made her realize the importance
of the Armenian genocide to its survivors.
Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester,
state Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, D-Worcester, and Mayor Konstantina
B. Lukes were among the speakers at the 2-1/2-hour commemoration.
Both connected the past deaths of Armenians to the continuing genocide
in the Darfur region of Sudan. Mr. McGovern has long pushed for
increased U.S. involvement in saving thousands of refugees.
Mr. McGovern, who was greeted enthusiastically yesterday, backs
legislation that would require the U.S. government to officially
recognize the Armenian genocide. Some say the reluctance is tied to
deference to Turkey’s importance to American’s interests abroad.
Modern Turkey strongly rejects the characterization of what happened
as genocide.
Loud applause erupted after the congressmen said he would direct
naysayers to a public library where they could learn about the deaths
of Armenians. "Facts are stubborn things," he said.
The main speaker was filmmaker Apo Torosyan, a native of Istanbul,
Turkey, who now lives in Peabody. His documentary, "Voices,"
finished this year, is based on interviews with three survivors of
the genocide. After he began making documentaries, Mr. Torosyan was
not allowed to return to Turkey.
A 15-minute version of "Voices" was shown yesterday.
Mr. Torosyan spoke passionately about the Jan. 19 slaying in Turkey of
Hrant Dink, a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent who was the editor
of a Turkish-Armenian newspaper. His enemies included nationalist
Turks who resented his use of the genocide label. He was killed
outside his office in Istanbul.
The commemoration was organized by members of the Armenian Church of
Our Saviour, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian
Church of the Martyrs.
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