ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
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HON. JOE BACA
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the genocide of
Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Starting in 1915, the
Ottoman Empire tortured and murdered up to one and a half million
Armenians. More than half a million were forced to leave and went into
exile. The Armenians settled across the world lending energy and
strength to their adoptive communities. It is important to recognize
the historical atrocities perpetrated against the Armenians. We must
teach our children about the fear, torture, mass graves, and
expulsions of the Armenian people. Through education and
commemoration, our children can grow up to be better citizens and
better Americans. By recognizing genocide for what it is, the world
can wake up to the obscene nature that sometimes grips nations and
work to prevent the mass killing that devastated the Armenian people.
With this year’s commemoration of the Armenian genocide, I urge all
Americans to be vigilant and watchful. We must prevent hatred and
bigotry. We must do all we can to prevent genocide. By commemorating
the past, we can make the future a better place to live.