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The Armenian Weekly; Volume 73, No. 36; Sept. 8, 2007
News:
1. Bedford VPC Demands Explanation from ADL
By Khatchig Mouradian
2. Needham to Send Letter to ADL
3. Armenian and Jewish Communities Demonstrate Solidarity on Beacon Hill
By Andy Turpin
4. AYF Olympics Brings Communities Together
***
1. Bedford VPC Demands Explanation from ADL
By Khatchig Mouradian
BEDFORD, Mass. (A.W.)-On Sept. 4 at 7:30 a.m., the Bedford Violence
Prevention Coalition (VPC) held its monthly meeting at the First Church of
Christ Congregational with members of the Bedford Armenian community and
activists from neighboring towns. The committee discussed the ADL’s
ambiguous position on the Armenian genocide and decided to officially demand
an explanation from the ADL. The committee agreed that it would then proceed
accordingly, yet maintained that severing its ties with the ADL was still
very much on the table.
During the meeting, members of the committee were briefed on the recent
developments in the controversy surrounding the ADL. Armenian activists were
then given the floor to speak.
Armenian Activists
Bedford resident Stephen Dulgarian spoke about the ADL’s opposition to the
Armenian Genocide Resolution in the U.S. Congress and expressed his hope
that Bedford would follow in the footsteps of Watertown, Newton and
Newburyport by sending a strong message to the ADL. "We ask this committee
to send a letter to the ADL demanding the unambiguous recognition for the
Armenian genocide and support for the Genocide Resolution," he said.
"I just lost a great uncle who was a survivor of the Armenian genocide,"
said Bedford resident Mike Bahtiarian. He went on to criticize the ADL’s
position on the genocide, underlining how its use of expressions like
"tantamount to genocide" were deliberately unclear. Not supporting genocide
recognition, he said, is "like not recognizing [the Holocaust during] World
War II."
"We would like to see this No Place for Hate committee continue its work
independently of the ADL," said activist Berge Jololian. "The ADL has lost
its moral authority to lecture us on human rights. Denying any genocide is
an act of hate and this community should have zero tolerance to it." He
noted that statement after statement, the ADL’s "hypocrisy is multiplying."
He rejected the ADL’s talk of a joint Turkish-Armenian commission to look
into the history of 1915. "It is like saying that Elie Wiesel and David
Irving should sit and discuss the history of the Holocaust. It’s
outrageous!" he exclaimed.
Talking about ADL national director Abraham Foxman, Jololian said, "ADL has
not apologized to the Armenian community or addressed any Armenian, however,
Foxman offered an apology to the Turkish government for ADL’s statement
recognizing the Armenian genocide." Jololian was referring to a letter
Foxman sent to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan in which he said, "I feel
deeply sorry over discussions that erupted after the Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) changed its stance on the incidents of 1915.
Petitto Devaney
Watertown councilor-at-large Marilyn Petitto Devaney spoke about the
proclamation she introduced at the Watertown Town Council meeting. "I look
at the proclamation as an act of lighting a candle instead of cursing the
darkness," she said. Pettito Devaney recounted how the ADL had asked the
Watertown Town Council for 90 days before making a decision about severing
ties with the No Place for Hate program. "I wouldn’t even give them 90
seconds," she said. Underlining that the Armenian genocide is not merely an
Armenian issue, Petitto Devaney called on Bedford to sever its ties with the
NPFH.
Police Chief
Police chief James Hicks said that long before coming to Bedford, he had
worked with the ADL on several programs. "This summer has been quite
eye-opening," he said. "I feel embarrassed."
"If the facts are facts, the ADL should state the facts clearly and back its
statement with words and actions," Hicks noted. "I have some serious
reservations with the ADL. They need to explain their position," he added.
Hicks and other members of the VPC noted that their committee was
functioning years before its association with the NPFH and that good work
can be done with-and if need be without-that association.
"We have some serious concerns and I would like to have the ADL here before
taking action," Hicks said. "But I have to say," he added, "the present
state of affairs jeopardizes NPFH’s position."
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2. Needham to Send Letter to ADL
NEEDHAM, Mass. (A.W.)-On Sept. 5, the Needham Human Rights Commission held
its regular meeting, which was attended by dozens of Needham residents,
Armenian activists, vice-president of the Watertown Town Council Mark
Sedaris, Watertown councilor-at-large Marilyn Petitto Devaney and Holocaust
scholar Jack Nusan Porter.
The Human Rights Commission decided to send a strongly worded letter to ADL
Regional and National, demanding not only the unambiguous recognition of the
Armenian genocide but support for the genocide resolution in Congress.
—————————————- ————————————
3. Armenian and Jewish Communities Demonstrate Solidarity on Beacon Hill
By Andy Turpin
BOSTON, Mass. (A.W.)-On Aug. 30, State Representative Rachel Kaprielian
(Watertown) and Boston City Councilor Michael P. Ross (District 8) hosted a
demonstration of the strengthening solidarity between the Jewish and
Armenian-American communities to underscore the importance of officially
recognizing the Armenian genocide.
The event featured Kaprielian and Ross, as well as Rabbi Ronne Friedman of
Temple Israel Boston; Rev. Gregory V. Haroutunian of the First Armenian
Church of Belmont; Holocaust survivor Israel Arbeiter, president of the
American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston;
Armenian Genocide survivor Asdghig Alemian, 97, of Weymouth; and Nancy
Kaufman, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of
Greater Boston.
Kaprielian prefaced her remarks by emphasizing in the broader scope, "We are
all here to say that we need to stop what is going on in Darfur."
Councilor Ross stated, "I’m a City Councilor in Boston and I’m a son of a
Holocaust survivor." He put in context the pragmatism of Armenian and Jewish
amity by saying, "It makes sense that we came together as community. Not
just because we’re both small and active communities of Jews and Armenians,
but also because we’re people. We respect our cultures and support each
other, when we need to and when we don’t need to. We need to support each
other and back each other up."
Rabbi Friedman spoke about the genocide and Holocaust in historical memory
and present-day politics, and quoting Maya Angelou, said, "History, despite
its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not
be lived again."
Rev. Haroutunian thanked the Jewish community for its recent efforts in the
No Place for Hate controversy, which saw the dismissal of Andrew Tarsy, the
New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League who spoke in
favor of genocide recognition. "It has brought great light to the heart of
God," Haroutunian said. "We commend Andrew Tarsy for his actions. So many
people in the Jewish community demanded truth, not spin. After all, to deny
the truth, even in innuendo, is dangerous. I commend the Jewish-American
community in Boston. You stood for something, simply because it is right. We
thank God for your community and we really do pray that others will follow
your example."
Holocaust survivor Israel Arbeiter spoke of his experiences with genocide,
recalling, "I was a slave. I spent five years in a concentration camp." He
praised the gathered crowd for their attendance, and said, "I’m very happy
this event took place, but I’m also very disappointed the entire Jewish and
Armenian communities did not show up. Let’s hope from this small gathering
that more will blossom. Let’s join hands and work together so that it will
never ever happen again."
Armenian genocide survivor Asdghig Alemian remembered, "I was five years old
at the time the Turks took me. My mother starved to death on the [death]
march. They called it Der Zor. They were told to take three days of food and
that they would be taken back home. It never happened."
"We must see acknowledge-ment by our government while there are still
Armenian genocide survivors still alive," Kaprielian said.
Nancy Kaufman said that it is the moral responsibility of Massachusetts
citizens to ensure that the state divests from Sudan and investigates that
taxes do not finance the ongoing genocide in Darfur.
She said of the Armenian genocide and its legacy, "The genocide represents
the failure of the international community to prevent the worst crime in the
world-the destruction of an entire people."
Ross concluded amicably, saying to the Armenians present, "In the Jewish
community, we say you are all mishpucha [family]."
———————————- ———
4. AYF Olympics Brings Communities Together
SECAUCUS, N.J. (A.W.) – From Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, the AYF New Jersey Arsen
Chapter hosted the 2007 AYF-YOARF Olympic competitions and festivities.
The Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Hotel provided
accommodations for the guests and athletes that attended.
Events began the evening of the 30th with guests and AYF members invited to
go on a New York City Skyline Cruise.
The following day, AYF-YOARF golf competitions were held at the Emerson Golf
Club in Emerson, followed by tennis and swimming competitions held at
Overpeck Park and the Palisades Park swim club in Palisades Park.
In the evening, the Crowne Plaza Hotel hosted the AYF-YOARF "Alumni Dance,"
featuring John Berberian, Hachig Kazarian, Ara Dinkjian, Jason Naroian and
Michael Gostanian, directly chased by the AYF-YOARF "Welcoming Dance" at the
Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel, featuring the Harout Pamboukjian Ensemble.
On Sept. 1, activities were primarily focused on the softball competition at
Overpeck Park. On Sun., Sept. 2, Armenian Church services were held in the
Sheraton before the majority of spectators and athletes headed to Overpeck
Park for the culmination of the Opening Ceremonies and the track and field
events that ran throughout the course of the day.
The results of the day’s competitions and the weekend’s cumulative scores
for each AYF chapter were announced that night at the evening’s AYF-YOARF
Olympic Grand Ball at the Sheraton, during which Onnik Dinkjian, John
Berberian, Hachig Kazarian, Ara Dinkjian, Bruce Gigarjian and Jim Kzirian
provided the musical entertainment.
The 2007 AYF-YOARF Olympics concluded Labor Day, Sept. 3, with a picnic on
the grounds of the Sheraton, featuring the Mike Gostanian Ensemble band in
accompaniment for music.
Below are the results. Full details will be provided in the Sept. 22 issue
of the Weekly.
74th AYF Olympic Standings
Philadelphia – 272
Providence – 137.5
Detroit – 59
New Jersey – 45
Granite City – 28
New York – 26
North Andover – 11.5
Montebello (Calif.) – 8
Greater Boston – 5
Racine – 3
Chicago – 2
Washington – 2
High Scorers (Men)
Daniel Kaiserian (Philadelphia) – 15 points
Emmanuel Mkrtchian (Philadelphia) – 15 points
High Scorers (Women)
Lynne Tutunjian (Providence) – 15 points
Michelle Hagopian (Granite City) – 15 points
Samantha Essian (Detroit) – 15 points
Taleen Yeremian (Philadelphia) – 15 points
Sevan Makhoulian (Detroit) – 15 points
Pentathlon Winners
Karine Birazian (New Jersey)
Garo Hovnanian (Philadelphia)
Ernest Nahigian Sportsmanship Award
Armen Saryan (Racine)
Vartan Mardirosian (Greater Boston)
Most Improved Chapter
New York Hyortiks
Corey Tosoian Memorial Alumni Golf Award
Jeff Hagopian (Granite City)
Next Year’s Host
Detroit