Turks Rebuke School Genocide Classes
by Tom Vartabedian
July 4, 2012
Just when you think life has dealt you a pat hand, along comes a
conniver to steal your pot.
For the past four years, members of our Armenian Genocide Education
Committee of Merrimack Valley have filtered in and out of high schools
north of Boston.
We’ve also expanded our reach to include schools around Greater Boston
like Newton South. Scores of children have benefitted from our
lessons. In most every case, instructors have been overwhelmed by the
impact being made, for they, too, come out learning a valuable lesson
in history.
There hasn’t been one repercussion, not even a grunt from a
naysayer – until now. A vile and vindictive article from a pro-Turkish
website (History of Truth) crossed my eyes bearing the headline:
`Armenians Spreading Their Lies at High Schools.’
The gutless piece failed to carry a byline, thus making it more intolerable.
What’s more, a photograph of Wilmington High students holding samples
of postage stamps they had designed carried the inscription: `Their
Lies Reached to Schools.’
The group photo also had the two presenters that day, myself and
Albert S. Movsesian. The ideas for a postage stamp were being sent to
the postmaster general of the United States in an effort to get a
commemorative stamp minted for the 100th anniversary in 2015.
A completely harmless project meant to both elucidate and arouse our
younger non-Armenian population was slurred with malice.
The rebuttal was generated in response to an all-encompassing piece
written by chairman Dro Kanayan giving readers a fairly detailed
account of the progress made in schools this year. How effective has
it been?
While attending a grand niece`s Chelmsford High graduation party the
week before, I approached a table occupied by students who had been
addressed during a genocide class taught by Jennifer Doak.
`Hey, you look familiar. Aren’t you the guy who spoke to us about the
Armenian Genocide?’ a co-ed remarked.
`Yes, that’s me,’ I replied. `What do you remember most about the class?’
`How difficult it was for your race to be slaughtered like that,’ she
replied. `We loved the story about the Calvin Coolidge Orphan Rug and
how it found its way to the White House.’
The article goes go to say that the `Armenian Diaspora is spreading
its lies by telling them at high schools.’
The next paragraph quoted Kanayan’s story: `Armenian researcher Dro
Kanayan said for those people who feel that our elders and the youth
cannot work together, don’t worry. Kanayan and both of his peers,
Albert Movsesian and Tom Vartabedian, have been working together to
have the so-called Armenian Genocide included in the high school
curriculum on Human Rights in the Merrimack Valley.’
`They are teaching students about the so-called Armenian Genocide and
Armenian culture.’
The story went on to say how we have `poisoned’ the students in over
10 high schools, providing individual classroom presentation on
comparative genocides over the past 100 years.
It proceeded to include other high school students, including a deaf
student we encountered at Newton South who had learned about the
genocide through American Sign Language.
Adding more insult to injury, a second photo was used of Dro Kanayan
holding a picture of his famous grandfather General Dro, who led the
siege at Bash Abaran during World War 1.
I should be fuming over such poppycock. Instead, I hold no regret over
those who are ill-informed and continue to show their absurdity. The
more Turkey refutes historical fact, the more scornful it becomes.
The more truth will prevail and people will see how superficial the
Turkish government continues to remain. What people lack in
intelligence, they usually make up for in stupidity.
I recall once how vandals had climbed to the top of a billboard in
Watertown and defaced a genocide sign that had been sponsored by
activist/artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian. For years, Hejinian has been
putting up these notices to draw attention during April 24th.
For the most part, the Armenian papers publicized the act, but nothing
ever caught the attention of the American press, which matters more.
The fact that some screwball scaled a building at night to commit an
act of degradation suddenly became media hype. It appeared in
newspapers and television networks, giving the Armenian Genocide more
exposure than normal.
During a commemoration that week in Merrimack Valley, a local priest
approached the podium and talked about the insanity.
`If that’s the way our genocide is going to catch the outside public’s
eye, then let the billboards be vandalized,’ he lashed out. `And let
those responsible find guilt in the process.’
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/07/04/turks-rebuke-school-genocide-classes/