YP BOSTON AND ARF SARDARABAD COLLABORATE ON GENOCIDE RECOGNITION SYMPOSIUM
AZG DAILY #101, 04-06-2011
On May 12, 2011, AGBU’s Young Professionals (YP) of Boston and ARF
Sardarabad collaborated to co-sponsor a successful symposium attended
by 85 people, which was titled “Genocide Recognition: The Road Ahead.”
Chris Mensoian and Nicole Meregian of AGBU YP Boston, and Jirayr
Beugekian of the ARF Sardarabad, served as event chairs. Together, the
groups organized a panel of four distinguished Armenians: Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA; Marc Mamigonian, Director
of Academic Affairs of NAASR; Dr. Michael G. Mensoian, Professor
Emeritus, Middle East and Political Geography, UMASS Boston; and
Khatchig Mouradian, editor of the Armenian Weekly and PhD student in
Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University. Alin Gregorian,
editor of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, served as moderator.
Chairwoman of YP Boston, Nicole Meregian, gave opening remarks and
introduced the participants and special guests, including
Massachusetts State Representative Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown/West
Cambridge).
The panelists discussed and debated a wide range of topics within the
realm of genocide recognition, including reparations, the role of the
Armenian diaspora in genocide recognition, the future security of
Javakhk and Karabakh, and the importance of genocide education in U.S.
academic institutions.
Following the discussion, moderator Gregorian and the audience
directed questions to the panelists. Speaking of the importance of the
symposium, event co-chair Chris Mensoian said, “Discussions like this
are very important and necessary to engage and educate the community
and to avoid further apathy, which results in less participation in,
and donations to, worthy Armenian organizations and causes. It’s a
small victory, but a victory nonetheless, each time an event like this
takes place and there is an open discussion of Armenian issues.”
Each speaker added something to the discussion from his or her own
perspective. In the context of Turkey, panelist Mouradian highlighted
the importance of justice for the Armenian genocide, and noted that,
often, calls to being “realistic” in the quest for justice – and other
attempts to reject demands for more than symbolic recognition – are
part of the structural violence against Armenians. Mouradian also
emphasized the importance of genocide education as part of the
curriculum of U.S. schools, so that children are taught correct
history from a young age, and so that it will be increasingly
difficult for the U.S. government and future leaders to ignore
historical facts.
Dr. Mensoian expressed his deep concern for the future of Javakhk and
Karabakh, and emphasized that diasporan organizations need to invest
more into these lands so that Armenia does not lose them. Hamparian
stressed the importance of both genocide recognition and the security
of the above regions, explaining in detail how the ANCA works hard on
both of these Armenian causes. He also went on to explain how Turkey
invests heavily into lobbying against genocide recognition, and it is
therefore imperative for Armenians to counter this, to donate more to
groups like the ANCA, Armenian Assembly, and other similar
organizations.
Mamigonian added to this discussion from an academic perspective,
stating that Turks donate hundreds of thousands of dollars each year
to American universities in order to establish Turkish Studies
programs, which employ American professors, who in turn teach and
state publicly that the Armenian Genocide never occurred. There is a
strong need for more genocide and Armenian studies programs to
counteract the detrimental effects of genocide denial, and there is an
urgent need for funding from the Armenian diaspora.
AYF Great Boston Nejdeh Chapter chairman, Stepanos Keshishian, was in
attendance and shared his thoughts on the event. “Personally, I
thought it was a great initiative to bring together Armenians of
different sub-communities for a discussion. Although we may have
differing political beliefs or ideologies, the important thing is that
we all work for the health of our nation and for the well-being and
comfort of all our brothers and sisters around the world,” he said.
AGBU YP Boston and ARF Sardarabad were pleased with the success of the
event and felt it was important to collaborate on the symposium
because of the common goal shared by all Armenians – genocide
recognition and education. All Armenians stand together on this issue,
and should continue to promote this type of collaboration and
collegiality so that one day Armenian Genocide recognition is a
reality, not just a dream.