Yellow Ribbon Campaign
PRESS RELEASE
During the last few years we have witnessed several disturbing examples of diplomats and representatives who have publicly denied the Armenian Genocide.
• In 2002 Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Rivka Cohen made a statement disassociating the Armenian Genocide from the Jewish Holocaust, thereby questioning the fact of the Armenian Genocide.
• In 2004, the United Kingdom Ambassador to Armenia, Thorda Abbott Watt, twice denied the Armenian Genocide during her tenure, causing outrage among Armenians both in Armenia and the Diaspora.
The third instance differs from the previous two examples in that the Ambassador of one of our ally nations was punished by that same country for speaking the truth;
• Last year U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans held meetings with Armenian Diaspora communities in the United States. During these meetings, Ambassador Evans had the courage to call for an end to word games, expressed his conviction for calling things by their name and called for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Following these statements, several punishments by the U.S. State Department ensued: initially the Ambassador was forced to publicly “take back” his words and to apologize. Now, and most hurtful to us is the fact that Ambassador Evans is being recalled for speaking out the whole truth about the Armenian Genocide.
Such disrespectful actions against the Armenian nation will continue if we do not put an end to such diplomatic denial by these nations.
The Yellow Ribbon Campaign has been organized to shatter the silence surrounding the Armenian Genocide.
Why a Yellow Ribbon Campaign? Because the color yellow signifies hope for the future. With this campaign we appeal to the world, specifically to the nations we consider our friends, to end such insensitive policies and silence towards the pain of an entire nation.
In this regard, we would like to remember the poignant words spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends... a time comes when silence is betrayal.”
We call out to the Armenian nation to join this campaign.
Organized by Armenian-Americans in
Armenia and Friends
During the last few years we have witnessed several disturbing examples of diplomats and representatives who have publicly denied the Armenian Genocide.
• In 2002 Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Rivka Cohen made a statement disassociating the Armenian Genocide from the Jewish Holocaust, thereby questioning the fact of the Armenian Genocide.
• In 2004, the United Kingdom Ambassador to Armenia, Thorda Abbott Watt, twice denied the Armenian Genocide during her tenure, causing outrage among Armenians both in Armenia and the Diaspora.
The third instance differs from the previous two examples in that the Ambassador of one of our ally nations was punished by that same country for speaking the truth;
• Last year U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans held meetings with Armenian Diaspora communities in the United States. During these meetings, Ambassador Evans had the courage to call for an end to word games, expressed his conviction for calling things by their name and called for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Following these statements, several punishments by the U.S. State Department ensued: initially the Ambassador was forced to publicly “take back” his words and to apologize. Now, and most hurtful to us is the fact that Ambassador Evans is being recalled for speaking out the whole truth about the Armenian Genocide.
Such disrespectful actions against the Armenian nation will continue if we do not put an end to such diplomatic denial by these nations.
The Yellow Ribbon Campaign has been organized to shatter the silence surrounding the Armenian Genocide.
Why a Yellow Ribbon Campaign? Because the color yellow signifies hope for the future. With this campaign we appeal to the world, specifically to the nations we consider our friends, to end such insensitive policies and silence towards the pain of an entire nation.
In this regard, we would like to remember the poignant words spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends... a time comes when silence is betrayal.”
We call out to the Armenian nation to join this campaign.
Organized by Armenian-Americans in
Armenia and Friends
posted by Raffi K. at 5:39 PM
3 Comments:
Last night there was a (triple) screening in Los Angeles of a new documentary on the subject. It was produced by PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and, as well, carried as a broadcast by most of the PBS affiliated TV stations in the country. The theatre, a large traditional one, was 80% full and the audience air seemed sober and respectful. Producer Andrew Goldberg was in attendance and addressed the audience afterwards. The film had come to my attention through a publicity postcard sent by AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union). I don't know if this film is known in Armenia. There's information about it at http://www.twocatstv.com/ I thought it was well done.
I'm unclear from the posting what or where the Yellow Ribbon Campaign is.
Public denial of the genocide is flat earth stuff. But I've been thinking about a related but different subject, Turkish government recognition. I had a discussion about it with a Jewish woman. She runs an organization that creates political publicity having to do with Israeli national interests. I "educated" her about some details of the Armenian genocide and Armenia's current status, pointing out certain parallels. "But the biggest/worst difference is," she said, "they won't admit it in your case." She thought that was very important.
I can't see how it relates to my interest, personally or ethnically, what Turkey wants to do or not do one way or the other. I know what I know. Independently. If you tell me you disagree, well, I know it. Or if you tell me you agree, well, I know it too. Your position doesn't reinforce or detract from my awareness of what I know. I know it no better nor worse, I just still know it. So with respect to the Turkish government, for me at least their views on the subject just don't have import.
Also, trying to get people to tell the truth is great. But if they are murderers, I expect they aren't bothered about honesty. Direct your influence toward your kids, don't spend it on people who won't be affected and even if they were wouldn't be better for it. Murder trumps honesty.
My vote regarding Turkish government recognition is summed up by a humorous song by 2 Jewish comedians I heard last week, titled "They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat!"
It doesn't relate to your interest, because you are either not affected by Turkey's present day policies that root from the denial, or you are not aware of them. Turkey's policies and lobbying have reached new heights, when we have them lobby for Armenian organizations, and Armenians being labeled as terrorists today. You are probably not aware, that due to their lobbying tactics the US government is labeling many Armenians as terrorists, and just recently an Armenian Kindergarten in the UK was put in the "Black list" due to their successful political efforts. Their lobbying efforts have reached new heights, and it is all due to the denial machine. So, yes murder does trump honesty, but honesty prevails at the end, only if you keep the fight. So, you may be able to follow the "let's eat" quote because you are not being affected, or are not aware of how these policies are affecting Armenian families today. But my family is being affected, so I cannot just sit there and do nothing. And while your thinking about this, think how their policies are affecting people in Armenia who have been suffering under an illegal blockade, and their daily lives are being affected by the policies of present day Turkey.
I live far and unconnected from Armenia. I'm half Armenian ethnically and far less culturally. And while I know a fair amount about the genocide (grandmother, a lot of books), I don't know a similar amount about the current events (soviet and post-soviet). So both your reasons (low awareness, low impact) apply, the present day policies dont' relate to me for both of them.
The genocide I had in mind is the early 20th century one, not present-day. The "let's eat" idea is as opposed to perpetuating 1915 by dwelling on it. 1915 was baldly deliberate State Policy of unrelentingly cruel and indefensible genocide, not the incidental "mere side-effect of War" as the Turkish government wants to assert. But I don't have time for it or them, not now, not over that. It isn't going to help me or my grandmother if they change their mind and tell me they're so sorry. It won't make them better, or me, or her. And it doesn't make them worse if they want to add lies. They're unimprovably "worse" already, a lost cause, you can't descend from the bottom.
"Let's eat" is a poorer attempt to express the well-known Saroyan thing (I heard him read it), "I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia. See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread and water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a new Armenia." And it doesn't even require 2 armenians. 1 will do. Even one-half.
Please don't lose sight of the present battles you may need to fight. I don't mean to presume to diminish their importance. But please, don't forget to laugh and sing and pray and eat. Every time I enjoy a meal or go to work or read a book, symbolically, it means to me the 1915 Plan didn't work. Every time you do, even more so.
Blessings on your family.
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