New Jersey Students Educated on A.G.

[Aratta-Kingdom]

THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EDUCATED ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

 

armradio.am

15.05.2008 10:31

 

In continuation with the New Jersey State mandate on genocide

education, Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region

(ANCA-ER) Executive Director Karine Birazian presented a series of

lectures to The Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, New Jersey and

Chatham High School in Chatham, New Jersey on the topic of genocide.

 

"It is always a true honor to be invited to speak at local high

schools. The impact we can make by educating students on this important

human rights issue is vital to the prevention of the crime genocide,"

commented Birazian.

 

In mid April, the Academy of Holy Angels invited Birazian to be

part of their annual Awareness Day, where this year, the title of

the one-day workshop for students was called "Think Globally, Act

Locally." Students were able to select from a variety of workshops

pertaining to global issues and problems our society faces and ways

to take action. Birazian's topic entitled "Never Again?" touched

upon genocides that have occurred throughout the 20th century and

the ongoing genocide today in Darfur. Students also gained insight

on how they can get involved and take action.

 

Jennifer Cucchisi, a social studies teacher at the school commented:

"It is important that every generation learns about genocide in order

to achieve the goal of "never again." Some students may not want to

hear about it, they may turn their heads at the pictures, but the only

way to stop genocides from happening is to make sure that everyone is

educated on the horrors of them. The pictures and stories, however

graphic they may be, are necessary and they help us to ensure that

what happened during these senseless slaughters is never forgotten."

 

Birazian also spoke to the students at Chatham High School at their

annual Holocaust Remembrance Program where she presented on the

history of the Armenian Genocide and the current battle in Congress

on trying to pass legislation recognizing this atrocity. Steve Maher,

Social Studies Supervisor for the high school has worked to coordinate

activities revolving around genocide awareness and remembrance. In

the past, the school has studied the Killing Fields in Cambodia, as

well as Darfur, Rwanda, and the former Yugoslavia. "We seem to have

our greatest success in touching the lives of students when we bring

history closer to their experience, particularly with survivors of

the European Holocaust," commented Maher.

 

Following the lecture, Birazian met with the activists from the Darfur

student group and spoke about additional ways they can get active on

this important issue.

 

During her lectures, Birazian touched upon a recent event that took

place at the Springfield Library. Last month, Birazian, ANC of NJ

members, community activists, along with Dr. Seymour Siegler, Ed.D,

Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide

Studies at Brookdale Community College, spoke before the Library Board

regarding the decision by the Library to allow a special hosting of the

film the "Armenian Revolt" followed by a question and answer session

led by Dr. Guenter Lewy, a professor emeritus of political science

at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Lewy, who has written

several articles questioning the history of the Armenian Genocide,

was invited by the Society of Turkish- American Architects Engineers

and Scientists (MIM).

 

Birazian and others expressed deep concern that showing the film and

having an Armenian Genocide denialist come and speak at the library

would be detrimental and constitute a form of "hate speech," pointing

to the example that the library would never have allowed Holocaust

deniers come to speak on Holocaust denial at the library. The members

of the Library Board still agreed to host the event, and responded

by indicating that if Holocaust deniers want to come to present at

the library, they would be permitted because it is freedom of speech.

 

Birazian stressed to the students that "freedom of speech" can

eventually turn into hate speech and denial of history when pushed

to the limit, and as informed citizens, we must do all we can to make

sure that genocide denial be confronted.