-= GLENDALE =- commemorating the Armenian Genocide .......

[MosJan]

GLENDALE

EDITORIAL

Council should accept monument offer

 

 

A city is a living, breathing thing. Its character is that of its citizenry. Its values and ideals are those belonging to the people living in it.

 

Given Glendale's large Armenian population, it seems appropriate that a monument commemorating the Armenian Genocide be erected on city property. That is why we support the proposed monument under consideration for Parcher Plaza behind City Hall.

 

A group called the Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale has offered to build and maintain the memorial, the creation of which was suggested in August by the city-established Citizens' Memorial Advisory Committee. The City Council is scheduled to discuss the offer at tonight's council meeting. The monument would honor the estimated 1.5 million Armenians who perished in the genocide, committed early in the 20th century by forces of the Ottoman-Turkish Empire. It also would pay homage to Americans whose actions helped save thousands of Armenians from slaughter.

 

Although we can only hope that this proposal won't generate the kind of controversy that surrounded the city's decision to lower the American flag in recognition of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, we have to be realistic and assume that it will. There are many in our community who would feel that this would be another example of the city holding up one segment of the population above another. There are also others who, unfortunately, just don't like Armenians and might try to use the proposal as another way to vent their feelings.

 

But we believe the council would show true leadership by acknowledging that the genocide is a subject of great importance to an enormous segment of Glendalians. It also would show that it has not been bowed by the terrible pressure recently exerted on Mayor Gus Gomez, who was targeted for recall for signing the proclamation ordering the flag lowering.

 

Other U.S. cities have erected memorials of significance to community members. The city of Skokie, Ill., for example, raised a memorial commemorating the Holocaust. And just a few miles from Glendale, a monument stands in a Montebello public park recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

 

The Glendale City Council has shown great courage over the years on the subject of the genocide -- more fortitude, even, than the federal government, which avoids the subject in order to not offend NATO ally Turkey. We urge the council to continue showing resolve on this important matter by accepting the proposal to install an Armenian Genocide monument in Parcher Plaza.

 

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[MosJan]

Letter -- Larry Glenn

Council didn't act act with courtesy

 

If the Armenians want a memorial to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, let them buy some land and build it. Jews built a memorial in West Los Angeles to commemorate the Holocaust and Armenians have every right to do the same here in Glendale. It should not be done with any taxpayer dollars and not on public property.

 

Those who opposed the lowering of the American flag to recognize the Armenian Genocide have every right to exercise their freedom of speech and it is reprehensible for the News-Press and a few of the City Council sycophants to call them racists.

 

After watching this controversy for months, and the way that three members of the City Council have treated the recall organizers, I have come to the conclusion that these members of the City Council have not treated many people who come before them with the respect and courtesy expected of public officials, and lack the temperament for public office. For all of those critical of the recall organizers and their failed effort, one must remember that they needed to collect roughly 13,000 signatures, I would guess that this is approximately twice the number of votes any current member of the council received in the past election. I think there is a very clear message that support for the council is not nearly as overwhelming as the council supporters claim, and they have sought to diminish the recall organizers by name calling and personal attacks.

 

The News-Press has been a central participant in this effort and totally lacking in objective reporting.

 

LARRY GLENN

 

Glendale

 

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[MosJan]

Genocide Monument Site at Issue in Glendale

GLENDALE—The Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale, which is deciding the location of the proposed Genocide memorial, told the Glendale City Council Tuesday that it is only considering Perkins Plaza, behind the Glendale City Hall as the site for the new monument.

 

The City Council voted 5-0 to have the Monument Council consider the Glendale Civic Auditorium, along with Perkins Plaza, as a potential monument site.

 

Councilman Dave Weaver suggested the Civic Auditorium’s south parking lot as a potential site, saying “It’s next to the bus lines. It’s more visible and can hold more people,” Weaver told . “For every reason it appears to be almost as good, if not better than Perkins Plaza.”

 

Representatives from the Armenian Rights Council of America, the Armenian National Committee and the Armenian Council of America want the City Council to make a decision so monument designs and fundraising can begin.

 

“We are willing to work with the city,” Glendale ANC chairman Artin Manoukian told the Glendale News Press

 

The Genocide monument is to be built with private donations. It was originally proposed as a gift to the city, and recommended by the Citizen’s Advisory Memorial Committee last August.

 

Glendale resident and member of the Citizen’s Advisory Memorial Committee Iva Carrico in her acrimonious and divisive comments, blasted the monument proposal saying: “These people ask only for themselves, and what have they done to deserve it? They have brought more trouble to this city and they have done nothing for the world that I can see.”

 

Glendale City Councilman Bob Yousefian commented, “If this memorial doesn’t bring people together, I don’t know what will. It doesn’t matter where it goes. The point is, it’s going to go somewhere.”