1999_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1999

              4
Hye Sharzhoom-20th Anniversary
May 1999
April 24th
ASO members, students, and
Free Speech area for the April
GENOCIDE,
Cont. from Page 1
followed with remarks challenging
non-Armenian students to ask questions that would help to understand
the Armenian cause and to become
actively involved in projects that
help in remembering and informing about the Genocide.
The students and staff on hand
also welcomed and honored special guest speakers Fresno City
Council Members Chris Mathys
and Tom Boyajian. Council member Chris Mathys opened his re-
community members at the
24 commemoration.
ASO member Shant Postoyan
that he was proud of his Armenian
heritage and the unity of the Arme
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Model of the Armenian Martyrs Monument
marks with "Inch bes es?" (Armenian for how are you?) and continued by expressing his sympathy for
the struggles that the Armenian
people have faced throughout their
history. Mathys followed by crediting much of the success of Fresno
to the Armenian people. Council
member Tom Boyajian opened by
saying "I am proud to be Armenian." He commented on the fact
nian people. "It's time to remember
and to communicate and educate to
people what happened," Boyajian
said. Boyajian set an example for
the students on remembrance by
telling his personal family story. He
illustrated that the only way to continue to remember is to speak out.
Other students approached the
podium and spoke to the crowd that
grew as the rally went on.    Rita
Aramian recited a poem by Vahan
Tekeyan titled The Armenian
Spirit, followed by Heidi Dunbar
who recited a poem titled To the
Armenian Nation.
Shant Postoyan spoke out about
the U.S. government's reluctance
to push for Turkish recognition of
the Genocide.
"Everyone here should continue
to support the Armenian cause and
continue to commemorate,"
Postoyan said.
Faculty remarks were made by
professor Michael Krekorian as
he recited a poem by Hovaness
Toumanian that used words to illustrate the Armenian spirit and
perseverance for the Armenian
homeland.
Professor
Barlow Der
Mugrdechian
closed the
program by
giving a special message
to the students
in attendance.
"We are a living legacy; we
represent the
Armenian people." He stressed
that each student must keep the
memory alive inside them and collectively must unite as they have at
this rally.
April 24, which commemorates
the beginning of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 to 1923, is a
national holiday for the Armenian
people. On that day, Armenians
within the country of Armenia and
the world visit the Armenian Martyrs Monument, which is located
on a hill overlooking Yerevan, the
capital city of Armenia. The people
walk to the monument and place
flowers at the base.
In a new tradition at Fresno
State that started last year, students handed out carnations to
those in attendance so that they
could place the flowers at the base
of the Monument in honor and
memory of those killed by the Ottoman Turks during the Genocide.
With Armenian Church music
from the Armenian Divine Liturgy playing, the students, staff
and guests lined up and approached
the monument in silence and paid
respect to the martyrs.
Commemoration of the Genocide is reaching a critical period as
the last ofthe survivors are dying.
Daily Collegian
Highlights
Genocide Coverage
on Front Page
The Fresno State campus newspaper, the Daily Collegian, had a
front page article on the Armenian genocide in its Friday, April
23, 1999 edition.Under the headline "Armenian genocide victims
honored by campus group," staff
writer Tonia Korakis wrote a
lengthy article about the Armenian Students Organization
planned events for the day.
A photo, courtesy ofthe Armenian Studies Program,was included on the front page.
IntCrVlCWS by Heidi Dunbar and Shayla Srabian
Tonia Korakis
Mass Communication/
Journalism-Junior
What does the word "genocide "
mean to you?
"Extermination of a whole race."
Have you ever heard ofthe
Armenian Genocide? If so, what do
you know about it?
"Yes. It was the massacring of the
Armenians by the Turks; 1.5 million
Armenians were killed."
What do you think of today's
commemoration ?
"I think it's good. It informs people
of what happened."
Mustafa Nemeth
English/Literature-Masters
What does the word "genocide "
mean to you?
"Intentional extermination of
people in whole or in part."
Have you ever heard ofthe
Armenian Genocide? If so, what
do you know about it?
"Yes, 1.5 million Armenians were
killed by Young Turks. As a
Muslim, I am opposed to the
secular nationalist Young Turk
movement. It is oppressing the
Kurds and religious Muslims
now."
What do you think of today's
commemoration ?
"I think it's good to remember and
to learn from it. Talk about this is
important."
FROM THE OFFICES OF THE
FRESNO CITY COUNCIL
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide of 191S-1923 stands as the first Genocide of the
twentieth century. Beginning on April 24, 1915 more than 1,500,000 Armenians were
brutally murdered or died miserably as they were being deported from their homes to the
desert; and
MiEREAS, the Genocide was planned and executed by the government of the Ottoman
Turkish Empire, headed by the Committee of Union and Progress Political Party. World
War I, which had broken out in August of 1914, found Ottoman Turkey as an ally of the
Germans. The war provide the opportunity for the Ottoman Turks to begin their heinous
plan for the extermination of the Armenians; and
WHEREAS, in 1915, prior to the Genocide, there were more than 2,000,000 Armenians living
in the Ottoman Empire. They constituted a distinct population on their own historic lands.
The Armenians had been living on the same lands, near historic Mt. Ararat, for more than
three millennia. They had developed a culture which had produced a rich legacy of
manuscripts, art, literature, architecture and music; and
WHEREAS, seeking to expand their own empire, as well as to forcibly eliminate the
centuries-old Armenian culture, the Ottoman Turkish government began the Genocide with
the forced conscription into the army of able-bodied men. The men were soon killed
outright. The women and children faced a more tortuous and uncertain future. They were
order to'march, with no possessions, water or food from their homes in the spring and
summer of 1915. This deportation succeeded in eliminating more than sixty percent ofthe
Armenian population. A slow death by starvation and exposure to the elements followed for
most ofthe Armenians. They were forced to march to the desert where they were left to die;
and
WHEREAS, many ofthe survivors ofthe Armenian Genocide eventually immigrated to the
United States and established large Armenian communities in places such as Fresno,
Watertown, Massachusetts, New York, Detroit and Los Angeles, among other places. Today,
the nearly one million strong Armenian community in America has recovered from the
material damages of the Genocide. But they continue to keep the memory of the Armenian
martyrs alive and will never forget the first Genocide of the twentieth century.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the City Council ofthe City ofFresno, do
hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 20,1999, to be: "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE
DAY" in the City ofFresno, in honor ofthe many who have died. Our commitment is to
educate future generations about the Armenian Genocide so we can state that there will
never again be a Genocide to stain the pages of history.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand and affixed the Seal of the City of
Fresno, California, this 20"' day of April, 1999.
EMBER SAL QUINTERO
NCILMEMBER HENRi
COUNCILME.
HESRYPEREA
3u
Fresno City Council Genocide Day Proclamation
died in the
Genocide on
the walkway
of the free
speech area.
This year
marks     the
84th    commemoration
of the Armenian   Genocide, the first
Genocide ofthe twentieth century.
Unfortunately it was not the last. If
the Turkish government is allowed
to continue to deny the Genocide,
then horrors like this will also continue. That is why Armenians here
at Fresno State and Armenians
around the world continue to remember and speak out.
ASO member Heidi Dunbar
But the students have shown that
the memories ofthe Genocide will
live on with their generation.
At the end of the ceremony,
those in attendance were urged to
take a piece of chalk and write the
names of those who they knew
84th Annual Commemoration
1 y 15   of the Armenian Genocide    X " j? j
Rally and Public Gathering
Special Guests:
•Tom Boyajian
Fresno City Councilman, District 1
• Placing of flowers at the
Armenian Martyrs Monument
• Student readings and presentations
12:00 Noon
Friday, April 23,1999
Free Speech Area
Between 1915 and 1923 1.5 million Armenians
were massacred by the Ottoman
Turkish Empire in the
first Genocide of the 20th century.
Join us in honoring their memory.
Sponsored by:
Armenian Students Organization
Armenian Studies Program
Fresno State