EDITORIAL

The Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide is a somber day that

should bring attention to one of humanity’s darkest moments.

The Armenian Genocide that began April 24, 1915, and continued for

eight years resulted in the death of 1.5-million Armenians at the hands

of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Armenians that survived were driven from

the lands they had called home for centuries and were dispersed

throughout the world.

It is an event the U.S. government has refused to fully acknowledge --

apparently buckling to political pressures from modern-day Turkey.

However, history is quite clear on the systematic destruction of the

Armenian people during the eight year span.

Steps have been taken in Glendale and the rest of California to ensure

future generations are educated as to the facts of the genocide. With

direction from the state following a thorough study, California schools,

including those in Glendale, have added the teaching of the genocide to

their curriculum. It will help ensure this genocide doesn’t remain

largely ignored, as has been the case in the past.

Education will also help battle the revisionists who discount the

horrific acts. Often those revisionists -- including those whose letters

have appeared on these pages -- have been waging their misinformation

battle on behalf of the Turkish government for decades. However, stories,

history books and even letter writers have shown that the facts of the

Armenian Genocide are beyond debate.

It is important to understand that those perpetuating the myth that

the genocide didn’t occur do need to be heard. Those who state the

genocide did not happen need to have their statements refuted and the

light of truth focused on what happened from 1915 to 1923. Until the U.S.

government and other nations of the world that have yet to recognize the

genocide are ready to stand up and properly acknowledge the horrific

truth, attention needs to be paid to the flimsy excuses being used to

justify political expediency.

The Day of Remembrance will be recognized in the Glendale area through

a number of community events, the biggest event culminating at the

Armenian Genocide Memorial in Montebello.

In Glendale today, we have an opportunity to continue the divisive

emotional battle of neighbors against neighbors, or we can take the

opportunity to respect our different cultures and move forward together.

The bitter words and separatism have hurt our community, the time to

respect each other is now.