Today’s Glendale News Press reports President Obama refrained from using the word “genocide” to characterize the atrocities committed in Turkey during WWI, breaking his promise on the subject again this year.
While Obama dissembled on the topic, Glendale concluded an outstanding program of events highlighting the importance of human rights and genocide recognition. Its annual April focus on Man’s Inhumanity to Man, and the culminating Genocide Commemoration at the Alex Theatre, was praised by the Armenian Consul General in Los Angeles as a unique civic program in the United States.
More Glendale voices on genocide recognition: In an April 24 KPFA radio interview, Zanku Armenian said that both Turkey and the U.S. need to get past this issue. “In order for a country like Turkey to truly join Western civilization, it will have to come to terms with its history. It isn’t about Armenian rights, its about human rights.” Saturday’s Fox LA news report on the Alex Theatre Genocide Commemoration showed Congressman Adam Schiff at the event, and featured comments from GUSD Board member Nayiri Nahabedian, and Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian.
At Sunroom Desk, notes from the April 22 program on Modern Day Slavery are still on hand. Human trafficking, sex trade victims, and forced labor practices uncovered even in Los Angeles had members of the audience reflecting on similar crimes during the Armenian Genocide and asking, “What can be done?” The CAST representative on hand urged us to look for and purchase “Fair Trade products”. More on Fair Trade practices and products in an upcoming post.
It was an outstanding program ~~~ Well done, Glendale!