Thursday, April 24, 2008 marked the 93rd Anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide.
The Capital District of New York is home to a large Armenian-American Community. For several years now the tragedy of the 1915-1922 genocide and ethnic cleansing of Armenians is commemorated in Troy, NY whose current Mayor is an Armenian-American, Harry Tutunjian.
(Darius Shahinfar - left- speaking with Mayor Harry Tutunjian - right)
This year, 21st Congressional District candidate Darius Shahinfar was honored by an invitation to speak at the commemoration. He made the following remarks:
Darius Shahinfar Statement on the Armenian Genocide:
Before the horrors of the Holocaust, Bosnia, Rwanda and the Sudan, there was the Armenian Genocide - in which over one million Armenians were murdered.
Earlier this month was Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is important to note that just before the Nazi invasion of Poland, Adolf Hitler is reported to have rhetorically asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?" when asked about consequences of the planned extermination of the Jewish people. The answer I, and history, will give is simply this: "We remember. And we will never forget"
Today, the forces of denial and revisionism continue their attempts to minimize this crime against humanity. Nonetheless, history records and acknowledges the truth. And we will continue to fight so future generations remember the truth.
It has been said that that which does not kill you makes you stronger. Nowhere is the truth of that statement more evident than in the Armenian community. America is a melting pot of different ethnicities, nationalities and religions, and yet because of what happened over 90 years ago, I have found no American community that is stronger than the Armenian-American community
Last year, when I was working in the office of Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand as her Capital District Representative, I was privileged to work on House Resolution 106 – the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Through that process I met with many Armenian and human rights groups. What I quickly learned is that the Armenian community’s strength transcends beyond the community itself. What struck me most is that there is not simply an interest in commemorating the genocide of Armenians through legislation or proclamation, but rather a keen focus on highlighting the horrors of genocide anywhere it takes place. To its great credit, the Armenian community has played an active role in raising awareness of the atrocities in Darfur, a region of the world to which the community has no connection other than the kinship of horrors.
On this day, the world remembers and commemorates the atrocities that began against the Armenian people 93 years ago. We vow to never forget and to renew our promise to stand strong against violence and hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.
To learn more please visit: Armenian National Committee of America
Darius Shahinfar lives in the heart of Albany, NY with his wife Noelle and their one-and-a-half year old son Jackson. Darius is a Democratic candidate for the 21st Congressional District seat currently held by retiring Rep. Mike McNulty.