Pelosi Reaffirms Support for Armenian Genocide Recognition

WASHINGTON—The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), has reaffirmed her longstanding support for U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, stressing her backing for the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.252, and voicing, once again, her disappointment that the United States has yet to officially describe this crime as a genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a letter sent this week to constituents throughout California’s 8th Congressional District, Pelosi offered her personal assurance that she “will continue to support official recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” a crime she described as a “grave injustice” that “should be officially recognized as genocide.” She also stressed her support for H.Res.252, which has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Congressman Howard Berman (D-Calif.).

Her correspondence, circulated only days before President Barack Obama is set to offer his April 24 statement, reflects the growing support in Congress and around the nation for a clear and unequivocal recognition by the president of the Armenian Genocide. As a Senator and a candidate for the White House, Obama repeatedly pledged to properly condemn and commemorate the Armenian Genocide, stating clearly that “As president I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

In recent weeks, growing support for U.S. recognition has been reflected by:

· The steady climb of co-sponsors of H.Res.252 among both Democrats and Republicans.

· The unanimous decision by the House of Representatives of Hawaii, Obama’s home state, to become the 42nd to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide.

· The letter recently sent by the International Association of Genocide Scholars urging Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

The ANCA, as part of its Fierce Urgency of Now campaign, is urging citizens to contact the White House and Congress in support of Armenian Genocide recognition by the U.S. government this April. For more, visit www.anca.org/change.

4 Comments

  • Hagop Chakalian
    April 16, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    The Genocide committed against the Armenians by the young Turk government, in their Homeland ,is a Crime not only against the Armenians, but a Crime against Humanity,which shall not be repeated anywhere .
    By not recognizing. the US is leaving the door open to be accused of Genocide denial
    I applaud Congresswoman Palosy for her stand to clear the record straight

  • sylva-MD-Poetry
    December 5, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Armenian Genocide Is Not a Shakespearian Play

    What is genocide?
    Vanishing a gene!
    Genes of virtuous people
    Who built Etchmiadzin!*

    I opened my eyes,
    Hearing genocide,
    When my ancestors
    Perished in their homeland.

    The Turkish emperors
    Established cultures,
    Killing a loyal nation,
    Cleansing them, unsound.

    Most nations
    Recognized our genocide,
    But civilized courts deliberately ignored,
    Leaving hopes of sufferers to rot!

    How we can forget
    Our sad events?
    If we try to forget,
    Our descent will end!

    Kill a young man and say,
    “This was war’s turmoil.”
    Crush scholars’ skulls
    Smash the contents’ core.

    To state, “That’s anatomy lesson,
    Who said genocide?”

    Lance bellies of pregnant brides
    With scimitar sword
    To guess the unborn sex.
    Yet unseen the light:
    This is C-section,*
    Unnamed genocide!
    Run after virgin girls—
    Enjoy endless rape
    Till they reach a stage
    To take lives away!
    This is Eden’s garden.
    Never counts genocide!
    Hurl boys in rivers
    In cold April spring,
    Forcing them to swim,
    Ending lives in streams.
    Say, this is a jape,
    None says genocide!
    Put gendarme on doors,
    Counting all households,
    Turning houses to prisons.
    No one can escape!

    Collecting them, then
    Chucking them in carts
    Pushing them hungry
    To sunny desert—Der Zor;**
    Then declare, “This is a camping ground,
    Never shades genocide!

    How can we forget
    The ancient land we left?
    We left everything—
    From pen to ink.
    Treasures we forgot,
    Plants, animals,
    Is it fair to forget
    The dear ones we left?
    We became immigrants
    Near to far-away lands.
    Humans’ looked after us
    Since 1915.
    We started our life,
    Working keen and hard,
    Begging from no one
    Silently, blaming our God!
    We became their guests—
    Flourishing in host lands.
    Never knew others
    Hurting Armenian hearts.
    They respected us,
    This was genetically natural;
    Without any knowledge
    What meant, human rights!
    They called us
    Trustful, peaceful,
    Precise people
    In any job, minds crafts.

    Rich Bedouins* took women
    As their second wives
    After saving their lives
    From bloody rivers piled.
    *
     

    They could not pronounce
    Their difficult names.
    They called them Miriam
    (Messiah’s mother name),
    Respecting their religion,
    Never forcing their faith!
    Same religion as Turks
    But courteousness genes, bates.
    Every Armenian has a story to tell,
    Access the Internet to read agonies there.
    Civilized senators, knowing human rights,
    Still sinfully deny the century-long genocide!
    Holocaust sufferers
    Also forgot us!
    God, can you hear
    How humans bend to unfair fear?
    Our deep, unhealed pain,
    We feel intensely in our arteries, nerves, veins.
    We feel with all human souls,*
    Lamenting their losses from core to core.
    If every Turk were author Orhan,**
    No one will slaughter Kurds and Armenians!
    If every parliament respected the human soul,
    No one will follow the criminal’s goal.
    Killer genes need mapping,
    Altering to the kindest type.
    Aiming for scientific miracles
    Vanish, the genes of genocide!

  • haroutun orchanian
    March 5, 2010 | Permalink | Reply

    The first genocide of the last century was committed by the ottoman Turks , there is a lot of evidence as to that, the guilty must accept  their responsibility. The whole world knows , there is no need  for study, even the American ambasador  at the time confirmed and reported to  Washington about  the Armenian genocide. At this time the US  president is trying to please the Turks by not recognizing  the genocide. This is  but a deplorable act and it is not a smart & educated person’s behavior. …
    WHEN YOU HARBER OR PROTECT A THIEF, A MURDERER, A GENOCIDE PERPETRATOR, AND YOU DON’T CONDEMN, RECOGNIZE AND ACNOWLEDGE, YOU ARE AS GUILTY AS THE PERPERATOR…..!
    I am very sorry to write this but it’s the law. 

  • haroutun orchanian
    March 5, 2010 | Permalink | Reply

    RE  MODERATION
    I am first post genocide generation ,& seen many people who lived through those terrible times
    I  was tholed  about many Turks that harbored Armenians in to there homes & saved  them , yes there where turks  that knew  genocide was wrong, there where Arabs, & Kurds,and Europeans, I  take my hat for this person-es, 
    American people are  God fearing &  helping to those that are in desparate  situation,
    but we have to tell the truth, because it is written ” the Truth will set you free”
    every one will stand fore  judgement one day, and there will not  be  anny moderation .   

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