Monday 20 01 14, volume # 9, issue # 6 e

RAG MAMOUL an ADL PUBLICATION

Official Organ of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party

Canadian Turks Should Condemn,

Not Condone, Genocide Denial By: HARUT SASSOUNIAN

Publisher, The California Courier

Monday, 20 January 2014 Volume # 9, Issue # 6/E Page 1

RAG MAMOUL receives material from around the world and in many languages. Our Liberal principles advocate ‘Freedom of

speech’ as a mainstay of our beliefs; consequently the subjects and ideas presented will not necessarily reflect our point of view.

All published material is reviewed, however, we rely on the kind understanding of our audience when grammatical and spelling

mistakes are missed. And in some rare cases, correction of submitted material is purposely not addressed, if it changes the implied

context of the author.

Canadian Turks launched a petition last month seeking the removal of all

references to the Armenian Genocide from the 11th grade curriculum of

Toronto high schools.

This petition is a part of Turkish denialists’ long-standing efforts to reverse

the Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) 2008 decision to educate

students about the Armenian, Jewish, and Rwandan genocides. TDSB’s

action follows the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Canadian

Senate in 2002 and the House of Commons in 2004. In addition, since

2006, successive Canadian Prime Ministers have issued official annual

statements acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, despite intensive

political pressure and economic blackmail by the Turkish government.

Back in 2008, a similar Turkish petition failed to sway TDSB to amend the

genocide curriculum, after gathering over 11,000 signatures, mostly from

Turkey. Indeed, the Ankara government and its Turkish proxies in Toronto

have done everything possible during the past seven years to undermine this

curriculum.

Back in 2008, a similar Turkish petition failed to sway TDSB to amend the genocide curriculum, after

gathering over 11,000 signatures, mostly from Turkey. Indeed, the Ankara government and its Turkish

proxies in Toronto have done everything possible during the past seven years to undermine this

curriculum.

Below are the baseless claims made by the Turkish petition against TDSB’s genocide curriculum,

followed by my rebuttal:

-- Turkish Petition: "As the Turkish/Turkic speaking parents of students attending the Toronto District

School Board, we are deeply concerned about the negative impact of the current curriculum module on

‘Armenian Genocide’ and the learning resources adopted by the Board since 2008."

My response: There has been NO violence or intimidation against a single

Turkish student in Toronto schools even though the genocide curriculum has

been taught there for several years. The reason is that Armenians do not

hold today’s Turks responsible for the crimes committed by the Government

of Ottoman Turkey almost 100 years ago, except those who associate

themselves with these crimes by their denial. The Republic of Turkey, on

the other hand, as successor to the Ottoman Empire, is responsible for the

continuing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. Denying the facts of

the Genocide has a far more serious negative psychological impact on

Armenians than its inclusion in the curriculum on Turks. Furthermore, the

truth cannot be concealed in order not to offend the sensibilities of those

who wish to cover up historical facts. Would anyone advocate erasing all

references to the Jewish Holocaust from history books not to offend present-

day Germans.

-- Turkish Petition: "The textbook on the Genocide of the Armenians and

other readers, such as Barbara Coloroso’s Extraordinary Evil,

unremittingly discredits one community's narrative over the other; and,

adversely affects the students of TDSB with Turkish and Turkic heritages."

My response: There cannot be two narratives or two versions of the proven

facts of the Armenian Genocide. There can only be one version -- the truth!

-- Turkish Petition: "We firmly believe that the values of mutual respect,

understanding and peaceful coexistence can be achieved through an honest

and open dialogue on history. Moreover, fair and unprejudiced learning

should be based on historical facts and not solely on the narratives of select

communities while ignoring others. It should also be noted that there are no

court decisions on any of these historical claims and the opinions of

historians differ regarding the details and the definitions of these events."

My response: 'Mutual respect, understanding and peaceful

coexistence' cannot be achieved through distortions and lies. Only

after acknowledging the truth and making appropriate amends,

Canadian Turks can talk about such lofty ideals. Furthermore,

contrary to the Turkish claims, there are several court verdicts on the

Armenian Genocide, starting with the Turkish Military Tribunals of

1919, and judgments by Argentinean, Swiss, and U.S. courts.

Significantly, the UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of

Discrimination and Protection of Minorities adopted in 1985 a report

acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. The ultimate arbiter of any

genocide is the United Nations, since the Genocide Convention is a

UN document.

To sum up, this latest Turkish petition is a total failure since its

initiator, the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations, has so far

collected less than 2,000 signatures out of a claimed membership of

200,000 in Canada. Interestingly, most of the signatories are not from

Canada, but Turkey where the petition has been widely circulated. A more worthwhile initiative for Canadian Turks would be to start a petition urging the Turkish government to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and make proper restitution to the descendants of this heinous crime on the occasion of the Genocide’s Centennial.

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HEADLINE SUBHEAD. SUBHEAD.

SUBHEAD. SUBHEAD.

Monday, 20 January 2014 Volume # 9, Issue # 6/E Page 2

The Toronto District School

Board headquarters

Barbara Coloroso

www.facebook.com/RAGmamoul

My response: 'Mutual respect, understanding and peaceful coexistence' cannot be achieved through distortions

and lies. Only after acknowledging the truth and making appropriate amends, Canadian Turks can talk about

such lofty ideals. Furthermore, contrary to the Turkish claims, there are several court verdicts on the Armenian

Genocide, starting with the Turkish Military Tribunals of 1919, and judgments by Argentinean, Swiss, and U.S.

courts. Significantly, the UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities

adopted in 1985 a report acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. The ultimate arbiter of any genocide is the

United Nations, since the Genocide Convention is a UN document.

To sum up, this latest Turkish petition is a total failure since its initiator, the Federation of Canadian Turkish

Associations, has so far collected less than 2,000 signatures out of a claimed membership of 200,000 in Canada.

Interestingly, most of the signatories are not from Canada, but Turkey where the petition has been widely

circulated.

A more worthwhile initiative for Canadian Turks would be to start a petition urging the Turkish government to

acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and make proper restitution to the descendants of this heinous crime on the

occasion of the Genocide’s Centennial.

We are glad to inform you that RAG MAMOUL will have a “Letter to the Editor” section, where on every Friday we will publish your letters and opinions. Your letter should preferably refer to an article that has appeared within the last seven days, and must include the writer's full name, address and phone numbers. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.

Send a Letter to the Editor to: [email protected]

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տեղեկացնելու, թէ այսուհետեւ ամէն Ուրբաթ օրուայ թիւով

մենք պիտի հրատարակենք խմբագրութեանս ուղղուած ձեր

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ՄԵՐ ՆՊԱՏԱԿԸ

RAG MAMOUL an ADL PUPLICATION

Official Organ of the

Armenian Democratic Liberal Party

Editor in Chief

ASSADOUR DEOVLETIAN

Editorial Staff

ALINE BALIAN (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

HAGOP CHAMKERTENIAN (Sydney, Australia)

DIANA DER GARABEDIAN (Buenos Aires, Argentine)

SEVAG HAGOPIAN (Beirut, Lebanon)

GACIA JEGHALIAN (Cairo, Egypt)

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Monday 20 01 14, volume # 9, issue # 6 e