1990_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1990

              Page 4, FEATURES
Hye Sharzhoom
May 1990
Speakers insist 'Let the truth be known'
By Kristi Harmandarian
Staff Writer
Anniversaries are usually festive,
celebrating days or events of the past
That is not the case when it is time to
commemorate the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. What is seen
annually is the gathering of people
with their convictions and support to
find justice for what happened to the
Armenians in 1915.
This year is the 75th Anniversary of
the Genocide. Three quarters of a
century has passed since those tragic
events took place-claiming the lives
of 1.5 million people, hence,
changing the destiny of many more.
On April 24, 1990, Armenians and
Americans gathered in Fresno. Young
and old joinied together at the William
Saroyan Theatre auditorium to
solemnly show their respect to those
who perished.
The moderator of the evening was
the Rev. Father Vartan Kasparian, who
was recendy appointed Vicar General
of the Armenian Church Western.
Opening     the     services     with    an
invocation, he said, "...We remember
our martyrs, past and present,
Armenians and Jews who have died in
the hands of hatred and ignorance. We
live for what they died for; freedom of
conscience, freedom of worship,
freedom of faith." Fr. Kasparian
emphatically declared the genocide as
a "moral outrage" of the world, and
reitterated that, "We remember, so
others do not forget"
The evening began with the
honorable Karen Humphrey, Mayor of
Fresno, who has been a big supporter
to the Armenians and participated in
the march on Washington, D.C.
Mayor Humphrey declared that she
was also representing the City
Council, who had unanimously
adopted a resolution "demanding" that
Congress pass this resolution as
written. She stated that, "...There
comes a point when you just have to
draw the line in truth." She also
commended everyone who has worked
so hard to draw this line, "...To insist
that this be the statement that we are
making to the world." Her closing
statements were uplifting and positive
about    the    ongoing    struggle    to
convince Congress to stand up for the
truth and pass the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.
Rabbi Kenneth Segel spoke to a
captivated audience, proclaiming the
solidarity of the Armenians and Jews.
He said, "...We must know and we must
understand so that the past does not
become prologue; so that we do not
repeat yesterday's mistakes." Once
again Rabbi Segel was able to stir the
emotions of all present, giving the
hope necessary for the work still ahead
in having the truth be known.
The evenings commemoration,
which was one of many being held
throughout the diaspora, was presented
by the Armenian Community Council
of the San Joaquin Valley, who had put
a lot of work into this quality
presentation. The     stage     was
backdropped by pictures of fallen
Armenian heroes, such as, Rostom and
Daniel Varoojian, center stage was a
replica of a monument in Yerevan, to
the victims of the genocide. The
entire set was black and faintly lit by
many candles burning in a makeshift
alter, illuminating a sillouette of a
kneeling  woman  in  prayer,  all  this
Children's hospital built in Yerevan
By Paulette Kasparian
Staff Writer
Kelly Stevenson, a Boston carpenter, did not ring in 1990 with the
usual confetti and blowing of horns.
He was too busy volunteering his time
building a Children's Rehabilitation
Hospital in earthquake devastated
Soviet Armenia.
The earthquake, which hit heavily
populated areas in the late morning of
December 7, 1988, killed thousands
and left hundred of thousands homeless
and in need of medical attention.
Stevenson, who had four years
experience in the Peace Corps
constructing schools and clinics in
rural Africa, volunteered with the
American Friends Service Committee.
The AFSC, with national headquarters in Philadelphia, Penn., was
formed in 1917 by American Quakers
with the main objectives of service,
development, justice, and peace.
According to the finance secretary
of the AFSC northern California
regional office, Connie Jolly, a large
amount of contributions began to pour
in following the deadly quake. In
response to the needs of the
Armenian people, it was decided to
build the rehabilitation center, along
with seven rural health clinics in
villages surrounding damaged areas.
This project was undertaken in
conjunction with the Mennonite
Central Committee.
Stevenson arrived in Yerevan, the
capital of Armenia, in late September.
He stayed there for a month helping to
lay the foundation for the
rehabilitation center.
He and three others then moved on
to a village near Spitak, a major city
demolished by the quake. Stevenson
described a discouraging scene.
"In the villages, in many ways, it
looked as if the earthquake hit months
before and not a year before,"
Stevenson said.
There was some reconstruction of
new houses going on, but much rubble
and debris were left to pick-up, he said.
Stevenson kept close written
correspondence with the AFSC.
"Despite the 11 months which have
passed, the effects of the earthquake,
physical and psychological, are very
much in evidence. The physical cleanup has only just begun and the
emotional rehabilitation will take
many years," he wrote.
In the villages, he and
others began to lay foundations for the
health clinics before the extreme cold
weather set in. Five, out of the planned
seven, were completed with only
interior work left to be done.
Stevenson's six month stay was
during the time of yet another uprising
between Christian Armenians and
Muslim Azerbaijanis. The uprisings
have been due to a territorial dispute
over the mountainous region of
Karabagh. This region historically
belonged to Armenia until the now
denounced Russian leader, Joseph
Stalin, gave it over to Azerbaijan.
Armenians now wish to reclaim the
land.
Anger and frustration seemed to be
the  general  mood  of the  Armenian
people during the uprising.
"Obviously there was much
angriness and bitterness toward
Azerbaijan, as well as towards the
Soviet Government," Stevenson said.
Initially Soviet troops were not
doing much, said Stevenson
describing them as passive observers.
He also heard through United States,
English and Armenian reporters that
the Azerbaijans were much
better armed.
"At times you felt a little
apprehensive," said Stevenson referring to instances when fighting came
within 30 miles of the capital.
However, despite the obvious
tension and suffering the Armenian
people were going through, Stevenson
was amazed with their spirit and
appreciation.
"The hospitality was overwhelming," Stevenson, a fair-colored young
man, said. "I can't say enough about
the Armenian people, they were
fantastic," he added
The AFSC and MCC will soon be
sending another group back to
complete the remaining two clinics,
along with placing final touches on
the other structers.
Connie Jolly rates the project as a
very positive one with a lasting
impact
"I'm very glad that we were able to
do something that would help in the
long term," she said.
Stevenson spoke in Fresno on
Friday, March 9 at the First Armenian
Presbyterian Church as a guest of the
Armenian Community Council.
r We would like to hear your
opinion
Send your comments, questions
or suggestions to:
Hye Sharzhoom
Armenian Studies Program
CSU, Fresno
V   Fresno, CA 93740-0096 0
giving the feeling of the past. This
began a series poetry readings,
alternating with song.
Perhaps the most noteable
presentation was made by Christopher
Walker, noted British authority of
Armenian history and author of the
book Armenia-Survival of a Nation.
In great detail Walker oudined the
facts that Armenians must use when
they present their case to the world,
and more specifically to non-
Armenians. He stressed the importance
of historical and political literacy to
be vigilantly exercised by Armenians.
Only this way will the case against the
injustice of Turkey and history be
made. He eloquently spoke about the
history leading up to the genocide,
citing specific facts about the
genocide and acknowledging the
attempted changing of history by
Turkey through political pressures and
other measures. Walker emphatically
stated that "...Nothing is known until
it is known." Armed with facts and
information, he feels that the world
cannot deny the truth and that it is up
to the Armenians to continue this
quest to inform everyone else.
Soviet Armenia
main topic of
weekend class
By Scotty Abajian Asmar
Staff Writer	
Mark Malkasian from the east coast
(formerly of Fresno) was the guest
lecturer for a weekend class, Armenian
Studies 120T-Soviet Armenia Today.
The class was offered by the Armenian
Studies Program and students earned
one unit of credit
The class focused on current events
in Soviet Armenia. The main focus of
was Armenia's present condition in the
area of politics and economics.
Another topic was the conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Malkasian gave an overview of each
of these areas.
At the end of the class the students
discussed ideas about where they
project Soviet Armenia will be in five
years. In their discussions they
included area of economics, politics,
and the conflict with Azerbaijan.
In the area of economic the
possibility of Armenia becoming a
free-trade zone was discussed. As part
of the economic changes already
underway, Armenians would be able to
own their own land. Political
predictions ranged from an
independent Armenia to a form of
confederative status. As with the
Azerbaijan conflict the class
opinions were that the area of
Karabagh would be linked to Armenia
through a referendum or given the
status of an autonomous region.
Highlights of the session included
slides of present day
Armenia which depicted the mass
demonstrations held in support of
Karabagh and also an informative film
on the affects of the recent earthquake
in Armenia.
A. Chalabian's
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