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May 2001 Hye Sharzhoom 5 Fresno State basketball head coach Jerry Tarkanian, right, and ASO member Ara Mekhitarian. APRIL 24, Cont from Page 1 the audience of 200. He was followed by Armen Postoyan who recited the poem "To The Armenian Nation" also by Tekeyan. ASO advisor Barlow Der Mugrdechian was the last speaker for the event. "We are here today for many reasons; one is to hold a day of respect in memory of those Armenians who died in the century's first Genocide. We are here to bring the attention of all of humanity to this crime, because the Armenian Armen Postoyan ASO Advisor Barlow Der Mugrdechian Genocide was a crime against humanity. We are here also to remind students and faculty of the importance of this day. We will never forget what happened, and we will make sure that it never happens again..." "We will never forget what happened [The Armenian Genocide], and we will make sure that it never happens again..." Barlow Der Mugrdechian ASO Vice-President Sevag Tateosian At the end of the event, members of the ASO passed out white and pink carnations to the assembled crowd. Everyone lined up with flowers in hand and slowly walked towards the monument in a procession and placed the flowers at the base of the structure built by the students three years ago. This follows a tradition that is done in Armenia every April 24, a tradition, which the ASO has now adopted. Somber music played by Jim and Edward Karagozian filled the air as the crowd reflected upon their ancestors, many kneeling down and making the sign of the cross as they approached the monument. Many members of the community commented on the appropriateness of the ceremony organized by the Armenian Students Organization. The Armenian Students Organization and Armenian Studies Program have continually commemorated the Genocide on campus on April 24 for more than twenty-five years. mllon ASO President Michael Harutinian President Bush Breaks Campaign Promise By Avoiding the Word Genocide wmmmmmmmm^^m^"^——— President Bush failed to characterize as genocide the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in his official statement issued on the occasion of the 86th anniversary of the Genocide. In his signed statement, the President said, "Today marks the commemoration of one ofthe great tragedies of history: the forced exile and annihilation of approximately 1.5 million Armenians in the closing years of the Ottoman Empire. These infamous killings darkened the 20th century and continue to haunt us to this day." By so characterizing the Genocide, without using the word genocide, President Bush broke a campaign promise. - Over one hundred Members of Congress co-signed a letter urging the President to honor the commitment he made to Armenian- Americans during the presidential President George W. Bush campaign. The letter asked President Bush to "acknowledge this brutal episode in human history and describe it for what it was - a genocide." Members of both the US Sen ate and House of Representatives commemorated the Armenian Genocide by participating in a series of Special Order speeches following Tuesday's legislative business. Senators Russ Feingold (D- WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jack Reed (D-RI) made statements, with others expected to follow suit. The Co-Chairs ofthe Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Representatives Joe Knollenberg (R- MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), organized the Special Order speeches in the US House of Representatives and invited their colleagues to join the annual bipartisan event. In Fresno, reaction to the President's speech ranged from disappointment to outrage that he had broken his promise. We Shall Say to God By Vahan Tekeyan Should it happen we do not endure This uneven fight and drained Of strength and agonized We fall on death's ground, not to rise And the great crime ends With the last Armenian eyes Closing without seeing a victorious day, Let us swear that when we find God in his paradise offering comfort To make amends for our pain, Let us swear that we will refuse Saying No, send us to hell again. We choose hell. You made us know it well. Keep your paradise for the Turk. (1917) (translated by Diana Der Hovanessian and Marzbed Margossian, from Sacred Wrath: The Selected Poems of Vahan Tekeyan) Jim Karagozian, right, playing the kanon, with his brother Edward Karagozian, left, playing the dumbeg. $10 Million Life Insurance Settlement for Heirs of Genocide Victims By John Jabagchourian Editor New York Life Insurance Co. agreed to pay $10 million to settle a lawsuit over unpaid policies made by heirs of Armenians killed in the Genocide 86 years ago. The company, which had a European office in the early 20th century, sold about 3,300 life insurance policies to Armenians in the Ottoman Empire prior to 1915. Archives show that about 2,200 of those policies have not been paid. These policies, which will be paid at ten times the face value, are estimated to total at least $7 million. The company will also give $3 million to Armenian civic organizations. As part of the settlement announced on April 11, New York Life will publish a list of names of the families who purchased life insurance during that time. The list is expected to be published in a national advertising program towards the end of the year with instructions for potential beneficiaries. "We think this is a very fair and equitable solution to a longstanding issue rooted in a terrible incident that occurred in the Ottoman Empire," New York Life vice- president, Bill Werfelman said. The suit was filed in Los Angeles by Martin Marootian who contended that he was the beneficiary of one of the policies. A suit of this type was made possible after a 2000 bill signed into law by Governor Grey Davis made it possible for Armenian-American California residents to sue insurance companies over unpaid policies in California courts. New York Life initially argued that European courts should preside over such issue. California however, contains the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia, and such a case would attract more attention in the United States. "I think I can speak for the clients and say it was important that New York Life recognize the existence of these claims that were not paid," lead attorney for the plaintiffs Brian Kabateck, who is half-Armenian, said. New York Life does not refer to the "Armenian Genocide" in their statement about the agreement, referring instead to "widespread deaths" and "massacre." Kabateck said that he would insist that a final settlement use that term. A federal judge must still approve of the settlement and its execution. The decision is expected in a few weeks.
Object Description
Title | 2001_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 2001 |
Alternative Title | Armenian Action, Vol. 22 No. 4, May 2001; Ethnic Supplement to the Collegian. |
Publisher | Armenian Studies Program, California State University, Fresno. |
Publication Date | 2001 |
Description | Published two to four times a year. The newspaper of the California State University, Fresno Armenian Students Organization and Armenian Studies Program. |
Subject | California State University, Fresno – Periodicals. |
Contributors | Armenian Studies Program; Armenian Students Organization, California State University, Fresno. |
Coverage | 1979-2014 |
Format | Newspaper print |
Language | eng |
Full-Text-Search | Scanned at 200-360 dpi, 18-bit greyscale - 24-bit color, TIFF or PDF. PDFs were converted to TIF using Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro. |
Description
Title | May 2001 Page 5 |
Full-Text-Search | May 2001 Hye Sharzhoom 5 Fresno State basketball head coach Jerry Tarkanian, right, and ASO member Ara Mekhitarian. APRIL 24, Cont from Page 1 the audience of 200. He was followed by Armen Postoyan who recited the poem "To The Armenian Nation" also by Tekeyan. ASO advisor Barlow Der Mugrdechian was the last speaker for the event. "We are here today for many reasons; one is to hold a day of respect in memory of those Armenians who died in the century's first Genocide. We are here to bring the attention of all of humanity to this crime, because the Armenian Armen Postoyan ASO Advisor Barlow Der Mugrdechian Genocide was a crime against humanity. We are here also to remind students and faculty of the importance of this day. We will never forget what happened, and we will make sure that it never happens again..." "We will never forget what happened [The Armenian Genocide], and we will make sure that it never happens again..." Barlow Der Mugrdechian ASO Vice-President Sevag Tateosian At the end of the event, members of the ASO passed out white and pink carnations to the assembled crowd. Everyone lined up with flowers in hand and slowly walked towards the monument in a procession and placed the flowers at the base of the structure built by the students three years ago. This follows a tradition that is done in Armenia every April 24, a tradition, which the ASO has now adopted. Somber music played by Jim and Edward Karagozian filled the air as the crowd reflected upon their ancestors, many kneeling down and making the sign of the cross as they approached the monument. Many members of the community commented on the appropriateness of the ceremony organized by the Armenian Students Organization. The Armenian Students Organization and Armenian Studies Program have continually commemorated the Genocide on campus on April 24 for more than twenty-five years. mllon ASO President Michael Harutinian President Bush Breaks Campaign Promise By Avoiding the Word Genocide wmmmmmmmm^^m^"^——— President Bush failed to characterize as genocide the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in his official statement issued on the occasion of the 86th anniversary of the Genocide. In his signed statement, the President said, "Today marks the commemoration of one ofthe great tragedies of history: the forced exile and annihilation of approximately 1.5 million Armenians in the closing years of the Ottoman Empire. These infamous killings darkened the 20th century and continue to haunt us to this day." By so characterizing the Genocide, without using the word genocide, President Bush broke a campaign promise. - Over one hundred Members of Congress co-signed a letter urging the President to honor the commitment he made to Armenian- Americans during the presidential President George W. Bush campaign. The letter asked President Bush to "acknowledge this brutal episode in human history and describe it for what it was - a genocide." Members of both the US Sen ate and House of Representatives commemorated the Armenian Genocide by participating in a series of Special Order speeches following Tuesday's legislative business. Senators Russ Feingold (D- WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jack Reed (D-RI) made statements, with others expected to follow suit. The Co-Chairs ofthe Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Representatives Joe Knollenberg (R- MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), organized the Special Order speeches in the US House of Representatives and invited their colleagues to join the annual bipartisan event. In Fresno, reaction to the President's speech ranged from disappointment to outrage that he had broken his promise. We Shall Say to God By Vahan Tekeyan Should it happen we do not endure This uneven fight and drained Of strength and agonized We fall on death's ground, not to rise And the great crime ends With the last Armenian eyes Closing without seeing a victorious day, Let us swear that when we find God in his paradise offering comfort To make amends for our pain, Let us swear that we will refuse Saying No, send us to hell again. We choose hell. You made us know it well. Keep your paradise for the Turk. (1917) (translated by Diana Der Hovanessian and Marzbed Margossian, from Sacred Wrath: The Selected Poems of Vahan Tekeyan) Jim Karagozian, right, playing the kanon, with his brother Edward Karagozian, left, playing the dumbeg. $10 Million Life Insurance Settlement for Heirs of Genocide Victims By John Jabagchourian Editor New York Life Insurance Co. agreed to pay $10 million to settle a lawsuit over unpaid policies made by heirs of Armenians killed in the Genocide 86 years ago. The company, which had a European office in the early 20th century, sold about 3,300 life insurance policies to Armenians in the Ottoman Empire prior to 1915. Archives show that about 2,200 of those policies have not been paid. These policies, which will be paid at ten times the face value, are estimated to total at least $7 million. The company will also give $3 million to Armenian civic organizations. As part of the settlement announced on April 11, New York Life will publish a list of names of the families who purchased life insurance during that time. The list is expected to be published in a national advertising program towards the end of the year with instructions for potential beneficiaries. "We think this is a very fair and equitable solution to a longstanding issue rooted in a terrible incident that occurred in the Ottoman Empire," New York Life vice- president, Bill Werfelman said. The suit was filed in Los Angeles by Martin Marootian who contended that he was the beneficiary of one of the policies. A suit of this type was made possible after a 2000 bill signed into law by Governor Grey Davis made it possible for Armenian-American California residents to sue insurance companies over unpaid policies in California courts. New York Life initially argued that European courts should preside over such issue. California however, contains the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia, and such a case would attract more attention in the United States. "I think I can speak for the clients and say it was important that New York Life recognize the existence of these claims that were not paid," lead attorney for the plaintiffs Brian Kabateck, who is half-Armenian, said. New York Life does not refer to the "Armenian Genocide" in their statement about the agreement, referring instead to "widespread deaths" and "massacre." Kabateck said that he would insist that a final settlement use that term. A federal judge must still approve of the settlement and its execution. The decision is expected in a few weeks. |