I joined the Illinois Chapter of the Armenian National Committee and the local Armenian Community to commemorate the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on Sunday April 25th. The Armenian Genocide is one of the most horrific examples of mass-execution of a people in human history. During and just after World War I, the Ottoman Empire systematically murdered between 1 and 1.5 million Armenians. Nonetheless, many countries do not recognize this as genocide, and the United States and President Obama is yet to join more than 20 countries in referring to this sad history as 'genocide.'
I was honored to speak at the Commemoration in Glenview to communicate my belief that the United States must never turn a blind eye to those who exact violence against the innocent, and we must hold those who do accountable. I expressed to the Armenian-America Community that the United States must stand with the Armenians and always recognize that evil exists in this world and that our national security interests lie in ensuring that the objectives of evil are not realized.
On my way into the event, I noticed that the American flag was raised at full mast in front of the Armenian Community Center, while the Armenian flag was raised only half mast to honor those who lost their lives in the genocide. I recognize this symbolism and believe that with hard work, I will one-day see that our Nation earns the right to raise its flag at half mast at this event by officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
