Today Azerbaijan celebrates Od Chershenbesi Trend News Agency
Day: March 4, 2024
Sixty new members were appointed to the Order of Canada on February 22 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The Order of Canada is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honor for merit in the system of order, decorations, and medals in the system of Canada, bestowed on individuals in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the country. Among those appointed was the co-founder and current President of the Zoryan Institute, K.M. Greg Sarkissian, for his lifelong contributions to the field of genocide and human rights studies.
Sarkissian was recognized and awarded the Order of Canada insignia by Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada. He was introduced with the following description:
“A Canadian of Armenian descent, Greg Sarkissian is a well-esteemed community leader and activist. He is the co-founder and main patron of the Zoryan Institute, which strives to promote historically accurate analyses of large-scale traumatic events through multidisciplinary research, publications, and curricula. By establishing a graduate-level university program, he has helped Canada become an international destination for studies in genocide and human rights. Deeply involved with various minority groups and ethnic communities across Canada, he fights against the us-versus-them mentality with a compassionate approach that fuels his international reputation.”
Order of Canada recipient group photo with Mary Simon (center), Governor General of Canada (Photo via Office of Governor General)
When asked about what prompted him to co-found the Zoryan Institute, Sarkissian cited two pivotal incidents which had impacted and inspired him in his endeavor. The first incident was a personal story about a great humanitarian, Haji Khalil, a pious Muslim Turk from Urfa, Türkiye, who saved the lives of Sarkissian’s grandmother and her children; while the second, was the tragic fate of the 11 members of one family who were all killed in the 1930s in Germany simply for being Jewish. He finished by dedicating the recognition and his investiture into the Order of Canada to the memory of this great Turkish humanitarian and those 11 family members.
Sarkissian’s life is marked by his own experience growing up with parents who survived the Armenian genocide. His personal story tells of a Haji Khalil, his maternal grandfather’s Turkish business partner, who had promised to take care of his grandfather’s family in case of any misfortune. When Sarkissian’s grandfather was subsequently hanged by the Ottoman Turkish authorities and the deportations of the Armenians from their ancestral homeland began, Haji Khalil kept his promise by hiding Greg Sarkissian’s pregnant grandmother, her sister and their children in the upper story of his house for eight months. The logistics involved were extremely burdensome: there were seven people to hide, food for seven extra mouths to be purchased, prepared, and carried up undetected nightly which had to suffice until the following night.
Khalil’s consideration was so deep that he even arranged for his own family to be absent from their house at least once a week, taking them to the mosque, so that Greg’s grandmother, sister, and their children could bathe. Khalil exposed himself to tremendous risk and his situation was precarious, as even his servants were aware of what was transpiring and they could have easily informed the authorities. Had he been caught sheltering Armenians he would certainly have shared the same fate as the Armenians and faced death. Luckily, his household remained loyal and discreet, and therefore, Sarkissian was one of the very few children of his generation and in his neighborhood to grow up with aunts and uncles, all of whom remembered Haji Khalil, the righteous Turk. The memory of Khalil and his sacrifice, contrasting with the horrors of the genocide perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey, represents an innermost tension which became the motivation of Greg’s life and the fight against the “us-versus-them” mentality.
During his university years, Sarkissian had attended a lecture on “Genocide and Media”, run by Hilel, a Jewish student association on the campus. The lecturer displayed a major U.S. newspaper from the 1930s, with a man’s picture and a front-page article featuring a headline about the man, who had beaten his dog to death, and his community’s uproar for the lack of punishment for such a crime. Several pages later, on page 26, underneath an advertisement about women’s swimwear, was a small caption, in a 1-inch square, about the murder of 11 people belonging to the same Jewish family. This was disturbing for Sarkissian. The newspaper had placed the death of a dog in a more prominent place on the front page, than the life of 11 humans who were reduced to a mere ‘footnote’ and tucked away with the advertisements on page 26. He described how these two moments became pivotal motivations for his co-founding of Zoryan Institute.
Sarkissian was born to parents who survived the Armenian genocide perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey and were traumatized by the lost heritage of his ancestral homeland. He found profound significance in receiving the Order of Canada from Governor General Mary Simon, herself, an Indigenous Canadian and descendant of genocide survivors. That, together with the Right Honourable Madam Simon’s opening remarks in Inuktitut, was viewed by Sarkissian as a symbol of reconciliation between Canada’s Indigenous people and its settlers.
He then reflected on the closing paragraph of the speech he had given in Yerevan, Armenia in 1995, where he had said: “…I want to extend my hand to the people of Turkey to ask them to remember that, though, at one time their state was led by mass murders, they also had their Haji Khalil, and that it would honour the memory of the latter, to acknowledge the overwhelming truth of the genocide, to express regrets, so that the healing process may begin between our two people. Because without this healing mass, extermination as a tool of political dominance may become more common in the future. If Armenians and other victims of genocide, do not do everything in their power to pursue the battle against genocide, they would have failed in their responsibility towards future generations.”
Hilda AftandilianHILDA AFTANDILIAN
Born on November 6, 1926, Iran
Hilda Aftandilian, beloved mother, grandmother, and relative, passed away on Monday, February 26, 2024.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic church, located at 500 S. Central Ave., Glendale, CA 91204.
She is survived by her:
Daughter, Marlen and Peno Geodjenian
Grandson, Emil and Meline Geodjenian
Grandson, Ruben and Lucia Geodjenian and daughter
Son, Rubik and Karine Aftandilian
Granddaughters, Dr. Tania and Natasha Aftandilian
And all relatives and friends.
Memorial lunch will follow at Los Angeles Armenian Society, located at 117 S. Louise St., Glendale, CA 91205.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Save a Child Fund at the Armenian Society of Los Angeles.
Categories
NPR News: 03-04-2024 4PM EST
CANOGA PARK—The Homenetmen Massis Chapter of the San Fernando Valley is preparing to celebrate its 45th anniversary on October 5 with a gala. This milestone not only marks four and a half decades of dedication and service to the Armenian American youth of the San Fernando Valley, but also heralds the launch of a crucial fundraising campaign for the establishment of a second youth center.
Since it’s founding in 1979, Homenetmen Massis has been a uniting force for the San Fernando Valley Armenian community. Through its unwavering commitment to the Homenetmen mission of preparing physically fit young Armenians who conduct themselves as exemplary citizens and remain dedicated to their Armenain root, Homenetmen Massis has become a cornerstone of support and guidance for generations.
The 45th Anniversary Gala promises to be an evening filled with elegance, entertainment, and heartfelt camaraderie guided by the year’s theme: “Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future.” Attendees can look forward to a captivating program that includes a dinner reception, music, and highlights from the past 45 years of the organization’s activities.
However, beyond the festivities lies a vital mission: the launch of fundraising efforts for the acquisition of a second youth center. This new center will serve has a hub for sports and scouting programs, education activities, and community outreach initiatives. By expanding its footprint, Homenetmen Massis will be able to expand its reach and empower more young minds to thrive and succeed.
“We are excited to commemorate this important milestone in our organization’s history and embark on this challenging new chapter,” said Joseph Titizian, Chairman of Homenetmen Massis Executive Board to attendees of the 2024 Kick-Off Dinner at Terrace Restaurant. “Our second youth center will not only provide additional space to accommodate the growing membership of our chapter, but will also symbolize our enduring commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders.”
Through generous donations and pledges, gala attendees will have the opportunity to contribute directly to the realization of this transformative project and leave a lasting legacy for years to come. Join Homenetmen Massis on October 5, as they honor the past, celebrate the present, and invest in the future. Together, we can build a brighter tomorrow for the youth and community.
For more information about the gala event or to make a donation, please visit massis.org or contact us at gala@massis.org.