Daily Nonpareil - 09/17/2006

Cross-country walk to raise awareness
Tim Rohwer, Staff Writer

Americans need to become more aware of the horror of genocide, like that occurring now in the Sudan, said a group of young people who are walking across the country to raise awareness.

"There isn't enough education about genocide," said Hasmig Tatiossian.

"Some people don't know what the word genocide means," added Sarkis Nazaryan.

They and four others are taking part in the "Journey for Humanity," that left Los Angeles on June 27. On Oct. 30, they plan to reach Washington D.C. and give federal lawmakers resolutions on genocide. They reached Council Bluffs on Friday.

While war is a two-sided confrontation with each side trying to inflict casualties on the other, genocide is a one-sided attempt to destroy an entire nation or group, they said.

"There's a bold line between genocide and war," said Edward S. Majian.

The walk across the country has a symbolic message.

"The death march has been historically used as a method of genocide," S. Majian said.

Tragically, there have been genocides going on a century now, they said. Approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed in the Western Armenia region of Ottoman Turkey between 1915 and 1923. Then, there were the 6 million Jews, Poles and others killed in the Holocaust during World War II. Even in modern society, genocides have occurred. Approximately 800,000 Tutsis were killed in Rwanda in 1994 and today in the Darfur region of Sudan, 400,000 civilians have been killed and 2.2 million displaced since 2003.

"We feel there is an interconnection of all these cases," Tatiossian said. "There are patterns of genocide. They take place in a culture of impunity."

Perhaps even more tragic is the official "denial" by governments on genocide like the killings of the Armenians, they said.

"It's been denied for 93 years," Majian said. "It keeps us from learning and allows for a culture of impunity."

There are several reasons why Americans may not realize the horror of genocide, Tatiossian said.

"We are here and they are there. We are comfortable in our lives and it's hard to imagine what other people have to live through," Tatiossian said. "Lack of education is another reason."

Fortunately, they said, there are things that the average citizen can do to create more awareness and positive action to stop these atrocities.

For example, parents can request that teachers make the history of genocide a part of their curriculum so that today's students and future generations learn more about it.

"Education is the key," Tatiossian said.

Other ways that people can get involved includes the invitation of neighbors and friends together to hold candlelight vigils, and fundraisers for organizations pursuing the end of genocides, they said.

Of course, contacting their federal representatives is important.

"Legislators need people to raise attention," Majian said.

Upon arrival in Washington, the group will ask lawmakers to approve various resolutions. This includes putting economic pressure on Sudan until that government stops the Janjaweed and associated militias from attacking civilians and to allow for the safe return of refugees.

They will also request that President Bush urge United States representatives at the United Nations to call on the other member countries to end military assistance to the Sudan until the killings stop.

"There are a lot of things that can be done without military intervention," Tatiossian said.

The journey across the country is sponsored in part by the Los Angeles-based United Armenian Students organization. For more information on this project, go to www.journeyforhumanity.com.

Source: Daily Nonpareil