Encouraging Youth to Contact Representatives
By Michelle Hagopian
By now most of you know about the legislation calling for the United States president to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 17.
The first thought that ran through my mind was, “What makes H.Res.252 any different from the resolution introduced in the 110th Congress during the Bush Administration?” More importantly, what can Armenians do to ensure this piece of legislation doesn’t fail? In my opinion, the answer lies with the Armenian youth.
I know most of AYF members across the country have been lectured on the importance of being active in Armenian issues, especially at the grassroots level. But for those of you not in the AYF or some Armenian youth organization (and even to some in AYF), the notion of participating in the Armenian cause may seem foreign to you. As a Senior AYF member, I don’t want to preach to the youth on why it’s meaningful to participate. Rather, I want to take the opportunity to explain how you can help and how doing your part for the Armenian community has an effect on all generations.
First, I want to tell you how easy it is to contact your representatives. Simply go to www.anca.org and on the main page of the Armenian National Committee of America’s website you will find links under “Current Action Alerts.” I encourage everyone to both write and call their respective House representatives through this simple process. To email a representative, all you have to do is choose the pre-printed text that you’d like to include in your message and then include your name, address, and email address, and click send. It’s that simple and takes five minutes of your time. I also recommend you join the ANCA email list so you can receive updated news alerts and press releases as they become available.
To call your representative, simply click the link on the main page and type your zip code in the box on the following page. The ANCA has provided a written script for callers to read when contacting representatives, making it a quick and hassle-free experience. Remember to call during business hours, typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
So why am I telling you this? While the above information is for anyone to utilize, I am trying to reach as many youth as possible in order to rally a large response to H.Res.252. Think about it: Congressional representatives are constantly in contact with adults, yet rarely ever hear concerns from the younger generation. So even if just one teenager were to write a letter to a representative, the youth voice would start building its own platform. With today’s technology and the fact that our generation is the most tech-savvy (and obsessed) yet, there is no reason why the youth voice shouldn’t be heard.
The bottom line is that our people know the truth about the Armenian Genocide. Dozens of other nations recognize that undeniable truth. I understand the controversy surrounding Turkey as a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally and a U.S. ally in regard to the war in Iraq and oil dependency. However, several NATO allies have already recognized the genocide, including France and Germany. So it’s debatable how much the U.S. truly stands to lose by passing H.Res.252.
With so much weighing in on the U.S. government, it is now more crucial than ever that our generation steps up. Simply saying we will volunteer or contribute is not enough; the smallest acts can add up to a large result. Older generations have carried the burden for far too long, and it is time for the responsibility to transfer to us. Yes, it is an intimidating challenge, but it is not an impossible one. Just consider it one of the duties we have as Armenians—to right the wrongs committed against our ancestors so many years ago.
Call or write your representative today and encourage your friends to do the same. Let’s face this responsibility full force and make H.Res.252 the wave that changes the tide for our generation and all others that follow.
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