WILMINGTON, Mass.—Khatchig Mouradian painted a vivid picture of how his family experienced genocide.
Speaking before 350 students at Wilmington High School Feb. 26, Mouradian told of a grandmother whose face would contort as she watched television footage of a Turkish official discrediting the very genocide she had experienced.
His message was loud and clear: educating the next generation is paramount.
Mouradian was part of a panel discussion sponsored by the Armenian Genocide Education Committee of Merrimack Valley and the school’s National Honor Society.
He was joined on stage by Janet Singer Applefield, a Holocaust survivor; Claude Kaitare, who fled Rwanda in 1994 after his country was decimated; and Sayon Soeun, a Cambodian trained to be a child soldier.
Together, the four gave their personal accounts with deep emotion and understanding as educators, administrators, and outside guests also looked on. The event was fully covered in area papers under the banner headline, “Genocide survivors share their pain—horror stories in Wilmington.” (Note: for a report that appeared in the Lowell Sun and a video segment of Mouradian’s speech, visit http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_14483445.)
Mouradian is a journalist, writer, translator, and devout student-educator currently in pursuit of his doctorate in Holocaust and genocide studies at Clark University, Worcester, where he is attending on scholarship when not editing the Armenian Weekly.
“Having someone say that everything you experience about genocide is a lie remains an insult, not only to the individual but to humanity itself,” he brought out. “Genocide is a crime against humanity. Denial is the last phase. We’re waiting for closure.”
Mouradian spoke of the immigrants who came to this country under extreme hardship, providing for their families and creating a new life. He called for recognition on the part of Turkey and the United States.
“It is our duty to tell their stories,” he informed the students. “A genocide forgotten is destined to repeat itself.”
Applefield was a four-year-old living in Poland when the Holocaust occurred. She changed her name three times to protect her identity. Had it not been for her blond hair, she might have become another statistic.
“My family was made to march and dig its own grave before being shot and killed,” she said. “My childhood was one escape and beating after another. For years, we were forbidden to talk about it.”
As an eight-year-old, Soeun was taught to hate and kill in Cambodia.
“My family was my enemy,” he admitted. “There was no such thing as love. My life was darkness. I was brainwashed. Professionally, I have adjusted very well. Personally and emotionally, I still have difficulty.”
Today, Soeun resides in Lowell and is a member of the State Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, along with numerous other community service projects.
Kaitare was 16 when turmoil raged throughout Rwanda. He recalls burying the dead and changing IVs in hospitals to help children like himself survive. He fled in 1994 and came to live with an aunt in Maine.
“People that were once my friendly neighbors were waving machetes at makeshift roadblocks,” he groaned. “These days I still have issues of psychological disorder. As for my country, it’s a new Rwanda from what I left. “
Instructors Lisa Desberg and Maura Tucker have designed a curriculum around “Facing History and Ourselves,” based in Brookline. This marks their third semester and the students are enamored by it.
“It’s all about creating awareness,” said Desberg. “The input we’ve received has been profound. I see social activism being promoted through all this.”
Tucker concurred. She feels obliged to help change the world through honest education and careful perception.
“In order to have leaders making positive changes, they need to be told today,” said Tucker. “I see instances of bullying, teasing, groups not getting along. It escalates. We see it in the world with places like Darfur. If we can get a spark going here, it could turn into an inferno.”
Among those whole-heartedly supporting genocide education is Principal Eric Tracy. When the idea of a genocide forum came up, he gave a quick endorsement to it.
“These forums give students an opportunity to hear first-hand information that can help them better understand the realities of the world,” he noted. “By getting involved and inspiring others their age, such an education becomes a powerful tool.”
The Merrimack Valley Education Committee has been making the rounds to various high schools throughout the area in an effort to inculcate genocide education, more notably the Armenians. Members have been met with approval upon each visit.
“Our mission is to prevent history from repeating itself,” said Dro Kanayan, chairman, who moderated the panel discussion. “Any ethnic group should not be exposed to it. We’re here not to resolve history but to discuss it.”
Tom Vartabedian
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Excellent and thoughtful opportunity to get our word out to the greater public.
This is a great initiative! Creating awareness about genocides in colleges through speakers from different backgrounds. Similar events should be held across the country!
Kudo’s go out to Wilmington High! More High schools/colleges need to address this vital part of HISTORY!1
I have to write this thought and suggestion to present this issue/program at the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School where the current suit against the Department of Education originated. It can be another opportunity to learn more by how it is dealt with – if not already done. Best regards…
If we let the world know that we would not seat back and let the Turks commit a genocide and the sweep it under the carpet, and all the other powerful nations would not put their monetary gain before human right, then no other nation would dare to carry out such a crime, because simply they know they can not get away with it.
Now every body can understand why we insist on the matter. It is for the good of all man kind not Armenians only as Turks would like the world to believe.
Finally history should never repeat itself, and we Armenians (god bless our stubborn nature) would make sure of that, rest assure.