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ADL and NPFH taken to task in Santa Barbara.
Calling for Consistency
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Thursday, February 7, 2008
It's no surprise that many Santa Barbara organizations support No Place For Hate (NPFH), a program sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League. After all, on its Web site, the ADL claims to "secure justice" and maintain "fair treatment to all citizens alike." It is quite shocking to learn that the ADL did not recognize the Armenian Genocide. Given that genocide denial is one of the highest forms of hate speech, I found their position hypocritical. What surprised me most is that there are 60 organizations in Santa Barbara who are affiliated with NPFH. These organizations include many of our high schools and colleges.
Seven Massachusetts cities have recently cut their ties to the NPFH. Human Rights Committee also cut its ties. Under pressure, ADL chairman Mr. Foxman issued a statement affirming a shift in position that, "actions were indeed tantamount to genocide." He went on to state that a Congressional Resolution would be counterproductive, instead proposing a commission from Turkey and Armenia for a debate. This would be no different from last year's Holocaust conference held in Iran that the ADL rightly condemned.
Santa Barbara should follow the lead of the Human Rights Committee and the cities of Massachusetts by urging our organizations to cut their ties with NPFH until the ADL follows its own mission statements by recognizing the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide and supporting its recognition in the United States Congress. If we want to live in a world without genocide, we cannot leave any room for denial.
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Great job getting the message out.
I was wondering when, if any, push was going to be made re: Santa Barbara's relations with ADL and the NO PLACE FOR HATE program. You would think one of the Western branches of the American Armenian lobby would have been all over this.
Of course, it would help if these organization were able to organize rallies of meaningful size to put a little bite behind their bark.
And, you would think that after thirty (30)+ years of lobbying activities or more on behalf of American Armenian issues they would have established better access points with MSM or other effective means of getting the message out.
Note, 11 Massachussetts cities have disbanded, disassociated with ADL's NPFH program. Not 7.
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