Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

Watertown Town Council lobbying Blue Cross/Blue Shield to stop funding ADL's No Place for Hate but won't advocate dropping the insurer. http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...dl_challenged/

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

Watertown Council meets with Blue Cross official tomorrow re: the insurer's relationship with ADL's No Place for Hate; editorial piece acknowledges ADL's misgivings on genocide recognition but claims it would be a mistake for Blue Cross to part ways with NPFH and that local officials shouldn't be dragged into dispute between Armenian activists and ADL. http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ed...or_blue_cross/

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

They are expecting a larger than usual crowd tomorrow at the Watertown Twn Council meeting tomorrow which features the Blue Cross and Blue Shield representatives discussing their financial support of ADL's NPFH program.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/09/21/needham_town_meeting_lineup/

("WATERTOWN
ANTICIPATING A CROWD - Expecting a larger-than-normal turnout this week, the Town Council will move its Tuesday meeting from Town Hall to the Watertown Middle School auditorium. During the session, representatives from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts are expected to talk about the company's financial support for the Anti-Defamation League's No Place For Hate program. Last month, the council sent a letter to Blue Cross executives requesting the face-to-face meeting and urging the healthcare insurance company to withdraw its support in light of the ongoing controversy between Armenian-Americans and the ADL over recognition of the Armenian genocide. - Christina Pazzanese")

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

Bedford resident proclaims that nothing less that ADL's unequivocal recognition of the Armenian Genocide shall suffice, the same has not occurred and until then they are unqualified to run anti-bias programs such that other organizations like Blue Cross/Blue Shield should not support the NPFH program but support other more worthy programs.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2008/09/24/adl_must_make_an_unequivocal_statement/

More lead up to last night's Watertown Town council meeting focusing on Blue Cross/Blue Shield officials discussing their support of ADL's NPFH; resolution disclosed. http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/re...ross_to_d.html

Here is the resolution the Town Council was considering last night:

"Whereas: Taxpayers pay the major share of the premiums for the many Town employees who have Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance; and, Whereas: The Council believes that taxpayer funds which are directed to Blue Cross/Blue Shield should not be spent on a program affiliated with an organization which diminishes the factuality of, and works against recognition of, a widely acknowledged genocide. Now Therefore Be It Resolved: The City known as the Town of Watertown hereby asks BC/BSMA to expeditiously sever ties with NPFH and similar ADL programs; and that the Council shall send to BC/BSMA chif executives and members of the Board of Directors a letter with this Resolution, that asks for such severance and requests a prompt and positive response; and the council shall take due notice, make public, and discuss BSBCMA’s response.”

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

Watertown Council unimpressed by position of Blue Cross official concerning its support of ADL's NPFH, passes resolution demanding it end its endorsement of NPFH. http://www.wickedlocal.com/watertown...Place-for-Hate

Armenian American organizations write an open letter to Blue Cross/Blue Shield basically telling them to tell Foxman to caugh up an unequivocal statement acknowledging the Armenian Genocide or go fly a kite.http://www.wickedlocal.com/watertown...ss-Blue-Shield

J-ewish writer sees Obama's run for the presidency causing a stir up of the old guard of American J-ewish organizations as so called American J-ewish leaders are out of touch with the views of many American J-ews. http://www.muzzlewatch.com/?p=400#more-400

Essay by UCLA history and sociology professor details modern Turkey's efforts to deny the Armenian genocide including the efforts of American J-ewish Organizations to assist Turkey in its endeavor.

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n18/ande01_.html

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

Hebrew year 5768, a very good year for American-xxxish whine; among other American J-ewish organizations, AIPAC and ADL claim they were victims of smear campaigns and demonized by J-ewish and Armenian activists.

http://www.j-ewishchronicle.org/article.php?article_id=10641

http://www.j-ewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/36182/format/html/displaystory.html

Personally, I don't think either of these organizations have any standing to complain about being smeared and demonized.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

Blue Cross/Blue Shield reluctant to withdraw its support of ADL'S No Place For Hate.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/09/28/blue_cross_resists_pressure_on_adl/

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

American-Armenian activist rightfully blasts J-ewish Chronicle for publishing misleading article claiming that ADL reversed its refusal to recognize Armenian Genocide. http://www.j-ewishchronicle.org/arti...ticle_id=10686

ANCA Massachussetts voices unhappiness with Blue Cross response to concerns of Armenian community over its ties with ADL's NPFH. http://www.wickedlocal.com/watertown...Cross-response

Here's the response from Blue Cross - its their understanding that the ADL unequivocally recognized the Armenian genocide. http://www.wickedlocal.com/watertown...-Massachusetts

Fatf-uck Foxman whines that J-ews are wrongfully being blamed for financial crisis in wave of on-line anti-semitism.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2008/10/03/economic_meltdown_brings_out_anti_semitism/

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLbj-T61EnJt7iE6lnCPKLaq_sfQ

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017443883&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/adl-reports-surge-anti-semitic-messages/story.aspx?guid=%7BE0C140CE-D075-447A-A7D2-BAAD1E51C694%7D&dist=hppr

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

So is Abe Foxman going to appear before the Watertown Town Council or not? The Boston Globe is reporting that the ADL controversy in Watertown appears to be over.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/10/19/school_repair_update/

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/regional_editions/globe_west/west/2008/10/adl_statement_o.html

WATERTOWN
ADL FIGHT APPEARS OVER - Clyde L. Younger, the Town Council's president, said he now feels comfortable with assurances from the Anti-Defamation League's national leader, Abraham H. Foxman, that the organization recognizes the Armenian genocide. His change of heart followed Foxman's tersely worded letter to Younger on Oct. 3, reaffirming the league's position that had been posted on its New England office's website in August. The statement read in part, "ADL has never denied the tragic and painful events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians, and we have referred to those massacres and atrocities as genocide." Last month, the Town Council asked Foxman to clarify the league's stance in person, after a senior official from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts had rebuffed the council's request that the company drop its support for the league's No Place for Hate program. The Blue Cross official said the insurance company was satisfied that the ADL had acknowledged the Armenian deaths in 1915-17 as genocide. - Christina Pazzanese

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Watertown Armenians in arow over ADL's anti-genocide stance

1915-1917? wtf. not only has the ADL obfuscated their true position re: recognition about the Armenian genocide, the Boston Globe can't get their historical accuracy down. Just pathetic.

Armenian genocide memorial goes up in Framingham, MA.

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1937572420/Memorial-honors-victims-survivors-of-Armenian-Genocide

Memorial honors victims, survivors of Armenian Genocide

John Tarantino/Daily News staff

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian blesses a stone cross yesterday which is part of a new park in Framingham dedicated to victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

By Kathy Uek/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Oct 19, 2008 @ 10:34 PM

FRAMINGHAM — More than 200 members of the Armenian Church of the Holy Translators stood against whipping winds yesterday during the dedication of its memorial park in front of the Franklin Street place of worship.

The park is a memorial to the victims of the genocide, which occurred roughly from 1915 to 1923, and a tribute to the survivors, many of whom came to the Boston area in the early 20th century, said Stepan Piligian, chairman of the parish council.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, of the diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in New York City, blessed the park.

"Half of the Armenian population of 3 million perished in the genocide, Barsamian said. "Today, there are 8 million Armenians in the world, even in Singapore. We are here today because of those who sacrificed their lives.

"The (Ottoman) Turks killed them because they were Christians," he added. "The Ottoman Empire was getting weaker. They feared the Armenians, who had asked for their rights back. Women and children were separated from husbands and partners. The men were taken to the Syrian desert and killed. The women were kidnapped and tortured. Even children were raped."

Remembering them is a reminder that life goes on, said Levon Hanzatian of Natick, who was born in Turkey and came to America in 1968. "They are part of us."

The parents of Joe Kasparian of Milford survived the genocide. "My mother, Virginia, was a young girl and so traumatized she never wanted to talk about it," Kasparian said. "My father, John, didn't talk about it until later. He was fortunate. His next-door neighbor, who was a Turk, told him about the attack and they got out. As they ran away, they saw dismembered bodies. After the genocide, my mother's family went to Argentina and my father's family went to France before coming to America," he said. "It was sad for them to go through it."

His father died this year at 101.

A stone cross or khatchker, made from volcanic stone native to Armenia and used on graves and monasteries, stands at the heart of the park.

Surrounding the elaborately cut cross, are brick walkways.

"Many of the bricks are engraved in memory of family members and for special occasions, such as baptisms and weddings," Piligian said.

The bishop dedicated the park on the fifth anniversary of the the church and the blessing of the Holy Muron (holy oil) made every seven years.

"The oil is used for anointing in baptisms, confirmations, and for those called to spiritual leadership," said the Rev. Father Krikor A. Sabounjian, pastor of the church.

After the archbishop blessed the park, he did the same for the food served in the lower church, where members enjoyed trays of meats, fruits and vegetables and native treats, including Syrian bread, humus and an unsweetened cheese pastry called borek.