Letter - Levon Baronian

I have been quietly following the discussions about the Armenian

Genocide for a while now and believe that it is a healthy and beneficial

forum for the community. However, recently I was stunned to read so many

blatantly racist remarks made by those that are against the lowering of

the American flag on Genocide Remembrance Day.

Most against the lowering of the flag argue that the genocide occurred

a long time ago in Armenia, far from the United States and, since America

or Americans were not involved, the flag should not be lowered. This

seems ridiculous to me.

How can someone claim Americans have no involvement in this matter?

There are more than a million Americans of Armenian descent living in the

United States. Many have been in this country for several generations and

have contributed immensely to this great nation. California even had an

Armenian-American governor for eight years. By ignoring the involvement,

they are attempting to discount the “Americanness” of those of Armenian

descent.

Also, April 19 was Holocaust Remembrance Day and there were several

government-sponsored events. The president of the United States formally

attended one such event. Is it right for us to be picky when it comes to

human rights? How can you recognize and remember one and forget and scorn

the other?

The way some answer this question is what puzzles me.

LEVON BARONIAN

North Hollywood