Genocide Awareness: Taking our Efforts to the Next Level


In 1999, with the tragic and unimaginable acts of genocide that occurred in Rwanda and Bosnia, my journey to educate others on the genocides of the past began.

By Karine Birazian-Shnorhokian

As a 15 year-old high school student at the time, the passion to tell my story of the Armenian people gave me ammunition, and prepared me to be the soldier I am today fighting for this important cause. The genocide in Darfur, conflicts in Burma, Congo, and Uganda, were unknown to the world and “never again” was being said without much action and education on this issue was not a priority.

Efforts to educate others on genocide are challenging. First, you have those that may have never heard of the victims’ story—whether it be an Armenian, Pontian Greek, or even a Darfurian. Second, you have ignorance from the opposition who continue their plight of ongoing denial to hear this history. Third, you have the lack of empathy “well this occurred almost 100 years ago, why should I care,” and lastly, you are competing for attention with our troubling economy and fighting terrorism. But these obstacles should not keep us from our ultimate goal of recognition and reparations of our lost territories and homelands.

My own personal voyage began as a shy and timid junior at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois, where several staff in the Social Studies department, including teachers like Mr. James McPherrin and Ms. Sue Corfield encouraged me to present to the Freshman class the history of the Armenian genocide. Lecturing to my own peers gave me an opportunity to connect with them on another level. For an hour, I had them listen to my story, the history, and the need to take action. Until my high school graduation, I continued to lecture to students, even visiting other schools presenting the facts.

Before I knew it, four years had passed, and I was finishing up college. I had spoken to over 2,000 students, participated as a Leo Sarkisian Intern for the Armenian National Committee of America, obtained a grant from the Armenian Youth Foundation to man a booth at the 87th Annual National Social Studies Conference (NCSS) and opened up the world to building coalitions with other organization and educators on the importance of this topic.

However, my career path at that time had taken a different route. I was working towards a degree in nursing, but, still continuing efforts to focus on my passion, which was genocide education. Finding every opportunity to lecture, attend human rights related events, and meet with Members of Congress, I realized all to soon that genocide education was a full time hobby.
The implementation of this topic within the Illinois school system did not entirely take effect until 2005. With leading efforts from the Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation in Chicago, legislation to mandate the teaching of genocide was underway. Quickly mobilizing and working to attain coalition partners as well as pressure Assembly Members to support this bill led to an overwhelming vote in favor of the legislation and the mandate was signed into law by the Governor of Illinois in August 2005.

With the need to further these efforts, the Armenian community worked to establish the Genocide Education Network of Illinois (GENI). With GENI in place, our dedicated and motivated neighbors, the Pontian Greeks joined our forces. Since 2006, we have successfully executed a number of teacher’s workshop and conferences throughout the Midwest and even California and New Jersey to educate others on our untold stories. Most of this could not be possible without retired school teacher Ron Levitsky. George Mavropoulos, President of the Pontian Society of Chicago “Xeniteas” Chapter, paved the way for Pontian Greek legislation to be developed and continues to educate teachers and students on the history of the forgotten genocides.

After two years of working as an Intensive Care Nurse (ICU), I then left my home in Illinois and moved out to New Jersey to work for the Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern Region. For three years, I traveled throughout the region meeting Armenians and non-Armenians. It has especially been rewarding to continue to team up with other groups, including the Pontian Greeks, especially during their commemoration events in May, as well as various events throughout the year. Earlier this year, I was selected as a 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellow with the Genocide Intervention Network. Efforts to create an “anti genocide constituency” within our communities is the underlying goal within the fellowship, and it has been very rewarding to take part in such an effort.

For Greeks and Armenians however, our collective voice to mobilize for the rightful truth is much larger than we think. Uniting Armenians and Greeks throughout the nation to fight off our opposition and Turkish denial of the Armenian and Pontian genocide will have cataclysmal effects to ensure recognition. Though we may come together a few times a year to honor and remember the victims of our genocides, joining forces and truly make a difference.

©2009 NEOCORP MEDIA


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