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Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A forgotten genocide, brought to the forefront
On April 24, 1915, the Young Turks of the ailing Ottoman Empire rounded up more than 200 Armenian intellectuals. Historians use this date to mark the start of the Armenian massacres.
At the time, there were between two million and three million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire.
In the next few years, up to 1.5 million Armenians were systematically murdered. More were deported. My great-grandparents were some of the lucky ones who survived and eventually made it to the United States.
For years, the Turkish government has denied this holocaust by saying that the million or so Armenians died of famine and infighting, not from any actions of the Turkish government.
Now, 92 years later, the United States Congress is attempting to recognize these massacres for what they really were: a genocide.
The nonbinding resolution, which the House of Representatives will consider soon, states that the early 20th century killings were, indeed, an act of genocide on the part of Turkey. Unfortunately, the Turkish government has denied--and continues to deny--that the genocide actually occurred. In fact, Turkey says the passage of the resolution would endanger diplomatic relations with the United States over the genocide resolution.
The Turkish government is so adamant in its insistence that this genocide never happened that the country has a habit of arresting journalists who merely suggest that the country consider the fact that such events might have happened. The charge is "insulting Turkishness."
President Bush has asked Congress to kill the resolution, saying that it's "not the right time" and that it would hurt the troops we have in Iraq.
According to CNN, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi countered that "there has never been a good time":
The president of Iran says the Jewish Holocaust never happened--and almost nobody takes him seriously. The entire government of Turkey says the Armenian Genocide never happened--and almost nobody will contradict it for fear of threatening diplomatic relations.
Is it acceptable to recognize a genocide only when it's convenient?
For once, let's follow the example of a country like France and recognize these killings for what they really are: a genocide.
Hitler once asked some of his military officials, "Who today still speaks of the annihilation of the Armenians?"
The United States government should prove Hitler wrong. It should officially remember the events of the early 20th century as a genocide.
At the time, there were between two million and three million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire.
In the next few years, up to 1.5 million Armenians were systematically murdered. More were deported. My great-grandparents were some of the lucky ones who survived and eventually made it to the United States.
For years, the Turkish government has denied this holocaust by saying that the million or so Armenians died of famine and infighting, not from any actions of the Turkish government.
Now, 92 years later, the United States Congress is attempting to recognize these massacres for what they really were: a genocide.
The nonbinding resolution, which the House of Representatives will consider soon, states that the early 20th century killings were, indeed, an act of genocide on the part of Turkey. Unfortunately, the Turkish government has denied--and continues to deny--that the genocide actually occurred. In fact, Turkey says the passage of the resolution would endanger diplomatic relations with the United States over the genocide resolution.
The Turkish government is so adamant in its insistence that this genocide never happened that the country has a habit of arresting journalists who merely suggest that the country consider the fact that such events might have happened. The charge is "insulting Turkishness."
President Bush has asked Congress to kill the resolution, saying that it's "not the right time" and that it would hurt the troops we have in Iraq.
According to CNN, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi countered that "there has never been a good time":
I agree with Pelosi. The United States government should have recognized these atrocities as a genocide a long, long time ago. Instead, the government has become a group of genocide-deniers."When I came to Congress 20 years ago, it wasn't the right time because of the Soviet Union, Pelosi said. "Then that fell, and then it wasn't the right time because of the Gulf War One. And then it wasn't the right time because of overflights of Iraq.
"And now it's not the right time because of Gulf War Two."
The president of Iran says the Jewish Holocaust never happened--and almost nobody takes him seriously. The entire government of Turkey says the Armenian Genocide never happened--and almost nobody will contradict it for fear of threatening diplomatic relations.
Is it acceptable to recognize a genocide only when it's convenient?
For once, let's follow the example of a country like France and recognize these killings for what they really are: a genocide.
Hitler once asked some of his military officials, "Who today still speaks of the annihilation of the Armenians?"
The United States government should prove Hitler wrong. It should officially remember the events of the early 20th century as a genocide.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Animals provide comfort, therapy
When I visited the Virginia Horse Center this past week to get a sneak peek at the horses competing at the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals, I met Beth Noteman.
Along with her purebred Arabian stallion HSA Haleys Comet, Noteman has won 42 national titles on the Arabian horse show circuit. This makes her horse, known affectionately as "Comet," the stallion with the largest number of national titles in the history of the Arabian Horse Association.
The pair won three of the titles last month at the breed's Canadian National Championships.
The wins were especially sweet, considering the strength it took to get to the competition.
This past spring, Noteman underwent major surgery to treat a serious illness. When she found out that she would need to continue her course of treatment over the summer, she didn't forget her horse.
"[I said], 'Well, I'm going to Canadian Nationals,'" she told me.
For her, the chemotherapy was a "bad surprise," but riding Comet gave her something to look forward to every day.
"When I was on his back for one hour a day," she said, "I felt wonderful and beautiful."
Noteman is not the only one who finds riding horses therapeutic.
Last week, Rockbridge Report staff reporter Jessica Shaw profiled local woman Elizabeth Gorman. Like Noteman, Gorman has benefited from a relationship with horses.
Gorman rides at the Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center, which is also located at the Virginia Horse Center. Gorman's trainer, Carol Branscome, has taught the basics of horsemanship to people of all ages.
In fact, as a volunteer at Hoofbeats I have seen the benefits of therapeutic riding. The participants do not simply ride the horses -- they bond with the animals. I have seen the shyest children come out of their shells when they are around their favorite horse; I have seen someone who can barely walk mount a horse and ride with ease. It is truly amazing.
Service animals are nothing new. Seeing eye dogs have guided the blind for years, and there are programs at hospitals nationwide that bring dogs and cats to patients for therapy. Other people have dogs that can sense when their owners are about to have seizures.
Additionally, scientists have shown that animal assisted therapy can be useful in combating stress as well as depression and other mood disorders.
Noteman, Gorman, and numerous people across the country already benefit from animal assisted therapy, be it in a formal or informal setting.
Perhaps, instead of relying solely on conventional treatment for illnesses and everyday grievances, more people should look to their furry friends for comfort and therapy.
Along with her purebred Arabian stallion HSA Haleys Comet, Noteman has won 42 national titles on the Arabian horse show circuit. This makes her horse, known affectionately as "Comet," the stallion with the largest number of national titles in the history of the Arabian Horse Association.
The pair won three of the titles last month at the breed's Canadian National Championships.
The wins were especially sweet, considering the strength it took to get to the competition.
This past spring, Noteman underwent major surgery to treat a serious illness. When she found out that she would need to continue her course of treatment over the summer, she didn't forget her horse.
"[I said], 'Well, I'm going to Canadian Nationals,'" she told me.
For her, the chemotherapy was a "bad surprise," but riding Comet gave her something to look forward to every day.
"When I was on his back for one hour a day," she said, "I felt wonderful and beautiful."
Noteman is not the only one who finds riding horses therapeutic.
Last week, Rockbridge Report staff reporter Jessica Shaw profiled local woman Elizabeth Gorman. Like Noteman, Gorman has benefited from a relationship with horses.
Gorman rides at the Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center, which is also located at the Virginia Horse Center. Gorman's trainer, Carol Branscome, has taught the basics of horsemanship to people of all ages.
In fact, as a volunteer at Hoofbeats I have seen the benefits of therapeutic riding. The participants do not simply ride the horses -- they bond with the animals. I have seen the shyest children come out of their shells when they are around their favorite horse; I have seen someone who can barely walk mount a horse and ride with ease. It is truly amazing.
Service animals are nothing new. Seeing eye dogs have guided the blind for years, and there are programs at hospitals nationwide that bring dogs and cats to patients for therapy. Other people have dogs that can sense when their owners are about to have seizures.
Additionally, scientists have shown that animal assisted therapy can be useful in combating stress as well as depression and other mood disorders.
Noteman, Gorman, and numerous people across the country already benefit from animal assisted therapy, be it in a formal or informal setting.
Perhaps, instead of relying solely on conventional treatment for illnesses and everyday grievances, more people should look to their furry friends for comfort and therapy.
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