HIDDEN ROAD INITIATIVE
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission and Impact
    • Team Members
    • Chapters >
      • UC Berkeley
      • UC Los Angeles
      • UC San Diego
      • CSU Northridge
      • AGBU MDS
    • History
  • Summer Camps
    • Summer 2022
    • Summer 2021
    • Summer 2020
    • Summer 2019
    • Summer 2018
    • Summer 2017
    • Summer 2016
    • SUMMER 2015
    • Summer 2014
    • Summer 2013
    • Summer 2011
  • Projects
    • Henry Keledjian Service Program
    • Project Hope (Artsakh)
    • English Tutoring Program
    • Virtual Learning Resources
    • Holiday Backpacks for Artsakh
    • Jrashen Kindergarten
    • School Renovations
    • Tsaghkaber Kindergarten
    • UCLA Toy Drive
    • Heaters & Stoves
    • Computer Classes
    • Sturdy Shoes
    • Winter Coats
  • SCHOLARSHIPS
    • 2022-2023 Scholars
    • 2021-2022 Scholars
    • 2020-2021 Scholars
    • 2019-2020 Scholars
    • 2018-2019 Scholars
    • 2017-2018 Scholars
    • 2016-2017 Scholars
  • News & Blog
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
Hidden Road Initiative

News & Blog

Find out what's new at HRI and read what our volunteers have to say about their adventures in Armenia! 

Genocide Commemoration

5/29/2012

2 Comments

 

--Anita Tokatyan, Santa Barbara

As we enter the silent hall, the sight of red and white flowers strikes our eyes.  Our minds are suddenly drawn to the “Dzidzernagapert” memorial in Armenia, and our hearts beat as one as we picture the flowers placed in memory of the lives lost in 1915.

On April 24, 2012, members of the Santa Barbara Armenian community gathered together at the Embarcadero Hall in UCSB to commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian genocide. 97 years after what their ancestors went through, the new Armenian generation marked their presence in a lecture hall to remember the tragedies of the past and learn that this genocide, the Armenian genocide, is still not over.

Atina Manvelian, Master of Ceremonies of the event, guided the commemoration with inspiring enthusiasm, focusing on genocide education and global acts for recognition, while encouraging the audience to step forward, takes chances, and evoke change.

Ellen Oganesyan, president of UCSB’s Armenian Student Association, began the evening with an anecdote of her ancestor’s experience in the genocide. Almost a century later, the stain of these crimes encouraged her towards fighting for genocide recognition.

“[This is] a battle against human rights violations,” Oganesyan said. “All men are created equal.”

Fr. Vazken Movsesian, of the St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church in Glendale and genocide activist, spoke of the similarities between Armenian ancestors and global genocide victims today. He compared the history of our Armenian ancestors to the current genocides taking place in the lives of civilians in Rwanda.

“We haven’t evolved,” Der Vazken said. “Genocide is the same all around.”

Vazken also discussed the negative impacts of labeling Armenian identity with the 1915 genocide. He pointed out that although Armenians are haunted by the murders, they must move past this association and acknowledge acts of genocide as a whole.

“We are conditioned as people to think of Armenian as genocide. It’s time to think of the next step. Our identity has been shaped by this tragedy,” Der Vazken said. “We have a duty.”

Der Vazken stressed the importance of genocide awareness and its impact on preventing future genocides.

“We need to be Armenian all the time and remember the genocide,” Der Vazken said. “We are victors...[and] we are all genocide survivors.”

To display the perseverance of Armenians and the growing prosperity of its culture,  members of the Yeraz Armenian Dance Team Nanor Balabanian, Astkhik Hakopyan, and Atina Manvelian, danced to two traditional Armenian dances. Talin Nalbandian, a second year student at UCSB, also sang Dele Yaman, an Armenian love-song.

Outside the commemoration hall, organizations such as The Hidden Road Initiative and the Armenian Student Association were on display to encourage new members to partake in these associations. The presence of such organizations demonstrated the ability of the Armenian community to remove the negative connotations of genocide on the Armenian identity. HRI is evidence of Armenian survival and their forward move from the crimes of 1915.

As students, we have the opportunity to educate ourselves and give back the best we can to our native lands. The fight to recognize genocide is not limited to any one group, and with it comes the hope to change the future. The power to end ignorance is a power to change the world, and in doing so, demonstrate the prestigious characteristics of these targeted groups. As Armenians, we recognize what defines our identity daily and endeavor to make our homeland prosper.

2 Comments
Tutuapp link
9/19/2022 12:57:01 am

It represents which sign was rising over the eastern horizon at the exact time and place of your birth.

Reply
Showbox link
9/19/2022 12:57:36 am

In general, the sign in which your ascendant appears will dictate how you view the world and how the world views you. The slice of your chart where the ascendant appears is also called the first house.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives 

    October 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    April 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission and Impact
    • Team Members
    • Chapters >
      • UC Berkeley
      • UC Los Angeles
      • UC San Diego
      • CSU Northridge
      • AGBU MDS
    • History
  • Summer Camps
    • Summer 2022
    • Summer 2021
    • Summer 2020
    • Summer 2019
    • Summer 2018
    • Summer 2017
    • Summer 2016
    • SUMMER 2015
    • Summer 2014
    • Summer 2013
    • Summer 2011
  • Projects
    • Henry Keledjian Service Program
    • Project Hope (Artsakh)
    • English Tutoring Program
    • Virtual Learning Resources
    • Holiday Backpacks for Artsakh
    • Jrashen Kindergarten
    • School Renovations
    • Tsaghkaber Kindergarten
    • UCLA Toy Drive
    • Heaters & Stoves
    • Computer Classes
    • Sturdy Shoes
    • Winter Coats
  • SCHOLARSHIPS
    • 2022-2023 Scholars
    • 2021-2022 Scholars
    • 2020-2021 Scholars
    • 2019-2020 Scholars
    • 2018-2019 Scholars
    • 2017-2018 Scholars
    • 2016-2017 Scholars
  • News & Blog
  • Donate
  • Contact Us