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in Israeli political, academic or cultural
circles, nor among Jews in general.
The younger generation in Israel has
heard nothing ... about the genocide
of the Armenian people."
While he said this is overwhelmingly
true of other countries and peoples, he
is troubled that Jews and Israel are not
more aware and supportive. "When we
choose not to take sides, we, in fact,
take sides for the aggressor," he said.
"Every- human and every people, but
in my opinion especially we, Jews and
Armenians, have a continuing obliga-
tion never again to be a victim. Of
course, never to be a perpetrator, but
also never to be a bystander."
Dr. Hacikyan, professor emeritus of
literary studies- at the College Militaire
Royal De Sanit-Jean of Quebec,
Canada, criticized the American and
British governments for not challeng-
ing what he called a "Turkish public
relations campaign" that tries "to con-
"The younger
generation in Israel
has heard nothing . ...
about the genocide
of the Armenian
people." — Dr. Yair Auren
trol who writes history."
"Politics rules the day," he said. "We
are always victimized by the political
overtones that rock the world."
While calling for action to have the
Armenian genocide internationally rec-
ognized, he said, "We have learned how
to fight, we have learned how to witness,
but we have been limited to politics."
He stressed the need to "explain
both artistically and intellectually,"
saying, "We need stories, novels and
films to transmit [our experience] to
succeeding generations and to the
political echelons as well."
Sounding a note similar to that
often expressed in the Jewish commu-
nity regarding centuries of persecu-
tion, Dr. Hacikyan concluded by say-
ing, "Our history should not be based
on a legacy of wounds and scars; we
need to share our culture.
What is forgotten is lost. We have
lost our compatriots and our lands; we
cannot a fford to lose what has been
handed down to us. We are members
of a nation with a great history — a
fabulous history and a rich culture." ❑
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