We know the History, we know the Definition - The deliberate intention, and systematic extermination of a national, ethnical, racial, religious, political or cultural group. But did you know that there is a Process of 8 Genocide Stages and Characteristics?
STAGE 1 CLASSIFICATION: People are divided between "us and them”
STAGE 2 SYMBOLIZATION: When combined with hatred, symbols may be forced upon unwilling members of pariah groups
STAGE 3 DEHUMANIZATION: One group denies the humanity of the other group. Members of it are equated with animals, vermin, insects, or diseases
STAGE 4 ORGANIZATION: Genocide is always organized... Special army units or militias are often trained and armed
STAGE 5 POLARIZATION: Hate groups broadcast polarizing propaganda
STAGE 6 PREPARATION: Victims are identified and separated out because of their ethnic or religious identity
STAGE 7 EXTERMINATION: It is extermination to the killers because they do not believe their victims to be fully human
STAGE 8 DENIAL: The perpetrators deny that they committed any crime
Unity is when we come together with other individuals or groups to form something greater than any of us. Unity is often built around a common purpose – a harmony of interests or values that create a shared identity. When people are united by shared values and goals, then they can move together, synchronizing their efforts to attain things that none could attain alone.
Unity is inclusive. It frees us from the divisiveness of prejudice. We see our commonality with devaluing our differences. A sense of unity can transcend our fear of each other. In unity, the joy of one is the joy of all, and the hurt of one is the hurt of all, and the honor of one is the honor of all.
For those of you that do not know me, I will share a personal secret, my weakness… I AM A BOOK FANATIC. My “To Be Read” consists of over 3,000 books stacked up around my apartment – and my Friends have to restrain me from entering into any Book Store.
Every night, I read to decompress (this is a very bad habit I learned from my maternal grandmother who was an Ismir Genocide Survivor. She passed peacefully with no health related issues at the age of 105 in 2007). When I read a quote, poem or passage that inspires me, I jot it down in a notebook that I keep by my bed. While preparing for today, I went through my notebook, and came across some of my favorite passages that I wanted to share with you. (Some you may even recognize)…
- There is no knowledge without unity
- Sticks in a bundle cannot be broken
- In the desert of life the wise person travels by a united caravan, while the fool prefers to travel alone
- We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided (J.K. Rowling , Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
- All for one and one for all, united we stand divided we fall (Alexandre Dumas, The Three Muskateers)
- Strength lies in unity
- When spiders unite, they can tie up a lion
- Unity is vision; it must have been part of the process of learning to see (Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams)
- Where there is unity, there is victory
- The smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost; a way to reclaim that spirit of unity
- And finally, the all familiar quote of all by William Saroyan, which as President of the Armenian Network – New York Region I am always reminded of whenever we host an event:
I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.
And in response to Mr. Hitler’s Obersalzberg Speech on August 22, 1939, my words are thus: Our strength is in our unity and our revenge has been our survival. For who still talks nowadays of the extermination of the Armenians? We do.
It is because of the Definition, the History, and the Process that we gather today UNITED TOGETHER so that we may HONOR OUR MARTYRS and never forget that they suffered, for they will always be in our hearts and forever in our minds.
Unity Speech | Talene V. Kachadourian
President, Armenian Network of America, Inc. - Greater New York
Armenian Genocide Commemoration & Memorial Walk
New York City, April 24, 2014
