Monday, November 2, 2009

The Armenian Genocide - Period 5

Over the past week you have seen films and read articles about The Armenian Genocide. On Monday you heard an insightful and informative lecture about this terrible event by Father Boghosian. First, what did you think of Father Boghosian's lecutre? Second, the last stage of Genocide is denial. Given everything you've heard, seen, and read about this event, what do you think should be done to make more people in the United States aware of the Armenian Genocide?

Mr. Gallagher

26 comments:

Kendall Paige said...

When I saw the movie "The Armenian Genocide" it made me feel bad. I could not believe that these people of one race was killed becasue they were different from everyone else. It made me think of the Holocaust and how Germany locked up the Jews becasue of their race. For me being half German, i felt mad because Germany was doing this. The genocides were so cruel and violent. still over 7,000 Armenians are still alive.

Mackenzie Gavin said...

When I saw the film, "The Armenian Genocide" I was in shock. I could not believe that I did not know there was genocide besides the Holocaust. I was also shocked to learn that the Turks deny the genocide even happened. Even though there is evidence of the genocide. It was hard to see the starving children and to hear about the Armenians who jumped into the river in order for not suffer anymore. I can not imagine what it was like to live in the Ottoman Empire while they were killing a mass amount of Armenian's.

Andrew Milne said...

Having Father Boghoisan come in was an amazing experience! He was so informational and interesting to listen to. I think that this is a great idea and oppurtunity. It gave us a chance to hear about the genocide from a somewhat first hand experience rather than a historian who may not know everything. The movies were also really interesting. I was not aware of an Armenian Genocide. I agree with what Mackenzie said about it being shocking that the Turks still deny any genocide. It disgusts me that they can't accept a mistake, a huge, disgusting mistake, in their history and culture. As for educating more Americans, I think if we had a monument or a museum devoted to the Armenian Genocide like we have in Washington with the Holocaust Museum. It allows for people to learn and gain some kind of understanding for what went on. It gets the awareness out which is what we want and should happen.

Emma Flavin said...

I was really surprised when we watched the movie because I had honestly never heard of the Armenian Genocide which is kind of embarassing but more so sad. I think there's a lot of students that have not learned about the Aermenian Genocide. I think this is something that should be a part of every history/social studies curriculum. I thought it was really cool to hear Father Boghosian speak because this was something that actually affected him and his family. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that the Turks deny that this ever happened. Like I said before I think this is a topic that should be covered in school at a young age.

Anonymous said...

The movie about the Armenian Genocide shocked me because I feel like it was similar to the Holocaust in many ways and it appalls me that genocides have continued to happen. I liked hearing Father Boghosian because it seemed much more real-life hearing someone talk about their personal family experiences. I think that more schools should teach about genocides and teaching tolerance should be taken more seriously because history repeats itself and things still aren't changing.

-Jena Ward

Mel B. said...

I had never heard of the Armenian Genocide till this year. Like Emma, I feel embarressed to not have known of such a tragic event but I am also shocked. Hearing Father Boghosian talk about his personal family experience was sad because you could feel the harships his family went through. To make people aware of the Armenian Genocide, teachers should teach it just the same amount they teach the Holocaust. Both are similair situations so both deserve the same amount of acknowledgemnt.

Danielle Allen said...

When i saw the movie "The Armenian genocide" I was in utter shock because I neve knew that the genocide happened. When father bohesian spoke I felt really sorry for him because I could see how truly hurt he was. The fact that the genocide happened and i didn't know about it makes me feel like a bad person. I am glad that I know it happened and how badly it really was so I am aware of it.

lukas said...

when i saw the american genocide i was like wow how could these people do that to them since im little bit armenian i felt kinda mad and was like why would you do that to them

Alecia Ferretti said...

I had never heard of the Armenian genocide before watching the video which is really shocking. It's hard to believe that we aren't taught this in school since it was such an important event. Knowing that there were 2 genocides within decades of each other is crazy to think about...it's like the Armenian genocide didn't show anyone how horrible it is so the Holocaust was allowed to happen. Hearing Father Boghosian speak was really powerful because he had a firsthand account of what happened. It's impossible for students at Westborough High to understand an act of that capacity but having Father Boghosian there helped us to understand a little more. Hopefully now there won't be another genocide ever again and hopefully more schools will choose to teach their students about the Armenian genocide as well.

Eric Robidoux said...

I did not know anything about the Armenian Genocide before learning about it the past few days. That is why I was surprised by the amount of devastation it inflicted. The film, "The Armenian Genocide" helped show the widespread execution of Armenians. I was very surprised at the amount of people killed in the genocide. It was a great experience and lesson when Father Boghoisan talked to the class. I got to learn about the Armenian a lot better, something I had never done before.

eric michael thomas said...

I truly thought the holocaust was the only act of Genecide in history. I completely was unaware and uneducated on the Armenian Genecide. I dont understand why other nations didnt step in aggressively. Its ridiculous that this has happened more than once in the past 100 years. The thought of superior and inferior races is outdated and inhumane. I feel bad for all the lives lost of the Armenians.

Alison DeFiore said...

I was extremely impressed with Father Boghosian. One of the reasons I believe his lecture was so effective is because he clearly cared about this. It was personal to him. I always find that stories relating to a person's actual life really catchs other people's attention. However, I was shocked because this was the first time I had learnt about the Armenian Genocide. I'm unsure as to why this has never been covered in a class. I think it is an essential part of any world history class curiculam. I think every student should learn about the different Genocides. It's important to understand that the HOlocaust was not the only time when people suffered, as aweful as it was. It is clear that there is a pattern in history and until we are made aware of it, we are unable to stop it.

Courtney Costello said...

Before last week I hadn’t heard of the Armenian Genocide. I think that it's almost inexcusable that students don’t learn about it. I think that it should be taught and added into the curriculum to teach students of the massive killings.
It was cool to hear Father Boghosian talk about the genocide in his personal life. It made a bigger impact for me to understand how horrific the times were for the Armenians. I also think that he provided information that the movie, "The Armenian Genocide" couldn’t.

Nate Montgomery said...

Like a lot of people in this blog i have never heard of the Armenian Genocide either. It was so crucial to not be and Armenian and live in the Ottoman empire. This is something that students need to learn about and realize the holocaust wasnt the only Genocide in history

dragonofdojima17 said...

This film came as a shock to me due to the fact I never knew this genocide took place. Though my father always told me that every race has suffered in a way. The images of bodies on the ground caught my attention more than anything. I really question how people do this to others, either they are insane or evil. A mix of both I say, this film can show you that the Holocaust wasn't the only great loss of life.

Nick Mastro said...

I agree with Eric, in that I have never seen or heard anything about the Armenian genocide. I thought the father's lecture was very good and it wasn't as indepth as I would have hoped. I know it is a sensitive subject to him however, I feel as though I was hoping for more out of his speech. I think this subject needs to be looked upon a little bit in American schools in order to raise awareness. This would definately be a sunject that people would have interest in becasue not a single person knows about this and it should be informed.

Colin Beron said...

I could not believe what i was seeing when we watched the film "The Armenian Genocide". What was most surprising to me was that i didnt even know it took place. I find it horrifying that when thousands of lives are lost, people choose to ignore it. Even worse, the country that inflicted so much pain on the lives of others, do not have the decency to acknowledge it happened. Having Father Boghosian speek was a great experience. I thought Alecia Ferretti put it well when she said, "It's impossible for students at Westborough High to understand an act of that capacity but having Father Boghosian there helped us to understand a little more."

Nick Corcoran said...

I am really glad that we had Father Boghoisan come in and speak to us about the Armenian Genocide. The genocide was a very sad period of time. I thought that the holocaust was the only genocide but I was very wrong. The Armenian Genocide seems to be forgotten in history. The movie taught me a lot of information I didn’t know, and Father Boghoisan taught me even more in first person. From all the deaths to all the starving people in poverty this was truly an awful time in history that needs to be recognized more rather than be forgotten. I have certainly learned a lot I didn’t know.

andy said...

Father Boghosian had a real emotional connection to the Armenian Genocide. It was good to hear him talk about it because his stories came from the heart. Its hard to believe that such a thing could have happend and most people aren't informed that it ever existed. How could such a thing ever be forgotten by people today when millions were brutaly killed. And the fact that there are people who deny that it ever happend when there is clear proof that it did is just angering.

Tucker brady said...

Seeing this movie made me think a lot of the holocaust. It was one race beinmg completley wiped for no good reason. Its just a shock to me cruel people can be.

Justin Avergon said...

I thought what Father Boghosian did took a lot of courage. It is never easy to talk about a hurtful past, and whenever someone can do that they should be commended.I think that even though we have ties with Turkey, we should add the Armenian Genocide to the curriculum of all world history classes. Because if people become aware of it, even a little. Then the people that really care will take the next step and become even more educated.

Garrett Kirker said...

I agree with Mackenzie about how I didn't know that the Turks to this day deny the fact that the genocide of the Armenians ever happened. I thought that Father Boghoisan was a great experience, his story was moving and shocking. I learned so much about the Armenian genocide that I didn't know before. To make the Armenian genocide more well known in the United State we need to hold an annual day of mourning. We need to teach people of all ages that the Armenian genocide was just as powerful as the Jewish Holocaust. We need to bring to the attention of everyone that the Armenian genocide is still being denied by the Turks to this day.

Sam K-A said...

Beofr this year i ahd heard mention of the Armenian Genocide beofore but i did not knew virtualy nothing about it until this year. I did not know where it took place, when it took, and on what scale it took place. It is incredible to see that there have been multiple halocausts in history. One would think that after witnessing the horrors of genocide once that it would never happend again. Instead the pattern repeats itself over and over again. The worst part about the whole ordeal is that the government of Turkey refuses to egknowlege that this event took place. They are unwilling to elarn fromt heir mistakes and because of this they are at risk of commiting something this horribel again

Amber Carr said...

I was really shocked when I saw the movie Armenian Genocide. It was so upsetting to see that there was another genocide that happned, which was very similar to the Holocaust. Knowing that people could treat others like this makes me think how selfish people really are. Also, watching this movie was really tough to hear about how the Armenians were physically and mentally hurt. I believe that all high schools should learn about the Armenian Genocide.

AlaNC said...

The Armenian genocide i didn't know much about, so it was good seeing the movie. I liked that Father Boghosian came in to speak with us Cuz i use to go to school next to his place of worship.

Kelly Urmston said...

I was shocked by what i leaened about the Armenian genocide. I was most surprised that i had never learned about it before. It some times feels that we study the same things every year in history, and it was both interestinga nd disturbing to learn about this. I think the most tragic thing is that the Turkish government still denies that it happened.