Political Quotes

“1995 marks the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Every year in Congress April 24 is remembered on the floor of the House, and I have participated in this occasion for a large number of years, a tribute to the Armenian martyrs who are the victims of one of the worst genocides of this century. On this date in 1915, hundreds of Armenian political and intellectual leaders were rounded up, exiled, and eventually murdered in remote places. In the years that followed from 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million men, women and children were murdered in attempted genocide of the Armenian people by the government of the Ottoman Empire. We must never forget this tragic crime against humanity. I have had friends that were present during that time. I know those people that will claim that this never took place. One friend of mine had been turned over to a Turkish family by his own father and mother, and he had to stand in the community square and watch every single member of his family murdered by the Turks as they came into the community. That man never grew an inch after that time. He died a man barely 4 foot 6 inches tall. A strong, resilient people, the Armenians survived these cruelties as they have survived persecution for centuries. Their durability comes from their love and intense faith in God dating back to the fourth century when Armenia became the first nation to embrace Christianity.”