Patrick Kennedy: “today I rise to support the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. For the thousands of Rhode…”

“today I rise to support the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. For the thousands of Rhode Islanders from my district of Armenian descent who lost family members in this genocide, today is a particularly somber day. But whether you are of Armenian descent or not, this day would be even more tragic if we did not remember. There is a quote that I think is particularly important today, and it goes as this: First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me. This quote is telling, because it can be said as much for the Armenian genocide as the Jewish Holocaust. In fact, it has not been lost on historians of this century that the failure to recognize the Armenian genocide for what it was made it easier, not harder, for evil minds like Hitler to believe that they could do the same. Today, we in Congress are solemnly observing the tragedy of the Armenian genocide not only to honor the memory of those who died but, in doing so, to ensure that such horrors will never occur again.”