Letters to the Editor_________________________________

Remembering Armenia

For the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, I want to honor the memory of those who gave their lives to protect and preserve our language, religion, culture and Armenian identity. Millions of Armenians preferred to die rather than disown their Armenian heritage.

It is because of their noble deeds that I have the chance in life to be Armenian, speak Armenian, sing, dance and cry in Armenian.

The genocide is not only a reminder of the agonizing pain that is alive in the hearts of every Armenian, but also is a testament to all of us to embrace and celebrate one’s unique heritage, language, literature and religion.

Armenians have maintained their cultural identity through their vibrant community’s commitment to respect differences and acknowledge similarities. We owe our lives to the martyrs of the genocide who, by dying, showed us endurance, strength and courage, and we are therefore responsible to uphold the values and traditions that were passed on from generation to generation.

“History is not the dead hand of the past weighing down the present: History is the covenant of fathers and sons. In the dialogue with the past, we encounter sources of character-formation as powerful as our participation in contemporary events, as gripping as our hope of things to come,” wrote Frank Littell.

April 24 is a day to respect the fallen lives, to remember their sacrifices, appreciate each day and recognize the accountability we have toward our future generations to carry on the religion, culture, traditions and values that are held dearly to our cultural identity.

—H. Lilith Assadourian
Senior, child development

The missing mug

Wednesday, I voted in the elections at the University Student Union at about 9:05 a.m. Normally, they would hand out something as you voted. Last year it was a mug. This year was supposed to be a mug, but they had not arrived yet. Instead, they were handing out a "high-lighter" as a replacement.

We were told to come back later and exchange it for the mug. But I came back at around 10:35 a.m., noon and finally 1:20 p.m. I was told the mugs were not there yet and the highlighters were still being handed out.

At 1:20, there was another student who was also inquiring about the same thing that I was. I am not that big a fan of getting something to vote as part of my civic duty. But why were the precinct workers constantly telling people this story about coming back to get a mug? So where is my mug!

—Mike Bird
Junior, social work