HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-19-2009 - 4eORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 19, 2009
1
Action Agenda
Item No. 4 - 2
SUBJECT: A Resolution to Foster Genocide Remembrance
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution Shoshannah Sayers, 960-3877
PURPOSE: To recognize and remember the millions who have perished through acts of
genocide.
BACKGROUND: Throughout the 20th century and into this century, countries have perpetrated
genocide or mass killing for hateful reasons. There have been numerous atrocities against
humankind throughout history, horrible cases of genocide directed against innocent people --
10-20 million black Africans who died during the 200 years of the international slave trade, the
decimation of nearly 12 million Native American Indians in North America between 1600 and
1850, Joseph Stalin's forced relocation and murder of millions of Soviet citizens, and the more
recent, so-called ethnic cleansings in Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur.
The first genocide of the 20th century occurred when two million Armenians living in Turkey
were, through forced deportation and massacres, eliminated from their homeland. The
government order to exterminate the Armenian people on April 24, 1915 led to more than 1.5
million Armenians - 75% of the population -being killed. In honor of this massacre, April 24
has been designated Armenian Martyrs Day every year.
The Armenian genocide spawned other governmental efforts to exterminate populations
throughout the 20th century. The most far-reaching was promulgated by Nazi Germany under
Adolph Hitler. On August 22, 1939, Hitler gave the following instructions to his Army
commanders:
"Thus for the time being I have sent to the East my `Death's Head Units' with the orders to
kill without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of Polish race or language. Only in
such a way will we win the vital space that we need. Who still talks nowadays about the
Armenians?"
After the initial massacre of the Polish people, the Nazis moved on to acts of genocide against
other groups, most famously Jews. In addition to the 6 million Jews who were exterminated in
the Nazi Holocaust, an estimated 5.5 million "enemies of the German State" were murdered
under equally inhumane circumstances -people known or suspected of being gay/lesbian;
leftists; Jehovah's Witnesses, Gypsies, and other non-Aryans. In recognition of the atrocities
committed by Nazi Germany, April 21, 2009 was designated as Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Since the Armenian Genocide began the modern history of ethnic cleansing, an alarming
number of genocides have taken place around the world. Below is a brief list of examples:
- Stalin's Forced famine: 1932 -1933 - 7,000,000 Ukrainian deaths
- Rape of Nanking: 1937 - 1938 - 300,000 Chinese deaths and more than 20,000 rapes
- Nazi Holocaust: 1938 - 1945 - 6,000,000 Jewish deaths and 5.5 million other hate-
related deaths
- Pol Pot Cambodia: 1975-1979 - 1.7 million deaths
- Rwanda: 1994 - 800,000 Tutsis deaths
- Bosnia-Herzegovina: 1992-1995 - 200,000 Muslim deaths
- Darfur, Somalia: 2003-present - 200,000+ deaths
In recognition and remembrance of all people who have perished to further agendas of hate
and. intolerance, the Office of Human Rights and Relations presents to the Orange County
Board of Commissioners a Resolution to Foster Genocide Remembrance to encourage Orange
County residents to reflect upon all acts of genocide and intolerance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends the Board approve the proposed reolution
and authorize the Chair to sign it.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION TO FOSTER GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE
WHEREAS, throughout history genocide has been a tragic part of humanity's existence; and
3
WHEREAS it is important to acknowledge that we are all partners in justice with a shared legacy
of intolerance; and
WHEREAS, Americans have contributed to historical acts of genocide, including the 10-20
million black Africans who died during the 200 years of the international slave trade and the
decimation of nearly 12 million Native American Indians in North America between 1600 and
1850; and
WHEREAS, the country of Armenia recognizes April 24 as Genocide Remembrance Day in
recognition of the government-ordered deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915; and
WHEREAS, April 21, 2009 was recognized as Holocaust Remembrance Day in honor of the
victims of Nazi genocide, including more than 6 million Jews and approximately 5.5 million other
targeted groups including Gypsies, Poles, gays and lesbians, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others; and
WHEREAS, other major acts of genocide have taken place during the past century, including but
not limited to Stalin's Forced famine: (1932 -1933: 7,000,000 Ukrainian deaths); Rape of
Nanking (1937 - 1938: 300,000 Chinese deaths and more than 20,000 rapes); Pol Pot Cambodia
(1975-1979: 1.7 million deaths); Rwanda (1994; 800,000 Tutsis deaths); Bosnia-Herzegovina
(1992-1995: 200,000 Muslim deaths); and most recently Darfur, Sudan (2003-present; 200,000
deaths); and
WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated for
future generations; and
WHEREAS, Orange County finds it equally important to remember the atrocities committed
against all peoples in the name of religious, racial and ethnic cleansing so that we may recognize
the inevitable outcomes of our daily intolerance;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby adopt this
Resolution to Foster Genocide Remembrance and encourage Orange County residents to reflect
upon all acts of genocide and intolerance.
THIS THE 19th DAY OF MAY, 2009.
Valerie P. Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION TO FOSTER GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE
WHEREAS, throughout history genocide has been a tragic part of humanity's
existence; and
WHEREAS it is important to acknowledge that we are all partners in justice with
a shared legacy of intolerance; and
WHEREAS, Americans have contributed to historical acts of genocide, including
the 10-20 million black Africans who died during the 200 yeaxs of the
international slave trade and the decimation of nearly 12 million Native American
Indians in North America between 1600 and 1850; and
WHEREAS, the country of Armenia recognizes April 24 as Genocide
Remembrance Day in recognition of the government-ordered deaths of 1.5
million Armenians in 1915; and
WHEREAS, April 21, 2009 was recognized as Holocaust Remembrance Day in
honor of the victims of Nazi genocide, including more than 6 million Jews and
approximately 5.5 million other targeted groups including Gypsies, Poles, gays
and lesbians, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others; and
WHEREAS, other major acts of genocide have taken place during the past
century, including but not limited to Stalin's Forced famine: (1932 -1933:
7,000,000 Ukrainian deaths); Rape of Nanking (1937 - 193$: 300,000 Chinese
deaths and more than 20,000 rapes); Pol Pot Cambodia (1975-1979: 1.7 million
deaths); Rwanda (1994; 800,000 Tutsis deaths); Bosnia-Herzegovina (1992-1995:
200,000 Muslim deaths); and most recently Darfur, Sudan (2003-present; 200,000
deaths); and
WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are
not repeated for future generations; and
WHEREAS, Orange County finds it equally important to remember the atrocities
committed against all peoples in the name of religious, racial and ethnic cleansing
so that we may recognize the inevitable outcomes of our daily intolerance;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do
hereby adopt this Resolution to Foster Genocide Remembrance and encourage
Orange County residents to reflect upon all acts of genocide and intolerance.
THIS THE 19th DAY OF MAY, 2009
alerie P. Fos air
Orange County Board of
Commissioners