HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2009-040 Foster Genocide RemembranceORANGE 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