As a person with African and Armenian blood my history has been a blessing and curse for me. A blessing because I am able to understand my ancestral roots and have a sense of great identity. A curse because both my ethnicity's have suffered great atrocities in the last century: Armenians with the 1915 Genocide & Liberians with the 1st & 2nd Civil War which still shapes our present pysche as humans. Yet, truthful history informs me and the world why I am the way I am culturally. When I add my Christian faith to the equation, I realize that ethnically and spiritually I am connected to generations of noble, powerful "Fathers" and "Mothers" and generations of behavior that shaped my DNA. If someone one was to revise that "History" or "Central Themes" of my ancestral past, that person in my eyes would commit a great crime against my humanity. To deny truthful events or experiences is to deny a peoples existence as "real human beings". For to be human is to live in the real world and experience actual tangible real events. To deny historical truth, is to expose ones own "insanity", or to tempt others into that same"insanity". For example in a case where a person has been a victim of abuse (sexual, physical, etc) and seeks the help of a family member only to have that family member deny the crime could drive that victim over the edge.

Like a young girl who cries out to a mother, because she has been molested by the step-father. Such victims of "abuse denial" in order to protect the family name have suffered great mental\emotional illness. That is why as Christians we must be people who never revise a story (history), whether it be social, anthropological, scientific observations or theological narratives. If the story is true and has been proven by the "forensic evidence & credible eyewitnesses" we must submit to the conclusions the story ask of us. For all stories demand something from our heart and actions, despite our unresponsiveness. That is why I believe Jesus was a story teller and had the Apostles retell his story over and over again. The Gospel compels us to listen and be transformed. Also, true stories like the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Question: Will Obama be faithful to tell the story like he promised. Will Jews, African-Americans, Turks, Africans, Latinos, etc be faithful to tell the Armenian story and all stories of genocide and injustice done to real humans in real tangible existence. It doesn't matter if the issue is human trafficking, abortion, violence against homosexuals, or criminalization of Arab Muslims: "All True Stories" must be told and be responded to accordingly. Especially when they are stories of pain, that one day could be our own story. May God Help US!

"Tolerance is not a denial of what you believe, but ability to dialogue and respect those who differ with your faith, values & history". Let us not compromise the Historic Faith of Christianity & Historic Events, but let us compromise the erroneous value of "isolation" from "other" people who differ in thought & culture. Truth, engagement, debate and conversation is what we need to tell our story and be heard and hopefully convince others into spiritual or social action for our cuase. Truth is truth no matter how, why, where and when it is told. Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear...."(JC)

Armenia Genocide Documentary by JourneyMan Pictures

Written by :

Jack Hakimian