PROVIDENCE, RI - Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Almond issued an historically accurate Gubernatorial Citation declaring October 23, "Turkish American Day" reported the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Rhode Island. (Full text of the citation below.)
Rhode Island's original "Turkish Republic Day" Gubernatorial Proclamation was premised on inaccuracies including the long-time myths that Turkey is a secular democracy, is making significant contributions to US foreign policy, and is staunch ally of the United States.
The issuance of the Gubernatorial citation comes after the ANC of Rhode Island sent a formal letter objecting to the original statement and calling for it to be withdrawn. The ANC rallied a major statewide grassroots effort focused on setting the historical record straight through phone calls, emails, and faxes to the Governor's office.
"We want to thank Governor Almond for listening to our concerns and for standing firm in the face of historical revisionists," stated Steve Mesrobian, chairperson of the ANC of Rhode Island.
"Lobbyists working on behalf of the Republic of Turkey attempted to manipulate the state of Rhode Island. We are proud that our highest-ranking state official, Governor Almond, refused to allow Rhode Island to help further Turkey's efforts to distort and deny history. By issuing this historically accurate citation, Governor Almond has made a strong statement condemning any attempts to re-write history. We hope Turkey is listening," continued Mesrobian
"The ANC is especially pleased that the Armenian, Greek, and Kurdish communities of Rhode Island immediately mobilized to notify the Governor of the inaccurate proclamation," concluded Mesrobian.
Over the past year, historically inaccurate pro-Turkish proclamations have been issued in the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Washington. The premise of these official statements has been to commemorate the accomplishments of Turkish Americans in their respective communities; however, they have deliberately, albeit surreptitiously, promoted the government of Turkey's state policy of historical denial and distortion.
In Alabama, Connecticut, Washington, and now Rhode Island, when state officials were presented with historically accurate information, they issued retractions, apologies or new official statements realizing that their states were unintentionally used to legitimize gross distortions of world history.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
####
FULL TEXT OF GUBERNATORIAL CITATION
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Office of the Governor
The Governor of the State of Rhode Island Extends His Greetings and Best Wishes In Recognition of October 23, 2002 as Turkish American Day in the State of Rhode Island and urges all citizens to recognize the significant role that Americans of Turkish origin play in the ethnic diversity of Rhode Island by incorporating their rich spiritual and cultural heritage and their dedication to the responsibilities of good citizenship.
In recognition whereof, I have hereby set my hand and caused the Executive Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations to be hereunto affixed this 23rd day of October 2002.
Lincoln Almond [signed]
Governor
|
Stratomedia, Inc.
