Speaking at an annual banquet held in support of Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Senator Menendez called parts of the proposed Armenia-Turkey protocols as "frankly absurd" and an "insult to the Armenian people:"
Mr. Menendez argued, "the time has come for Armenia and Turkey to have full diplomatic and economic relations but without preconditions," according to a video made available by the ANCA. He went on to argue that some of the passages in the protocols, particularly on a proposed intergovernmental sub-commission that would discuss a "historical dimension" of Armenian-Turkish relations, raised "real concerns."
"I do not think that Armenia should be pressured into anything that is not in their national interests or in the long-term national interests of the United States," Mr. Menendez stressed.
"It is time that Turkey recognizes [the Armenian Genocide] and accepts it. It is time that the world acknowledges this fact of history and moves on toward a viable peace that honors the true history of the Armenian people."
Not too long ago, in response to the Sudanese government's genocidal policies, Assemblyman Bill Payne shepherded a bill through the Statehouse that would prohibit the state of New Jersey from investing in Sudan.
In doing so the Garden State joined Illinois as the only state in the land to put its money were its mouth is when it comes to the extermination of an entire race.
The move to divest was largely hailed as an important symbolic move. In fact, the House of Representatives commended New Jersey and Illinois for their leadership on this issue . Likewise, all over the country, men and women of conscience were pleased to see someone finally doing.... something. After all, genocide is forever and already the number of dead and displaced is too high to count.
You'd think with something as serious as mass extermination , most people would be sympathetic to the cause. But you'd be wrong.
From a recent Rush Limbaugh show:
Democrats "want to get us out of Iraq, but they can't wait to get us into Darfur," Limbaugh said.
He continued: "There are two reasons. What color is the skin of the people in Darfur? It's black. And who do the Democrats really need to keep voting for them? If they lose a significant percentage of this voting bloc, they're in trouble."
Now it's possible that it was the OxyContin doing the talking, but still.....
Limbaugh fans notwithstanding, I suspect anyone troubled about the plight of Darfur is probably concerned that hundreds of thousands of people are dying. Black, white, or polka dotted, it wouldn't matter much. Am I right?
Now it's worth pointing out that Assemblyman Payne's leadership on the issue of genocide in Darfur is a family affair. His brother, Congressman Donald Payne chairs the Africa and sub committee in Washington and has made Darfur a huge personal priority.
Unfortunately the lack of leadership in the Whitehouse (and State Department) have limited the American response to hollow gestures for the most part. (In fact in a Dec 'o6 interview with Blue Jersey Congressman Payne remarked that the United States finds itself currently in a pickle where our purported human rights values are in direct conflict with our post-9/11 "intelligence" objectives.)
It's for these reasons that New Jersey and Illinois' brave position on Darfur (and genocide on general) is so unique and noteworthy.
Now what?
First of all, regarding Limbaugh, click over to Media Matters and add your name to the growing list of folks demanding an for this latest race-based rant. It might not seem like it would make much difference, but here at Blue Jersey we have a proud tradition of rising up to challenge hate speech on the airwaves. Imus? Jersey Guys? Hello!
After that, call your representatives in Trenton. Very, very few places have laws on the books that specifically address the situation in Darfur. New Jersey is one of them. This issue was very much a bi-partisam one so keep this issue on Trenton's radar!
Finally, call Congressman Donald Payne. He's chairman of the House Africa and Human Rights Subcommittee, thus represents all New Jerseyans in that capacity. Again, remind him how much genocide matters to you.
And when you're done with all that, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. I've no doubt that you have something to say about genocide or Rush Limbaugh (or both), so by all means fire away.
New Jersey takes another step towards enacting a policy to provide clean needles to IV drug users to curb the spread of HIV. With today's long-awaited vote, NJ stands to become the very last state in the union to enact a needle exchange program. With HIV transmissions as high as some third world countries, this step is long overdue here in the Garden State. Today's vote will "also would provide $10 million for drug treatment and provide those exchanging needles with information and referrals for HIV testing, drug abuse treatment and health and social service programs."
Also on tap in Trenton, a property tax standoff between Governor Corzine and the Union labor movement in the state. Thousands of union members are expected to descend on the statehouse. Says said Lynn Maher, a spokeswoman for the state's teacher's union, "the message is: We are not the problem. School employees, public employees, did not cause the property tax problem." According the the Star Ledger,
the frustrated Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday fired off a letter to legislative leaders challenging them to send him whatever pension reform measures they can pass, and then he will sort it out with his veto pen.
"I encourage you to the lead the Legislature forward," Corzine wrote to Senate President Codeyand Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. "Make your best judgment and move forward, but do not allow this issue to slow or impede our shared and overarching objectives."
How many people will die in the Darfur region of Sudan today? As heir aparent to lead the Africa subcommittee, Rep. Donald Payne vows to make the ongoing genocide in Sudan his number one priority. Namely, he wants to fly some reconnaissance planes over Darfur to get a lay of the land, then send in unmanned drones to seek and destroy the janjaweed troops with blood on their hand.
In an interview with Blue Jersey, Rep. Payne concedes such action is a bold step but "but someone has to stop this genocide and we have to do something to show (the killers) enough is enough. At some point, enough will have to be enough." Check out the Darfur interview here.
New Jersey continues to face uo to the toxic legacy of its past. Philly Inquirer:
As many as 300 long-closed municipal landfills, including others laden with toxic waste, lurk beneath New Jersey's landscape, closer to homes than many people realize.
Yikes.
According to Pam's House Blend, Lt. Laurel Hester is the obvious favorite for blog-o-sphere's Queer of the Year. (Vote here) Pam also notes that the movie ("Freeheld") about Hester's death-bed struggle for pension benefin for her widow is slated to get some serious attention at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival. Clearly Laurel Hester's struggle and legacy live on.
NJ.com reminds us of the ongoing battle between Gov. Corzine and PA Gov. Rendell over dredging of the Deleware River. Unless the impasse can be overcome, Rob Andrews suggests a Congressional law to dissolve the Deleware River Port Authority (which is led by Rendell) and replacing the agency with an outfit more ammenable to the needs of New Jersey.
Did I miss something? What's on your mind this mild December day??
we are not going to allow people to be killed and murdered simply because their skin is black--Rep. Payne
I had the opportunity to interview New Jersey Congressman Donald Payne, who is next in line to chair the subcommittee on Africa and Human Rights in the new Democratic Congress. For the millions of people in the Darfur region of the Sudan, Congressman Payne's chairmanship can't come soon enough. As you know, all hell is broken loose in Darfur. It's a full-blown genocide, a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. Donald Payne promises to make the genocide in Darfur a top priority. He has some bold ideas to end the dying as well as the smarts (and the foreign policy chops) to address Darfur head on. And pretty soon, he'll most likely have the clout as well. So check out the interview and see for yourself why Congressman Payne is out last best hope to break the current cycle of genodice in Darfur.
With the elections in the rear view mirror, the real fun begins next month with committee and subcommittee assignments in the Senate and Congress. With the Democrats back in charge, it's a chance for New Jersey legislators to flex their clout for our values.
According to the AP a pair of long-standing NJ Congressmen are sitting pretty based on their tenure (mostly) as well as their close ties to Nancy Pelosi:
Pelosi, known for her long memory of those who have been loyal to her, will likely reward Reps. Bill Pascrell Jr. and Donald Payne. Both have known the California lawmaker for almost 20 years and Pelosi has given Payne leadership positions in the past. Both are in line to head subcommittees, meaning they get the first crack at developing legislation.
If this is true, then it's good for progressives state- and nation-wide. But more importantly it represents a glimmer of hope for the victims of violence in Darfur, Sudan. As heir apparent to head the Africa subcommittee, Donald Payne is the last best chance we have to end the genocide.
For those out there keepish track, the death toll in Darfur is fast approaching a half-million. Likewise several million Africans have been displaced in the region. As the violence spreads into neignboring Chad and Central African Republic, the pro-genocide Sudanese government is holding firm that UN peacekeepers are unwelcome, calling their presence "neo-colonialism."
In a podcast interview with Blue Jersey (to air early next week) Rep. Payne had a lot to say about Darfur and he certainly had me convinced that he's the best candidate for the Africa subcommittee.
For a quick glimpse into Payne's Africa expertise, check out this op ed from the Washington Post. And more importantly stay tuned for the podcast, where you'll hear about Rep. Payne's career as a human rights activist. Clearly there is no more grave breach of human rights than genocide, which is why I hope and pray that Payne gets the nod to head that subcommittee. We'll know as early as next month who gets what and where, so their is still time to lobby your own representative on committee votes.
(more below the flip)
First it was Rwanda, then Uganda, and now Sudan. Again.
Congressman Donald Payne (NJ-10) is soundling alarm bells about an oncoming (second) wave of genocide in Sudan's Darfur region in an op-ed in today's Washington Post
WaPo:
Some 450,000 innocent human beings are already dead, and more than 2.5 million have fled their homes. Now Sudan is launching a major offensive in Darfur. After three years of fruitless negotiation and feckless rhetoric, it's time to go beyond unenforced U.N. resolutions to a new kind of resolution: the firm resolve to act. Will world leaders continue to give the perpetrators of genocide a veto over international action to stop it? Unless something changes dramatically, the answer seems to be yes.
Last night, Senator Menendez offered an amendment to a supplemental appropriations bill to provide $60 million to fund a UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur. Today, that amendment passed.
Menendez yesterday stressed that it's time to take action:
“After the world learned the horrors of the Holocaust, America and the international community vowed ‘never again,’†Menendez said. “After we saw the gruesome slaughter of approximately 800,000 Tutsis in less than 100 days in Rwanda, we said ‘never again.’ ‘Never again’ is an empty promise if we do not take action to stop the murder of innocent people when we know it is happening.â€
In his statement to the Senate, he noted the role New Jersey has played in focusing attention on Darfur:
In New Jersey, students in middle schools have raised funds for refugees. Young people at colleges have led the movement to divest from Sudan. These are not the leaders of the future; they are the leaders of today.
And I know that as I stand here calling for action, I am not alone. In my home state of New Jersey, high school students started a non-profit organization called Help Darfur Now, which raises awareness and funds for the refugees in Sudan. Newark, New Jersey is the headquarters of the Darfur Rehabilitation Project, a national group started by Sudanese people living in the United States that lobbies for humanitarian aid, intervention, and conflict resolution in Sudan.
There's more that can and should be done to stop the genocide in Darfur, but this is a good start.
Gov. Corzine was in South Jersey yesterday speaking to students about genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan. Haddonfield High senior and activist Sean Spencer invited the Governor to address the S.T.A.N.D.(students taking action now, Darfur) chapter at Haddonfield High School. And the Governor obliged, engaging with the students for several hours, which included a lenthy question and answer session.
Said Corzine, "It's so important to understand that doing nothing is wrong. Keep raising Cain with folks like me."
