SAN FERNANDO VALLEY—On Monday morning, March 31, 16 Ferrahian School students, grandchildren of Kessab Armenians, together with English language teacher Anita Aghamanoukian, visited the San Fernando Valley office of US Representative Brad Sherman and hand delivered their petitioning letters to the office personnel. Senior class student Haig Derderian, on behalf of the student body, expressed to the staff of the Congressman the frustration and emotions of the students regarding the atrocities occurring in the town of Kessab and its occupation by Turkish supported extremist groups in Syria.
Student letters were preceded by a cover letter by the school principal, John Kossakian. The text of the letter is below.
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March 31, 2014
Congressman Brad Sherman
5000 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 420
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Dear Congressman:
In light of the devastating events going on in the town of Kessab in Syria and considering that quite a number of our students are grandchildren of Kessab residents, many are distraught and angered from the atrocities committed by the extremist armed factions supported by the Turkish authorities in this small town of largely Armenian residents.
Last week, a group of our students took time to gather in the school’s library to express their anger and frustration in writing and to hand deliver their letters to you, Congressman Sherman.
The expectations of the students and our community from you are to raise this issue in the State Department and sensitize them on the pain and suffering of the Armenian community in Syria in general and the Kessab people in particular.
We trust that the plea of our students will be heard and due action will be taken.
We appreciate your immediate action.
Sincerely,
John Kossakian, Principal
They should not be taught how to deliver letters, instead much like the Kessab Armenians, they should have been taught how to defend themselves and prepare. When push comes to shove, bullets and knives will trump delivered letters and whining any day.
Remember kids, as the greatest of us Armenians once said “Pens are pens, guns are guns”.