Ukrainian Genocide Education Legislation
Jan. 31st, 2005 11:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maryxmasDear Readers:
The Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation - USA, Inc. asks for your help in lobbying the State Legislation to pass a proposed Bill which would mandate education on the Ukrainian Genocide in Illinois Public Schools. We ask that you contact Illinois Representatives Michael Madigan and Tom Cross in a show of Ukrainian-American support for House Bill 312.
www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=312&GAID=8
&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=14536&SessionID=5&GA0=94
House Bill 312 proposes that the section of the Illinois School Code regarding public education about the Holocaust be amended to encompass mandatory study of other genocides including those which occurred in Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan. This is monumental step for Ukrainian Genocide awareness and it is crucial that we show the Illinois Legislature that we fully support this Bill.
It will be difficult for this Bill to pass through the Legislative process given that various groups have already voiced their opposition this week. To read more, please go to:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-genocide25.html
to read the January 25, 2005 Chicago Sun-Times article "Some Jewish groups wary of expanded study of genocide".
Therefore, PLEASE show your support for House Bill 312 and the expanded study of genocide in Illinois Public Schools by emailing, phoning or writing:
Representative Michael J. Madigan (D) 22nd District (Speaker of the House)
mmadigan@hds.ilga.gov
300 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
ph: (217) 782-5350
fax: (217) 524-1794
ph: (773) 581-8000 (Chicago Office)
fax: (773) 581-9414 (Chicago Fax)
Representative Tom Cross (R) 84th District (House Republican Leader)
tom@tomcross.com
316 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
ph: (217) 782-1331
fax: (217) 782-7012
ph: (815) 254-0000 (Plainfield Office)
fax: (815) 609-3994 (Plainfield Fax)
A sample letter may be found below:
Dear Representative:
The intended premise of Section 5, Chapter 122, Paragraph 27-20.3 of the Illinois School Code is to mandate Illinois public elementary and high school students to be educated about the Nazi's Holocaust of 1933-1945 so that such atrocities would never happen again. But genocide continues to happen: most recently in Rwanda and Bosnia.
As a member of the Ukrainian-American community of Illinois, I fully support the adoption of Illinois House Bill 312, which expands the study of genocide to also include those that devastated Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan.
As we educate our children about the injustice of hate crimes, it is important to recognize that any form of genocide, against any people, is equally detestable. The multicultural nature of the United States of America is integral to its cultural and political identity. In such a multicultural society, there is no room for showing more reverence to one ethnic group, its memory, history, and tragedies, than to another.
By only requiring students to study the Holocaust and selectively discriminating against the study all other genocides the State of Illinois sends students the wrong message: There is hierarchy in genocide. One group's history and tragedy is of more value than another's. Is this what we want our children to learn?
We are in no way questioning the enormity and uniqueness of Nazi Holocaust against millions of European Jews and non-Jews. However, the memory of all groups who have been victims of genocide is agonizing, haunting and life-defining, and each group's genocide is unique and worthy of study. To suggest otherwise supports the basic motivation behind the Nazi Holocaust -- to value the existence of one group over another.
I support House Bill 312 and I urge you to support it too.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Mischenko
President
Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation - USA, Inc.
2249 West Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60612 - USA
Tel: 847 699-9484
Fax: 847 813-7813
E-mail: UGFF-USA@sbcglobal.net
The Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation - USA, Inc. asks for your help in lobbying the State Legislation to pass a proposed Bill which would mandate education on the Ukrainian Genocide in Illinois Public Schools. We ask that you contact Illinois Representatives Michael Madigan and Tom Cross in a show of Ukrainian-American support for House Bill 312.
www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=312&GAID=8
&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=14536&SessionID=5&GA0=94
House Bill 312 proposes that the section of the Illinois School Code regarding public education about the Holocaust be amended to encompass mandatory study of other genocides including those which occurred in Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan. This is monumental step for Ukrainian Genocide awareness and it is crucial that we show the Illinois Legislature that we fully support this Bill.
It will be difficult for this Bill to pass through the Legislative process given that various groups have already voiced their opposition this week. To read more, please go to:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-genocide25.html
to read the January 25, 2005 Chicago Sun-Times article "Some Jewish groups wary of expanded study of genocide".
Therefore, PLEASE show your support for House Bill 312 and the expanded study of genocide in Illinois Public Schools by emailing, phoning or writing:
Representative Michael J. Madigan (D) 22nd District (Speaker of the House)
mmadigan@hds.ilga.gov
300 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
ph: (217) 782-5350
fax: (217) 524-1794
ph: (773) 581-8000 (Chicago Office)
fax: (773) 581-9414 (Chicago Fax)
Representative Tom Cross (R) 84th District (House Republican Leader)
tom@tomcross.com
316 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
ph: (217) 782-1331
fax: (217) 782-7012
ph: (815) 254-0000 (Plainfield Office)
fax: (815) 609-3994 (Plainfield Fax)
A sample letter may be found below:
Dear Representative:
The intended premise of Section 5, Chapter 122, Paragraph 27-20.3 of the Illinois School Code is to mandate Illinois public elementary and high school students to be educated about the Nazi's Holocaust of 1933-1945 so that such atrocities would never happen again. But genocide continues to happen: most recently in Rwanda and Bosnia.
As a member of the Ukrainian-American community of Illinois, I fully support the adoption of Illinois House Bill 312, which expands the study of genocide to also include those that devastated Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan.
As we educate our children about the injustice of hate crimes, it is important to recognize that any form of genocide, against any people, is equally detestable. The multicultural nature of the United States of America is integral to its cultural and political identity. In such a multicultural society, there is no room for showing more reverence to one ethnic group, its memory, history, and tragedies, than to another.
By only requiring students to study the Holocaust and selectively discriminating against the study all other genocides the State of Illinois sends students the wrong message: There is hierarchy in genocide. One group's history and tragedy is of more value than another's. Is this what we want our children to learn?
We are in no way questioning the enormity and uniqueness of Nazi Holocaust against millions of European Jews and non-Jews. However, the memory of all groups who have been victims of genocide is agonizing, haunting and life-defining, and each group's genocide is unique and worthy of study. To suggest otherwise supports the basic motivation behind the Nazi Holocaust -- to value the existence of one group over another.
I support House Bill 312 and I urge you to support it too.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Mischenko
President
Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation - USA, Inc.
2249 West Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60612 - USA
Tel: 847 699-9484
Fax: 847 813-7813
E-mail: UGFF-USA@sbcglobal.net
