Remembering the Armenian Genocide and Coffee and good tidings

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE by Celine Leduc April 25 2017

The Ottoman Empire

The big cover-up

The Turkish shame.

Turkey refuses to acknowledge

Turkey wants to Forget April 24, 1915

Turkey wants to forget

Turkey under pressure

Armenians victims remember  

Armenians petitioned

Armenians hurt --- cry --- mourn.

Finally, one country heard

Turkey heard the cries

Turkey felt the pain

Turkey acknowledges Ottoman crime

Armenians remember to heal

Armenians are no longer alone

Armenians mourn with friends

APRIL 24, 1915 the Armenian GENOCIDE  

COFFEE AND GOOD TIDINGS by Celine Leduc April 25, 2017

Reading the past mourning the dead.

Reading a better future  

In a coffee cup, all is revealed.

Jews drink Turkish coffee

The Ottoman Empire protected them.

The Arab world wanted to destroy them.

Armenians don’t drink Turkish coffee

They remember the Ottoman genocide

They drink Greek or Arabic Coffee.

Greeks don’t drink Turkish Coffee

They too remember the Ottoman genocide

They drink Greek coffee but not Arabic coffee.

Hospitality equals good manners and etiquette

Coffee and sweets are served to guests.

Women entertain and read coffee grains to delight.

Good tidings are part of hospitality

Armenians, Jews and Greeks enjoy baklava

Coffee and honey cakes ushers in a better future.  

IN MEMORIAM TOTEN TANZ dedicated to all those who died and those who survived

IN MEMORIAM TOTEN TANZ  

By Celine Leduc edited by Norman Simon  April 2017 

Annie and Anita were friends

German Jewish, the other Christian

They joked: We are Judeo-Christians

They shared a passion the arts.

One a dancer, the other a percussionist

Yes, they complemented each other.

Religion united them: they celebrated

Hanukah/Christmas - the light that guides

Passover/Easter - Freedom from slavery

Little did they know they would be slaves.

They would be hunted as killers and traitors.

Politics made them enemies

They disobeyed --- they were friends.

Politicians said:  The Jews killed Jesus

Politicians acted and KILLED Jews

Religious leaders: ministers and priests

Preached, "Hate Jews," they killed Jesus.

Rabbis believed they would be safe

They reminded everyone, "We are German.

Germans are good people. We are friends.

The madness will pass --- have faith."

A knock at the door, a broken door

Houses searched, people rounded up

A suitcase packed in a hurry.

In a truck, bringing them to a train.

People displaced sent to a CAMP.

Annie and Anita decided to leave.

Fake exit cards - forged documents

From Berlin to Amsterdam

To freedom we will drive and walk.

They wait till night to cross

Check the patrols, the border guards

Snow on the ground, it is cold!

The hearts of the guards are cold

Anita says, “Go, I will follow.”

Annie runs, crosses to safety.

Anita starts to cross

She is spotted by a border guard

One shot resonates Annie falls

Anita runs back They are caught

Thrown in a truck – destination DEATH

The music has died

The dance macabre starts

Anita dances a solo : Toten Tanz

The dance of death.