Institute for Armenian Studies of YSU/

«Armenian «orphan rug» is in White House storage, as unseen as genocide is neglected»,- writes American «Washington Post».

The rug was woven by orphans in the 1920s and formally presented to the White House in 1925. The carpet is a richly detailed work that would hold its own even in the largest and most ceremonial rooms. If you can read a carpet’s cues, the plants and animals depicted on the rug may represent the Garden of Eden. The rug was woven by the girls, who relocated and were assisted by U.S.-sponsored Near East Relief organization. It was made in the town of Ghazir, now in Lebanon, as thanks for the United States’ assistance during the genocide.

There was hope that the carpet, which has been in storage for almost 20 years, might be

displayed on December 16 for the book launch of Hagop Martin Deranian’s «President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug». But on September 12 the event was canceled, because of the White House’s decision not to loan the carpet. Even U.S. ambassador to Armenia, John A. Heffern’s intervention had also been unavailing.

Although Paul Michael Taylor (director of the institution’s Asian cultural history program), ambassador Heffern and the White House curator, William G. Allman, had discussed during a January meeting the possibility of an event that might include the rug, it became clear that the rug wasn’t going to emerge from deep hiding. «This week I spoke again with the White House curator asking if there was any indication of when a loan might be possible again but he has none» wrote Taylor in the letter.

Efforts to contact Heffern were unsuccessful and the State Department referred all questions to the White House.

Last week, the White House issued a statement: «The Ghazir rug is a reminder of the close relationship between the peoples of Armenia and the United States. We regret that it is not possible to loan it out at this time».

Neither Ara Ghazarian (Armenian Cultural Foundation) nor Levon Der-Bedrossian (Armenian Rugs Society) can be sure if the event was canceled for the usual political reason: fear of negative reaction from Turkey.

Although the White House can offer no explanation about why the rug is off limits to the American people, Der-Bedrossian is optimistic that it might someday see the light of day.

«Rug weaving is a metaphor for me: We can make peace weaving together», he says. «We are patient. I tend to believe in miracles. Someday it will come».

The author of the article gives the historical background of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 indicating that between 1 million and 1.5 million people were killed or died of starvation, and others were uprooted from their homes in what has been termed the first modern and systematic genocide. The author also touches upon the political speculation of the Genocide.