Knives and sharp instruments do not necessarily have to destroy
They can also create
The beginning of the last century marked the death of millions of Armenians, who were brutally massacred by the Ottomans. My family had to flee their homeland in order to survive and it is because they were able to escape the terrors that awaited them in their village and were able to come to the Middle East that I am here today.
Because of the bloody and unresolved heritage, which I share with all Armenians, and because of the life which I have led amongst Palestinians and Israelis in this land, I am fully aware of the consequences such harsh antagonisms have on the human spirit. Throughout the years of having to watch hatred, terror and unnecessary killings control the daily headlines, I became resolved to show to those that seem to have a personal gain in keeping these antagonisms afire and by so ripping this land in two, that hatred CAN be replaced by love and antagonism CAN be replaced by cooperation. If the politicians were really committed to their purpose, Peace may have been quite easily achieved: unfortunately our harsh reality shows us otherwise.
Thinking, knowing and believing that living in peace may be the easiest thing to achieve, I embarked on my mission to gather an elite group of people from both nations who will be able to prove that peace is a handshake away.
This group of Chefs proved on the seventeenth of December 2009 that knives and sharp instruments do not necessarily have to destroy: they can also create.
I sincerely hope that the first step which I took, alongside others who share my same beliefs, will serve as a wake-up call for the leaders of today: the controls are in their hands; all they have to do is push the right buttons.
Chef Sarkis Yacoubian
Coordinator Arabic Sector ICC
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My Word
When I began working on this website I felt that I should write a few words about the event which I witnessed. I am not a journalist nor am I a fluent writer; I am just a simple digital artist who uses pictures to express himself .
I arrived at the Notre Dame Center at 7.30 AM: Chef Sarkis and Mr. Awni were already there with the other organizers and some of the judges, as well as the PPHS students.
As more judges and contesting chefs arrived, I could sense their immense pride and eagerness by just looking at their faces. They did not have to move their lips in order to clearly express " We Are Here And We Will Make This Day Special Because We Are proud Of Our Message". Indeed, they all succeeded in completing their tasks and the sense of camaraderie was well felt amongst the fellow cooks. It was a very special day and I enjoyed every single moment of the event. I had never before felt such a great amount of love and harmony as I did within the walls of Notre Dame on that day. Every single person participating, whether as a judge or as a cook, organizer or assistant played their part to its very last detail, not because they were doing so in order to gain fame or for their own personal gain, but because they were eager to tell the world that they know they can live and work together in peace: It is all they really ask for. They each did what they do best in order to awaken those who need to have their eyes opened.
I was so proud that I was able to witness and take part in this historical day and I will always look forward to participate and attend such events, which will eventually bring forward the change we are all so painfully waiting for.
The Memory of the 17th of December 2009 will always be printed in my heart. I would like to thank Chef Sarkis and Mr. Awni, for this wonderful historical day.
