Canadian Parliament formally declares that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians

Haaretz News Ticker ^ | 4/21/2004 | Reuters

[yonif]

Canadian Parliament formally declares that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians in 1915 (Reuters)

[T'wit]

Right on top of things, aren't they.

[CzarNicky]

So when are they going to surrender to the Ottomans?

[Arkinsaw]

I suppose we can expect them to admit that there is terrorism in a few hundred years.

[decimon]

Maybe they'll get around to the Ukrainians.

[mississippi red-neck]

What are they going to do dig'em up and put'em on trial or just pass a strong resolution condemning their actions.Wait!I know! They could give them a good ole "nenie nenie naw naw!"

[yooper]

Hey, don't knock the Canucks. They seem to move faster than our own government....

[JoeFromSidney]

I've never been able to understand why the Turks themselves don't say, "Yes, the Ottomans committed genocide, but they were corrupt and evil. Kemal Ataturk got rid of them and cleaned things up." They could blame the "previous administration," and claim they had made a clean start.

[JohnnyZ]

That Turks killed a large number of Armenians in not disputed. How many and how organized is very much in dispute, including disputes at what to call it technically (holocaust, genocide, mass murder, etc.)

[SamAdams76]

A lot of hard work still ahead for the Canadians as they must still decide on whether or not Adolph Hitler and the Nazis committed genocide against the Jews. This could tie them up for decades.

[wagglebee]

It must be nice to have the luxury of knowing that you can be a socialist welfare state with basically no military because you have the absolute certainty that America will provide for your defense. Then you have the spare time to figure out that Islamics were committing attrocities 90 years ago. What's next, are they going to decide that Hitler hated Jews?

[freedumb2003]

They've contracted Jessie Jackson as a consultant to determine how to go about giving reparations.

[Imal]

I'm sure genocide supporters around the world are outraged.

[okie01]

And the purpose of undertaking this determination was...what?

And, now, that they've made their determination, they intend to do...what?

I'm sure all the Ottoman Turks are now suitably castigated. And all the dead Armenians feel appropriately assuaged.

Most of all, though, I'm confident the members of the Canadian parliament feel very good about themselves...

[yonif]

Armenians have been trying for years to get the world to recognize the events happening in 1915 as a genocide. This is another (rightful) victory for their cause.

[FourPeas]

Well, I'm glad that's settled. Now, onto whether Adolf Hitler really was such a bad guy.

[FourPeas]

Most of all, though, I'm confident the members of the Canadian parliament feel very good about themselves...

And, isn't that really what life is all about, feeling good about one's self? I think it's all time we hold hands and sing.

[Calvin Locke]

I think it's all time we hold hands and sing.

I guess we shouldn't tell them about how they left one of the generals powerless to do anything about the pogrom in Rawanda?

Have they declared anything about UBL yet? Pol Pot? Mao? Arafat? Vincente Fox?

The Dalai Lama is visiting Canada. What are the odds they declare anything about Tibet and China?

[okie01]

"This is another (rightful) victory for their cause."

So, the Canadians have given them a "victory". So, what?

What has been accomplished by the act? What does it mean to the descendants of the Armenians? What have they gained? How does it punish the Ottoman Turks? Their descendants had no hand in it.

Will Canada next pass a resolution condemning the Confederate States of America for practicing slavery? And, if so, what will that accomplish?

I am indeed sorry about the tragedy of the Armenians. And I have absolutely no sympathy for the Ottoman Turks who perpetrated the crime -- whether it was genocide, a holocaust or mass murder. And, really, does it make a damn bit of difference what we call it? It was what it was and it happened.

But that there are some Armenians still wallowing in this affair appalls me. And that the Canadian parliament seems to feel they deserve a medal for having put their imprimatur on it disgusts me.

Yonif, I realize the significance of The Holocaust to you. But I'm sure you recognize that it is of far greater importance for the Jews to remember and memorialize the event than it is for the Canadian (or any other) parliament to "legitimatize" it. The Armenians could well learn from the Jews in this case.

Actually, I guess, I'm more exercised at the action of the Canadian parliament than I am at the Armenian community -- who at least have a good excuse for their wallowing.

[yonif]

But that there are some Armenians still wallowing in this affair appalls me.

True, most Armenians are. But wouldn't you be too if most of the world still refuses to recognize this event which took the lives of 1.5Million Armenians?

True, it doesn't matter what they call it really, but it does matter if it is recognized in some way.

How does it punish the Ottoman Turks?

We can hope that as more and more countries recognize this act, the current Turkish government can say it did happen, and apologize for this dark mark in their history.