Posted on 03/22/2007 12:19:51 PM PDT by longtermmemmory
Inside the tomblike confines of the Armenian Genocide Museum, a haunting narrative of images and words unfolds. A list is posted at tour's end of nations that have officially recognized the tragedy, minus one major endorsement: the United States.
U.S. lawmakers have introduced nonbinding resolutions in Congress that would declare up to 1.5 million Armenians victims of genocide at the hands of Turkish forces almost a century ago.
Support is reported to be strong enough in the House to pass the measure if it goes to a vote; the Senate introduced a similar resolution last week with 21 co-sponsors.
Historians and analysts here in the Armenian capital say recognition from Washington is long overdue because evidence validating the case for genocide is "clear-cut, more than factual, and very obvious."
But Turkey's priority status as a vital strategic ally in a troublesome region stands in the way. "Although Turkey needs the U.S. more, the U.S also needs Turkey right now ... so it's not realistic to think the government will formally acknowledge [the genocide]," said Hagop Avedikian, editor of Azg newspaper. He noted that every April 24, a day of observance, President Bush "highlights the genocide and explains it without using the word."
In the past month, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and a parliamentary delegation have met with U.S. lawmakers and Bush administration officials in an attempt to derail the resolution.
Mr. Gul was quoted as saying the delivery of a U.S. genocide resolution would inflict "lasting damage" on bilateral relations. Such statements were not lost on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who last week wrote a joint letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, and other senior ...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Serder Argic would take issue with this... ;P
"almost a century ago."
What would change if the USA, a small growing country at the time, having nothing to do with this does acknowledge it?
It seems a complete waste of time, money and effort and not an issue the United States needs to acknowledge or be involved in.
I guess it is a duty for a democratic society promoting human rights to recognize, criticize, and show that we dont tolerate with any kind of genocide, such as the acts of Nazis did to the Jews.
It is not a issue of wasting time.
It is not.
How did the public react when the Iranian President denied the Holocost. Did we say "oh that happened in Germany..." No of course not.
This is simply a matter of accepting the past so we can build a future. Please read the whole article, essentially Turkey is threatening the USA if we merely call a genocide a genocide. It is the same BS as when they refused to honor their treaties with the USA at the start of the Iraq war.
So what is next? Pearl Harbor was a misunderstanding?
Germany and Pearl Harbor happened in our life times that the USA was involved - you're comparing apples and oranges.
I don't think the USA would be well advised to shrink from calling the Armenian genocide what it was - ESPECIALLY not just because it would take a little effort.
And we should always remember this. Hitler thought he could get away with killing six million Jews precisely because he was aware that no-one was chasing Turkey about the Armenian genocide.
No I am not.
It is identical.
So when you die and 50 years later nobody is alive who knew pearl harbor, it is ok to call it a "minor skirmish"?
That is beyond cruel.
It maters to the Armenian people and it matters to ALL of us. I am not Armenian, but the fact is we must never forget.
Calling one genocide morally superior to another only dooms us to repeat the mistakes in history.
Independent, neutral historians are split on how to categorize the mass killings.
While most Turkish assessments are far too low in terms of casualty figures, most Armenian assessments are, IMO, too high.
And trying to piggyback off the Holocaust for PR purposes really only shows the contrast between the two.
Oh well, the Armenian lobby is gonna stick to their position regardless.
Then we should go back to Greece vs Rome as well?
There is a logical place to put a stop and that is in places we are not involved. Let the turks get apologies from those engaged in an leave the rest of the world move forward.
Then we should go back to Greece vs Rome as well?
There is a logical place to put a stop and that is in places we are not involved. Let the turks get apologies from those engaged in an leave the rest of the world move forward.
Actually we need to acknowledge the Huns, the Franks, Khan as well.
The Ottoman Empire was the last caliphate. They mass murdered any Christian Armenian who would not convert to islam, entire villages in many instances. I think it is absolutely fitting for us, at this point in history, to acknowledge islamic genocide of Christians.
This idea has been festering in Nan’s warped little mind for a long time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.