The Armenian Genocide

Today is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. According to this site, it is on April 24, ninety-one years ago, that "300 Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers and professionals in Constantinople (present day Istanbul) were rounded up, deported and killed." The same day, in Constantinople, "5,000 of the poorest Armenians were butchered in the streets and in their homes."

The murder of approximately 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1917 is not officially recognized as genocide by countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel, Georgia and the Ukraine. It is, however, generally accepted that systematic killing, based on ethnicity, was involved. Most official waverings seem to be prompted by politics, not by legitimate doubt as to the facts.

I was looking for information about various countries' stances on the Armenian Genocide, and came across these two quotations. The first is from this site.

"Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has claimed in the past that Israel does not officially recognize the Armenian Genocide 'out of concern for the unique place of the Holocaust in the chronicles of human history.'" (March 8, 2002)

The article goes on to show that most Israelis and many Israeli scholars disagree with Peres's view. Needless to say, I disagree with his view, too. In fact, I was rather shocked to read such words from a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Not only is Peres's assertion false (most agree that Israel's actions in this regard are a result of its political ties to Turkey), but it also undermines the lessons of the Holocaust. If we do not recognize the seriousness of offenses like the Armenian Genocide, we will not properly call to account the governments who are responsible. Furthermore, people will not pay enough attention to the issue; they will not recognize that it is an ongoing problem, nor will they be as likely to be vigilant and prevent similar events from occurring.

The second quotation came from this site.

"[. . .] during a news conference [April 19, 2006] in southern Manitoba, Prime Minister Harper affirmed his belief that the Armenians who died [between 1915 and 1920] were in fact, subjects of a genocide.

Turkey's ambassador to Canada thinks the decision goes too far.

'Your own citizens of Turkish origin, they are proud Canadians as much as you are,' said Aydemir Erman. 'So your own House is branding them as the grandchildren of killers.'"

Erman seems to have missed the point entirely. Official recognition isn't about Canadians of Turkish origin; it is about the Armenians who have suffered because of the genocide and subsequent denials. It is about showing that one doesn't get away with crimes against humanity, that people will not be left to suffer quietly, and that countries of the world won't allow these events to fade away into obscurity. None of this is done with an intent to shame Turks for all eternity. Official recognition is intended, at least in part, as a form of prevention and justice.

In any case, I sincerely believe that, if I were a Turk, I would be more concerned about my government's bullying of individuals and countries, and my government's attempts to hide the truth, than I would be about possibly being a descendant of killers. I can't help the past, but I can help the present and future.