Turkey still denying Armenian Genocide
October 13th, 2007Earlier this week, the United States passed a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide done by the Ottoman Empire. In response, Turkey recalled its ambassador to the U.S.
Even though the Ottoman Empire is no more (what remains of it is Turkey), Turkey still is in denial about what happened. “Our government regrets and condemns this decision. It is unacceptable that the Turkish nation has been accused of something that never happened in history,” was the official response from Turkey to our resolution.
I want to make one thing clear. I realize America isn’t always doing the right thing when it comes to foreign policy, but this time, we got it right. Back in the 1910s, when the Ottoman Empire rounded up and either starved or killed outright 1.5 million Armenians, the U.S. condemned their actions and wanted to move to save the Armenians. The British Foreign Office estimated 600,000 Armenians “died or were massacred during deportation” in 1915-1916 alone.
This genocide partly inspired Adolph Hitler, who said in several speeches “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” Now, can you imagine Germany denying their Holocaust? Imagine the international outrage. What amazes me is there is very little outrage for Turkey denying the Armenian Genocide.
For more info, Wikipedia has a great page on what happened. Just don’t see at while you’re eating because pictures are included.
Thanks for another eye-opener. We don’t have to live in the misery of our history but we must never deny history or it has served no purpose and legacy no longer would have meaning.
I had never heard of this until the History Channel ran a documentary on it. HORRIBLE! Granny Annie said it all!
Granny - We don’t have to live in the misery of our history but we must never deny history or it has served no purpose and legacy no longer would have meaning.
Well said.
Tshsmom - I need to watch the History Channel. Would have liked to see the documentary on it. That Wikipedia page listed some movies about it.
I heard on explanation of their denial was that the Turks are scared the international community will force them to shave off territory for the Armenians or the Kurds for that matter if the own up to their past. But as one of the prices for joining the European Union that is what they should be made to do.
Beach - I haven’t heard that. I think that would be silly, as the Ottoman Empire is no more, and Armenia is its own country now. However, the Kurds have no nation, so I don’t know what will happen with them.
I’ve know about the Armenian genocide for more than 20 years now because one of the profs in my dept at the Univ is Armenian and he wrote about this a lot. I couldn’t believe Turkey recalled their ambassador. There’s proof it happened. It makes no sense at all to deny it. I work with a Turkish woman and I’ve been meaning to ask her what she thinks about this, but I haven’t seen her today.
Turkey doesn’t deny the Armenians were killed. They deny “genocide”. They also deny that it was them. after all it wasn’t Turkey that did this, it was the Ottoman Empire which no longer exists. I personally see little reason to condemn a country for something that was done almost a hundred years ago by a different country (even if the current country was a part of it) I won’t condemn Germany for the Holocaust and I won’t condemn Turkey for what happened then. It is pointless.
Kathleen - I’m curious to. Let me know what she says.
Exmi - The way I took it is he shouldn’t be offended. The Ottoman Empire != Turkey. Plus, all those people are long dead. So, why did they get offended when the U.S. said it was genocide?
For the same reason that many here would get offended if other countries began passing declarations condemning the US for the Genocide of the Indians.
As you said, it was a long time ago, why not let it go?
Wasn’t condemning. It was recognizing. Huge difference.
Also, by numbers and methods, what the Ottoman Empire did was far worse. We did horrible things, yes, but on a case by case basis. Some tribes we were fair to. Others we were horrible. And yes, it was a bad part of American history. I won’t at all deny that.
Just saw a great interview with Kissinger on Charlie Rose online. He talks about this a little. What happened was terrible. What is at issue, is the timing and means of dealing with this. Why are we making this resolution 100 years after the fact at precisely the time when tension is coming to a head between Turkey and the Kurds (who happen to be one of the 3 main groups we need to work with to stabilize Iraq)?
It is something that perhaps morally should have been done a long time ago. But it is something that politically SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE NOW, like giving the Dalai Lama a medal during the current meetings in China. It bears asking, who is responsible for this and what is their agenda?
Yeah, I’m wondering the timing. This should have been done back in the 40s or 50s, at the latest.
Also, I’m all for giving the Dalai Lama a medal, but once again, bad timing.
Yup. Not big on reading into things too far, but guess who pushed the Armenia deal at such an opportune time. Yep… our dear Nancy Pelosi. Foreign policy, congressional style.
As an Englishman I do not want Turkey to be allowed to join the EU. Only bent and dishonest cowboys like GW Bush and Tony Blair want this to happen!!