Imagine being a 93-year-old man who has been ignored and
isolated all his life. His family and friends are gone. No one looks him in the
eye as he hobbles down the street. No one knows his name or acknowledges that
he even exists. Nobody stops to chat. Everyone rushes right past him, saying
and doing nothing — for nearly a century.
The Armenian Genocide is that lonely old man, still aching
to have his story told, his existence acknowledged, his soul healed and put to
rest.
The Armenian Genocide of 1915, commemorated every April 24
by Armenians around the world, was the systematic destruction by the
Empire
government’s desire at the time to “cleanse” minorities and create a
Pan-Turkish state has been well documented. Records from then-U.S. Ambassador
to Ottoman Turkey Henry Morgenthau, from German missionaries and even from
Turkish officials reveal that the Ottoman Empire was particularly intent on
annihilating the Armenian race, which had become so successful within the
country — a country with much territory previously belonging to ancient
Armenia.
Government archives in
and around the world have proof of these goals. Yet
still denies that an Armenian Genocide ever occurred, and many countries still
side with
when it claims that the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians were merely the result
of a variety of World War I skirmishes and Armenian insurgencies impossible to
pin on the government.
Fortunately, France, Italy, Switzerland and other
enlightened nations refuse to give into this lie, recently passing resolutions
and legislation acknowledging the Armenian Genocide — the first genocide of the
twentieth 20th century, one that Adolf Hitler studied in preparation for his
own Jewish Holocaust.
Andrew Tarsey, former Director of the Anti-Defense League of
New England, was essentially fired last year for his comments acknowledging the
Armenian Genocide but has inspired Jews and Armenians alike with his
uncompromised integrity on this issue.
Momentum is shifting in other ways as well: U.S. House and
Senate Resolution 106 acknowledging the Genocide, New York Life’s settlement of
insurance-policy reparations to descendants of Armenian Genocide victims, more
and more countries passing genocide legislation as mentioned, the
Angeles
District
curriculum into the schools. These are important steps.
Some Turkish scholars and artists, like historian Taner
Akcam of the
are now speaking out about the Armenian Genocide and acknowledging that it did
in fact happen — even dialoguing with their Armenian counterparts at academic
conferences and panels.
Perhaps
does not recognize how much more respect it would gain worldwide if it did
finally admit to the
— perhaps its bid to join the European Union would even be helped. But
also knows full well that the admission would result in a doling-out of
financial reparations that could nearly bankrupt the country. So, admitting the
truth is too embarrassing and costly.
Yet
apparently doesn’t mind throwing millions of dollars at lobbyists and
politicians worldwide to secure its anti-Armenian goals. Neither those efforts,
however, nor vehement denial, can change the truth of history. Sadly, many
Turks believe that the Armenian Genocide is a lie; saddest of all, younger
generations of Turks are entirely ignorant of this period in their country’s
history.
Some would say the aftermath of the genocide has even
continued with a young Turkish nationalist’s assassination of beloved
Armenian-Turkish journalist/editor Hrant Dink last year, seemingly for his
pro-Genocide views. His son Arat Dink, assuming leadership of his father’s
newspaper, was also convicted (like his father) under
Article 301 of the penal code, for the “crime” of insulting Turkishness. Never
mind insulting the truth.
Only an enlightened people are brave enough to explore and
admit their mistakes and sins. Only an enlightened people are brave enough to
be persecuted for their beliefs. And Armenians everywhere will keep fighting
until the truth sets the world free.
