Recently, 60 Minutes did a segment entitled “Battle Over History” about the Armenian Genocide. Oh, wait. The “genocide” didn’t happen, right? Well, according to President Obama and the Turkish government, it didn’t.
Before stepping into office, Obama made a great deal of promises like most politicians do while they are campaigning. On January 19, 2008, he gave a speech on the importance of US-Armenia relations. He said,
“The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.”
He insisted on using the word genocide, even after many Presidents in the past refused, saying that it was not really a genocide, but an unfortunate event that occurred due to World War I.
However, interestingly enough, after being elected, President Obama never mentioned the genocide on his first visit to Turkey. Furthermore, on the same day he strongly acknowledged the Jewish Holocaust, he did the exact opposite of what he insisted he would do: he steered clear of using the term genocide to describe “the terrible events of 1915.” Not only did he not recognize it as a genocide, he stated that this was not really his business and that “this is really about how the Turkish and Armenian people deal with the past. And the best way forward for the Turkish and Armenian people is a process that works through the past in a way that is honest, open and constructive.” So, basically, Armenia and Turkey should work this out on their own.
Um. I’m sorry Mr. President, but this hasn’t worked. It will be 95 years since those atrocious events occurred on April 24, 1915 (the entire process took a little over 3 years, but this day is the day which the top leaders and educators were executed, in order to prevent them from influencing the people any longer). 95 years. And still, Turkey refuses to accept their actions in the past.
Now, I am not trying to throw blame and I am not trying to cause strife between two nations. As a Christian, I believe in restoration and forgiveness. I believe that accepting the genocide will be the first step towards a growing relationship between Armenia and Turkey. However, I also believe in justice. Turkey needs to take responsibility for their actions. That’s all we want.
I can’t explain how frustrating it is for us as Armenians. The Holocaust is accepted. Darfur is accepted. Rwanda is accepted. Why not the Armenian Genocide? We are people, too. We have suffered pain, too. We have experienced loss, too. Why are all these others accepted and not us? As Christians, we must speak out against this injustice. We must require repentance, while offering love and forgiveness all the while. And in the process, we hope that events like this will never happen again. We hope to truly say, “1915 never again!”
What do you think about Obama’s denial to accept the genocide? Did you even know about the Armenians or their genocide? What do you think we should do as Christians about this issue?
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Very well put Ani! Sadly, as long as the US has a base in Turkey, it’s never going to be accepted here. It’s all politics when it comes down to it. Frankly I’m sick of hearing politicians tickle our ears by telling us what we want to hear in order to get the Armenian vote. I never vote for anyone just because they say they’ll accept the genocide..it all goes back to politics.
I hope & pray that someday Turkey will accept what their ancestors did. Should we hate on the Turks? No. Although we want justice & recognition, we must understand that a) God says to love our enemies & b) the present day Turkish nation is NOT the Ottomon empire. There is far too much hate on both sides & it’s not helping the cause. (I hope what I said won’t be taken the wrong way).
It’s about the security and future of America…American politicians will be concerned about America and it’s well being…If acknowledging the genocide is neutral or in the benefit of America then the politicians will acknowledge it. Is this right or wrong?!!! It’s what will happen whether we like it or not.
I guess the idea of utilitarianism plays a role in this. Not accepting the genocide would probably serve better for the majority of the American people. However, we must ask, “Is this right?” When it comes to virtue ethics, doing the right thing comes above all, no matter the consequences.
Only if it were that easy. It’s like torture. Most of us would agree that torturing someone is wrong. But if that person has information that could stop an attack that would kill tens of thousands of people in say New York or Los Angeles, all of a sudden things change a bit. You could try and handle with civility (i.e. give the guy a lawyer and wait for a trial and etc)?!!! Anyways too much 24 for me (watch it when you get a chance) – so many tough decisions.
We are preaching to the choir folks. When are we going to realize this. Relying on politicians to bring forth justice, is like asking Satan to repent. It’s not going to happen. Let God be the judge and let us move on. This does not mean that we are undermining the justice of those that died in the genocide…To the contrary, true justice will be served expediently and deservedly.
Folks, when are we going to realize that we are preaching to the choir. Placing our hope in politicians to bring forth justice, is like waiting for Satan to repent…it’s not going to happen. Our hope should reside in God only…He and only He, can bring about true justice. This does not undermine all that has been done over the years in bringing recognition to what happened 1915. To the contrary, it actually places all our trust and confidence that the God of the universe will see to it that justice is served once and for all.
While I agree with you completely that we cannot put our hope in politicians and put it only in God, I still think that we cannot stop asking for justice. In Micah, God even tells us to love justice, and in other prophetic books, He tells us to administer it. Saying that we should not seek after something because it is never going to happen (or not going to happen until the end) is like saying that we shouldn’t seek after perfection because it is not going to happen in this life. That’s not how we are called to live. We need to desire and seek out those things that please the Lord, and justice is one of them. I definitely think this issue must be addressed in love and compassion, but it must be addressed nonetheless, regardless of if we are preaching to the choir or not. Thank you so much for your comment!
It’s not even just a Christian issue, but a human rights issue. That’s the reason that I completely lost hope in Obama just a few shorts months after he entered office. Some people are still in love with him like they were on election day, but the novelty of that has worn off very quickly for us Armenians.
I HAVE FIGURED IT OUT!!!
The AntiChrist is going to be Turkish, because the AntiChrist will bring peace between Armenian and Turkey and finally accept the Armenian genocide!
And all the Armenians will follow him!
ahahhahaa, just playing…(we’ll see though)
But yes, on a serious note, it is disgusting that the men and women who lead this country no longer stand for truth and justice, and equality. They have all been corrupted and no longer uphold the laws of God (as they used to).
What if George Washington or Abe Lincoln decided to not fight for justice? What a horrible history we would have! And now our ungodly presidents are making our horrible history a reality. It’s truly disgusting and revolting.