Armenian Remembrance and the Politics of Genocide
Today is Armenian Remembrance Day, celebrating the lives of the 1.5 million Armenians killed in 1915. Yet, nearly a century later, the issue is still highly charged, with President Obama taking note of the “horrific events” but refraining from using the word genocide.
Today is Armenian Remembrance Day, celebrating the lives of the 1.5 million Armenians killed in 1915. Yet, nearly a century later, the issue is still highly charged, with President Obama taking note of the “horrific events” but refraining from using the word genocide. –JCL
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...USA Today:
Turkey, a key Islamic ally of the U.S. that angrily denies accusations of genocide, attacked Obama’s statement as “one-sided.”
“The statement distorts the historical facts.” said the Turkish foreign ministry. “Therefore, we find it very problematic and deeply regret it … One-sided statements that interpret controversial historical events by a selective sense of justice prevent understanding of the truth.”
In his statement — issued late Saturday — Obama said: “I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts is in all our interests.”
In the meantime, the chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, Ken Hachikian, criticized Obama for a “disgraceful capitulation to Turkey’s threats” and failing to acknowledge what many historians describe as genocide.
This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
TD Column
Ethnic Armenians have fled a once-thriving democracy in Artsakh after an offensive by the authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan.
Opinion
How can a person make up for seven decades of misrepresentation and willful distortion in the time allotted to a sound bite?
Opinion
With Moscow distracted in Ukraine and a recent shift in Armenia's relationship to the CTSO, the humanitarian situation is dire as Azerbaijan has blocked a key corridor.
The artist’s works document a monumental step toward democracy in his home country and offer stunning examples of the art of the protest poster.
Activism
President Obama has never made good on his promise to officially recognize the massacre of 15 million Armenians for what it was President Obama has never made good on his promise to officially recognize the massacre of 1.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.