A Step Toward Recognizing the Armenian Genocide

by Michael Jones · 2010-03-04 17:18:00 UTC
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ArmeniaWant to know the quickest way to create geopolitical fireworks? Get some legislators to vote on a measure recognizing the killings of ethnic Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide. Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House did just that, voting 23-22 to recognize the atrocities as genocide.

And while that may be historically accurate, and something that 20 countries and 44 American states have already recognized, the very thought sends Turkey to Incredible Hulk levels of rage. Today, Turkey temporarily pulled their Ambassador to the U.S. home in a sign of protest, sending a stern signal to Washington that U.S./Turkey relations will suffer if Congress moves any further toward recognizing the World War I era killings as genocide.

That's a shame. As U.S. Congressman Howard Berman said today, recognizing the atrocities as genocide is an action that needs to happen in order for the Turkey, and the global community, to live up to its past.

"[Nothing justifies] turning a blind eye to the reality of the Armenian genocide," said Rep. Berman. He added that Turkey's responsibility to own up to the genocide claim -- something even many Turkish historians have ponied up to -- is similar to Germany's duty to claim responsibility for the Holocaust and South Africa's duty to own up to the violence committed under apartheid.

The resolution itself is non-binding, but carries great symbolism. Turkish lobbyists tried hard to nix today's vote by the Foreign Services Committee. Even the White House tried to prevent the vote, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying that the vote could permanently alter the Turkey's relationship with the west.

That's a little frustrating, given that during the 2008 Presidential campaign, both Clinton and President Barack Obama pledged to recognize the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

Kenneth Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, perhaps put the loudest punctuation mark on today's vote. Hachikian said that when it comes to genocide, there should never be a gag rule.

"You cannot have a relationship or a reconciliation based upon lies,” Hachikian said. “Turkey can’t come to the table and say let’s reconcile but we deny what the rest of the world acknowledges.”

Here at Change.org, more than 5,800 people have signed a petition urging Congress to recognize the genocide. Led by the Coalition to Recognize the Armenian Genocide, the petition notes that this year marks the 95th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. It's an act of violence, the Coalition argues, that became the template for all modern genocide.

So while today's 23-22 vote moves the U.S. a few inches closer to recognizing the Armenian genocide, maybe we should be asking ourselves: why are 22 legislators still trying to pull the wool over an act of genocide?

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Michael Jones
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