Letter: Let’s Stand Up Against Injustice

Dear Editor:

2014 vs. 1915… Too similar, too familiar. The Germans would never plot another Holocaust with the hopes of getting away with it, because they didn’t the first time! When Adolf Hitler was giving a speech in the midst of plotting the genocide of the Jews, he said, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” in order to encourage the planned massacres of the Jews.

The pictures of what happened during the Armenian Genocide from 1915-23 under the Ottoman Empire—for which Turkey has still not been punished—are awfully similar to what is happening now in Iraq and Syria in 2014 with the new caliphate led by the Islamic State (IS). In its true basis and purest form, a caliphate is simply about establishing a state that is governed by Islam; however, when brainwashed extremists are the leaders, it changes everything. The last Caliphate was during the Ottoman Empire, and now a new one has emerged, developed out of the turmoil in Syria as the rebels gained more and more power, military backing, and funding.

There are many reasons why the Armenian Genocide happened (including a takeover of all the businesses and land owned by Armenians), but one of the reasons was that Armenians were Christians. Armenians had power, and the “Islamization” of the region forced Turks to take violent measures to convert non-Muslims. That resulted in the death, deportation, and massacres of Armenians, Pontic Greeks, and Assyrians.

Turkey never got punished for their barbaric crimes. To this day they do not recognize the genocide, mainly to avoid paying reparations and giving back Armenian-owned lands, businesses, and buildings. History repeats. These new extremists (IS) believe they can get away with the same type of behavior—they have been brutally killing, raping, and pillaging innocent people, historical monuments, cemeteries, and much more.

The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is approaching, and Armenians—alongside others who believe in justice—will be rallying all over the world to raise awareness about the importance of accepting such a crime, and extending justice in order to reconcile over a dark period in history.

Because Turkey was never punished, other genocides followed.

ISIS has forcefully and successfully deported Yazidis, Kurds, and Christians from their homes. If the crime of genocide goes unpunished, we are enabling others to commit this heinous act. Let’s stand up against injustice.

Sincerely,

Zareh Zurabyan