WASHINGTON—On Oct. 21, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed the introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the U.S. Senate by Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.).
The measure is similar to legislation in the U.S. House, H.Res.252, introduced earlier this year by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), George Radanovich (R-Calif.), and Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). This measure already has over 130 co-sponsors.
In introducing the measure, Sen. Menendez noted, “Only when history’s darkest hours are acknowledged and understood can we truly learn from them and build a peaceful future upon those lessons. One and a half million Armenians experienced Hell on Earth, and to sweep their plight under the rug is to insult their memories and their descendants. It is long past time that our nation help set the historical record straight and provide a foundation of understanding that helps prevent future atrocities.”
Sen. Ensign explained, “It inconceivable that after so many years the international community has yet to affirm that the deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre, and starvation of the Armenian people was genocide. By joining together and affirming that genocide was committed on the Armenian people, we send a strong message to the international community that we will not turn a blind eye to the crimes of the past simply because they are in the past.”
“On behalf of all Armenian Americans, we thank Senators Menendez and Ensign for their tireless leadership in moving America toward a full and proper commemoration and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian. “This legislation, in seeking to end U.S. silence in the face of Turkey’s denial of this crime, not only honors the past, but also, very powerfully, helps make Armenia and all the world safer from future genocides.”
Earlier this month, Menendez had spoken out about the importance of international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, and condemned provisions in the Turkey-Armenia protocols that would create a historical commission as “frankly absurd” and an “insult to the Armenian people.” He went on to note, “It is time that Turkey recognizes it [the Armenian Genocide] and accepts it. It is time that the world acknowledges this fact of history and moves on towards a viable peace that honors the true history of the Armenian people.” His complete remarks, delivered at an event supporting the efforts of the ANCA Eastern Region can be viewed by visiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g7gQBeWuY8.
The resolution introduced today calls upon the president to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide. The resolution includes extensive findings from past U.S. hearings, resolutions, and presidential statements on the Armenian Genocide from 1916 through the present, as well as references to statements by international bodies and organizations.
Aren’t you tired of all these Genocide resolutions? Game 2010 has already began. Another year, another resolution, it is a sure sign that midterm elections are coming up.
Please, ANC, listen to your “grassroots who lead you,” as you claim whenever you kiss up to fundraise. STOP groveling to legislators who, along with the State Dept, will stop these toothless, non-binding resolutions dead in their tracks. START pressing for reparations! START enlisting Pontic Greek and Assyrian groups to join you! Please, ANC, recognize that when the tactic does not work, you must change the tactic! Otherwise, you will lose what “grassroots” you still have.
Hye Patil, I, as the first born of both parents who miraculously survived the Genocide of the Armenian nation, I have been witness to the advances of the ARF worldwide, the years of efforts by those upon whose backs we have advanced, an insignificant ethnic group speaking out for Genocides, against the powers that be – politically – the State Department, the White House, leaders who in Congress were ‘paid off’ by the Turks, the military, oil interests and many more, I resent your use of the word ‘groveling’ for all the efforts that have brought the Armenians and their Genocide to the world stage- not allowing it to fade and disappear – (as Turks were hoping) and to the point where Turkey is taking desparate measures today. Just the foundation of the ANCA – across America – no small feat! And you put down the grassroots – to this day – who recognize all the efforts of our survivors, theirchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren who today come together, as Armenians, in their own beliefs to accomplish the Turkish guilt, to accomplish the reparations due our people. Do you know what you are saying? Do you know what you are asking the Armenians to cast aside? I can’t believe you are Armenian! Manooshag
I hope this time it succeeeds. Really.
I can not wait for this resolution to pass the parliaments of all nations and be over with finally.
It would be curious to see what other raison d’être the industry that has grown around this topic will invent to further milk the emotions and to maintain a false sense of nationhood.
Murat you should write to your government and tell them to stop paying so much money to lobbyists and threatening defense contractors to lobby for them. Too much bakshish in this problem. Then it will all be over with. Tell them not to spend your money so foolishly – you’re right about that. It is dumb from every point of view.
false sense of nationhood
Now that is funny – it seems there has been an Armenian identity long before there was a Turkish state and its continual presence in the world as a national identity for thousands of years. Pot meet kettle. It is ironic that there are so many echoes in these arguments. When does truth get a chance when denial is the sole object of exercise?
Manooshag brings out a very good point. I just finished reading the recently publishd book, “Children of Armenia”. It illustrates the quest for justice vis a vis the Genocide from the post WWI period to the present day; focusing on the U.S. community. If we consider that the Genocide was in a period of public silence from the 1930’s until our “reawakening” in the late 1960’s; the position we are in today is a miracle. The push for recognition serves not only as a vehicle to build international support for Armenia and Armenians; but also has had an incredible impact on educating, inspiring and activating the succeeding generations. This is the worst nightmare for the deniers. They believed,through the 1930’s-1960″s that the Genocide would be forgotten with the passing of the survivor generation. It didn’t turn out that way. The opposite happened.We are inspired by the memory of our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. These activists efforts helped to galvanize the identity of an entire generation and more. This is why we must always believe that the truth will prevail. Only then will the Armenian nation rest. This we owe to our(in my case) grandparents who came here to survive; always with Armenia in their heart.
I rest my case…
The problem in Turkey is the Kemalist nationalist version of identity: the truth of the genocide is such a threat it must officially remain in denail – to the tune of millions of dollars and government effort in the face of world opinion to the contrary