Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Recognizing Armenian genocide overdue justice
by Ruth Rosborough-Larocca, The Fresno Bee (fresnobee.com)- Published April 8, 2001
Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 03:47 am CST

Massacre (from 14th to 16th century, Middle French): "an instance of killing a number of helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity."

Then there's genocide, a modern (1944) term: "the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political or cultural group."

Both terms apply to unfortunate circumstances started in 1915 Armenia. The Turkic position -- something along the lines of, "we were attacked by deranged Armenians who supported Czarist armies against us" -- takes some understanding. The Czar's forces, multitudinous but semi-equipped, were occupied elsewhere. Primarily with the Austro-Hungarians, and dealing with seethings within Russian borders.
There were undoubtedly some Armenians resisting Ottoman irregularities, but surely not a spot on troubles within that failing empire. Surely not a reasonable danger to the glory of Turkey. I have a book with photos taken at the time -- one is of three Armenian women crucified in the desert, heads forward, long hair streaming over their bodies, giving them some final privacy.

A threat to the Ottomans, or the "Young Turks"?

There is the matter of honesty. To say that California's honoring those victims by approving Sen. Chuck Poochigian's Armenian memorial day "promotes hatred against Turkish people," as a little-known organization of Turkish citizens from Yolo County did (The Bee March 20), is goofy. Denying truth promotes hatred; being honest doesn't -- vis-a-vis German, French and Italian open admission of hideous anti-Semitism during World War II.

Historical fact

Republican George Radanovich has again presented the House with a resolution recognizing the Turkish years-long campaign of genocide against the Armenian people for what it is: a fact of history.

The other George, our president, told us during this past campaign that he "would ensure that our nation properly recognizes the tragic suffering of the Armenian people" (Bee editorial March 27). Following Clintonian footsteps, of course.

Now poor Colin Powell, our much-admired secretary of state, is having to mouth non-sentiments: "Legislation like this may undermine the very progress toward improved Turkish-Armenian relations that we all want to see."

Excuse me? The United States is going to solve the problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan? Or is there immediate conflict between Armenia and Turkey that nobody's telling us about? Golly, I thought the only people getting it from the Turks these days were their own Kurds, who have this improbable dream of wresting some sort of national sovereignty from both Turkey and Iran.

Over three years ago, Italy declared that Turkey was responsible for Armenian genocide during World War I. Boy, were the Turks mad, and threatening financial reprisals. The Bee (March 20) reported that "the European Parliament, the Russian Duma and the French National Assembly have adopted resolutions explicitly citing the Armenian Genocide," as the French did quite recently.

Turkey immediately canceled arms contracts with France and made noises in all directions. Threats and actions like this certainly aren't leading the European community to rush Turkey into membership. Besides, European realists couldn't care less because Turkey is in dire financial condition, is the victim of longtime governmental corruption in high places and couldn't take France out to lunch, let alone pay anybody for wartime toys to use against the Kurds, their only military activity at the moment.

Friends have visited Turkey, have been stationed in Turkey, and admire the Turkish people. Many years ago I was cared for by Turkish nurses, a grand group of ladies. And I imagine there are many Americans of Turkish decent who ardently wish this chapter of history could be closed.

To our president and Gen. Powell, I address these questions: Do you really think Turkey is going to close down U.S. bases that bring in dollars? If so, are those bases critical to our national defense? (If we're doomed without Turkish air bases, man, we're in trouble.)

Are France, Italy, the European Union, Russia dead wrong? Misreading history? Haven't we a duty to help our ally, Turkey, into historical reality?

Other non-events

OK. If America can't recognize that the Young Turks (it would seem they, rather than remnants of the Ottoman Empire carried out gross incivilities toward Armenians -- as their present government is doing against the Kurds) murdered, tortured, starved, abused a million and a half Armenians, 1915-23, then we'd better join the airheads who say "there was no Holocaust," "man didn't land on the moon," "Tiananmen Square wasn't a massacre -- just a holding operation."

Americans of Armenian descent deserve closure. For what they have given, and are giving our country, they deserve this much.

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