Armenian Americans Will Never Forget Genocide
Apr 24, 2007
CBS
Lou Young
ReportingThis article says "These days, the Turks insist it wasn’t genocide but collateral war damage and the U.S. government, anxious to curry favor with a regional ally, complies with that view despite extensive documentation to the contrary."
Survivors Want World To Remember Their Nightmare
(CBS) NEW YORK Somber commemorations were held on Tuesday to mark the beginning of a dark time in history. It's been more than 90 years since the organized extermination of Armenians began at the hands of Turkish nationalists.
It's something Armenian Americans are refusing to let the world forget.
They hold the rally every year, and every year there are fewer and fewer actual survivors from the first genocide of the 20th century. Armenians were driven from land in what is now modern day Turkey. A million and a half victims vanished in the horror of forced relocation marches and ethnic cleansings.
"They took them in a group, took them in the desert," said 96-year-old genocide survivor Annie Karakian said. "If they fell they were shot, they exterminated them."
Added fellow survivor Ononk Eminean, 94: "They took the gun and shot my mother right in the chest. My mother was 22 years old."
A handful of the survivors live at the Armenian Home in Queens, growing old and living with the memory of what happened "on the other side." It's a reality the modern Turkish government is trying to deny.
"They're liars! How could they say something like that?" said 98-year-old Adrian Bagcujian.
These days, the Turks insist it wasn’t genocide but collateral war damage and the U.S. government, anxious to curry favor with a regional ally, complies with that view despite extensive documentation to the contrary.
The U.S. ambassador to Armenia was even fired recently for even using the g-word.
"I came to a point where it became an ethical issue to support our policy which did not recognize the facts or to break with it," said John Marshall Evans, former Ambassador to Armenia.
The aging survivors appreciate the gesture.
"The Turks don't want to talk about it," Karakian said. "I know they're lying."
Sometimes it is too easy, too convenient to forget. Adolf Hitler knew that. During World War II he said, "Who, after all, remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?" The people here seem to be saying, "We remember, even after all this time."
Democrats in Congress now vow to fight the appointment of Ambassador Evans' replacement -- and point to the president's annual message on Armenian Remembrance Day that talks about "forced exile," and "mass killings" but avoids the word genocide.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
CBS
Lou Young
Reporting
This article says "These days, the Turks insist it wasn’t genocide but collateral war damage and the U.S. government, anxious to curry favor with a regional ally, complies with that view despite extensive documentation to the contrary."
A new day and a new way of denial by Turkey. Turkey started this process by negating that Armenians ever historically existed in modern day Turkey. They have come a long way since. Will they go the rest of the way and admit the genocide occurred for the process of healing to begin for both their own sake and the sake of Armenians?
Survivors Want World To Remember Their Nightmare(CBS) NEW YORK Somber commemorations were held on Tuesday to mark the beginning of a dark time in history. It's been more than 90 years since the organized extermination of Armenians began at the hands of Turkish nationalists.
It's something Armenian Americans are refusing to let the world forget.
They hold the rally every year, and every year there are fewer and fewer actual survivors from the first genocide of the 20th century. Armenians were driven from land in what is now modern day Turkey. A million and a half victims vanished in the horror of forced relocation marches and ethnic cleansings.
"They took them in a group, took them in the desert," said 96-year-old genocide survivor Annie Karakian said. "If they fell they were shot, they exterminated them."
Added fellow survivor Ononk Eminean, 94: "They took the gun and shot my mother right in the chest. My mother was 22 years old."
A handful of the survivors live at the Armenian Home in Queens, growing old and living with the memory of what happened "on the other side." It's a reality the modern Turkish government is trying to deny.
"They're liars! How could they say something like that?" said 98-year-old Adrian Bagcujian.
These days, the Turks insist it wasn’t genocide but collateral war damage and the U.S. government, anxious to curry favor with a regional ally, complies with that view despite extensive documentation to the contrary.
The U.S. ambassador to Armenia was even fired recently for even using the g-word.
"I came to a point where it became an ethical issue to support our policy which did not recognize the facts or to break with it," said John Marshall Evans, former Ambassador to Armenia.
The aging survivors appreciate the gesture.
"The Turks don't want to talk about it," Karakian said. "I know they're lying."
Sometimes it is too easy, too convenient to forget. Adolf Hitler knew that. During World War II he said, "Who, after all, remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?" The people here seem to be saying, "We remember, even after all this time."
Democrats in Congress now vow to fight the appointment of Ambassador Evans' replacement -- and point to the president's annual message on Armenian Remembrance Day that talks about "forced exile," and "mass killings" but avoids the word genocide.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 5:24 PM
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