The Armenian Genocide
April 24th is considered the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide that took place in the beginning of the twentieth century. Even though most estimates put the death toll of Armenians at over a million people the Turkish government still denies it was genocide. Many people in the US never even learn about it in school. An interesting quote (its accuracy somewhat disputed) is from Adolf Hitler
"Our strength is in our quickness and our brutality. Ghengis Khan had millions of women killed by his own will and with a gay heart. History sees in him only a great State-builder. What the weak European civilization thinks about me does not matter. I have given the order, and will have everyone shot who utters one word of criticism...
Thus for the time being I have sent to the East only my Death's Head units, with the order to kill without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of the Polish race or language. Who still talks nowadays of the extermination of the Armenians?"
Comments
What about the hundreds of mass-graves that are being discovered in Turkey of Turkish people that died at the hands of the Armenians? The whole world is one sided on this matter. The truth will eventually will come out.
Posted by: itunc | April 27, 2005 11:04 AM
I tried not to be too biased on mentioning the genocide. From what I've read I believe the genocide(and thats what I would consider it) did in fact happen with over a million Armenians dying. I have scene some articles that allude to the fact that the Armenians were not free of blame but nothing more specific then that. Perhaps you would like to comment with your view and some links on the counter interpretation of the events that unfolded.
BTW the US still has not officially recognized it as a genocide so I would say the whole world is one sided.
Posted by: Chris Bunk | April 27, 2005 11:33 AM
As I said earlier the truth will eventually come out. Turkish and the Armenian governments are going to do a joint research with independent observer of the archives of the two countries. The Turkish archives have documents and census data that prove that the population of the Armenians during that period did not decrease but rather increased thus falsifying the claims of genocide. Below are few links to those who are interested in reading the opposite (Turkish) view.
http://www.turkla.com/yazar.php?yid=4
http://www.turkishforum.com/suggested_reading.html
http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/english.htm
http://www.youngturks.org/default.html
Posted by: itunc | April 27, 2005 01:42 PM
As a link in one of the pages Ibrahim posts is an interesting article, A testimony by Justin McCarthy in front of the House International Committee.
http://www.turkishforum.com/armenian/history_of_arm_tur_conflict.mccarthy.html
After reading this and other views from the other side I don't think I had my facts necessarily wrong as much as I was missing allot of additional facts regarding the other side of the conflict. The article I just mentioned does a good job of painting the history for what it likely was, move and kill whoever wasn't in power. I can now see a good argument for not considering it genocide but more of a tragedy in the area.
I definitely need to spend some time looking at this conflict. With my love of history and some of my ethnicity coming from this area its a shame I haven't done this in depth before.
There are always three sides to any story. That person's side, that other person's side, and the truth somewhere in between.
Posted by: Chris Bunk | April 27, 2005 03:14 PM
I think the whole thing started with the Russians promising an independent state to the Armenians. To realize that dream the Armenians started to side with the Russians. The idea was that while the Russians were fighting the Turks the Armenians would be organized into an armed force and attack the Turks from the back thus trapping them between two fronts. Also taking advantage of the lack of security in the region the Armenians started to drive out the Turkish population by looting, murdering, and burning the Turks.
My great great grandfather had to move from that part of the country because of the Russians and the Armenians to an area near Istanbul. The Turks then decided to move the Armenian population to protect them from deception and the Turks from the Armenians. In my opinion this whole thing is one big tragedy. The Armenians were tricked by the Russians and the Western world just to bring down the Ottoman Empire to its demise.
The Turkish people throughout history have never committed genocide against any ethnic group as defined by the word at that time. If the Turks wanted to commit these atrocities that they are accused of they could have done it when the Empire was at its pinnacle of power and there would be nothing anybody could have done. They chose not to do it because we are not that kind of people. I am very proud of my ancestors and believe that they have not done anything wrong. The situation is being used for political reasons. I hope the Armenians are able to see that they are again being used.
Even today there are millions of Armenians living in Turkey in peace with no negative reaction from the Turks. I hope the two nations can put aside politics and let the truth come out.
Posted by: itunc | April 28, 2005 02:44 PM