History
supports claims of genocide
Melanie
Vartabedian
The
Turkish Government began and ruthlessly
carried out the in famous massacre and deportation
of Armenians in Asia Minor. The clearance
of the race from Asia Minor was about as
complete as such an act, on a scale so great,
could well be.
—Winston Churchill
Any student who has ever studied history,
whether in high school or college, is undoubtedly
familiar with Winston Churchill. He is most
remembered for his famous “Iron Curtain”
speech delivered soon after World War II.
It would appear that he also had a statement
or two to make with regards to a period
during World War I.
There
is, between 1915 and 1918, a bloody page
in world history that has largely been ignored
by many of today’s most powerful and
influential nations. However, back in 1915,
many of those same nations and their political
leaders were well aware of the situation
plaguing the Anatolian Plain.
Unarmed,
innocent Armenians were being driven from
their homes, forced to walk through blazing
deserts as they watched their family members
being tortured, raped and murdered. Armenian
intellectuals, church leaders and politicians
were rounded up and killed. Today, there
are few people in the world who know of
these atrocities. Those who have heard might
consider these episodes a result of civil
war. Some would even argue that it was the
Armenians themselves who were committing
these crimes. Historical facts prove otherwise.
Some
of the most reputable newspapers and magazines
of the day were strewn with headlines of
Armenian mistreatment and murder at the
hands of the Ottoman government. These articles
date back to the late 1800s, when the government
of Sultan Abdul Hamid carried out systematic
raids in Armenian villages. This reality
continued until 1923, as did many of these
newspaper articles. A headline from the
New York Times dated October 18, 1915 read,
“The Assassination of a Race: The
Hopes and the Threatened Fate of the Armenians”.
Now,
why would such a reputable newspaper lie?
Why would Henry Morgenthau, U.S. ambassador
at Constantinople during World War I, lie
to his government? “The massacre of
the Armenians judged both by the numbers
involved and the methods used, was the greatest
single horror ever perpetrated in the history
of humanity,” he said.
The
articles continued. The memoirs of Henry
Morgenthau, Dr. Armin T. Wegner, Dr. Johannes
Lepsius (who coined the term “genocide”)
and several others also continued. Speeches
made by George Lord Byron and U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson. Will we now denounce these
intellectuals and political figures as total
liars? Was there a need to lie? Why would
the Armenians lie?
Throughout
my life, I have always been reminded that
I should be proud to be Armenian, that my
grandparents survived a failed attempt at
racial extermination, and that I must carry
on their legacy and that of my ancestors.
Armenians have been living on the Anatolian
Plain for over 3000 years. I am as proud
of my heritage as any person has the right
to be of theirs. Believe me, if my ancestors
had lied, if my grandparents had not told
the truth with tearful eyes, I would be
ashamed of my people. But why would we try
to scapegoat the Ottoman government for
our lost homes and lost lives? My people
do not need a scapegoat; they need justice.
It
appears that history does not suffice for
the Turkish government or for the U.S. government.
Thankfully, however, France, Canada, Uruguay
and 36 of America’s 50 states, including
California, feel differently. There will
be others. History will one day prove to
everyone that denial can only get you so
far.
Eighty-nine
years have gone by and Armenians are not
ashamed of their loss. We are proud that
we continue to exist, despite several futile
attempts at assimilation and outright genocide.
Denial of history will not deter me from
my pride and my determination to see my
people’s suffering recognized. My
heart will not rest until I rightfully reclaim
the home my grandfather lost, the home that
is rightfully mine.
Perhaps
for some ignorance is bliss. Perhaps some
can tolerate denial and the unwillingness
to accept responsibility. But it cannot
continue for long.
Melanie
Vartabedian is a marine biology major at
Cal State Long Beach.
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