A duty to the truth

U.S. should officially commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
April 24, 2004

Today we once again commemorate the Armenian Genocide, a brutal event
that resulted in an estimated 1.5 million Armenians being killed at
the hands of the Ottoman Turkish empire and its successor regime
between 1915 and 1923.

Commemoration events have been going on all week in this community
with so many Armenian-Americans. At 10 a.m. today, a ceremony at City
Hall will feature the raising of the Armenian flag next to the flags
of the United States and California.

Rep. George Radanovich, who has been pushing to get the Armenian
genocide officially recognized by the U.S. government, will speak at
the event. His voice has been strong in support of this important
cause.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration, like administrations before
it, has stepped lightly around the issue. Our leaders, especially
those in the State Department, are afraid of offending the Turkish
government by designating the savage events of early last century as a
genocide.

Turkey, a key U.S. ally, vigorously denies that the genocide
occurred. It did, of course, and it’s time for the Turks to
acknowledge it. Radanovich has authored House Resolution 193, which
calls for official recognition of the Armenian genocide. That
resolution should be passed because it’s the right thing to do.

Turkish embarrassment at the bloody past is understandable, but that
doesn’t change the facts, and the Turkish government shouldn’t be
allowed to dictate whether the United States formally acknowledges the
genocide. The Turks’ revisionism has grown tiresome, and our
government’s willingness to be complicit in this ruse is at odds with
this nation’s founding principles.

On this day, we commemorate the Armenian genocide. It’s time that the
U.S. government officially adds its voice to this cause for justice.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress