Armenian genocide offered a lesson still to be learned
By Robert Kachadourian
Birmingham-Bloomfield Hills Eccentric (Birmingham, Michigan)
Sunday, May 15, 2005
The popular and award-winning movie Schindler’s List that was produced
several years ago was a stark reminder of man’s capability to wreak
havoc on other humans with all the fury at his disposal.
In this case it displays the means, methods and motives of such
heinous crimes. Holocaust, genocide and a more modern but no less
devastating term, ethnic cleansing, are all the same manifestation
of destructive forces when unleashed.
The 20th century has been called the bloodiest in the history of
mankind. The Armenian Genocide was the beginning of these events of
the last century and was a precursor to those devastating occurrences
that followed. The recent 90th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
marked the carnage that lasted from 1915-23, eventually claiming
between 1 million and 1.5 million citizens of Armenian descent.
The Armenian Genocide took place because of man’s inhumanity to man,
indifference and the world’s very short collective memory. Most of
us read history in a vacuum and really think we aren’t affected by
events that take place thousands of miles away. We also feel that
events that occurred years ago are far removed from us.
As we are already midway in the first decade of the 21st century,
the events that affect us aren’t “over there.” The world has come
into our living rooms through the communications explosion that has
jettisoned us into the age of super telecommunications. Cyberspace
has turned outer space into an obtainable dimension.
Indeed, that is the case. Yet it depends on the use of all of this
technology. Will it be used to inform mankind about events that need to
have us as individuals and governments involved to prevent holocausts,
genocides and ethnic cleansing? Or will it be used to sanitize us
from such occurrences? We can become desensitized and almost insular.
Of course, we can give the appropriate response: “never again.” All
of us have to answer these questions as individuals.
The Armenian Genocide was a wakeup call that no one woke up to. The
Jewish Holocaust wouldn’t have occurred if the Armenian Genocide had
been recognized as an event that needed world attention.
When Hitler in 1939 was commenting about the carnage he was to lead
the world to as he prepared for World War II, he was asked about his
policies of extermination. His answer was, “Who today remembers what
happened to the Armenians?” The die was cast.
In fact, the Armenian Genocide is an “alleged event” even in some
circles today.
The answer can be found in the continuum of genocide, holocaust
and ethnic cleansing. These are all the same words for individuals
representing movements that justify their solutions in dealing with
“other” groups. It is a dangerous mindset most of us don’t comprehend.
Somewhere, someone must declare “never again.”
Schindler’s List was an epic story. Its screenplay was written by
Steve Zaillian. He stated he drew upon the experience of his own
Armenian background to compose such an outstanding drama depiction
of the Holocaust.
There is a message there. If one man can make a difference under such
circumstances, can we do no less? Again, each one of us will have
to answer that question, not only as individuals, but collectively
as governments.
In the meantime, remember not to forget. That’s a beginning.
Robert Kachadourian is a retired educator and operates a consulting
firm. He is active in the Armenian community.
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