U.S., Turkey must say the words ‘Armenian genocide’
By Jim Boren / The Fresno Bee
Fresno Bee, CA
June 16 2005
In the close-knit Armenian families of the San Joaquin Valley, the
stories of the first genocide of the 20th century are passed along
to each generation at dinner tables and family gatherings. It’s a
ritual to ensure that this scar on world history won’t be forgotten.
But this isn’t just a history lesson about nameless victims of the
Armenian genocide of 90 years ago. These stories are very personal.
They trace how family members made their way to the Valley and the
tragic circumstances of those who died in a calculated slaughter that
meets every definition of a genocide.
They talk about the great-grandmother whose children were murdered
by the Turks and only escaped the genocide by being hidden in a
basement by a friendly doctor and his wife. Or the 8-year-old girl
whose brother was killed and her only hope was to find a way to
survive a Turkish death march through the desert.
They talk about how 1.5 million Armenians were killed during a massacre
that the Turkish government still won’t acknowledge.
U.S. reluctance The Turks’ intransigent attitude about those events
still angers many Armenian-Americans. There’s also disappointment
because the United States government has buckled under threats from
Turkey if our nation dares call this tragic chapter what it is — a
“genocide.”
Because Turkey sits in a strategic spot in the world, the U.S. State
Department, several presidents and Congress have refused to officially
declare that a genocide occurred.
The United States doesn’t want to offend the Turkish government.
Never mind that our leaders are offending the survivors of those
1.5 million Armenians slaughtered during World War I. This wasn’t
the collateral damage of war. The Armenians were rounded up by the
Turks and executed.
But the politics of this issue could change thanks to Turkey’s desire
to become part of the European Union. French President Jacques Chirac
says Turkey must admit to the genocide as one of the conditions of
entry into the EU.
That says a lot about Turkey standing on principle. Its leaders won’t
acknowledge the genocide, but they may admit to it occurring if the
Turks get an economic benefit. That tells you all you need to know
about this ally of the United States.
Today is a special day for the Armenian community. It’s the 90th
anniversary of the genocide and a series of commemorative events have
been held the past week across the Valley. One of those was a dinner
by the Armenian Community School of Fresno that honored survivors of
the genocide.
In a north Fresno banquet room last week, family members told moving
stories about how their relatives were killed in the genocide and
what it took for some of them to survive. They all know these family
stories very well, and they will not shield their children from this
awful history.
It’s something that must be passed on.
Harrowing experience
The Armenian Community School honored genocide survivors from four
families. All but one have since died, but Oghda Boghosian, at age
98, was there to receive her honor surrounded by family members. Also
honored were Mourad and Elizabeth Bedrosian, Anna Boyajian Koligian
and Dertad and Siroun Tookolan.
Oghda Boghosian was 8 when the Turks came for her family. Her oldest
brother was killed and her mother thought her best chance at survival
was to send Oghda on a march with her brother’s wife.
Going on a march usually meant death to participants, either through
the sheer torture of the procession without adequate food and water
or being shot when Turkish soldiers tired of marching along with
their victims. But it also could be a chance to flee.
Oghda was taken from the march by two Turkish boys and given to a
Turkish family that wanted an Armenian girl to keep. She ultimately got
away, and then finally arrived at Ellis Island in 1920. She married
Nigholas Boghosian, and after several years they ended up in Fowler
and went into the farming business.
Oghda Boghosian’s story is not unusual and this 98-year-old woman
knows all too personally that there was a genocide that claimed family
members, and so many others. It only compounds the tragedy for this
genocide to be officially ignored.
The Turkish government knows the truth. The American government knows
the truth. It’s time for both to speak it publicly.
Jim Boren is The Fresno Bee’s editorial page editor. His column appears
Sunday. E-mail him at [email protected] or write him at 1626 E St.,
Fresno 93786.