ianyan magazine
Feb 26 2010
CBS News to Air Armenian Genocide Report
By Liana Aghajanian on February 26th, 2010
The greater Armenian Diaspora is abuzz as CBS’ 60 Minutes prepares to
air `Battle Over History,’ a program highlighting the Armenian
Genocide and the decades long battle for its recognition on Sunday,
Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. EST.
Although CBS has uploaded a short, 42-second preview of the program,
the comments – which are typical banter you would find on any internet
forum where the Genocide is up for debate – are more interesting,
than the sneak peek.
`Just tell me how you could have acted so blind in acknowledging this
human tragedy, all this time?!.. Where is your conscious?’ writes
Sevak-S. `Shame on you who participated in the denial policies of the
perpetrators¦ by doing so, you’ve stained your own humanity.’
Another reader named Harmik offered this in an opposite vein: `This is
a bunch of smoke and mirrors. No more than a few thousand Armenians
died.’
The comments also reveal the personal stories from the descendants of
Armenian Genocide victims and survivors.
The program’s description reads, `The Armenians call it their
holocaust – the 1915 forced deportation and massacre of more than a
million Armenians by the Turks. But the Turks and our own government
have refused to call it genocide.’ It will feature best-selling author
and Armenian Genocide scholar Peter Balakian, according to Armenia
Now.
The program’s timely airing comes days before a U.S. Congressional
committee vote on March 4 of House Resolution 252, which seeks
affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide.
It also `calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of
the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide’ and also asks the President to `accurately
characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000
Armenians as genocide’ in an annual message issued on or about April
24.
An article by Manhattan business lawyer Mark Meirowitz on History of
Truth, a Turkish, anti-Armenian Genocide website highlights why the
resolution should be opposed, including that `U.S. strategic interests
would be severely disrupted’ and that `the practical effect of this
Resolution will be to paint a very negative picture of all Turks
around the world.’
Watch a preview of `Battle Over History’ below: