KUWTK: Why Kim’s Interest In Armenia Is Important

Screen Rant

Kim visited Armenia in the early episodes to visit the Armenian genocide memorial and talk important issues with the nation's president.

by Walter Aye

The newest season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians got off it's first six episodes before closing shop for COVID-19 but the first half of the season certainly did not disappoint. One of the most important highlights of the initial episodes was Kim and Kourtney's heartfelt visit to their heritage land, Armenia.

Kim previously visited Armenia along with Khloe and was left enamored by the experience. As a champion of Armenian culture and progress, Kim has a made it her mission to use her celebrity status to bring more attention to Armenian world issues.

The Armenian Genocide was an ethnic massacre that began in 1915 when the Turkish government enacted the expulsion and execution of Armenian people. Over the course of a decade, 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered through the process of systematic mass murder. The genocide was carried out in two different phases. Phase one focused on the execution of Armenian males by direct means, labor, or army conscription. Phase two, involved the deportation of all children, women, and elderly through a series of military-led death marches into the Syrian Desert. Frequently, during these marches the people were deprived of basic necessities and endured atrocities such as rape, pillaging, and slaughter.

The origins of genocide were incited through tensions amongst Turkish immigrants who were displaced from conflict with the Russians in Armenian lands. These Turks began to hold resentment towards the culturally different and well off Armenian communities. Eventually an ethnic division developed between the groups. Soon after, Turkish propaganda from the popular Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) political party began to describe Armenians as traitors, thieves, and infidels. This sentiment spurned the actions that led towards the eventual genocide.

Since then, Turkey has failed to acknowledge their past regime's actions. They claim that the conflict that took place does not constitute the embodiment of the term genocide. The Turkish government at the time of these atrocities stated that these were retaliatory measures towards a pro-Russian insurrection. However, there is minimal evidence to suggest that the Armenians had anything to do with the Russians at the time. The push for recognition of the genocide in the West particularly has not been easygoing. Turkey is a huge political power in the region which has led to many Western nations turning their back on the atrocities that took place. In 2010, the US Congress passed a narrow vote to recognize the events that took place as genocide. Now many activists are pushing for the Turkish government to do the same.

Kim Kardashian is a major figure globally. Her status may be somewhat comparable to modern day princesses. As a proponent for Armenia and the recognition of this genocide, she aims to help facilitate better relations between Armenia and Turkey. The two countries understandably hold fierce tensions still to this day. Kim hopes that through the acceptance of wrongdoing both countries can work to move past their precedent issues. It's worth considering that our present time period is a new day and age with new people who are not necessarily responsible for the past transgressions of atrocious ancestors. A simple acknowledgement of wrongdoing is all that is necessary for the two countries to foster a new beginning in their relationship. With Kim using her status to bring awareness of this horrific reality, she hopes the modern world can acknowledge past mistakes and therefore progress forward. Fans can check out her emotional visit to Armenia in season 18 of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.