New York Post, NY
Jan 26 2007
SAY GENOCIDE, AND ARMENIA IT
By KYLE SMITH
Photo: System frontman Serj Tankian talks with his grandfather.
Rating: 1/2
January 26, 2007 — SO I went to this metal concert, and it turned
out to be a lesson about the Armenian genocide of 1915. Color me
stoked!
"Screamers," one of the most bizarre documentaries you’ll ever not
see, follows the hopelessly generic rock band System of a Down on
tour as they wag their goatees over their signature issue:
recognition that the Turks committed genocide in their slaughter of
the Armenians in 1915.
Whether the band members, all of whom are Armenian-Americans, are
posturing or simply foolish is unclear. Possibly they have appointed
themselves the "screamers" about this nonissue because they want
political heft and an anger base for their dumb lyrics.
It seems more likely, though, that they actually believe that passing
a symbolic resolution through Congress about recognizing the genocide
– thus accomplishing nothing except annoying Turkey, our only Muslim
NATO ally – is the most vital issue facing the U.S. today.
Everything these imbeciles say contradicts everything else. The
episode has been buried, claims the band, yet in concert the boys
show a clip of Peter Jennings doing a segment on the atrocities.
Either brag that ABC News is covering your issue or complain that no
one is; don’t do both.
They say politicians won’t use the G-word; yet there are clips of
Condoleezza Rice and President Bush calling the massacre in Sudan
genocide.
An Armenian supporter says, "Genocide is not an issue about the past.
It’s an issue about the future." Then why is this film about the
past? It spends most of its time on 1915 while leaving only a couple
of minutes for Darfur.
The band seems to be pacifist. But the only way to stop genocide is
to send troops; Sudan death squads are not going to be impressed by
harshly worded memoranda.
The obstacle is the American voter; in 1915, Americans didn’t want to
put boots in France, much less in the Ottoman Empire. "Obviously I’m
pissed off that the genocide occurred," says a guy with the band,
"but I’m more pissed off at the fact that they called us liars."
Yeah, genocide sucks. But name-calling? Harshness!
SCREAMERS
System of Clowns.
Running time: 91 minutes. Not rated (profanity). At the Empire, 42nd
Street and Eighth Avenue.
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