Has anyone out there heard of the Armenian genocide that occured on April 24, 1915?

Question

I know everyone has heard about the genocide with the Jews & Germans because of history books & movies (i.e. schindlers list) but what about the genocide my people went through ? President Clinton almost made it an official holiday but no other President brings it up! While hundreds & thousands protest every year on April 24!

Answer 1

--Absolutely, my wife & I have referenced it. The near ignoring of the other equally terrible genoicides, besides that of the Jews is a travesty to justice.

--Please note some real life experiences and some hope such ones have:

*** g85 10/8 pp. 16-17 From Grief to Hope

“This board of directors, on behalf of all its members and associates, desires to express deep sympathy on the death of your mother. The qualities she possessed, her intense conviction and faith, impel us to offer you with all our heart our feelings of solidarity.”

THESE kind words were part of a letter of condolence I received after my mother died. It was from a group of Catholic gentlemen of the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Casa Verde, São Paulo, Brazil. Yet, Mother was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses right down to her death in May 1966. Even those Catholic gentlemen had to acknowledge the untiring zeal with which Mother served her Creator.

Fleeing for Their Lives

Mother was Armenian. Even though under Turkish domination for many centuries, the Armenians kept themselves separate, for they are professed Christians. But the Turks are Muslim.

In Stanoz, a town near Ankara, Turkey, Mother and her family had lived a peaceful life. But overnight, in 1915, things changed for the Armenian people. A sudden decree of the Turkish government ordered Armenians to turn in all instruments that could be used as weapons, such as knives and planting implements. Next, Turkish soldiers were sent to take all the able-bodied men away from their homes. Many of the menfolk in Mother’s family were taken away, including her father, never to return home again. It was learned later that they were decapitated or bludgeoned to death.

This left my grandmother alone with her elderly mother and her five children, including my mother. Then came the day when all had to flee, for gasoline was poured on their homes and the whole town burned. People ran for their lives, leaving almost everything behind. In the confusion, Mother said they forgot to let their cow loose and could hear her agonized cries for a long time. For several days the sky was overcast with black clouds of fumes.

As refugees, they moved from one country to another, ending up in France. There Mother eventually met my father, and in 1925 they were married. During the years that followed, they had a son and four daughters. Father was also Armenian, from Caesaria (Kayseri), Asia Minor. His family had suffered even more horrible experiences, for they were exiled, compelled to leave their homes, or as they called it, aksor (forced exodus). So people had to leave everything and head for the wilderness, where many of them died of hunger or disease, or were massacred.

Time magazine of August 23, 1982, declared: “The decision to undertake the genocide was communicated to the local leaders by the Interior Minister, Talaat Pasha, in 1915. One of his edicts stated that the government had decided to ‘destroy completely all Armenians living in Turkey. An end must be put to their existence, however criminal the measures taken may be, and no regard must be paid to age, or sex, or to scruples of conscience.’”

How wonderful it will be when under God’s Kingdom there will be no more hatred or wars, and Paradise will be restored over the whole earth! Then Armenians, Turks, and people of all nations will live together in peace forever..................."

Answer 2

Wow, numerous Turks here. it continually amuses me to verify such variety in all their solutions. All asserting diverse rationalization why there grew to become into no Genocide. it variety of feels the Armenians and something of the international have self assurance it ensue and supply an analogous reason as to why. i individually like continuity. So, what i think of ensue is the fact, making me no longer SO happy with the deniers of those activities. Denial of any Genocide is criminal, that's what i think of. I additionally decide to assert a million.5 million Armenians have been slaughtered, tortured, and death marched to their graves...it particularly is relatively ashame to verify anybody attempt to downsize this or decrease the suffering occured by technique of Armenian Genocide.

Answer 3

I have.

When I was an undergraduate in college I had a religion professor, Dr. Glenian, I believe it was. He was an Armenian-American in his 70's and had personally lost family in the genocide. According to him, the often-quoted "1 million" figure is actually closer to 2 million. He brought it up as he was going to such an April 24 protest that week.

Answer 4

You'd have heard of it if you listened to System Of A Down! They are a rock band of Armenian descent, and wrote a song - called P.L.U.C.K. (Politically Lying Unholy Cowardly Killers) - which can be found on their eponymous debut album.

Answer 5

Why would we have an official holiday for something that happened to foreign people in a foreign country almost 100 years ago? Should we give everyone the day off? Close the schools? Close the banks? I guess your point is kinda lost on me. We have enough to weep about for things that are happening in the USA.

Answer 6

It's not widely known. Unless it was mass (like Darfur), I don't people really pay attention. If you are an American, get a petition, and write your Congressman. Keep protesting until you are heard.

Answer 7

Almost every educated person knows about this, except, apparently, the Turkish Government!

Answer 8

Weird never hear about that one.

Answer 9

Don't think so.......If I did don't remember