Unlike what he promised during the campaign, but as expected (given his recent trip to Turkey, as well as Turkey's and Armenia's recent warming up to normalize relations between their two nations), Obama refrained from using the word 'Genocide' in his statement on the Armenian Remembrance Day today, instead branding the killings of more than 1.5 million people as "one of the great atrocities of the 20th century." ...But he might as well had!
Obama chickened out when he considered the feelings of key ally Turkey.
Whether you believe, as do the Armenian Diaspora, that there was a deliberate attempt to eradicate the Armenian Turks, or as the Turks believe that many Armenians of Turkish descent died as a result of the horrible conditions of a forced evacuation, as well as during some altercations between those who believed the Armenians of aiding and abetting the enemy and those who did in fact do so, emotions ride high and both sides have been stubbornly passionate about defending their respective positions.
Turks too were massacred as well by the Armenians. And if we're going to continue to hold a grudge for long periods of time, as Obama hinted his finding that strange recently by remarking that in "Europe ... people are still mad about things that happened a very long time ago," then why stop there? Why not issue statements about other past atrocities?
I am sure if we dig history a little deep, we'll find plenty of occurrences where asterisks are attached to many 'accomplishments.' Take the Crusades for example. Or we can look at more recent events, such as the killing of innocent Iraqis just because we didn't care for their government.
When Obama and others find fault with nations and their governments, and continue to imply not their people, a la Iran and Ahmedinejad, why consider going to war with the people (and killing innocent among them) of those nations? Does Obama really think the 'Muslim World' will believe his words that he (and the U.S.) is not at war with the Islamic World? Why not let loose CIA to topple governments instead, like it used to? Of course, I am being facetious.
So here's what I say to Obama. With your statement today, you've actually chickened out of taking a stand. Now, you've pissed off both the Armenians (for not using the term 'Genocide) AND the Turks (for not using the 'G-word' but implying everything else by changing the definition and the application of it).
Shouldn't you have taken a stand, either way, so that we would have admired your courage, and thought of you less a politician, and more a man of conviction and integrity. OR Shouldn't you have said, enough with the tradition of these 'non-binding' statements. Let's move on and 'change' our attitude. Let's focus on things that unite us, and not divide us.
Or were those broken campaign promises as well? Shame on you!
