Barack Obama has proven he is more efficient than his predecessor in one area: He managed to diminish the history of two Christian nations in one presidential proclamation — on the eve of Easter. Obama campaigned in 2008 on a promise to call the Ottoman Empire’s systematic destruction of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915-23 a “genocide,” something none of his predecessors since Ronald Reagan had done. President Obama has broken that vow ever since. The day of remembrance of this genocide, April 24, fell on Easter Sunday this year, and Americans of Armenian heritage pressured Obama to follow through with his pledge.
Obama’s statement, issued on Holy Saturday, declined to commemorate the Muslim genocide by name, but instead denigrated “the dark chapters in our own history.”
Obama’s “Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day” referred to “horrific events” rather than “genocide.” Although he wrote “I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed,” he decided to keep his own view to himself (for once). Instead, ever-so-gently beckoned the aggrieved parties — the offenders and the survivors — to resolve their “contested history.”
Obama’s solution to genocide: the Turkish Coffee Summit.
Both parties promptly rejected the evasive edict. Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) chairman Ken Hachikian branded the statement a “disgraceful capitulation to Turkey’s threats.” The Armenian Assembly of America added “we expect the president to honor his prior commitments and statements.”
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Ambassador to the United States, Namik Tan, insisted the statement was “inaccurate, flawed, and one-sided political characterization of history.” Instead, Tan wrote, “We wished that the president of the U.S., our friend and ally, had shared the pain of the Turks as well.” What’s a genocide commemoration without sympathy for the perpetrators? He, too, asserted Obama’s proclamation was motivated by “domestic political considerations,” although certain strong domestic constituencies continue to lobby against the use of the term “genocide.”
Rather than hold Middle Eastern fanatics to account, Obama used the opportunity to bash the Evil Empire: the United States. In his statement, he added gratuitously:
History teaches us that our nations are stronger and our cause is more just when we appropriately recognize painful pasts and work to rebuild bridges of understanding toward a better tomorrow. The United States knows this lesson well from the dark chapters in our own history. I support the courageous steps taken by individuals in Armenia and Turkey to foster a dialogue that acknowledges their common history. (Emphasis added.)
The man who coined the term “genocide,” Raphael Lemkin, did so after studying the Armenian Genocide, the Meds Yeghern. When most people hear of these atrocities, they think of the Holocaust, the Holodomor, and Pol Pot’s Killing Fields.
When Barack Obama hears about this horrific slaughter, he thinks of the United States of America. Could there be any clearer sign of his disdain and disrespect for the country he was somehow elected to lead?
Please share this post with your friends and comment below. If you haven’t already, take a moment to sign up for our free newsletter above and friend us on Twitter and Facebook to get real time updates.
Follow @WestJournalism
Loading ...
….Both parties promptly rejected the evasive edict. Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) chairman Ken Hachikian branded the statement a “disgraceful capitulation to Turkey’s threats.” The Armenian Assembly of America added “we expect the president to honor his prior commitments and statements.”The Armenian Assembly of America needs to know those are household words these days in America hmmmm MESSAGE: To the The Armenian Assembly of America. Here is a real heads up for you guys!!!! We the People EXPECT too. This liar "promised" us first, and far more, than he EVER promised to you!He made a far greater "commitment" to us than he did to you as well.So you feel you have been lied to? So cry snot about it, stomp your feet, and get totally hot around the collar. We the people did,and have and will, many many times for many many months. and we got what you got.Squat!So take you a nice big old hairy old fashioned crap in one hand….. and then place all your hopes and dreams and expectations in the other one…want to lay odds which one fills up first?I will lay you 10 to 1, you will smell like do-do… if ya do! wanna bet boys?
A more correct heading would read—-Obumer Fails to Recognize Israels Genocide.
What about all the covert uprisings Israel is agitating in the mid east? Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Syria, and others, not to mention their daily Gaza atrocities..
If you need to find a good replacement for the word "genocide", then please contact Republican Ex-President Bush who was a genius to find, among many, the words 'Enemy Combatant' for POW and 'Executive Privilege' for Abuse of Power.