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I commend the 27 members of congress who voted for the passage of non-binding resolution HR 106 which would recognize the Armenian genocide as a genocide. I’ve mentioned before that the healing of a nation does not come because of government resolutions, and I think that the Armenian-American lobby has spent way too much time and money to force such a resolution. Our healing does not come with the enemy’s or a third entity’s recognition of the genocide. Our healing comes through forgiveness and reconciliation.
This resolution has a long way to go before it becomes the position of the US government. Even if it passes the House, I have serious doubt that the senate would pass it. I recognize that passage of this resolution could have severe consequences with Turkey, one of our most important allies. Turkey has already threatened “serious troubles” should this resolution go all the way.
One of the Turkish papers called the legislators “foolish” for passing this resolution. I find that they are courageous. It seems odd that we would propagate lies for the sake of alliances. Though this may help us in the short-term, it will only contribute to further corruptions in our world. The 27 (mostly) democrats (*I have tried to get a breakdown of who voted for this resolution but have been unsuccessful at finding that information*) may have other political ambitions—such as causing an intentional rift that would put pressure on the Bush Administration in it’s Iraq policies—but I’m glad for the stance they took for justice.
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I’m mixed on this, but I think I lean in your direction. Reconciliation requires truth-telling, repentance and forgiveness from the appropriate parties. I understand that the US taking the “the genocide was a genocide” position might not be the most politically and strategically feasible, but to not recognize the genocide as genocide seems to say, as you pointed out, that our immediate goals are more important than truth. Also, one wonders when will it be a good time to admit this horrible truth?
Of course, I’m not holding my breath on the matter considering the US hasn’t admitted its policies regarding the First Nations Peoples like the Trail of Tears. or the sanctioned institution of slavery of Africans were genocide and it has been over a century since those instances.