learntoquestion ltq discussions

What I believe is unquestionably true about these events is that the Turks did move the Armenians and killed many of them during WWI. What I’m confused about is how the Turkish government is able to brush off all of these innocent killings as a necessity for their safety. Only 6 Armenians were colluding with the Russians while the rest were innocent or maybe not, but they can’t use the excuse that all these people can turn bad and start working behind their back. Maybe a few people are colluding with Russia but that does not mean their whole population is going to become bad people and turn against their country. The Ottoman Empire was home to the Armenians, although there wasn’t a sense of patriotism, it is still their home and they all wouldn’t be colluding with their country’s enemy.

How I identify what is “real history” and what isn’t “real” is from the evidence provided for it. For example, the images that photographed the horrors of what the Armenians went through under the Turkish government. The images show us brutal deaths of the Armenians and the horrors they went through. Additionally there were many reports from the victims and witnesses. You can’t easily deny the fact that many people came up and told us about their stories of these atrocities. Although there are many things that are indeed “real” but there is no proper evidence to back them up, therefore people will find it as an excuse to deny that it ever happened.

The Turkish government’s reply to St. John really makes me angry. They passed over maybe of St. John’s questions and even his quote from their website. If I could respond to the Turkish government, I would have tried to get them to answer those questions. But then again, they would try to avoid those questions or not even respond. To me, it feels like a waste of time trying to get the answer you want from someone who isn’t going to change their mind no matter what. Although I do want to demand answers from them, it is best to not do anything in this situation.

The premeditated murder of over 1 million Armenians by the Turkish government during World War 2 that was masked as “deportations” and “things that happen during war” is true about the Armenian Genocide. The evidence we’ve seen leaves no questions on whether it actually happened or not. The pictures, the accounts, the letters, even Hitler’s quote and the Turkish propaganda book prove that the event happened. Compared to the present day where photoshop makes anything possible, pictures in the early 1900s were not falsified, or at least if they were, it would’ve been much more work than what it was worth. The pictures of the starving men, women, and children and the bodies just lying around are a powerful and moving example that a crime and humanitarian crisis happened, regardless of any “truths” the Turkish government might come up with. The documentary we watched earlier this week holds the stories of some survivors who watched, as one described, rivers lined with dead bodies and their blood still flowing out - one of those bodies might have even belonged to the man’s father as he described. The horrific scenes and disturbingly forgotten violence faced by the Armenian people cannot be falsified. Even if in some deranged way, the Armenian genocide was in fact made up, how could you explain Hilter’s quote (“Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”). The Turks who denied (and still deny) the genocide tried to annihilate the Armenians and that over time, them and their pain have been lost to time.

The Turkish propaganda book was definitely interesting to see. It’s direct evidence of a cover-up on Turkey’s part. The fact that they had to create one just to prove that they weren’t involved in it and that the deaths were probably just a “result of war,” not “race muder.” Most of the images that the old book contained are Turkish soldiers with guns and other weapons that, according to the government, belong to Armenians who were about to stage an uprising. Only a few pictures are of Armenians, most of which were volunteers for the Russian army, and therefore a threat to the Turkish government since both powerful countries shared a border. The few graphic images in the book (pages 47-48) depicting deaths and mass graves were captioned as being the bodies of Turkish people that were murdered by Armenians. While they could have been the bodies of Turkish citizens, it might have also been intentionally miscaptioned to encourage people to support the government which would’ve gone along perfectly well with their story of Armenian aggression against Turkey.

“Real history” is an unbiased view of historical events that are accurate and can be backed up with evidence that has not been falsified. “Real” is supposed to be something that is true and can be seen and understood (or at least try to be understood in the case of genocides/mass killings). Both “real history” and “real” things are similar but something that is “real” can easily be manipulated to benefit a specific party, as in the case of the Armenian genocide. Turkey’s government decided that they didn’t want the truth of what they were doing to be out, but when it did they denied it claiming that they did not kill anyone - even though they did - and that the corpses you see in the pictures were because of war-related events, not because they specifically tried to destroy all Armenian people. “Real history” can also be corrupted because if the real history is forgotten, the side that wins (Turkey) gets to create its own “real history” where they did nothing wrong to the Armenian people. People’s perception of what is real and what is “real” is twisted when the government or a large institution tells them inaccurate information to hide the ugly truths that wouldn’t benefit them. The billboard in the North End claiming that Russia and Armenia were lying about what actually happened and the propaganda book with its half-truths and absurdity are examples of “real history” because unfortunately, many people today still believe that the Armenian genocide is a hoax even though there is an abundant amount of evidence supporting it.

I would respond to the Turkish government’s response by sending undeniable evidence of the genocide and include links to pictures, articles, and videos where the intent and mass murders are obvious. If the government can make up an excuse for why the evidence is wrongly interpreted and/or incorrect, it would show how deeply rooted the genocide’s cover-up is and how much work the country has to put in to make up for over a century worth of denial. I would be extremely angry with the Turkish government if even after all that they still denied the genocide ever happened or that they played any part in it and, I know this seems a tad extreme but, I would publish our correspondence and push politicians and other governments to acknowledge the genocide and their role as bystanders in it (like that he US and Britain were). The US and other big powers could force Turkey to deal with its ugly past and try to make amends towards the Armenian survivors and their families.

Originally posted by FlyingCelestialDragon on February 09, 2023 16:40

What I believe is unquestionably true about these events is that the Turks did move the Armenians and killed many of them during WWI. What I’m confused about is how the Turkish government is able to brush off all of these innocent killings as a necessity for their safety. Only 6 Armenians were colluding with the Russians while the rest were innocent or maybe not, but they can’t use the excuse that all these people can turn bad and start working behind their back. Maybe a few people are colluding with Russia but that does not mean their whole population is going to become bad people and turn against their country. The Ottoman Empire was home to the Armenians, although there wasn’t a sense of patriotism, it is still their home and they all wouldn’t be colluding with their country’s enemy.

How I identify what is “real history” and what isn’t “real” is from the evidence provided for it. For example, the images that photographed the horrors of what the Armenians went through under the Turkish government. The images show us brutal deaths of the Armenians and the horrors they went through. Additionally there were many reports from the victims and witnesses. You can’t easily deny the fact that many people came up and told us about their stories of these atrocities. Although there are many things that are indeed “real” but there is no proper evidence to back them up, therefore people will find it as an excuse to deny that it ever happened.

The Turkish government’s reply to St. John really makes me angry. They passed over maybe of St. John’s questions and even his quote from their website. If I could respond to the Turkish government, I would have tried to get them to answer those questions. But then again, they would try to avoid those questions or not even respond. To me, it feels like a waste of time trying to get the answer you want from someone who isn’t going to change their mind no matter what. Although I do want to demand answers from them, it is best to not do anything in this situation.

I agree that it is impossible to deny that the genocide existed based on how much evidence there is, and that the government is handling it incorrectly. However, I disagree about it being best to not do anything. Maybe the Turkish government won't listen to one person emailing them, but if more attention can be brought to this issue, the Turkish government will be forced to say something. Especially now that Biden has officially called it a genocide, more people are going to become aware of what happened.

Originally posted by FlyingCelestialDragon on February 09, 2023 16:40

What I believe is unquestionably true about these events is that the Turks did move the Armenians and killed many of them during WWI. What I’m confused about is how the Turkish government is able to brush off all of these innocent killings as a necessity for their safety. Only 6 Armenians were colluding with the Russians while the rest were innocent or maybe not, but they can’t use the excuse that all these people can turn bad and start working behind their back. Maybe a few people are colluding with Russia but that does not mean their whole population is going to become bad people and turn against their country. The Ottoman Empire was home to the Armenians, although there wasn’t a sense of patriotism, it is still their home and they all wouldn’t be colluding with their country’s enemy.

How I identify what is “real history” and what isn’t “real” is from the evidence provided for it. For example, the images that photographed the horrors of what the Armenians went through under the Turkish government. The images show us brutal deaths of the Armenians and the horrors they went through. Additionally there were many reports from the victims and witnesses. You can’t easily deny the fact that many people came up and told us about their stories of these atrocities. Although there are many things that are indeed “real” but there is no proper evidence to back them up, therefore people will find it as an excuse to deny that it ever happened.

The Turkish government’s reply to St. John really makes me angry. They passed over maybe of St. John’s questions and even his quote from their website. If I could respond to the Turkish government, I would have tried to get them to answer those questions. But then again, they would try to avoid those questions or not even respond. To me, it feels like a waste of time trying to get the answer you want from someone who isn’t going to change their mind no matter what. Although I do want to demand answers from them, it is best to not do anything in this situation.

While I agree that evidence is needed to identify what is “real” and what isn’t, I don’t believe that doing nothing would be the best way to address the situation. If we did nothing, especially with all the evidence and information we have, then that would make us bystanders once again.

Originally posted by Martha $tewart on February 09, 2023 17:04

I unequivocally believe that what happened to the Armenians in Turkey was genocide. From what I have seen, I am thoroughly convinced that the Turkish government was systematic in their murder and deportation of the Armenians, and that they tried very hard to disguise their actions. I also believe that their genocide was preventable, there was so much more that other countries could have done. There were many warning signs, people tried to get aid, but no one listened. Because of this, I am doubtful of America’s intentions and supposed “neutrality”. In my opinion, when you are a bystander, you are part of the problem.

I think real history is determined by the quality of the evidence. What happened to the Armenian people is “real” history because of the documents and photographs that exist to prove it. During the web investigation, we looked at photos of starving orphans, death marches, and Armenian heads on sticks. There is no denying that what they were subjected to was not a simple government response to an uprising, it was torture. Priests were murdered, children were crucified, and survivors were sent to the desert to die. There are also so many documents from this time. The New York Times articles updating people on the conditions of the war contain excerpts such as, “The latest recital is from an Armenian doctor named Derderian, who says that the whole plain of Alashgerd is virtually covered with the bodies of men, women and children”. So many Armenians were killed that officials called the area the “Slaughterhouse Province”. There are many letters between diplomats and America describing the suffering that Armenians were enduring, and just as many letters from Turkish officals to others claiming that they were just handling a rebellion. The fact that the government tried so hard to cover up their tracks also serves as proof of their guiltiness. They created fake temporary deportation laws so that their activities could seem official. Even before the genoicde, racism was evident in the discrimination Christians faced in Turkey. They were unequal to Muslims under the law and had to pay higher taxes. The documentary film from class even states that Talaat claimed that the war was a great opportunity to get rid of the Armenians without risk of intervention. What the Turkish government is trying to say is fake history, the real history if evident in everything else.

As a response to the Turkish government, I would first find out if they have the position they do out of lack of knowledge or lack of compassion. Either they have been brainwashed into believing the government’s version of these events due to a political agenda, or they are trying to hide the truth on purpose. So I would start by providing them with hard evidence and showing the effects of what they have done, such as the first hand account of the elderly man from the film. If this truly does not move them to confront the truth, I would let them know that this evidence is available to the public, and that people will call them out for it as it is brought into the light. Everyone knows about the Holocaust. In my opinion, so many of the photos we looked at look like they were taken during the Holocaust. They share the train cars of people, internment camps, and weakened bodies that have died from hunger and exhaustion. Their actions served as an inspiration for some of the acts carried out during the Holocaust. The Turkish government should know that they can’t run from something that lives forever in the past.

I agree that eventually (but hopefully very soon), more people will learn this information and take a stand against Turkey. It is a good idea to find out if the person that responded knew all the information or only knew what they had been told by the government. The concentration camps and the horrific pictures look almost unreal and definitely remind me of the Holocaust which is even more reason as to why the Armenian genocide needs to be taught and Turkey needs to admit guilt.

I believe that virtually every account that we have heard of the Armenian Genocide that is not supplied by the Turkish Government post-World War One is factually accurate, all pointing to a genocide occurring from February 1914 to July 1923. The mass killings of Armenians were absolutely premeditated, as in March of 1915 the Turkish Central Committee announced a decision to eliminate the Armenians. I do, however, doubt the validity of most of the Turkish Government's statements on the Genocide. More specifically, how they vehemently deny it ever happened whenever they are asked a question remotely relating to it. In both the 60 minutes special and the response to St. John's letter, the Turkish official representing the nation tries to blame the deaths on the World War that was occurring at the same time, saying there were killings on "both sides." Although there were some Armenians who resented the Turkish government, and even a few who resisted violently, there were absolutely zero Armenians who could have possibly committed killings on the scale of genocide against the Turks. Identifying "real" history is a tricky process, as much of it is written by people in power the way they want you to see it. Obviously, the best way to find out the real history of something is to get the story of people who were there, although this is now extremely difficult with events like the Armenian Genocide. History that isn't "real" is most often propaganda, so be sure to check who created your historical sources and why. If I was on the receiving end of that email from the Turkish Embassy, I would honestly consider showing up in person at the embassy. It's an insane idea, as the Turkish government has a lot more influence than a Junior at Boston Latin, but I need to see if a person who works for Turkey could actually say what was said in the email to my face.

Originally posted by the_rose_apple on February 09, 2023 17:09

The premeditated murder of over 1 million Armenians by the Turkish government during World War 2 that was masked as “deportations” and “things that happen during war” is true about the Armenian Genocide. The evidence we’ve seen leaves no questions on whether it actually happened or not. The pictures, the accounts, the letters, even Hitler’s quote and the Turkish propaganda book prove that the event happened. Compared to the present day where photoshop makes anything possible, pictures in the early 1900s were not falsified, or at least if they were, it would’ve been much more work than what it was worth. The pictures of the starving men, women, and children and the bodies just lying around are a powerful and moving example that a crime and humanitarian crisis happened, regardless of any “truths” the Turkish government might come up with. The documentary we watched earlier this week holds the stories of some survivors who watched, as one described, rivers lined with dead bodies and their blood still flowing out - one of those bodies might have even belonged to the man’s father as he described. The horrific scenes and disturbingly forgotten violence faced by the Armenian people cannot be falsified. Even if in some deranged way, the Armenian genocide was in fact made up, how could you explain Hilter’s quote (“Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”). The Turks who denied (and still deny) the genocide tried to annihilate the Armenians and that over time, them and their pain have been lost to time.

The Turkish propaganda book was definitely interesting to see. It’s direct evidence of a cover-up on Turkey’s part. The fact that they had to create one just to prove that they weren’t involved in it and that the deaths were probably just a “result of war,” not “race muder.” Most of the images that the old book contained are Turkish soldiers with guns and other weapons that, according to the government, belong to Armenians who were about to stage an uprising. Only a few pictures are of Armenians, most of which were volunteers for the Russian army, and therefore a threat to the Turkish government since both powerful countries shared a border. The few graphic images in the book (pages 47-48) depicting deaths and mass graves were captioned as being the bodies of Turkish people that were murdered by Armenians. While they could have been the bodies of Turkish citizens, it might have also been intentionally miscaptioned to encourage people to support the government which would’ve gone along perfectly well with their story of Armenian aggression against Turkey.

“Real history” is an unbiased view of historical events that are accurate and can be backed up with evidence that has not been falsified. “Real” is supposed to be something that is true and can be seen and understood (or at least try to be understood in the case of genocides/mass killings). Both “real history” and “real” things are similar but something that is “real” can easily be manipulated to benefit a specific party, as in the case of the Armenian genocide. Turkey’s government decided that they didn’t want the truth of what they were doing to be out, but when it did they denied it claiming that they did not kill anyone - even though they did - and that the corpses you see in the pictures were because of war-related events, not because they specifically tried to destroy all Armenian people. “Real history” can also be corrupted because if the real history is forgotten, the side that wins (Turkey) gets to create its own “real history” where they did nothing wrong to the Armenian people. People’s perception of what is real and what is “real” is twisted when the government or a large institution tells them inaccurate information to hide the ugly truths that wouldn’t benefit them. The billboard in the North End claiming that Russia and Armenia were lying about what actually happened and the propaganda book with its half-truths and absurdity are examples of “real history” because unfortunately, many people today still believe that the Armenian genocide is a hoax even though there is an abundant amount of evidence supporting it.

I would respond to the Turkish government’s response by sending undeniable evidence of the genocide and include links to pictures, articles, and videos where the intent and mass murders are obvious. If the government can make up an excuse for why the evidence is wrongly interpreted and/or incorrect, it would show how deeply rooted the genocide’s cover-up is and how much work the country has to put in to make up for over a century worth of denial. I would be extremely angry with the Turkish government if even after all that they still denied the genocide ever happened or that they played any part in it and, I know this seems a tad extreme but, I would publish our correspondence and push politicians and other governments to acknowledge the genocide and their role as bystanders in it (like that he US and Britain were). The US and other big powers could force Turkey to deal with its ugly past and try to make amends towards the Armenian survivors and their families.

I found the book interesting as well, especially with how it framed Armenians as "dangerous rebels."

Originally posted by Martha $tewart on February 09, 2023 17:04

I unequivocally believe that what happened to the Armenians in Turkey was genocide. From what I have seen, I am thoroughly convinced that the Turkish government was systematic in their murder and deportation of the Armenians, and that they tried very hard to disguise their actions. I also believe that their genocide was preventable, there was so much more that other countries could have done. There were many warning signs, people tried to get aid, but no one listened. Because of this, I am doubtful of America’s intentions and supposed “neutrality”. In my opinion, when you are a bystander, you are part of the problem.

I think real history is determined by the quality of the evidence. What happened to the Armenian people is “real” history because of the documents and photographs that exist to prove it. During the web investigation, we looked at photos of starving orphans, death marches, and Armenian heads on sticks. There is no denying that what they were subjected to was not a simple government response to an uprising, it was torture. Priests were murdered, children were crucified, and survivors were sent to the desert to die. There are also so many documents from this time. The New York Times articles updating people on the conditions of the war contain excerpts such as, “The latest recital is from an Armenian doctor named Derderian, who says that the whole plain of Alashgerd is virtually covered with the bodies of men, women and children”. So many Armenians were killed that officials called the area the “Slaughterhouse Province”. There are many letters between diplomats and America describing the suffering that Armenians were enduring, and just as many letters from Turkish officals to others claiming that they were just handling a rebellion. The fact that the government tried so hard to cover up their tracks also serves as proof of their guiltiness. They created fake temporary deportation laws so that their activities could seem official. Even before the genoicde, racism was evident in the discrimination Christians faced in Turkey. They were unequal to Muslims under the law and had to pay higher taxes. The documentary film from class even states that Talaat claimed that the war was a great opportunity to get rid of the Armenians without risk of intervention. What the Turkish government is trying to say is fake history, the real history if evident in everything else.

As a response to the Turkish government, I would first find out if they have the position they do out of lack of knowledge or lack of compassion. Either they have been brainwashed into believing the government’s version of these events due to a political agenda, or they are trying to hide the truth on purpose. So I would start by providing them with hard evidence and showing the effects of what they have done, such as the first hand account of the elderly man from the film. If this truly does not move them to confront the truth, I would let them know that this evidence is available to the public, and that people will call them out for it as it is brought into the light. Everyone knows about the Holocaust. In my opinion, so many of the photos we looked at look like they were taken during the Holocaust. They share the train cars of people, internment camps, and weakened bodies that have died from hunger and exhaustion. Their actions served as an inspiration for some of the acts carried out during the Holocaust. The Turkish government should know that they can’t run from something that lives forever in the past.

I personally think it's unlikely the Turkish government doesn't know what happened, but it's horrifying to see how they have brainwashed most of their country to believe the genocide didn't even happen.

Originally posted by the_rose_apple on February 09, 2023 17:09

The premeditated murder of over 1 million Armenians by the Turkish government during World War 2 that was masked as “deportations” and “things that happen during war” is true about the Armenian Genocide. The evidence we’ve seen leaves no questions on whether it actually happened or not. The pictures, the accounts, the letters, even Hitler’s quote and the Turkish propaganda book prove that the event happened. Compared to the present day where photoshop makes anything possible, pictures in the early 1900s were not falsified, or at least if they were, it would’ve been much more work than what it was worth. The pictures of the starving men, women, and children and the bodies just lying around are a powerful and moving example that a crime and humanitarian crisis happened, regardless of any “truths” the Turkish government might come up with. The documentary we watched earlier this week holds the stories of some survivors who watched, as one described, rivers lined with dead bodies and their blood still flowing out - one of those bodies might have even belonged to the man’s father as he described. The horrific scenes and disturbingly forgotten violence faced by the Armenian people cannot be falsified. Even if in some deranged way, the Armenian genocide was in fact made up, how could you explain Hilter’s quote (“Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”). The Turks who denied (and still deny) the genocide tried to annihilate the Armenians and that over time, them and their pain have been lost to time.

The Turkish propaganda book was definitely interesting to see. It’s direct evidence of a cover-up on Turkey’s part. The fact that they had to create one just to prove that they weren’t involved in it and that the deaths were probably just a “result of war,” not “race muder.” Most of the images that the old book contained are Turkish soldiers with guns and other weapons that, according to the government, belong to Armenians who were about to stage an uprising. Only a few pictures are of Armenians, most of which were volunteers for the Russian army, and therefore a threat to the Turkish government since both powerful countries shared a border. The few graphic images in the book (pages 47-48) depicting deaths and mass graves were captioned as being the bodies of Turkish people that were murdered by Armenians. While they could have been the bodies of Turkish citizens, it might have also been intentionally miscaptioned to encourage people to support the government which would’ve gone along perfectly well with their story of Armenian aggression against Turkey.

“Real history” is an unbiased view of historical events that are accurate and can be backed up with evidence that has not been falsified. “Real” is supposed to be something that is true and can be seen and understood (or at least try to be understood in the case of genocides/mass killings). Both “real history” and “real” things are similar but something that is “real” can easily be manipulated to benefit a specific party, as in the case of the Armenian genocide. Turkey’s government decided that they didn’t want the truth of what they were doing to be out, but when it did they denied it claiming that they did not kill anyone - even though they did - and that the corpses you see in the pictures were because of war-related events, not because they specifically tried to destroy all Armenian people. “Real history” can also be corrupted because if the real history is forgotten, the side that wins (Turkey) gets to create its own “real history” where they did nothing wrong to the Armenian people. People’s perception of what is real and what is “real” is twisted when the government or a large institution tells them inaccurate information to hide the ugly truths that wouldn’t benefit them. The billboard in the North End claiming that Russia and Armenia were lying about what actually happened and the propaganda book with its half-truths and absurdity are examples of “real history” because unfortunately, many people today still believe that the Armenian genocide is a hoax even though there is an abundant amount of evidence supporting it.

I would respond to the Turkish government’s response by sending undeniable evidence of the genocide and include links to pictures, articles, and videos where the intent and mass murders are obvious. If the government can make up an excuse for why the evidence is wrongly interpreted and/or incorrect, it would show how deeply rooted the genocide’s cover-up is and how much work the country has to put in to make up for over a century worth of denial. I would be extremely angry with the Turkish government if even after all that they still denied the genocide ever happened or that they played any part in it and, I know this seems a tad extreme but, I would publish our correspondence and push politicians and other governments to acknowledge the genocide and their role as bystanders in it (like that he US and Britain were). The US and other big powers could force Turkey to deal with its ugly past and try to make amends towards the Armenian survivors and their families.

You make really good points about how Hitler's quote and the first hand accounts of survivors are undeniable pieces of evidence that the genocide happened. As you said, the Turkish government claims what happened was a "result of war", yet we heard in class that Talaat gave a speech claiming the war was a perfect time for him to remove the Armenian race without intervention from other countries. I don't think that your proposed response to the government is extreme. It is important that everyone is able to see St. John's letter and the way the Turkish government is handling their history so that more people will start to push back against the injustice.

Originally posted by FlyingCelestialDragon on February 09, 2023 16:40

What I believe is unquestionably true about these events is that the Turks did move the Armenians and killed many of them during WWI. What I’m confused about is how the Turkish government is able to brush off all of these innocent killings as a necessity for their safety. Only 6 Armenians were colluding with the Russians while the rest were innocent or maybe not, but they can’t use the excuse that all these people can turn bad and start working behind their back. Maybe a few people are colluding with Russia but that does not mean their whole population is going to become bad people and turn against their country. The Ottoman Empire was home to the Armenians, although there wasn’t a sense of patriotism, it is still their home and they all wouldn’t be colluding with their country’s enemy.

How I identify what is “real history” and what isn’t “real” is from the evidence provided for it. For example, the images that photographed the horrors of what the Armenians went through under the Turkish government. The images show us brutal deaths of the Armenians and the horrors they went through. Additionally there were many reports from the victims and witnesses. You can’t easily deny the fact that many people came up and told us about their stories of these atrocities. Although there are many things that are indeed “real” but there is no proper evidence to back them up, therefore people will find it as an excuse to deny that it ever happened.

The Turkish government’s reply to St. John really makes me angry. They passed over maybe of St. John’s questions and even his quote from their website. If I could respond to the Turkish government, I would have tried to get them to answer those questions. But then again, they would try to avoid those questions or not even respond. To me, it feels like a waste of time trying to get the answer you want from someone who isn’t going to change their mind no matter what. Although I do want to demand answers from them, it is best to not do anything in this situation.

If you give the Turkish government the right evidence where they can't deny that it wasn't a Genocide then I feel like it is best to pressure them to take some sort of action or humiliate them even more for not recognizing it.

Originally posted by RockPigeon on February 09, 2023 18:33

I do unequivocally believe that the Armenian Genocide happend, and was perpetrated by the Ottoman government. In my eyes, the vast quantity of photographic and video evidence, the physical evidence that can be found even today, over a century later, in certain areas of Syria and Turkey, and the testimony of hundreds of survivors, witnesses, and their descendants makes this undeniable. Outside of the truly horrific nature of the events described, the systemic nature of the Ottomans’ actions, with similar testimonials being given by Armenians in different cities, towns, and villages around the country, makes it impossible to deny the Ottoman’s genocidal intent towards the Armenian people.

In light of all of this evidence, it is shocking that the nation of Turkey as a whole has refused to acknowledge this genocide, and that it illegal to even discuss it within its boarders. This ban on acknowledgement and discussion perhaps best shows the shame felt by the Turkish government at the nation’s past actions, as, if they really believed that they had done nothing wrong, why would they take so many measures to prevent discussion of the Armenians, and to create so many pieces of propaganda, including the book that we viewed in class in Wednesday, trying to excuse their own actions?

Regarding the Turkish government, I am usually of the view that starting off a conversation with an accusatory tone does not lead to a productive discussion, but in this case, it is very hard for me to see how this can be avoided. Biden’s recent decision to officially acknowledge the Armenian genocide is forward progress, but has also most likely contributed to the US’s rising tensions with Turkey within the NATO alliance. Erdogan’s government in Turkey, as well as those before it, definitely seems hostile towards the idea of acknowledging the Armenian genocide. However, Turkey’s upcoming general election, in June of 2023, has some potential to be able to usher in a new make-up of the Turkish National Assembly, and perhaps president, that may be able to be convinced to take more steps towards acknowledging the Armenian genocide.

Yes, I agree that using an "accusatory tone" is the best way to make them feel bad at least, which hopefully would make them want to take some sort of steps into acknowledging the genocide like you said.