To be or not to be...a genocide

[amadeus]

Seems unnecessary; is it really worth hurting our relations with Turkey?

 

[Che Guava]

is it really worth hurting our relations with Turkey?

that is the question of the day!

 

[emzie]

Seems unnecessary; is it really worth hurting our relations with Turkey?

No, I don't think it is.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/ArmenianGenocideRecognition.png

Most states seem to recognize it, btw!

 

[Irish Caesar]

I don't know if the events were a genocide; I've heard from various sources that they were, but many of these are the same sources saying that we should learn about the Holocaust "so that it never happens again." Thousands of people in Rwanda, Darfur, Bosnia, and Kurdistan later, we still haven't had another genocide!



(Perhaps somewhat cynical) Lesson: Genocides are only genocides if Nazis are involved.

non-binding resolutions are a waste of time.

Agreed. I'd think the same if the discussion had no political repercussions; Congress declaring Saddam's actions in Kurdistan a genocide would be just as useless.

Would you support an actual binding one? FOr eg, restrictions on trade until the genocide is recognized as such?

Restrictions on trade are ridiculous. Nothing turns people against the United States or other European countries like sanctions that starve children and whatever else people say about them. And if foreign aid isn't helping families, Hamas is more than happy to fill the void...

Seems unnecessary; is it really worth hurting our relations with Turkey?

It is if you're trying to cripple future American military involvement in the Middle East.

Ulterior motive, anyone?

 

[Princeps]

Genocide? Sure. Waste of time? Absolutely.

Genocide is waste of time? I agree. But its also a waste of lives.

( )

 

[MobBoss]

Would you support an actual binding one? FOr eg, restrictions on trade until the genocide is recognized as such?

Dude...we are talking about something that happened in 1915-1917. I mean, wth.

 

[Che Guava]

Dude...we are talking about something that happened in 1915-1917. I mean, wth.

Well, you didn't really qualify your previous statement with anything about the genocide itself, or if it was going to far/no far enough.

Just thought I'd check

 

[MobBoss]

Well, you didn't really qualify your previous statement with anything about the genocide itself, or if it was going to far/no far enough.

Just thought I'd check

I didnt realize it needed to be qualified. Again, non-binding resolutions are absolutely stupid. Non-binding resolutions in regards to issues almost 100 years gone are even more absolutely stupid.

Glad we cleared that up.

 

[Gilder]

Let the historians and history books decide.

The government has better things to be talking about than classifying something that happened nearly a century ago in another an entity that doesn't exist anymore.

 

[Che Guava]

I didnt realize it needed to be qualified. Again, non-binding resolutions are absolutely stupid. Non-binding resolutions in regards to issues almost 100 years gone are even more absolutely stupid.

and that stupid train just keeps on a-rollin'

A general question to all those that voted for option #1: do you have any reasons for that beleif that you would like to share, just in teh interest of a real debate...?

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

It was genocide, but it was so long ago that it should be forgotten.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

sounds like some people here need to grow balls and not be so PC

 

[Winner]

French said it was a genocide, European Parliament said it was a genocide, so what's all the fuzz about?

Everybody except Turkey recognize it as genocide.

 

[lovett]

If this gets passed, you better believe Turkey will invade Kurdish Iraq soon. they wont give a . .. .. .. . if the US dosent like it

What about all the other nations and institutions in the world?
For one, the EU springs to mind- Turkeys still pretty keen not to offend it as far as I know. I also imagine that there quite keen on there membership in NATO, which I expect would be imperilled by such an invasion



Incidentally, Could someone explain why it's congress' job to decide history, surely they should be governing....?

 

[Volum]

Seems to me most historians/people agree it was a genocide.

Seems to me that the US congress is just wasting its time with this.

 

[RedRalph]

What about all the other nations and institutions in the world?
For one, the EU springs to mind- Turkeys still pretty keen not to offend it as far as I know. I also imagine that there quite keen on there membership in NATO, which I expect would be imperilled by such an invasion



Incidentally, Could someone explain why it's congress' job to decide history, surely they should be governing....?

NATO will never kick Turkey out. Not for this (cause if there was a chance they would, then Turkley wouldnt be considering it, which they are), not fior almosy anythting. therey extremely important members

 

[Che Guava]

French said it was a genocide, European Parliament said it was a genocide, so what's all the fuzz about?

Everybody except Turkey recognize it as genocide.

So is it unimportant enough not to bother passing a bill, or should the turks just brush it off and let the world think what it wants to?

Or Both?

 

[ParkCungHee]

Quick! Someone put together a non-binding resolution calling for a peacefull resolution of the Taiping Rebellion!

 

[REDY]

Does it have any sense? No. And almost all countries which especially recognized it are hypocritical. Same countries are creeping under China and her view of history. But Chinese market is much large than Turkish. These manifestations againist historic lies supported by goverments should be matter of UN. I hope that UN will be reformed in some next years...

 

[Stewbert 08]

This is the first time in my life that I'm glad that Jews have so much power in American politics. Because this thread clearly demonstrates that, without that influence, Americans are pretty much blasé about genocide. "It happened in another country!" "It was so long ago!" "What's the point of involving ourselves & hurting relations w/ an ally?" Despicable.

I'm also glad Germany isn't in the Middle East.



Re: Turkey itself... it's just like Russia, or come to think of it the American Deep South. When people are destitute, illiterate, and thugs are the ruling class, the common people make up a glorious past to console themselves. And anyone who questions the only thing they've got ("Lenin / the Pasha / Jefferson Davis was a bastard") gets the "We don' take kindly to yer kahnd around heeyer" treatment (or translate that into Russian or Turkish)...

That's why Turkey's in denial. And the EU can and should be a bigger influence than the USA on this issue. Absolutely no EU membership until Turkey repents.