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Calling a Genocide a Genocide

neitherday
Date and Time  - Oct. 15th, 2007, 12:39 pm

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I was in favor of the House resolution affirming that what happened to the Armenians in Turkey was genocide — however, I've changed my mind. The United States House of Representatives has never passed a resolution affirming that what happened to the Native Americans was a genocide. Awhile back congress did pass a resolution of apology in dealing with the Native American genocide, but that resolution carefully avoided using the term "genocide".

That congress would pass a resolution on the genocide of Armenians without dealing with the crimes perpetrated by the United States not too much further back, smacks of hypocricy. At this point I still support the Armenian genocide resolution, but only after a similar resolution is passed dealing with the genocide of the Native Americans. Perhaps, passing them at the same time would be even better. The outcry in Turkey would likely be blunted if we held ourselves to the same standards.

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From:[info]riga_mortia
Date:October 15th, 2007 - 04:55 pm
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I know this has nothing to do with the topic but I had a dream last night about you and Lake.

Cut to scene:

You lovely ladies came up to Vermont to see me and we were all laying on the grassy knoll in some park downtown Burlington. We were deciphering the messages in the clouds because they had formed into a cryptic message.

I was dressed in an awesome black and white polka dotted dress with short black bob with chunky baby-doll shoes. You had a long flowing flowered skirt that Lake and I sprawled out on as we all looked at pictures of fuzzy animals and watched the sunset. ::le sigh:: I miss you wonderful peoples!
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From:[info]iposty
Date:October 15th, 2007 - 08:28 pm
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I think we'd be wiser devote the effort to current issues, while learning from our past. None of the people that perpetuated those crimes are still alive. That's like punishing Germany for Hitler. There are a lot of innocent Germans that have nothing in common with that regime and do not share it's political premise or prejudice.

I don't see how the admission helps solve anything except as evidenced by Turkey, to enrage a people that is not guilty, and to dredge up strong emotions that further degrade the political stability in the region.
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From:[info]neitherday
Date:October 15th, 2007 - 09:29 pm
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I think we'd be wiser devote the effort to current issues, while learning from our past. None of the people that perpetuated those crimes are still alive. That's like punishing Germany for Hitler. There are a lot of innocent Germans that have nothing in common with that regime and do not share it's political premise or prejudice.

The bill punishes Turkey no more than building the holocaust memorial punished Germany. It is not about punishment, it is simply about acknowledgment of history. If we do not acknowledge the past, how are we to learn it?

I don't see how the admission helps solve anything except as evidenced by Turkey, to enrage a people that is not guilty, and to dredge up strong emotions that further degrade the political stability in the region.

A major point in my post was that Turkey's reaction may very well be blunted if instead of focusing on Turkey's history, we held ourselves up to the same standard and passed a similar bill acknowledging the genocide of the Native Americans.
From:(Anonymous)
Date:October 16th, 2007 - 12:16 am

genocide

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My reason for not supporting the resolution is the politics. Had it been a true gesture, maybe. The timing is perfect to have Turkey (our back door for supplies to Iraq) upset with us. I do not like this method of anti-war antics. Against the war, OK. Please do not endanger our troops.
myenergy