Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day: Confronting Denialism

          Though there were survivors of the Armenian Genocide, they kept quiet for many generations.  These survivors were adopted by Muslim families and adopted different identities in order to escape from the killings of the Ottoman Empire.  Professor Ayse Altinay's book called Les Petits-Enfants, discusses the story of these survivors and their second and third generations. 

            Every year on April 24, Armenians gather around to commemorate the death of 1.5 Armenians.  Although most of the international community has accepted this massacre as a genocide, the Turkish government denies this historical crime till this day.  Turkey's denial can be explained as a link between nationalism or militarism.  Turkish activists, intellectuals, and historians contribute to the framing of the Armenian genocide that is publically discussed.  There have been many Turkish scholars who openly speak about the Armenian Genocide and how the denial of the genocide is something that can't be tolerated.   Some of these scholars have been victims to death threats.  Journalists who also openly discuss the Armenian Genocide are punished as well.  30 of the writer are in prison in Turkey and 70 of them are on trial.  So on the day of remembrance, not only should people commemorate but confront denialism.

Response:  The article basically discuses how Armenians, along with other people, commemorate and Recognize the Armenian Genocide every year in April 24.  He also talks about how the Turkish government continues to deny this tragic event.  I may somewhat disagree with his opinion on why he believes that the Turkish government has denied this historical event.  The author is upset by this denial and he wants to fight for it.  What caught my attention was that someone who is not Armenian is willing to fight to get recognition for the Armenian people.  To prove his point, the author uses examples of Turkish people who have risked their lives in order to recognize the Armenian Genocide. 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mikaela-luttrellrowland/armenian-genocide-commemoration-day_b_1447786.html