h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Armenian Genocide - A834383
Author: Bels. A distressing case of Premature Evaluation. - U188050

I put this into Peer Review a couple of months ago but withdrew it. (There's a PR thread hanging off it if you are really interested.)

In the entry I've now answered some questions raised (thanks, Spiff).

Regarding the title, I have deliberately not included the dates of the genocide (1915 - 1923).

If you don't mind, I'd like to keep the entry focussed mainly on the genocide itself, as the forerunner of other 20th Century genocides, rather than on interesting but extraneous matters.

Bels
18.11.02

Very interesting.

I had heard a bit about this but nothing as detailed as your account.

The Ottoman regime perpetrated atrocities in a number of areas - notably the Balkans, but this would be the worst example.

I don't think it is in danger of disappearing from consciousness just yet. Look at the way the Turkish Government reacts to anything in print or any political recognition of the massacre. In fact it will be interesting to see if they pick up on this, it being a BBC site...

Its a good article which treats a difficult subject well.

Sprout

>I don't think it is in danger of disappearing from consciousness just yet.

Both Blair and Clinton have refused to acknowledge it. When instituting a national Holocaust Day in Britain the Brit govt refused to allow this genocide to be remembered. President Clinton has pleaded with the US Congress to ignore calls to commemorate the Armenian genocide on the grounds that this would put American lives at risk.

Turkey is an important Western ally, and has the second largest army in Nato. Turkey wants to join the EU. The EU wants access to its vast underpaid labour pool.

The survivors of the genocide have now all but died out. Remembering them is politically inexpedient. The Nazi holocaust has many rich and influential people making sure that it is not forgotten, and quite right too, but obtaining recognition for the Armenian genocide has always been an uphill struggle for the communities of the Armenian diaspora, and the gradient of that struggle is steeper now than it ever has been. This should worry us.

While the genocide was going on, the British, American and other govts were quick to condemn it, to speak out against it, to document it, and to organise aid for the victims. Now they want us to forget all about it.

All that you say above is true, but there is an active political movement that aims to have the true scale of the massacre recognised and they have achieved some successes. I can't remember if it was the French or the Belgian senate that recently recognised the genocide?

While this is going on, it won't be forgotten.

Look at the Benes decrees and the Czech Republic (not in any way comparable in scale of atrocity, just an example of history coming back) until recently these were hardly a political issue outside of the countries involved - now they are being debated in the European Parliament etc.

I think Turkish accession to the EU could well put the spotlight on issues like this.

Sprout

Probably the French. There's a very large and active Armenian community in France.

I hope you're right.

Thorough Entry, Bels.

Thank you.

HELL

haven't reread this yet, Bels, but as you will no doubt imagine, i'm pleased to see it back in PR.

Hi Bels,

Given that the current release 'Rabbit Proof Fence' has sparked off anew the debate in Australia about the aboriginal genocide and the 'stolen children', I was thinking that perhaps what we need is a successful film about the Armenian Genocide, to get people talking and to inform a new generation.

Having dug around on the net, I find that Atom Egoyan's latest film, Ararat, is precisely that. Released last Friday in the US, it seems to be doing fairly well and is certainly getting people talking. I can't seem to find a UK release date though (not surprising as the UK is often the last territory to get movies, for some reason).

Atom Egoyan's parents were Armenian refugees living in Egypt, and Egoyan now lives and works in Canada. He's known for odd, intense art-house films such as Exotica and The Sweet Hereafter. The film Ararat is apparently about the making of a film on the Armenian genocide, and the effect that it has on the people making the film.

Sounds interesting!

Gubernatrix

Do you have a link for me?

Chilling stuff, Bels. I knew little or nothing about it. Well written and presented, as usual.

Actually I found something at http://www.usanogh.com/articles/article.php3?story_id=57

I liked it the first time and I like it now. Into the guide with this.

I liked this as well, it's thought prevoking, upseting and disturbing I've got nothign to add to this conversation apart from my aproval.

A well written and informative entry on a topic that deserves to be more than a footnote in history books.

Well done!

A harrowing tale Bels, and one which The Guide would be all the poorer without.

Excellent entry - yet another chapter in man's inhumanity to man. My daughter is currently doing History A Level and one of the discussions we have is 'history is written by the victors'

How many Turkish teenagers know of this story ?

And how many non-Turkish?

By the way, there's a conversation here that you might find interesting.

F99575?thread=224769

Hi, Bels!

I haven't had much time for Peer Reviewing lately, but this entry is one that I really liked last time you put it into PR, and I hope to see it in the Edited Guide fairly soon! It is very thought-provoking, and of course written to your usual high standards.

Azara

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!