09/14 Armenian Weekly: Tantamount to the Holocaust?

Tantamount to the Holocaust?

The ADL Has Not Recognized the Armenian Genocide

By Khajag Mgrditchian

"The Armenian Weekly", Volume 73, No. 37, September 15, 2007

“We have never negated but have always described the painful events of 1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians as massacres and atrocities,” said ADL director Abraham Foxman last month, adding that upon reflection, “the consequences of those actions were indeed tantamount to genocide.”

Foxman’s carefully worded statement has been presented as proof by some that the ADL has changed its stance and now recognizes the Armenian genocide.

If this is the case, let us—following the example set by Newton mayor David Cohen— exchange the words “Armenian” and “genocide” with the words “Jewish” and “Holocaust,” and speak of the Holocaust the way Foxman speaks about the genocide:

“We have never negated and have always described the painful events during the years of World War II perpetrated by the Nazis against the Jews as massacres and atrocities. The consequences of those actions were indeed tantamount to holocaust. Therefore, we suggest that Jewish historians, as well as deniers of the Holocaust, come together and create a committee to study the issue. We are opposed to all official recognitions of the Holocaust by states and governments, because we are convinced that that kind of recognition is counterproductive to the rapprochement of those who accept the Holocaust and those who deny it. We are also opposed to the idea of modern Germany compensating victims for crimes committed by the Nazis. We would also like to apologize to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and to the German people for insulting them. We make this apology because Armenia is surrounded by Islamic countries that threaten the existence of Armenia and deny the Holocaust. There are strategic links binding Germany, Armenia and the United States, and we are concerned about the safety of thousands of Armenians living in Germany.”

Some may argue that Germany is not Turkey, that the Germans have come to terms with a dark chapter in their history; that Germany agreed to compensate the victims; that it does not have an Article 301; that it protects its minorities, allowing, for example German Kurds to speak Kurdish freely; that Germany has not invaded Cyprus; and that no country is threatened by Germany if it attempts to recognize the Holocaust.

Even Abraham Foxman and his colleague, AJC executive leader David Harris, a self-described admirer of Turkish “democracy,” can see how this statement, which names the planned killings during WWII as “tantamount to holocaust,” is meaningless and far from proper recognition.

Similarly, the statements made by Foxman and Harris are meaningless, and fail to recognize the genocide.

Instead of relying on word games, Foxman could have simply said that “The ADL officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide, and calls on Turkey to end its systematic denial of history.” But he did not.

Fortunately, that is exactly what the Jewish-American community is saying. Perhaps it is time for their leaders to join them.

Source: http://www.hairenik.com/armenianweekly/com09150708.htm