Lawmakers push for more recognition of Armenian massacre

Los Angeles-area lawmakers held meetings with representatives of the Armenian American community and hosting events recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide.

April 24 is the 96th anniversary of the beginning of the mass killing of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) is co-author of this year’s measure setting aside the week of April 18-24 for the state to recognize the massacre. Gatto introduced a measure this year extending the period of time that genocide victims' descendants can use California courts to pursue insurers for unpaid policies stemming from the time of the atrocity.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), author of legislation seeking official congressional recognition of the massacre as genocide, sent a letter to President Obama last week asking him to use the word “genocide” when publicly acknowledging the history of Armenia. That is something Obama did on the campaign trail in 2008, but not since.

Read the full story: Lawmakers focus on recognizing Armenian genocide

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-- Bill Kisliuk, Glendale News-Press / Times Community News

Photo: Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the Armenian Apostolic Church blesses a new sign unveiled April 1 on the 60 Freeway that reads "Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument Next Exit." Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Ernest H. Dervishian]

Americans of Armenian heritage bailed these Anglos from extinction several times. I guess the third time is always a charm. These Anglos would like to keep us on a perpetual "newly arrived" immigrant status. Their traditional notion of justice for "just...U.S." needs to end or else it is going to come to an end like the movie "Doctor Strangelove."

The problem with these Anglo Americans is that they are becoming more and more feminized and really don’t understand the gravity of the next 7 days and the impact a few simple words or the lack there of will have on the Armenian American psyche.

They forget that all it takes to do the job right of "Passover, " is GOD, sharp Harry Kizirian “K-BARRs”, and a few good Marines. That should get the point across.

Congress needs to focus on upgrading the medals of Harry Kizirian and Victor "Transport" Maghakian from the Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor (which they rightfully deserved). The "Tarawa Twins" or the "Iwo-Jima Twins" [both of which were the Derian brothers], need their medals upgraded to the Navy Cross.

The late Lee Marvin wouldn't have it any other way as these men saved his rear end. Lee Marvin NEVER FORGOT!

[Steven M.]

No apologies to the Armenian community. Your ticket to stay in America means you are now an American, not an Armenian or Armenian-American.

Go get a copy of "John Wayne's America" and listen to the words of "The Hyphen."

[MissMarple]

As long as it is made clear that it was the Ottoman Turks, and not the modern Turkish Nation, I think it can be done. This was all done when the former government was in power, a government with which we were at war during World War I.

[Ernest H. Dervishian]

It truly is offensive and Un-American to define it as a "massacre" instead of "Genocide." Even Iran recognizes it as a "Genocide." a Google search on "Armenian Genocide" produces a whole host of results. Isn't the United States embarrassed by now? How much more embarrassment does she need?

Why the editors of the Los Angeles times decided to use the word "massacre" instead of "Genocide" is obvious and will not go unnoticed.

[david]

WHY??????????????????????????

[dee gee]

they can have more recognition as soon as we see more recognition of the native american genocide.

[Hugh G. Rekshon]

Now wait just a minute. It was not a Genocide. The Armenians started a war with the Turks and lost. BAD. That's all.

[Mike]

This is the problem with our politicians. The state is in such a financial mess and these two idiots are busy chasing something that happened a long time ago in a land far away. Rather than waste time dealing with Armenian/Turkish issues from 96 years ago, they should be busy getting the state's finances in order. Rather than pushing to pursue Armenian issues in California's courts, they should be busy passing a budget that is balanced and on time. I have nothing against Armenians or Turks, and understand that this tragedy should be recognized. However, these politicians do not have their priorities in order to the detriment of all Californians.

[Judy]

Recognize the Armenian genocide, okay! But isn't this America?

[Raffi]

It would be great to see more coverage of the Armenian Genocide. This tragedy is responsible for much of the large Armenian community that now resides in Los Angeles, and many people don't know about it the way that they know about the Holocaust. The hundredth anniversary is approaching and the Turkish Government is still trying to completely deny and repress the truth around the world. By educating ourselves about it, they will fail in their efforts to rewrite history...

[George Omigoshian]

Armenians need to realize that the U.S. State Department is fairly ignorant when it comes to foreign relations and they do not know how to negotiate. The Turkish government has bluffed the State Department into thinking that some catastrophe will occur if the U.S. recognizes the Armenian Genocide. But all the State Dept has to do is look at how the Turkish government has treated the U.S. during the past 20 years. They have closed all but a couple of our bases. They held the bases hostage. They refused to allow us to use them during the Iraqi War causing many more casualties than would have been. They still refuse to allow humanitarian aid to fly through their air space if it is destined for Armenia. Turkey supports the Sudanese leadership's genocide in Darfur. If that's not enough to realize Turkey is not an ally, then they have been given carte blanche by the State Dept to do whatever they want to.

[alwaysconcerned]

Why?

[Crazy Horse]

This is part of history. Was it a genocide? I don't believe so. But it was certainly a massacre. The Holocaust is a genocide because the Germans attempted to exterminate an entire class of people. The effort was clearly made to wipe out Jewish people from the face of the earth.

Although the killing of 1.5 million Armenians was obviously a massacre, it in no way can be interpreted as an effort to wipe out all Armenians from the face of the earth.

I don't believe our California judicial system should play a role in this. It has nothing to do with us. We also need Turkey as an ally, and the labeling of the 1915 incident as a 'genocide' is not in our best political interests.

[Common Sense]

I don't really understand the point of this. Why does the U.S. Congress or the state legislature have to get involved in a controversial historical foreign issue that has nothing whatsoever to do with American history or national security interests.

Seems like a waste of time and government resources.

[Dan]

Why do I care? Let's work on more pressing issues like the budget, jobs and the economy. Looks like more pandering by democrats. Don't waste my tax dollars on garbage like this.

[Ernest H. Dervishian]

I wonder why Turkey's Egenekon, the Taliban and Al Queada don't care? They are legitimate targets here in the U.S. As a matter of fact, any so-called American who has aided and abetted in their crimes, including by spying on Americans of Armenian heritage, should be hung the good old fashioned American way.

[Ernest H. Dervishian]

Why is being a member of the Dashnak, AYF or ARF organization considered un-American? Some of the greatest American Marines gained their courage and strength from these organizations like the "Tarawa Twins" aka "The Iwo-Jima Twins" (The DERIAN BROTHERS) and Harry "K-BAR" Kizirian?

Those who control the past, control the future; those who control the present, control the past." ["1984"]

[Walter]

During the Balkan Wars and WWI, many "genocides" took place. Millions of Turks and Muslims in the Caucuses were forcibly expelled and massacred by the Russian Empire. Similarly, hundreds of thousands of Albanians, Turks and Balkan Muslims were murdered by the Serbs, Greeks and Bulgarians during this same time. And I'm not talking about soldiers. I'm talking about women, children, and the elderly. Entire villages were razed to the ground.

If we take it back even further, we can call what happened to Germany during the 30 Years' War genocide. Germany was reduced in population by as much as 15%-30% by foreign invaders, and mercenaries, who torched villages, and murdered men, women and children en masse based on their religion and ethnicity. And if we go back further than that, Spain could be labeled as a genocidal state for expelling and/or liquidating its Muslim and Jewish populations during the Inquisition. Likewise, we could also call France a genocidal state for murdering its gnostic Christian and Cathar populations during the Crusades. Point being, if we dig deep enough, every single country in the world could be labeled "genocidal", not least of all being the United States, given our brutal history of "Indian Removal".

So I'm not at all against labeling what happened to the Armenians as a "genocide", because by definition it was, but to the same extent, there have been countless massacres of civilians perpetrated throughout history along ethnic lines that could be labeled as such. Let's not pick and choose which cases we'd like to acknowledge and which ones we wouldn't. Any mass-killing of civilians along ethnic lines is technically genocide. But I can assure you Congress isn't anywhere close to acknowledging a "Turkish Genocide" or a "German Genocide". Nor do they have any plans to pay billions of dollars in reparations to the countless Native American tribes that were wiped out and dispossessed of their land. Unfortunately, there have been so many cases of genocide in the past, it would be impossible for our Congress to acknowledge them all.

[Ernest H. Dervishian]

How ironic. Even Iran recognizes the Armenian Genocide.

Even more ironic, is when Armenian Americans attack legitimate terrorist targets like Turkey's "Ergenekon" [part of the brotherhood of Al Queda and the Taliban], they are designated as terrorists.

Truly a "1984" nightmare.

[AR]

Hey CRAZY HORSE,

I hope you come back and read my comment.
#1. You should look up what Genocide is, before you use that word again.
#2. You are right about the Jewish Holocast being a genocide, but the only difference between the Jewish and Armenian Genocides was that the Armenians were slaughtered in their ORIGINAL HOMELAND.
#3. The term Genocide was first introduced by Raphael Lemkin to Unated Nations 50-60 years ago, and he precisely used extermination of Armenians as an example of a Genocide.
#4. And if that is not enough for you I suggest you look up what Henry Morganthau, the American Ambassador to Turkey during 1915, had to say about the events that took place in front of his eyes. Because the word Genocide was non-existent at that time he said "extermination of the Armenian race is taking place".

Now unless you are a turkish deniyalist you should NOT be so ignorant.

[Tony]

Armenian Genocide NEEDS to be Recognized .. If we Don't Serve Justice to the Tragic Past of Human Mass killings Than History Will Repeat Its Self... So for those Retards who Don't Give a DAMN about this issue nor the innocent life of a human being.. Than you simply should not live to see another day!!!

[Jack]

Hmmm.. the full story is titled "Lawmakers focus on recognizing Armenian genocide", so why the headline here says "Lawmakers push for more recognition of Armenian massacre"? Sometimes I wonder what 'gymnastics' American politicians and media are going through to catch the embarrassing balance between the truth everybody knows about and 'sensitivity towards an important ally in a volatile region'. Would be funny if it wasn't so sad...

[Mark]

OH Please what about more than 500.000 Turks Armenians killed does anyone care about them , this is pure political move ,as long as diying are Muslims no one cares, same in this case, I am not muslim but I read after hearing all this Amernian claims ,to me Armenians just as Gukity they did kill 520.000 Turks befire Turks kill them , go read if you do not trust me

[john]

Ah the fish wrap that is the LA Times again going against its official policy of rightfully acknowledging the ARMENIAN GENOCIDE and calling it a massacre?

ITS A GENOCIDE PURE AND SIMPLE!

In Fact: The United States National Archives and Record Administration holds extensive and thorough documentation on the Armenian Genocide, especially in its holdings under Record Group 59 of the United States Department of State, files 867.00 and 867.40, which are open and widely available to the public and interested institutions.

[Kirlikovali]

Allegations of Armenian genocide ignore the seven T's of the Turkish Armenian conflict: turmoil (revolts,) treason, terrorism, territorial demands, Turkish victims, Tereset, and Turcophobia. Dismissing more than half the story is unscholarly and unethical.