Reply #75: Words do matter...

[Hope And Change]

Obama Statement on Rwanda Anniversary

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 7, 2009

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA

This week marks the 15th commemoration of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. It is a somber occasion that causes us to reflect upon the deaths of the more than 800,000 men, women, and children who were killed simply because of their ethnicity or their political beliefs. The memory of these events also deepens our commitment to act when faced with genocide and to work with partners around the world to prevent future atrocities. The figure of 800,000 is so enormous, so daunting, that it runs the risk of becoming a statistic. Today, we must remember that each of the 800,000 individuals who died in 1994 had their own story, their own family, and their own dreams. As we mourn their senseless passing, we must also acknowledge the courageous men and women who survived the genocide and have since demonstrated remarkable strength and generosity in forgiving those who committed these heinous acts. These individuals inspire us daily by working to restore trust and rebuild hope in Rwanda. The United States is committed to its partnership with Rwanda and will continue to support efforts to promote sustainable development, respect for human rights, and lasting peace in Rwanda.

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http://thepage.time.com/obama-statement-on-rwanda-anniversary/">Link

Obama used the "G" word on the 7th April because that is the Rwandan genocide memorial day which was the right thing to do.


When Polish Jewish law professor Raphael Lemkin coined the term "Genocide", he had the Armenian example in mind:

As a teen, Lemkin learned through news accounts that the Turkish government was slaughtering its Christian Armenian citizens. The government claimed it was putting down an Armenian revolt. Over 8 years they killed a million Armenian men, women and children in massacres and forced marches. To this day, Turkey denies a genocide took place. Few of the perpetrators ever faced justice.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/13/sbm.lemkin.profile/">Link

...Raphael Lemkin, a law professor who in 1943 coined the term genocide. "I became interested in genocide because it happened so many times," he tells the CBS commentator Quincy Howe. "First to the Armenians, then after the Armenians, Hitler took action."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/17/arts/television/17stan.html?ex=1302926400&en=42703f4960edef66&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss">Link

And this is Obama`s promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide:

Barack Obama on the Importance of US-Armenia Relations

| January 19, 2008

I am proud of my strong record on issues of concern to the one and a half million Americans of Armenian heritage in the United States. I warmly welcome the support of this vibrant and politically active community as we change how our government works here at home, and restore American leadership abroad.

I am a strong supporter of a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy. As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. I will promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination. And my Administration will help foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade and targeted aid, and by strengthening the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments.

I also share with Armenian Americans – so many of whom are descended from genocide survivors - a principled commitment to commemorating and ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world history. As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, I criticized the Secretary of State for the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he properly used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with Secretary Rice my firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915. I have visited Darfurian refugee camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.

I look forward, as President, to continuing my active engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community. Together, we will build, in new and exciting ways, upon the enduring ties and shared values that have bound together the American and Armenian peoples for more than a century.

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/01/19/barack_obama_on_the_importance.php">Link

Obama Remarks at Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release April 23, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE HOLOCAUST DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY

United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.

12:04 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you very much. To Sara Bloomfield, for the wonderful introduction and the outstanding work she's doing; to Fred Zeidman; Joel Geiderman; Mr. Wiesel -- thank you for your wisdom and your witness; Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Senator Dick Durbin; members of Congress; our good friend the Ambassador of Israel; members of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council; and most importantly, the survivors and rescuers and their families who are here today. It is a great honor for me to be here, and I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to address you briefly.

We gather today to mourn the loss of so many lives, and celebrate those who saved them; honor those who survived, and contemplate the obligations of the living.

It is the grimmest of ironies that one of the most savage, barbaric acts of evil in history began in one of the most modernized societies of its time, where so many markers of human progress became tools of human depravity: science that can heal used to kill; education that can enlighten used to rationalize away basic moral impulses; the bureaucracy that sustains modern life used as the machinery of mass death -- a ruthless, chillingly efficient system where many were responsible for the killing, but few got actual blood on their hands.

While the uniqueness of the Holocaust in scope and in method is truly astounding, the Holocaust was driven by many of the same forces that have fueled atrocities throughout history: the scapegoating that leads to hatred and blinds us to our common humanity; the justifications that replace conscience and allow cruelty to spread; the willingness of those who are neither perpetrators nor victims to accept the assigned role of bystander, believing the lie that good people are ever powerless or alone, the fiction that we do not have a choice.

http://thepage.time.com/obama-remarks-at-holocaust-remembrance-ceremony/">Full remarks here

Obama labeled the Holocaust as Holocaust, not as massace, not as the great catastrophe, but as Holocaust which was again the right thing to do!

“For those who aren’t aware there was a genocide that did take place against the
Armenian people. It is one of these situations where we have seen a constant denial on part of the Turkish Government and others that this occurred.”

-- April 12, 2007 YouTube video of Senator Obama
during a public Capitol Hill constituent meeting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwR83GZjwdo

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And no, this is not a fake outrage from the Armenian-American community.Watch this video(click on the link below), and see the reaction of Armenian-Americans when they learn about Obama breaking his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide as "Genocide".

http://obamasunkeptpromises.blogspot.com/2009/04/harut-sassounian-breaks-bad-news-of.html

(He starts speaking English at 1:00 of the video)

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And someone mentioned President Reagan in this thread.Let me quote from an article:

Obama's Vows On 'Armenian Genocide' Tested

March 20, 2009

For years, President Obama has not minced words about labeling as "genocide" the deaths of Armenians more than 90 years ago during the demise of the Ottoman Empire. Nor have Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vice President Biden.

All three regularly signed letters to President George W. Bush demanding that he recognize "the mass slaughter of Armenians as genocide" and saying that such an act "would constitute a proud, irrefutable and groundbreaking chapter in U.S. diplomatic history." During last year's presidential campaign, Obama repeatedly insisted that, as president, he would "recognize the Armenian genocide."

"An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy," Obama said in a statement dated Jan. 19, 2008.

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But the administration's outreach to Turkey must be balanced against the high hopes that Obama inspired among Armenian Americans. For decades, they feel they have been disappointed by presidents on the genocide debate. Only President Ronald Reagan, in 1981, referred to "the genocide of the Armenians."

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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/20/politics/washingtonpost/main4879804.shtml">Full article here

Turkey was even a more important ally in the beginning of the 80s considering the cold war was still going on BUT despite that, President Reagan had the balls to use the term "Genocide"!

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Conclusion:

So after all this years, Obama always used the term "Genocide" to label the Armenian Genocide and not the Armenian phrase "Meds Yeghern"(Great calamity).He had pledged to recognize the Armenian Geocide as "Genocide".On 24th April - which is the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide - Obama recently released a statement avoiding the "G" word and used the Armenian phrase instead "Meds Yeghern"(Great calamity).So why did Obama use the Armenian phrase instead?It`s simple, by avoiding the "G" word he would not upset Turkey although the Turkish President criticized Obama for not mentioning that the Turks/Muslims were also victims and that they too should also be commemorated.But Turkey didn`t recall their ambassador as they did recently with their ambassador to Canada because Canadian officials had attended an event commemorating the Armenian Genocide.

I mean what the fuck?Is this what we are afraid of?How Turkey would react?If President Reagan could use the term "Genocide" under the cold war when Turkey was much more important than today then Obama should do the same!A pledge is a pledge.He broke that pledge and therefore lost my support because it was a very important issue for me and one of the reasons I supported Obama in the Democratic primary and Presidential elections and contributed to his campaign.

I have been in heated debates with some Hillary Clinton supportes here when I defended Obama, whether it was about Rezko or Jeremiah Wright....ask "indimuse"(with whom I had heated debates) about this and he would tell you about this...Don`t come and tell me that I didn`t support Obama from the start.

I have nothing more to add.

Take care.


P.S. Some people talks about not alienating Turkey, well I got news for you, it was Turkey who refused to let USA use Turkish soil in order to open a northern front against Iraq from South Eastern Turkey when we invaded Iraq.And no, I do not and did not support the Iraq war.But I think you get my point.