The Armenian Genocide: An Unforgotten Adversity

Armenia was once an empire, and thrived for some 1,700 years under kings and queens. It was during this time where the country developed its rich and beautiful heritage. Architecture, art, and the Armenian national alphabet, are only a few things derived in Armenia at this time. Armenia remains one of the world’s oldest civilizations, as it once included Mount Ararat (now in Modern day Turkey), which, in a biblical translation, identifies that Noah’s Ark once rested upon it. It was the also the first country in the world to embrace Christianity as its religion (AD 301), and the Armenian Church pursued an independent course. Amazingly enough, the beauty and strength of this country had to deal with bloodshed, brutal killings, and overall loss. But it

Today, the Turkish Government still denies the occurrence of the Armenian Genocide. In fact, their claim is that Armenians were only removed from the “war zones” of World War I. Yet, how could this have been a war zone, if the genocide occurred all over Anatolia? Only regions of Erzeroum, Bitlis, and Van in the east coast were war zones (Apsel). The representatives of the British, French, Russian, German, and Austrian governments, which, at that time, were all major powers, condemned the genocide. The United States, which was neutral between the Ottoman Empire and Armenia, also condemned the genocide and spoke on the behalf of the Armenians. United States ambassador Henry Morgenthau, sent a message to the State Department in 1915 saying the following: “Deportation of and excesses against peaceful Armenians is increasing and from harrowing reports of eye witnesses [sic] it appears that a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion.” (“Ambassador Morgenthau’s”) However, Armenia today still struggles to obtain full recognition of the Armenian Genocide. On January18, 2001, France recognized the Genocide (“Armenia: French”), and some governments, although specifically referring to the genocide, refrain from using the word “genocide” as to keep good social and/or political relations with Turkey. Ironically enough, the dictionary definition of “genocide” still stands: “A systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group.” (“Genocide”)

The 1890\'s were the beginning of the Turkish movement towards their Pan-Turkic empire. Several hundred thousand Armenians were killed in programs that were ordered by the Turkish nationalist leader Sultan Abdul Hamid II. Hamid\'s terror did, however, come to an end when a group of Turks took over the Ottoman Empire in 1908, replacing the Sultan\'s current government. This takeover was actually supported by the Armenians, but unfortunately, many promises

Some topics in this essay:
Istanbul Constantinople, World War, Turkey Ironically, Ottoman Empire, Genocide Apsel, Henry Morgenthau, Turkey Turkish, Asia Turkish, Turkish Empire, Memorial Day, ottoman empire, armenian genocide, world war, armenians killed, condemned genocide, turkish government, empire hundred, half armenians, russian ottoman, recognition armenian,