Turkish delight: House fails to vote on Armenian genocide resolution

By Michael J.W. Stickings

The "Lame Duck" Congress did a great deal, yes, but unfortunately it did not pass -- and did not even vote on -- a resolution by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Cal.) recognizing the 1915-17 massacre of about 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Turks for what it was: genocide.

As you may know, Turkey, along with its agents in the U.S. (including the Congressional Turkish Caucus), has waged a massive campaign to revise history and silence anyone who would dare call it genocide. That word, it seems, is just too much -- even if it's absolutely the right word to use.

This campaign has been waged around the world, but in the U.S. what Turkey wants it to block Congress from passing any such resolution and the president from saying genocide. So much so that it has threatened diplomatic reprisals.

Various resolutions have made their way out of committee in recent years, but thus far no resolution has been passed. And Obama has thus far refrained from saying genocide.

The pressure from Turkey and the concern over U.S.-Turkish relations have no doubt trumped any other considerations. In this case, as The Hill reports, "Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent Obama a letter Monday asking him to prevent the vote, warning that it could damage ties between the two countries." Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also pressured Hillary Clinton.

I have written about this issue -- the Armenian genocide and the failure to recognize it as such -- a few times already:

-- Genocidal denial: Bush, Turkey, and the Armenian Holocaust (Oct. 2007)

-- Genocide is genocide: Exposing the truth about the Turkish massacre of Armenians (Mar. 2010); and

-- Anything but genocide: Obama, Turkey, and the Armenian Holocaust (Apr. 2010).

What happened was genocide. What is going on now, almost a century later, is still a despicable cover-up. I repeat what I wrote in the third of the posts listed above:

While I suspect that Obama [and Nancy Pelosi, too, who refused to bring Schiff's resolution to a vote] knows full well that it was genocide, and that the Turks are, on this issue, a nation of collective revisionists (and liars), he is effectively contributing to the Turkish campaign, perpetuating Turkey's massive lie, taking Turkey's side against efforts in Congress to call it genocide, and all because he wants to avoid annoying the Turks and risking... what?

Yes, what exactly? Is he afraid that Ankara won't return his phone calls? Is Turkey such an essential ally that it must be appeased no matter what? Would Turkey really refuse to do business with the U.S. and/or support U.S. foreign policy if Obama actually took a firm stand and called it genocide? Sure, the Turks would whine and complain and threaten to sever diplomatic ties, as they've done before (even over non-binding committee resolutions in the House of Representatives), but so what? Does anyone honestly think Turkey can do without America? Please.

Honestly, I wish the president would pull a Jon Stewart and tell the Turks to go fuck themselves.

Diplomatically, of course.

Just call it genocide. And stop helping Turkey get away with it.

Turkey Sammiches and Werewolves

What's a girl to do when there's too many chores to be done?

Sit down with a nice toasty cup of cocoa and write a blog of course!

So I'm suddenly realizing that it's the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Now I'm stressing because I've got three Blockbuster Online movies here now, one watched, two to go and this coming week, well we'll all be here at home.  Kitty has school Monday and Tuesday, but after that it's a free ride til next Monday.  So whatever will we all do to keep from killing each other together as a loving family?

The only time Thanksgiving is EVER simple is before you start dating.  After that you'll forever and I do mean EVER have guilt trips challenges to overcome.

I still have NO idea whatsoever what our collective families are doing for Thanksgiving Dinner.  I've got a turkey breast in the freezer, but my daughter has yet to tell me what she's doing for Thanksgiving, my in-laws have tentatively invited us to their house and of course my Mom expects us to be there too whether she says it out loud or not.

I've horrid fond memories of the last time we visited the in-laws.  My husband and brother-in-law had a very awkward and horrifying lovely fight discussion about my father-in-law taking better care of himself.  Now, its been decided that perhaps family visits should be shuffled so everyone isn't there at once.  I'm thinking that might be nice.  I don't really have any problems with my in-laws in spite of my mother in law thinking I'm a bad influence on my daughter because I have piercings.  The problem is that I don't really have anything in common with them anymore.  So family get-togethers end up being my family sitting quietly listening to the rest of the family talking about things we have no interest in or people we don't know.  Ce' la vie.

My family isn't always better.  I remember a few Christmases when my mom and stepdad were fighting and didn't even open their presents until after New Years.  I think that's all in the past, but my mother has reached the point in her life where she has no compunctions about telling you how she feels.  Exactly how she feels.  Not great when she doesn't particularly like your husband or your daughters boyfriend.  

Maybe that's why so many people dread the holiday season.  No matter how much I love my husband and daughter, I can't help but remember how much easier things were during the holidays before they came along. Easier is rarely better though and case in point here.  I'd much rather have them in my life even though I get to deal with enjoy snide adoring comments from in-laws and family.  Now I'm thinking about what we're going to do and you know what?

I figure we'll endure enjoy the company of friends and family, eat about three dinners and roll come home fat and thankful that another Thanksgiving has come and gone, sit down and watch a werewolf flick and maybe in the wee hours of the morning fix ourselves a turkey sammich.  All's fair in love, war and holidays.

Turkey Sammiches and Werewolves

What's a girl to do when there's too many chores to be done?

Sit down with a nice toasty cup of cocoa and write a blog of course!

So I'm suddenly realizing that it's the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Now I'm stressing because I've got three Blockbuster Online movies here now, one watched, two to go and this coming week, well we'll all be here at home.  Kitty has school Monday and Tuesday, but after that it's a free ride til next Monday.  So whatever will we all do to keep from killing each other together as a loving family?

The only time Thanksgiving is EVER simple is before you start dating.  After that you'll forever and I do mean EVER have guilt trips challenges to overcome.

I still have NO idea whatsoever what our collective families are doing for Thanksgiving Dinner.  I've got a turkey breast in the freezer, but my daughter has yet to tell me what she's doing for Thanksgiving, my in-laws have tentatively invited us to their house and of course my Mom expects us to be there too whether she says it out loud or not.

I've horrid fond memories of the last time we visited the in-laws.  My husband and brother-in-law had a very awkward and horrifying lovely fight discussion about my father-in-law taking better care of himself.  Now, its been decided that perhaps family visits should be shuffled so everyone isn't there at once.  I'm thinking that might be nice.  I don't really have any problems with my in-laws in spite of my mother in law thinking I'm a bad influence on my daughter because I have piercings.  The problem is that I don't really have anything in common with them anymore.  So family get-togethers end up being my family sitting quietly listening to the rest of the family talking about things we have no interest in or people we don't know.  Ce' la vie.

My family isn't always better.  I remember a few Christmases when my mom and stepdad were fighting and didn't even open their presents until after New Years.  I think that's all in the past, but my mother has reached the point in her life where she has no compunctions about telling you how she feels.  Exactly how she feels.  Not great when she doesn't particularly like your husband or your daughters boyfriend.  

Maybe that's why so many people dread the holiday season.  No matter how much I love my husband and daughter, I can't help but remember how much easier things were during the holidays before they came along. Easier is rarely better though and case in point here.  I'd much rather have them in my life even though I get to deal with enjoy snide adoring comments from in-laws and family.  Now I'm thinking about what we're going to do and you know what?

I figure we'll endure enjoy the company of friends and family, eat about three dinners and roll come home fat and thankful that another Thanksgiving has come and gone, sit down and watch a werewolf flick and maybe in the wee hours of the morning fix ourselves a turkey sammich.  All's fair in love, war and holidays.