Turks pull ambassador from Canada over Armenian genocide.

[No truth]

Despite overwhelming evidence, and a growing movement within their own intellectual community, the Turks still refuse to acknowledge the reality of the Armenian genocide (read Robert Fisk's "The Great War for Civilization" for an excellent account), and still attempt to punish anyone who does acknowledge it.

This is the same game the Chinese play with the Tiananmin Massacre, except that China gets away with it because the West wants access to their markets. The U.S. has gutlessly allowed the Turks to influence them on this issue for years, but it's nice to see Canada (and, in a rare display of integrity, France!?!?) stand up and be counted for once.

[geoffrey]

France stood up for something? All your posts must be lies, I can't believe that.

[Guest Warwick Green]

France stood up for something? All your posts must be lies, I can't believe that.

Here is from one news report:

For its part, France is considering draft legislation that would make it illegal to deny the Armenian deaths were a result of genocide.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/200...mbassadors.html

In school I was taught about the "Turkish massacre of the Armenians" and in one video series I own there is footage of Armenians being herded into cattle cars as the Nazis would do with Jews 25 years later.

But to make it illegal "to deny the Armenian deaths were a result of genocide." That's as bad as the Turks who arrest you for even wanting to discuss the genocide. Where is the freedom of speech here to let people make up their own minds as to what happened?

[rover1]

From my understanding of the matter, the Armenian Massacre or whatever the event is properly called did take place, and as a non-expert, it is my opinion that the Turks were responsible. The Turkish authorities, don't completely deny this, but claim that the extent is overstated, and that in any event it was allowed or committed by their predecessors the Ottoman Empire. These circumlocutions are likely intended as face saving devices and no doubt are motivated by domestic Turkish political pressures.

Should Canada just ignore the facts and deny the Armenians support they deserve? No, but since Turkey is a friendly country and is trying to make its way in the modern world, against some considerable obstacles. we should take a gentle and diplomatic approach, not denying the facts, but making it clear to Turkey that we wish to be helpful and friendly to them.

Perhaps this way, we can 'ease' them into a more complete acknowledgement of the regrettable situation, and not drive them into the arms of extremists. Worth a try.

[Guest Warwick Green]

From my understanding of the matter, the Armenian Massacre or whatever the event is properly called did take place, and as a non-expert, it is my opinion that the Turks were responsible. The Turkish authorities, don't completely deny this, but claim that the extent is overstated, and that in any event it was allowed or committed by their predecessors the Ottoman Empire.These circumlocutions are likely intended as face saving devices and no doubt are motivated by domestic Turkish political pressures.

Should Canada just ignore the facts and deny the Armenians support they deserve? No, but since Turkey is a friendly country and is trying to make its way in the modern world, against some considerable obstacles. we should take a gentle and diplomatic approach, not denying the facts, but making it clear to Turkey that we wish to be helpful and friendly to them.

Perhaps this way, we can 'ease' them into a more complete acknowledgement of the regrettable situation, and not drive them into the arms of extremists. Worth a try.

One of the conditions for doing anything at all with the Turks has to be their agreeing to stop persecuting those in their country who try to debate the issue. If Turkey allowed free discussion on the issue the Turkish government would be then free to take any position it wants but it would be subject to challenge. BTW, I had an Armenian sister-in-law. She lost people in the massacre.

[No truth]

"Where is the freedom of speech here to let people make up their own minds as to what happened?"

People don't "decide what happened" in relation to a historical event. Try suggesting that regarding the Holocaust, and see where you get. The only disputing of this event comes from the Turks and their paid or browbeaten hacks. History is not something we vote on.

[Guest Warwick Green]

"Where is the freedom of speech here to let people make up their own minds as to what happened?"

People don't "decide what happened" in relation to a historical event. Try suggesting that regarding the Holocaust, and see where you get. The only disputing of this event comes from the Turks and their paid or browbeaten hacks. History is not something we vote on.

Unfortunately Turkey has closed the debate by deciding that the genocide did not happen. I think that is just as reprehensible as France who wants to make illegal to say that it did not happen. And I think jailing people for denying the holocaust is just as reprehensible too. History is open for debate just as much as any other discipline.

[rover1]

I agree with Warwick Green when he says that people ought to be able to dispute the facts without running afoul of some law demanding exact adherence to some interpretation or other. Such a demand for orthodoxy is in itself suspicious and makes you wonder if those proposing it are entirely certain of their information.