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H Res 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution.

By The Armorer on October 16, 2007 | | Comments (21)

When I first heard about this I immediately contacted Representative Boyda's staff with a "WTH, over?" And a list of possible consequences based on the Turkish response. When I found Ralph Peter's screed on the issue, I sent that along too.

This is fun.

Apparently a *lot* of Congresspeople signed on as co-sponsors without thinking it through - and some are now rushing to un-sponsor. The list of co-sponsors includes 61 Republicans.

Here's a link to Thomas, where you can take a look at the co-sponsors (to include the ones that are withdrawing their sponsorship).

I would note that Representative Boyda (D-KS2), my Representative, did *not* sign up for this. I don't claim that I got to her in time to stop her, for all I know (and it's completely possible, despite you doubters) that she had the good common sense to see it for the mistake it was back when it first came around.

I would note that Representative Moore (D-K3), Jim B's favorite villain, signed on as a co-sponsor but has since pulled his sponsorship. But, I will give him credit that he withdrew his co-sponsorship back in March, and not in reaction to the current events.

Nancy's staff called me (given my interest) to tell me about the people fleeing the resolution. Just to make sure everybody gets credit where it's due, I've included the list below the fold in the Flash Traffic/Extended Entry.

This is a nice little object lesson in how Congress works, with our Representatives signing on to things that sound nice without necessarily thinking through the consequences of the action. And there have been consequences already, just with the resolution clearing the committee, even though it's not yet come up for a vote.

And yes, I think guys like Ralph Peters, and the blogs, have had an impact on this.

Anyway - click the Flash Traffic button and see if your Representative is on the list - and if they are, they've had a change of heart.

Don't get me wrong - I firmly believe the Armenian Genocide happened (and the Kurds got screwed, too) and the pictures, taken by Armin Wegener, a German soldier stationed with the Turks at the time of event, eerily presage similar pictures coming from the Nazis and the Holocaust. It's been alleged that Hitler saw the world's reaction to the Armenian Genocide as instructive for his plans.

The time to condemn (and act, if we choose) is before, during or shortly after the event, not nearly a century later, and certainly not with the current geopolitical realities that beset us in the region. The Turks are clearly not ready to acknowledge anything, and have signaled their intent to react in ways that will make an already unstable situation even less stable.

Like it or not - this is simply not the time for this.

And no, I don't know when the time will be. But I do know that General Petraeus does not need to be dealing with a Turkish incursion into Iraq at the moment if he can avoid it, and he'd sure like to keep Turkish airspace open for logistical purposes. That's life in the real world.

Now to see how Madame Speaker deals with it. There is talk among the Democrats about sending her a letter asking her to not bring it to the floor. We'll see if that comes to fruition, should it be needful and Congresswoman Pelosi doesn't just decide that on her own, so to speak.

One can only hope.

Update: As Mr. T's Haircut noted in the comments (and I should have in the post) rather than fiddling with things like this... how 'bout a spending bill or two, or three, or so. The Power of the Purse - IIRC, that was to be the Congress' major tool...

Another thought. As Rich Lowry notes - perhaps this isn't just local politics (the large Armenian-American populations in Speaker Pelosi's district, for example) - perhaps this is just posing and posturing to set the example that by golly, the US Congress is serious about this stuff! And 85 years from now, already on the legislative docket, is the resolution condemning the Sudan for Darfur. Or something. Oh, wait - they already passed a resolution about Darfur, this year even, on June 6th, of all days. *That* has certainly helped the tens of thousands of people currently dying in Darfur. The Chinese just rushed in to help. So, I'm sure that passing this resolution, now, which could close the pipeline through which 95% of the MRAP vehicles pass to get to Iraq, will help all those dead Armenians, by making their children and grandchildren feel better about it all, and piss off an admittedly unsavory ally who has us by the short-hairs. We'll show them, by golly!

There is a reason, perhaps, the founders didn't put responsibility for foreign policy in the hands of the House, as it was the arm of government that was to represent the passions of the people, which aren't always a good basis for foreign policy.

The list reads, Name, District, Date They Signed On to Co-sponsor - this thing has been sitting in committee for a while... but clearly, many of these people's geopolitical sensor was broken.

I'm guessing that the list of withdrawals will increase.

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] - 7/18/2007
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 1/31/2007
Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] - 3/1/2007
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 3/12/2007
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 6/20/2007
Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 1/31/2007
Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31] - 1/31/2007
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 1/31/2007
Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] - 3/12/2007
Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] - 1/31/2007
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 4/19/2007
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Bono, Mary [CA-45] - 1/31/2007
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] - 6/21/2007
Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] - 6/28/2007
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 3/12/2007
Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 4/19/2007
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 6/28/2007
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 1/31/2007
Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 6/7/2007
Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] - 1/31/2007
Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 1/31/2007
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 1/31/2007
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] - 1/31/2007
Rep Carson, Julia [IN-7] - 6/28/2007
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 7/10/2007
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 4/16/2007
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 1/31/2007
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 1/31/2007
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 1/31/2007
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 5/14/2007
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 6/28/2007
Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 6/26/2007
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 1/31/2007
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 2/5/2007
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 1/31/2007
Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] - 1/31/2007
Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-25] - 1/31/2007
Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] - 1/31/2007
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] - 1/31/2007
Rep Doolittle, John T. [CA-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 1/31/2007
Rep Dreier, David [CA-26] - 1/31/2007
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 2/5/2007
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 1/31/2007
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 1/31/2007
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 1/31/2007
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Ferguson, Mike [NJ-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 1/31/2007
Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] - 10/4/2007
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. [NJ-11] - 1/31/2007
Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 1/31/2007
Rep Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY-20] - 7/18/2007
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 1/31/2007
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 3/1/2007
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 2/5/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] - 8/2/2007
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 1/31/2007
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 2/8/2007
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 7/18/2007
Rep Herseth, Stephanie [SD] - 1/31/2007
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 1/31/2007
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] - 1/31/2007
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 6/20/2007
Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] - 5/9/2007
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 1/31/2007
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 1/31/2007
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 1/31/2007
Rep Hunter, Duncan [CA-52] - 4/16/2007
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 1/31/2007
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 1/31/2007
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 2/8/2007
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 1/31/2007
Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] - 6/28/2007
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 1/31/2007
Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1] - 6/26/2007
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep Knollenberg, Joe [MI-9] - 1/30/2007
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 6/20/2007
Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] - 8/2/2007
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 2/8/2007
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] - 6/28/2007
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 5/24/2007
Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] - 3/1/2007
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 1/31/2007
Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] - 1/31/2007
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 1/31/2007
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 1/31/2007
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 1/31/2007
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 1/31/2007
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 2/8/2007
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] - 6/26/2007
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] - 2/5/2007
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 1/30/2007
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 8/2/2007
Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] - 1/31/2007
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] - 2/5/2007
Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 1/31/2007
Rep Meehan, Martin T. [MA-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 6/21/2007
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 2/8/2007
Rep Millender-McDonald, Juanita [CA-37] - 1/31/2007
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] - 3/29/2007
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] - 6/21/2007
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 1/31/2007
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] - 5/21/2007
Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 1/31/2007
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 1/31/2007
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 1/31/2007
Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] - 1/31/2007
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 1/30/2007
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 3/29/2007
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 1/31/2007
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 6/7/2007
Rep Porter, Jon C. [NV-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] - 1/30/2007
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 1/31/2007
Rep Reichert, David G. [WA-8] - 4/16/2007
Rep Renzi, Rick [AZ-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] - 10/4/2007
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] - 6/26/2007
Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] - 1/31/2007
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 1/31/2007
Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 5/21/2007
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 1/31/2007
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] - 1/31/2007
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 1/31/2007
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 1/31/2007
Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 4/16/2007
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 1/31/2007
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 1/31/2007
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 1/31/2007
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 1/31/2007
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 6/28/2007
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] - 1/31/2007
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 6/26/2007
Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 1/30/2007
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 1/31/2007
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] - 1/31/2007
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] - 3/12/2007
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 1/31/2007
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 3/29/2007
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 6/20/2007
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 1/31/2007
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Udall, Tom [NM-3] - 5/14/2007
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 1/31/2007
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 2/5/2007
Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Walberg, Timothy [MI-7] - 6/7/2007
Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-25] - 2/8/2007
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 1/31/2007
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 1/31/2007
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 1/31/2007
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 1/31/2007
Rep Watt, Melvin L. [NC-12] - 6/28/2007
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 1/31/2007
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 1/31/2007
Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 1/31/2007
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 1/31/2007
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 1/31/2007
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 1/31/2007
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 2/8/2007
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 1/31/2007
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 7/10/2007

Representatives withdrawing their co-sponsorship.

Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 3/15/2007)
Rep Jindal, Bobby [LA-1] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 1/31/2007)
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/2/2007)
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/4/2007)
Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 5/2/2007)
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 3/13/2007)
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 4/18/2007)
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 4/19/2007(withdrawn - 6/27/2007)
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] - 6/26/2007(withdrawn - 10/9/2007)
Rep Wicker, Roger F. [MS-1] - 6/26/2007(withdrawn - 6/28/2007)

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21 Comments

By fdcol63 on October 15, 2007 7:58 PM
I don't know why, but Pelosi's cluelessness continues to amaze me.
 
By Instapilot on October 15, 2007 8:01 PM
Some thoughts on this: 1) The Turks' sensitivity to this leads me to believe they aren't exactly proud of that moment...that's good...and, yes, I'm giving then the benefit of the doubt here. 1a) We LOOOOOVE rubbing our own noses in our own poo when it comes to past history...too bad our Representatives can't grasp the fact that this is not a universal trait. 2) There are plenty of Republicans on that co-sponsor list (stupid is an equal opportunity characteristic). 3) "Political leadership" is too often these days an oxymoron... 4) I know Bill Clinton found himself trying to squelch a similar situation during his tenure. The then-Speaker, Denny Hastert made sure it never got to the floor. Methinks Pelosi is not cut from that same cloth, but we'll see.
 
By Justice on October 15, 2007 8:39 PM
Hey Morons, First you acknowledge that there was a genocide and in the same breath you advocate and make excuses for its deniers. I wonder if you have the balls to deny the holocauset had Iran been a US ally?
 
By Justice on October 15, 2007 8:42 PM
First you acknowledge that there was a genocide and in the same breath you advocate and make excuses for its deniers. I wonder if you have the balls to deny the holocauset had Iran been a US ally? what's with the double standards? I guess I shouldnt be to suprised because if you were in the military they brainwashed you to never question your commanders and to just follow orders.
 
By John of Argghhh! on October 15, 2007 9:11 PM
Justice - if this is the best you've got, don't bother coming back. If Iran was a US ally, no, I would *not* deny the Holocaust. This isn't about denying the Armenian Genocide. If you read carefully, I said the time to act is before, during, or shortly after. Nearly a century later is simply feel-good politics, not a serious statement of policy. And since it's nothing more than feel-good bloviation, with no teeth behind it, and is simply poking someone in the eye who can play real mischief to us in return, and almost with impunity, yet do *absolutely nothing* for the Armenians.... well, if that's your idea of rational politics, you aren't going to have much fun here. This is about what is the point of sticking it, at this point in history, in Turkey's eye, when they are in a real position to react to it, in very real, and meaningful, not just rhetorical ways. Like I said, if the best you have to offer is to call me a moron, you're in violation of the rules of the commenting section. Which is attack the message, not the messenger. If you can't play by those rules, don't waste our time. Thank you for your interest in National Defense. As to your knowledge of the military, those who served, and in particular, me, you clearly aren't a regular reader around here. If this is the best you have to offer, kindly revert to lurking, sir.
 
By Muslims Against Sharia on October 15, 2007 11:27 PM
Muslims Against Sharia commend House Democrats and Speaker Pelosi for pressing ahead with an Armenian genocide bill. Republican opposition to the bill is pure manifestation of moral relativism. Muslims Against Sharia condemn Turkish government for refusing to acknowledge Armenian genocide and recalling its US ambassador in response to the bill. Source: AFP Post
 
By MR T's Haircut on October 16, 2007 3:15 AM
Can we please pass some legislation... like a defense bill....
 
By John of Argghhh! on October 16, 2007 4:10 AM
Mr. Haircut - geez, aren't you the silly naif?
 
By kat-missouri on October 16, 2007 5:10 AM
My main concern is that they continue to threaten to invade Kurdish Iraq. Over, I might add, less violent acts than has occurred in the past by the KDP and other organizations. Although, I comprehend that this is basically a political move to force the Kurds to act more definitively to reel in their own. On the other hand, Iran is threatening them on the eastern border for the same reasons and I don't feel nearly as bad about Kurdish rebels picking at Iran as the possible problems with Turkey. Iran could give us a nice excuse to act. On the other hand, as I predicted was the issue, Putin is highly sensitive to any military actions that might effect their energy resources in the Caspian region.
 
By SS E on October 16, 2007 5:39 AM
Tis like all the "Holocuast" resolutions in Congress. You can see the reps who support those all have Jews in their districts. Not our business. We even pushed a Holocaust resoluton in th UN. This just upsets people. It is from 60 years ago and we introduced a Holocaust resolutuon in the UN last year? The Jewish lobby does the same thing and hurts us even more.
 
By John of Argghhh! on October 16, 2007 6:04 AM
At least we *did* something about The Holocaust, with the expenditure of blood and treasure. Certainly, it was by-product of otherwise acting in our self-interest, but still, we did something. Symbolic gestures are fine. Symbolic gestures with teeth are more useful. Empty symbolic gestures on the behalf of dead people that in fact advance little and can do actual harm to living people - that's not useful.
 
By kat-missouri on October 16, 2007 6:56 AM
It is from 60 years ago and we introduced a Holocaust resolutuon in the UN last year? The Jewish lobby does the same thing and hurts us even more.
Whenever I hear the words "Jewish Lobby" I get this very bad taste in my mouth. Not because of the "Jewish Lobby", but because, invariably, those who make such statements are routinely outed as anti-semitists or Buchanan Natavist isolationists (or anti-semites). Besides, the Holocaust resolution in the UN last year is because there are so many members of that august, dottering body that routinely attempt to mitigate the holocaust, along with in ordinate numbers of "human rights" resolutions against Israel, in order to try to pry protection away from them to annihilate them. Pardon me if I see the situation as clearly something different. No one is planning to annihilate the remaining Armenians to my knowledge, thus they no longer require protection. If I'm wrong, please point to the pertinent information.
 
By Alan on October 16, 2007 10:55 AM
I am lucky enough to have both Armenians and Turks in my extended families, though I am not as familiar personally with the Turks given that the events of the early 20th century was what caused we Highland Scots to marry into a great family of Armenians. At the top of that family tree is the sole survivor of the genocide, a grand lady who has the fitness of someone thirty years her junior. The reason why now is a good time for this is because she should hear this done in her lifetime. It is also to confirm that repetitions of such actions are to be condemned now. She may not be at risk again but others are and, as we come to celebrate the commemmoration of the end of WWI with our Remembrance Day, we have to remember that "never again" is exactly about the events of the Armenian Genocide and the other mass killings by nationalists of all stripes (as well as other forms of tyranny) which continued right through the century and affect us still.
 
By BillT on October 16, 2007 11:03 AM
I guess I shouldnt be to suprised because if you were in the military they brainwashed you to never question your commanders and to just follow orders. *grinnnnn* I'm gonna print that out -- unedited -- and frame it.
 
By John of Argghhh! on October 16, 2007 12:17 PM
Yeah, we both achieved our exalted ranks due to excessive sycophancy...
 
By J.M. Heinrichs on October 16, 2007 1:41 PM
Sycophancy in pursuit of personal promotion is never excessive. Cheers
 
By John of Argghhh! on October 16, 2007 3:44 PM
Coming from you, John...
 
By Kevin on October 16, 2007 5:38 PM
"if you were in the military they brainwashed you to never question your commanders and to just follow orders." To quote the Honorable B. Bunny; "He don't know me very well, do he?" Methinks there is a bridge somewhere that is missing its nether dweller. But, at least the Three Billy Goats Gruff are safe.
 
By BillT on October 16, 2007 10:41 PM
Methinks there is a bridge somewhere that is missing its nether dweller. But, at least the Three Billy Goats Gruff are safe. In the original tale, the elder, fire-breathing, multi-fanged, Khyber knife-toting Gruff bro turned the troll into chum and then plunked down on the bridge and went fishing. Some gink in Fresno claimed that version was too violent for kids -- even though two of the characters in the story were, in fact, kids...
 
By Jason Hutchings III on October 17, 2007 10:56 PM
[Jason's comment deleted as having null value, being nothing more than a mass ad-hominem attack with no information content whatsoever. He did sign his name, even if he left a bogus email - characteristic of that style of commenter. Jason - if you have something to say that bears on the topic, please feel free to add it. Such as an explanation of why you think the Genocide resolution is a wonderful idea whose time has come, and that all will be sweetness and light when it's passed, or whatever it is you believe about it. And then, try to offer up some explanation as to why our concerns are baseless, wrongheaded, underinformed, etc. Othewise, don't waste your time and my bandwidth. Thanks. -the Armorer]
 
By BillT on October 17, 2007 11:51 PM
And you justify the use of that sobriquet -- how? Because you disagree with the assessment that the Dems are cynically using the Armenian-American community at this point in time? Or because you disagree that the term "genocide" is appropriate? Or because you dislike the fact that we didn't play the other troll's game? Hmmmmmm?