Canada’s Lack of Response to the Armenian Genocide of 1915
A summary and analysis of the massacre of over one million innocent Armenians that is still being denied today, and Canada’s role in it.
During WWI, Canada sent over 600,000 men to fight for the Allies. Many of these troops were ultimately used as cannon fodder due to prejudice and poor strategy. At the time, Canada’s resources and troops could have been better used in protection of innocent Armenians. Had Canada, along with the support of other able nations, been more actively involved in stopping the Armenian Genocide, countless lives could have been saved and one of the worst disasters of the 20th century would have been avoided.
The Armenian Genocide is still not internationally recognized as what it really is: an intentional attempt at the elimination of an entire race; a crime against humanity.
The Canadian Parliament only officially acknowledged it as such in April 2004; Germany and Poland in 2006; Argentina in 2007.
Turkey continues to deny it even to this day.
The problem many nations have in accepting and formally acknowledging the Genocide is the fact that it may damage their international relations to Turkey. In doing so, they are basically pacifying Turkey and ignoring the issue.
In Canada, the 24th of April is now known as a commemoration date for the Armenian Genocide, and memorial monuments have been erected in Toronto and Montreal. However, Canada still takes on this issue from a passive standpoint. In order to clear up the facts, and form a consensus as well as a resolution for the topic, we must encourage all nations to accept the reality of the Armenian Genocide. Canada should ensure that the Turkish government makes a formal apology to Armenians and the country of Armenia, and that resentment between the two nation ends. Not only does Canada owe it to its Armenian-Canadian citizens, but it is our moral and humanitarian obligation to do so. From there we can simply hope that, in the future, another massacre like this will never again occur.
Liked it
-
-
-
Post CommentEdRoberts
On January 3, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The logic baffles me. Canada was at war with Turkey; what more did you expect? Canada sent their sons to die – now, you, dear author, think they should have done more – wise up.
In WWII, the Japanese committed terrible war crimes against China, we did not send an army into China – we did what we had to do, we defeated Japan.
Zordaine (Author)
On January 6, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Please give me a more detailed account of how and why the logic baffles you. Throughout WWI, Canadian soldiers were discriminated against, put at the front lines, given poor machinery and guns, etc. by their British counterparts. WWI was militarism at its peak: the Allies tried to win by sheer force of numbers. Instead of having the MOST soliders, we should have had the BEST strategy. This way, we could have saved the lives of tens of thousands of Canadian soldiers, sent them off to Armenia to, in turn, save the lives of Armenian innocents.
Wise up, you say? Insulting me will do nothing. Please give me a logical and detailed arguement to make your point instead of this meaningless blather.
And the last time I checked, this report was NOT on Japanese war crimes against China. I don’t see how what you’re saying is relevant.
kyle sparrow
On May 26, 2009 at 3:06 pm
im sorry but what you know about te war is preety flawed, canada was given by far the crappiest guns but that was just becaues of profiteering by the canadian government, many solders boots had cardbord insoles. but canadas troops were not sent to the frontlines to be cannon fodder. canada played a very valuable role we acomplished things the combined might of the french and english could not, ever heard of vimy ridge canad took that in several days while the british and other allies had falied several times over months