The Armenian Genocide: Why does it matter?

I’m writing this piece more as a reflection of my thoughts on the Armenian Genocide.

To this day, I meet people who do not know about the Armenian Genocide. Am I surprised? Not necessarily. A couple months ago, I wrote a speech connecting the significance of the Armenian Genocide to the greater issue of social justice. In doing so, it gave me a new perspective about the genocide and its true importance on people around the world — not just Armenians.

As Armenians, time and time again, we have heard of the stories of the massacre from survivors or children of survivors. We have heard of the death marches. We have heard of the rape of women and children. We have heard of the crying and screaming. The deportation. The brutal murder of more than 1.5 million Armenians.

As Armenians, year after year, we gather together on April 24th, the commencement of the Armenian Genocide, to commemorate the lives lost, but more importantly we gather to fight for justice. We unite as a people to remember our ancestors. We say things like “Never Forget”. “Baykar baykar minchev verch.” Why do we say these things? Why do we march? Why do we annoy our friends on social media with our incessant posts about the Armenian Genocide or the Armenian culture? Why don’t we just move on? After 100 years, isn’t it enough? Several times, people have told me, “Nerses, it’s been 100 years. Stop talking about the past. How many times are you going to talk and post about the Armenian Genocide? Move on.”

I get it. I get why these people get annoyed. However, as an Armenian, it is my contemporary obligation to be annoying — to continue talking about the Armenian Genocide — to continue advocating against its denial. If I stop talking about the genocide and the history of my people, the genocide will have succeeded and I will not let that happen.

This is my message to my Armenian brothers and sisters. Keep talking about the Armenian Genocide; talk about it more. Talk about it throughout the year. When you introduce yourself to someone new, bring up our history and our culture. Continue to educate. But don’t just talk about our history of genocide. Talk about how the Armenian Genocide set the precedent for other nations to commit genocide. The mass killing of the Armenians gave a green light to those who committed the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, the Cambodian Genocide, the Bosnian Genocide, the Ukrainian Famine, the Darfur Genocide and many more. In fact, in the last century, over 100 million people have died to due genocide.

This is my message to all the non-Armenians reading this. The Armenian Genocide is not only a dark moment in Armenian history, it is a dark moment for humanity. The Armenian fight for justice is a fight that all of humanity should be involved in. As human beings, it is our collective obligation to seek the truth and to fight for the recognition of truth. It is not a fight that Armenians can fight alone. The Armenian Genocide should not be politicized. It is a human rights issue. It is an issue of justice. It is an issue that left unresolved will undoubtedly lead to more innocent lives lost.

In his statement released today, President Obama said “As we look from the past to the future, we continue to underscore the importance of historical remembrance as a tool of prevention, as we call for a full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts, which would serve the interests of all concerned.” Despite the fact that President Obama blatantly excludes the word “genocide” from his statement for the eight straight year, his argument about the importance of history is extremely important. If we forget, if we “move on”, this will be repeated.

This is my message to those around the world who deny the Armenian Genocide. We know the truth. YOU know the truth. The ongoing denial is only a sign that you are afraid to accept the truth. But why? The man who committed one of the greatest genocides, The Holocaust has admitted that the genocide did take place. Your denial makes you worse than Hitler. Your denial is a fight that can not and will not be won.

The truth is, Armenians HAVE moved on. We have revived a nation. We have revived millions of people. We have preserved our culture.

We never forget because we are champions for justice. 101 years since the commencement of the Armenian Genocide and we are still here. The Armenian Genocide matters not only for its historical importance, but for its effect on the present and future of all of humanity. I don’t fight for the past. I fight for the future. I fight so that we continue to remember. I fight so that what happened to my people does not happen to others around the world.

Friends, I ask that as human beings, my fight becomes your fight. Let’s fight for humanity.

Don’t stay silent. Never forget. Right the wrong. If people laugh at you because you want to change the world, keep fighting. You will win. Your fight will matter.

One hundred and one years later — WE STILL MATTER!