Apologies to the Armenians: Better Late than Never

Published December 16, 2008 @ 04:44PM PT

At least SOMEONE is issuing an apology to the Armenians.

An online petition was started by a group of Turkish academics and newspaper columnists--at great risk to themselves--to apologize for the genocide perpetrated against the Armenians in 1915, and to challenge official Turkish denial of the genocide. The statement reads:

"My conscience cannot accept the ignorance and denial of the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in 1915. I reject this injustice and - on my own behalf - I share the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers - and I apologize to them."

Over 5000 people have signed the petition thus far. The authors of the petition want to spark debate on the issue in Turkish society. Persistent denial of the genocide, by Turkey and much of the international community, has heaped insult upon injury (upon genocide) for the Armenian community for nearly over 90 years.

(Thanks to Martha for passing along the article.)

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Author

Michelle became involved in the anti-genocide cause at a young age, and has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns, ever since.