Pope to mark 100th anniversary of Armenia WW1 killings

[Brett Fitz]

Last edited Mon Apr 13, 2015, 01:04 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: BBC News

Pope Francis is to mark the 100th anniversary of the mass killings of Armenians under Ottoman rule in WW1 at a church service in Rome.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will be attending the ceremony which is being held to honour a 10th century Armenian mystic.

The mass deportation of Armenians in 1915 remains a highly sensitive issue.

Turkey denies Armenian claims that up to 1.5 million people were killed and that it constituted an act of genocide.

The dispute has continued to sour relations between the two countries.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32272604

[LeftInTX]

1. As an Armenian, who's family died in the genocide, I find your sarcasm misplaced

It's a very serious solemn time about remembering our loved ones who were killed. It's a very emotional time.

I'm glad that you posted the article.

It is the 100th anniversary of: My family being uprooted, my being deported and forced to walk from the mountains in Anatolia down to the Syrian desert. My grandmother was granted an interview by the National Endowment of the Humanities to document her experience and it was horrendous. It was genocide. Her grandparents and baby sister died the same day. They had no idea what to do with the bodies. She is sent to a concentration camp in Syria. The conditions were deplorable. Two of her other sisters died. She saw so many people die. I'm glad she survived.



Were any gay? They didn't even date heterosexually. All marriages were arranged. Dating wasn't allowed.

[MBS]

2. Thank you.

This was indeed a horrendous moment in history, and I'm glad the pope is bringing attention to that moment.

[freshwest]

3. Thanks... I don't know where that came from. I've known Armenians

who have told me their stories. It was indeed horrific, affecting many generations. And I'm glad the pope is saying something about that genocide.

[Gregorian]

4. As an Armenian descendant, I personally have suffered from this holocaust.

I'm glad to see this being discussed.

[BuddhaGirl]

5. My ex husband is Armenian and I came to really appreciate

the culture and history of the Armenians.

This is a positive move by the Pope and I'm so glad to hear of it. Thank you for sharing!

[Pooka Fey]

6. Thank you. My professor of viola was Armenian

He is one of the most gifted musicians I've ever had the privilege of knowing, and one of the most humble. I'll never forget a performance of Bach that he gave. He had studied in Germany, and also in Russia, before coming to the USA. He spoke English, Russian, German and Armenian. He was also an excellent pianist, and violinist.

I am so glad that Pope Francis is speaking out about the Armenian genocide. This is a very serious and solemn time

[LeftInTX]

9. Thanks for understanding

[DinahMoeHum]

7. Your attempt at sarcasm at the end is an EPIC FAIL. . .

. . .and I say this as an American of Armenian descent whose grandparents on both sides of the family came to these shores as genocide survivors/refugees.

[eissa]

10. Both my family and in-laws were also affected by the genocide

Assyrians and Pontic Greeks were also caught up in the killing sprees by Turkish and Kurdish henchmen. My side was forced out of their ancestral villages in the Hakkari region and ended up in Urmi, Iran, while my in-laws escaped from Mardin into the Syrian desert. Most of those who were forced to flee didn't survive. My grandmother's sister was kidnapped, most of my mother-in-law's family was murdered along the way by snipers.

So glad this Pope has balls (which is more than I can say for our government) and doesn't cave to Turkey's threats and tantrums. Recognize it, already. If the person who coined the term "genocide" refers to this occurrence as a "genocide," then IT'S GENOCIDE.

"If the man who coined the term "genocide" is on tape stating verbatim that it happened 'to the Armenians,' why on Earth can't the United States formally recognize the Armenian Genocide?"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/the-united-states-should-_2_b_7053052.html

[ripcord]

11. Turkey has recalled its ambassador to the Vatican

They were upset because the Pope came right out and said it was genocide.