Regrettable Retrogression

By Henry D. Astarjian MD, 4 June 2015

A gail force psychological energy is gusting through Armenian Nation these days, creating national and international havoc. Massive number of Armenians took to the streets, churches, cathedrals, Congress and Parliaments to commemorate the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered by the Turks from 1915-1923.

Armenian lobbyists and organizations had worked diligently and for a long time to sensitize governments and global powers to recognize the Genocide, a crime against humanity.

For a century, many governments, for their own reasons, had looked the other way, appeasing Turkey, by not calling the slaughter Genocide.

By Henry D. Astarjian MD, 4 June 2015

A gail force psychological energy is gusting through Armenian Nation these days, creating national and international havoc. Massive number of Armenians took to the streets, churches, cathedrals, Congress and Parliaments to commemorate the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered by the Turks from 1915-1923.

Armenian lobbyists and organizations had worked diligently and for a long time to sensitize governments and global powers to recognize the Genocide, a crime against humanity.

For a century, many governments, for their own reasons, had looked the other way, appeasing Turkey, by not calling the slaughter Genocide.

Now, through the persistent, and exhaustive efforts of Armenians, a number of important states in the West have called the massive, planned, and deliberate extermination of a race, Genocide.  They could have done that decades ago, but they didn’t. Other geopolitical conditions, similar to the present, were a factor in their indifference, but that is off the limits of this writing, at this time.

Preparations for this display of Armenian solidarity had taken a long time, occupying the imagination of the youth and the elderly, thus deviating the energies and actions from vital subjects detrimental to the very existence of the Armenian Cause.

In cities and countries around the world the massive demonstrations, protests and seminars, lectures, and panel discussions, speeches and rallies were executed flawlessly. All incriminatory fingers were pointed towards Turkey, the occupier of the Ottoman Caliphate mantel.

In some areas carnival, and in others pseudo-carnival atmosphere prevailed. Armenians of every faith, denomination, and political affiliation, inebriated with what is considered to be a victory over Turkey, celebrated the Genocide Centenary with variable feelings; some mourned their loved ones, some considered the commemorations revenge.

Two major noteworthy events glued me to my monitor: that of the Vatican celebrations, and that of the National Cathedral in Washington. I thought I was watching a Cecil B. DeMille movie. The majesty of Saint Peter Basilica provided the background to an imperial celebration of a mass led by the Pope who looked like the poor brother of gold-bedecked and decorated, royally attired Armenian Catholicosi, one of whom had a diamond-studded cross sewn onto his miter. The president of Armenia, the secular head of Armenia stood there, or sat at the sidelines in a well-cut suit. There was a brilliant Armenian choir, which showed the world the musical excellence of Armenians.

From the pulpit, the Catholicosi preached the concept of Christian brotherly love among Churches, additionally there was demand of return of the original seat of the Catholicosate of Sis, which was confiscated by the Turks and exiled to Antelias, outside Beirut.