Recently, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a resolution addressing the genocide of more than 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The resolution, introduced by Senator Robert Menendez and intended to nationally recognize the massacres that took place 99 years ago, must be voted upon by the Senate before it can move forward.

Despite the existence of several official US documents that already refer to the events in 1915 as ‘genocide’ and commemorative declarations by 43 states, supporters have made multiple attempts in the past to advance similar initiatives at the highest levels of government. Yet the course this new legislation will take is predictable. After giving Armenian-Americans false hope of national acknowledgment by a world power and angering the Turkish government, which invests significant resources to spread its denialist propaganda regarding the events, the resolution will most likely be defeated. Turkish leaders have already condemned this Committee’s actions and have threatened to sever ties with the United States.

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In the meantime, people all over the world, regardless of their ethnic background, take action without relying on governmental bureaucratic dealings. Being Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month, April becomes a month of commemoration and education about the Armenian Genocide as well as the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide and others. Events remembering victims are organized, but so is celebration of survivors who rebuilt communities and heroes who rescued thousands of people from imminent death. These events might prove to be more influential than passing a resolution, since education about mass violence and the ability of individuals to stand up to such crimes can contribute to prevention of future tragedies. 

Thus, we should continue to support organizations and individuals who emphasize the resilience of the human spirit by spreading conversation about those who resisted and those who put their own lives at risk to save victims.

Yet in an attempt to commemorate past tragedies, we must not treat them as isolated incidents that solely impacted victim groups and thus only concern those of the given background. Genocide is a human calamity that becomes part of the history of all nations whether they choose to be involved or not. While the American government juggles the issues of the Armenian Genocide today, it was at the forefront of rescue efforts in 1915. 

By establishing committees for relief, such as the Near East Relief Foundation, it sent significant resources that saved Armenians and other victims. Through their work in the Ottoman Empire, American politicians, such as Henry Morgenthau, and missionaries, advocated for the Christians that were being massacres while doing everything in their power to save lives. In the meantime, prominent American newspapers such as the New York Times, the Washington Post and others covered the tragedy in the Middle East on a regular basis. This is why we must highlight the shared history between Armenians and Americans to show that the United States government is also commemorating a part of its history while recognizing the Genocide.

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Similarly, we must combat denial, not by incessantly highlighting the brutality of the killings or the number of the victims in the Ottoman Empire, but by showing that Turkish history is also marked by heroes who resisted the Genocide and saved innocent lives. There were many ordinary Turks, as well as dignitaries, such as Turkish politician Mehmet Celal Bey, who saved their Armenian compatriots while risking their careers and lives. By denying the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish government does not solely cover up its ancestors crimes; it also erases the memory of the brave Turks who stood up against mass violence and destruction.

So despite what American senators or President Obama will decide to call the Armenian Genocide, or any other crimes against humanity, ordinary people can continue to educate future generations about genocide and support causes that will influence understanding and tolerance.

Reach Contributor Roza Petrosyan here.