April 24th

Yes, today is April 24th. Wondering what happened today in history? Take a look: April 24th.

You might have noticed that one of the items in the long list was the onset of the Armenian Genocide. Right. So all good Armenians have to be outraged and righteous about the Armenian Genocide today.

And you know, as far as it goes, they're right too. Yes, there was genocide, yes the evidence is overwhelming (no, I'm not going to link to the "proof" here. Proof isn't like that). And from what I understand, it was pretty horrible too. Genocides are like that.

But listen Armenians: get over it already. A lot of people, had suffered much the same before, a lot of people have suffered much the same after.

And please don't give me the it was the "first genocide of the century" crap. If it had been the second, would that have made it better?

So like I said, get over it already. Really. You're just making matters worse for yourself and everyone around you. You're using it as a crutch.

Worse, you've turned into a political issue. You've made it into a matter of partisan politics in far away and irrelevant countries like the France, the U.S. and Canada. What the hell do these places have to do with Anatolia?

This just cheapens the whole thing. Since when politicians or bureaucrat get to decide what's true? What the hell are you doing asking for them to weigh in on the question? Face it: most these guys couldn't find Anatolia on the map. Any opinions they have is for domestic or strategic reasons so what they say doesn't really matter.

And what, your going to get the Modern state of Turkey to acknowledge what happened and apologize like this? With pressure? That would be funny if it wasn't pathetic.

First, Turks are every little bit as stubborn and intractable as Armenians. Notice how you can't make an Armenian do something he doesn't want to by threatening him, no matter with what? Well, that's the way Turks are too. Just like us, proud and stubborn. Good luck pressuring them.

Second, when I was a kid, my parents used to make me apologize for all kinds of things that I didn't think was wrong. But since I didn't think I was in the wrong, I never meant the apologies. I never could understand what they got out of that then, so, even if it was possible to make Turkey apologize, I can't understand what Armenians would get out of a forced apology now.

I'm not saying forget the whole thing, I'm just saying that blaming people and forcing an appology at this point is misguided. The The reality is that, just like the victims, almost everyone who was remotely guilty of anything is dead now.

It's over. They got away with it. Too bad. Life's like that. Grow up. Move on.

The problem isn't one of recognition, it's one of education and recociliation.

And in this Turks are Armenians' partners not enemies.