Promises are an important symbol of trust. They must be made, and they must be kept. We learn this on the playground in kindergarden, and the knowledge stays with us all our lives. What then, compels someone to break a promise? Usually it is a selfish reason, though sometimes it is to protect someone you love. Does is make a difference if the promise-breaker is nine years old or forty-nine? Does is make a difference if the promise is made to a parent or best friend, or to an entire nation? Most importantly, is a promise a promise, whether it deals with candy, lunch dates, money or human lives?
I respect Barak Obama. Were I an American citizen, I would likely have voted for him in the 2009 election, and celebrated when he won. However, in the past year I have questioned whether or not he is who he advertised himself to be. The most recent example of a test in my faith came when I read an article from The Independant.
This article outlined the Armenian genocide; it spoke of the horrendous acts, the thousands of deaths, and the subsequent denial of the Turkish government that genocide was ever committed. It then moved on to discuss the re-opening of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, which was planned to happen without the President of Armenia, Serg Sarkissian, demanding that Turkey acknowledge the genocide.
Serg Sarkissian promised his people that he would demand that Turkey admit they committed genocide. He broke this promise in order to open the door to new trade concessions and possible oil trades. Ask any 5 year-old out there, and they will tell you the standard rules of promises: Make it, don't break it. And that's only a promise of a turn on the slide, or half a brownie at lunch. This promise concerned the honouring of the deaths of thousands of innocents, the displacement of thousands more, and all the atrocities commited against an ethnic group. It was shamelessly broken.
Now we come back to Obama. He, I learned, promised the Armenian electors that he would openly acknowledge the genocide should he win the election. Surprisingly - or not - once elected he refused to even use the word "genocide". How else, Mr President, would you describe the brutal murders and ethnic cleansing that took place? I myself can see no other way. Those who deny there is sufficient evidence only have to ask for it, and it shall be provided by the multitudes of descendants of victims of the genocide, and foreign soldiers who witnessed the atrocities. Barak Obama, widely respected leader of the most powerful nation in the world, shirked his duty to the truth, and failed to honour his promise. I feel let down, and I'm not even Armenian.
So it must be concluded that promises are promises, and once made should not be broken. Whether they are large-scale or small, whether the dishonouring of them will upset millions, or just one. My elders have always advised me not to make promises I cannot keep; maybe some of our world leaders should follow this wise advice.
I respect Barak Obama. Were I an American citizen, I would likely have voted for him in the 2009 election, and celebrated when he won. However, in the past year I have questioned whether or not he is who he advertised himself to be. The most recent example of a test in my faith came when I read an article from The Independant.
This article outlined the Armenian genocide; it spoke of the horrendous acts, the thousands of deaths, and the subsequent denial of the Turkish government that genocide was ever committed. It then moved on to discuss the re-opening of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, which was planned to happen without the President of Armenia, Serg Sarkissian, demanding that Turkey acknowledge the genocide.
Serg Sarkissian promised his people that he would demand that Turkey admit they committed genocide. He broke this promise in order to open the door to new trade concessions and possible oil trades. Ask any 5 year-old out there, and they will tell you the standard rules of promises: Make it, don't break it. And that's only a promise of a turn on the slide, or half a brownie at lunch. This promise concerned the honouring of the deaths of thousands of innocents, the displacement of thousands more, and all the atrocities commited against an ethnic group. It was shamelessly broken.
Now we come back to Obama. He, I learned, promised the Armenian electors that he would openly acknowledge the genocide should he win the election. Surprisingly - or not - once elected he refused to even use the word "genocide". How else, Mr President, would you describe the brutal murders and ethnic cleansing that took place? I myself can see no other way. Those who deny there is sufficient evidence only have to ask for it, and it shall be provided by the multitudes of descendants of victims of the genocide, and foreign soldiers who witnessed the atrocities. Barak Obama, widely respected leader of the most powerful nation in the world, shirked his duty to the truth, and failed to honour his promise. I feel let down, and I'm not even Armenian.
So it must be concluded that promises are promises, and once made should not be broken. Whether they are large-scale or small, whether the dishonouring of them will upset millions, or just one. My elders have always advised me not to make promises I cannot keep; maybe some of our world leaders should follow this wise advice.
No comments:
Post a Comment