I apologize to Armenians

[Neecy]

I questioned how many campaign promises President Obama has broken to Armenians - and it turns out they have a legitimate gripe, too.

WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—If President Obama’s plan were to completely alienate Armenian Americans in the first year of his presidency, it’s safe to say he has reached his goal in record time.

Two weeks after betraying his campaign promise to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, Obama broke yet another promise to Armenian Americans who had staunchly supported him during his presidential campaign—he tilted the military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan in favor of the latter, and proposed allocating less aid to Armenia than it received in 2008.

The two Armenian American groups—the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Armenian Assembly—that for years have struggled against genocide denial and for—at least—an even-handed approach to Armenia and Azerbaijan, issued strongly worded statements expressing their disappointment over the Obama’s most recent betrayal of promise.

But little has been written about the community’s disappointment and outrage over what it views as the continuous stream of blows from the Obama Administration in recent weeks.

http://www.hairenik.com/weekly/2009/05/12/obama-alienates-armenian-americans/

Maybe Obama should apologize to Armenians, too - since it's been pointed out that he might have been responding to the small Armenian protest in the midst of the many LBGT protesters.

[EFerrari]

1. Well done, Neecy.

:hug:

[ronnykmarshall]

2. Bravo!

[stillcool]

3. There were also protesters..

from ANSWER and Code Pink. He should apologize to them as well.
edit to add the video from Kos
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/28/736393/-Obama-Doesnt-Mock-Gay-Rights-Protestors-at-CA-Fundraiser

[Howardx]

4. watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvOTxWiFdMU

and tell me you dont think what obama heard was the armenian guy with a bullhorn chanting "obama keep your promise"

[Neecy]

8. I'm sure a lot of people were shouting for him to keep his promise

And now I think he should apologize to Armenians for making light of their legitimate grievances - don't you?

[Howardx]

9. i think he should honor his promise to them

end of story.

[JuniperLea]

12. I think he was making fun of himself for making so many promises...

He didn't make light. In fact, if you read what he said, he was saying he was happy to see people keeping him honest.

[ColbertWatcher]

20. He was happy to see people keeping him honest, yet ...

... single-payer isn't being considered.

I'm sure a few single-payer advocates were trying to get the President's attention yesterday in LA, too.

[JuniperLea]

23. It's not over 'til it's over

I find it highly disturbing that I, the person with the least patience, is somehow a voice of patience. Highly, deeply, and seriously disturbing.

[ColbertWatcher]

30. Meh.

Perhaps you can explain how pointing out something Obama said is being impatient.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. k+r, n/t

[HughMoran]

6. As an Armenian, I'm not that upset

I argued that the Armenian genocide be recognized when Bush was in office and was slammed to the ground by dozens of DUers who said that Turkey would retaliate against the Kurds. Well, Armenians and Kurds do have a lot in common, but I know what it's like to argue for an issue that is unpopular one day on DU, popular the next (don't you know it's all about what's politically expedient.)

[ColbertWatcher]

11. I'm not Armenian, but I think Obama shouldn't have promised what he did ...

... about recognizing the genocide and then not doing so.

I'm not as fully informed as most about it, but I recognize that Turkey has a problem admitting what happened and are very sensitive about hearing the g-word.

Nevertheless, I think it was genocide and await a time when an American president can simply come out and say so.

[JuniperLea]

13. With people dying daily...

And people losing their jobs daily, and banks failing daily, and street rat crazy dictators shooting off bombs, perhaps we could cut him a little slack for taking a bit of time before hitting every single mark he made.

He never promised to do it all day one, or day 100.

[Howardx]

14. "He never promised to do it all day one, or day 100."

EXACTLY

[Neecy]

15. actually, no.

He promised to do something and then turned around and did the opposite - and he had TIME to do the opposite, even with people losing their jobs daily, banks, etc.

[JuniperLea]

16. What did he do that was opposite?

I keep asking, and no one seems to be able to answer.

[Neecy]

18. did you read the article in the OP?

[ColbertWatcher]

17. He apologized to Nancy Reagan, he can apologize for this. n/t

[HughMoran]

26. I agree

Knowing that there was not support for doing this just a couple of years ago, he should not have even mentioned this during the campaign.

[ColbertWatcher]

31. And, after watching the video posted in #4 (hope it doesn't disappear) ...

... it's sad that the President "vaguely" heard them.

I know he's got that bullet-proof car and all, but damn, where's the staff on this?

I didn't expect him to know who would be protesting before he arrived, but I'd be shocked to find out if he still didn't know today.

[HughMoran]

32. If he reads DU, he'll never acknowledge protesters in any way

...ever again. It's rare that Presidents even acknowledge protesters, never mind lightly suggest that he "likes that" - which I genuinely think he does.

[ColbertWatcher]

34. LOL! I doubt he reads DU!

But, now that you mention it, I can't remember when a President did acknowledge protesters.

Of course, I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday, so there's that.

[Gregorian]

24. Hello fellow Armenian!

I had to google to find out how to spell inch beses. Haha. So much for knowing my heritage.


It's pathetic that something so monstrous could be so minimized. It was horrendous. But not many know about it. I feel like you do. But I would like to see this get wide recognition.

[HughMoran]

28. You even have the "ian" in your ID

So, you must be Armenian. :) I don't speak a word either, though I've heard my mom and her family say inch beses many times over the years (and a lot of other strange sounding words.) I believe that the recognition will happen sooner or later. I sometimes have to point out to my Jewish relatives that "um, we Armenians were massacred as well"

[Liberal Veteran]

7. I thought he was responding to that Roman Catholic Priestess.

Silly me.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LooseWilly]

19. Wha'?

This OP seemed to be a very evenhanded acknowledgment of a misunderstanding many of us here made. When I saw the posts about the comment, I admit I assumed he was making fun of LGBT outrage. I had no idea about Armenian issues... and I was very intrigued to have the OP correct me on an issue that I was apparently genuinely wrong about.

Isn't being able to admit that you're wrong a sign of growing up?

I'll admit I was wrong... was looking at the whole issue through a particular "lens"/"point of view" which blinded me to an entirely different point of view.

What growing up are we talking about? I assume you're not telling Armenians to "grow up"...

[Bluebear]

21. 'Isn't being able to admit that you're wrong a sign of growing up?'

Not possible for a great many people, unfortunately.

[EFerrari]

22. Maybe the poster was just repeating a mantra.

[Starry Messenger]

25. Maybe it's from Psalms...

"The Lost Psalms of Grouchy the King"

[LooseWilly]

27. Om Mani Padme Grow Up... Om Mani Padme Grow Up...

[Neecy]

29. wow...saw this first

and thought they were lyrics to Padam, Padam by Edith Piaf.

[LooseWilly]

35. Hehe...

NamyohorenGrowUp seemed cumbersome...

[ProgressIn2008]

33. It's almost funny - the fans have to fight over which group thrown under the bus was protesting. nt

[HughMoran]

36. It really is funny that some take the "under the bus" view when all he did was wave

:)

[ColbertWatcher]

37. Here's the saddest part ...

That picture was taken http://obamasunkeptpromises.blogspot.com/2009/04/thousands-protest-obamas-retreat-from.html">April 28, 2009.

The visitor's counter is at 357.

They sure could have used some attention this week.

(I posted this as its own thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5741220&mesg_id=5741220 )