Resolved: That the United States should recognize the Armenian Genocide

Genocide denial enables future genocidesThe ongoing Turkish denial of the Armenian Genocide will make future genocides more likely. Dr. Gregory Stanton noted that there are 7 stages of genocide [1]: "The first is Classification, when we classify the world into us versus them. The second is Symbolization, when we give names to those classifications like Jew and Aryan, Hutu and Tutsi, Turk and Armenian. Sometimes the symbols are physical, like the Nazi yellow star. The third is Dehumanization, when perpetrators call their victims rats, or cockroaches, cancer, or disease; so eliminating them is actually seen as “cleansing” the society, rather than murder. The fourth is Organization, when hate groups, armies, and militias organize. The fifth is Polarization, when moderates are targeted who could stop the process, especially moderates from the perpetrators’ group. The sixth stage is Preparation, when the perpetrators are trained and armed, victims are identified, transported and concentrated. The seventh stage is Extermination, what we legally define as genocide, the intentional destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. "The evidence that genocide denial enables future genocides is shown in Darfur and with ISIS. The same genocidal tactics used by the Ottomans are the same that are being used in Darfur, ISIS, et al. [2]. 2. Harms of DenialGenocide denial is harmful to the victims, survivors, and the perpetrators of the crime. By continuing to deny genocides and refusing to recognizing the genocide, we are essentially endorsing the Armenian Genocide and allowing Turkey to bully us into denying history. When speaking before the Israeli Kenesset on a similar resolution, Elderstein declared: "We must not ignore, belittle or deny this terrible genocide. We must disconnect the current interests, bound to this time and place, and the difficult past, of which this dark chapter is a part. Let us not remain indifferent, even belatedly, to the suffering of the Armenians,” Preserving the memory of the Armenian genocide is important for everyone as human beings, as those who have moral responsibility and who strive constantly to improve and fix the world and society. ” [3] Indeed, denial of genocide harms the victims, survivors, and the perpetrators. Dr. Stanton note that genocide denial destroys the victims group both psychologically and culturally, denies them of memory of murders of loved ones, does not give them a chance to heal on all levels. Furthermore, with no Transitional Justice, there is no recognition of the crimes the perpetrators committed. This may create hatred or spark old tensions. [1] Finally, those involved with the prepetration gets away with their crime. Genocide scholars have noted that denial of past genocide is one of the key indicators of future ones and deniers within the country are three times more likely to help commit the crimes [4]. ConclusionWe cannot trivialize past genocides and past attrocities. Doing so will make future genocides more likely. I turn it over to my opponent. The resolution is affirmed. Note: I wish to ask my opponent to wait as long as possible before posting his round 2 arguments. _______1. (. http://www.genocidewatch.org...) 2. (. http://anca.org...) 3. (. http://www.timesofisrael.com...) 4. (. http://www.un.org...)