William C. Baker: “today I join my colleagues and the Armenian community worldwide in commemorating the Armenian genocide--the deliberate…”

“today I join my colleagues and the Armenian community worldwide in commemorating the Armenian genocide--the deliberate and systematic annihilation of over 1.5 million Armenians, perpetrated during the years of 1915 to 1923. There are those who question the importance of remembering a crime that happened some 79 years ago. However, it is this indifference today can lead to the repetition of these heinous crimes tomorrow. History has already proven this fact. Prior to Hitler's invasion of Poland, when asked about his intended treatment of the Jewish population, Hitler justified the ``final solution'' by asking, ``After all, who remembers the Armenians?'' The genocide of the Kurds in Iraq, the genocide of the Cambodians by the Khmer Rhouge, the Jewish Holocaust--each remind us of the horrifying genocide of the Armenians. As we pause to reflect upon this grievous example of man's inhumanity to man, let us strengthen our conviction that such atrocities never be repeated.”