Political Quotes

“we have just passed the Armenian genocide resolution recognition. It is fitting and appropriate that the Senate stands on the right side of history in doing so. It commemorates the truth of the Armenian genocide. On Monday, we commemorated the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the victims of the crime of genocide and of the prevention of this crime. The UN General Assembly established this day of remembrance to commemorate and honor the victims of genocide and highlight efforts to combat and prevent genocide. Passing this resolution is a fitting tribute to this day of remembrance. I have come to the floor on various occasions to talk about the history of the Armenian genocide. An Armenian priest, Krikoris Balakian, recorded some of the massacres against the Armenians. He said: In Ankara and its surroundings, only a couple hundred miles east of Constantinople, the killing was done with ``axes, cleavers, shovels, and pitchforks.'' It was like a slaughterhouse; Armenians were hacked to pieces . . . infants were dashed on rocks before the eyes of their mothers. It was indescribable horror. Even when Armenians were supposedly deported, the conditions they were forced to live in made clear that Turkey's ultimate goal was to eliminate the Armenian people. A visitor to one Turkish city in October of 1915 wrote: ``The 16,000 deported Armenians who were living in the tents have been sent to Konia in cattle trucks.…”