Freedom Loving French Repeal Freedom of Speech
The French have done it. It is unbelievable, but the French have actually passed a bill outlaweing denial of the so-called Armenian genocide. In a 106-19 vote the French parliament passed the bill punishing denial of the so-called genocide with up to a year in jail and a 45,000 Euro fine. A last minute proposal that would exempt historians, scientists, and academics from the penalties was not passed, thus meaning that academic debate on this issue is closed. That is correct, apparently the French government has the right to close debate on academic issues. Can't wait until they decide who wins the evolution vs. creationism debate (Armenian genocide claim is kinda like creationism, there is no proof but a lot of people want to believe it).
There is also a law in Turkey that can punish someone for claiming there was a genocide, another law which I am against. It is interesting that France has been the most outspoken critic of this law, yet they decided to respond with basically the same law except taking the other side. The fact is, now the French can no longer legitimately claim superiority. There is no more freedom of speech in France than there is in Turkey.
I think it is riduculous for legislative bodies to decide academic debates like history. The fact is, there are many historians and academics who do not believe the relocation events involving Armenians during WWI were a genocide. Many American scholars are of this opinion, including Bernard Lewis who created controversy by saying, "The issue is not whether the massacres happened or not, but rather if these massacres were as a result of a deliberate preconcieved decision of the Turkish government," and that "there is no evidence for such a decision."
Lastly, while I don't believe the genocide happened myself, I'm not going to discount that possibility yet. Not all the facts are known as of now and many academics are still in disagreement. I think it is premature to end the debate way France is attempting to. I think history should be decided by the historians, not politicians who maybe took one Western Civ. class or French History class in college.
There is also a law in Turkey that can punish someone for claiming there was a genocide, another law which I am against. It is interesting that France has been the most outspoken critic of this law, yet they decided to respond with basically the same law except taking the other side. The fact is, now the French can no longer legitimately claim superiority. There is no more freedom of speech in France than there is in Turkey.
I think it is riduculous for legislative bodies to decide academic debates like history. The fact is, there are many historians and academics who do not believe the relocation events involving Armenians during WWI were a genocide. Many American scholars are of this opinion, including Bernard Lewis who created controversy by saying, "The issue is not whether the massacres happened or not, but rather if these massacres were as a result of a deliberate preconcieved decision of the Turkish government," and that "there is no evidence for such a decision."
Lastly, while I don't believe the genocide happened myself, I'm not going to discount that possibility yet. Not all the facts are known as of now and many academics are still in disagreement. I think it is premature to end the debate way France is attempting to. I think history should be decided by the historians, not politicians who maybe took one Western Civ. class or French History class in college.
posted by Semih Aydin at 8:25 AM
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