OPINION & EDITORIAL
Ethno-political lobbying anti-American
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Joe Trovato:
- Conservative voice needs recognition (November 9, 2007)
- Ethno-political lobbying anti-American (October 24, 2007)
- Ahmadinejad invite unpatriotic insult (September 26, 2007)
- Play ball now: UW deserves baseball (September 12, 2007)
- Personal responsibility lacking in U.S. (May 8, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Democrats' stance on war cowardly (February 22, 2007)
- In battle over funding, Dems have power, potential (October 30, 2007)
- Money corrupts government at all levels (October 18, 2006)
- National issues can wait: Act locally (September 5, 2007)
- Time capsules (May 7, 2002)
by Joe Trovato
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Ethno-political interest groups have long been a part of American politics, and their lobbying efforts have often forced self-interested legislation with no regard for the overall good of the country. Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi gave into such political lobbying efforts last week when she threw her support behind a House resolution aimed at labeling the deaths of Armenians a century ago at the hands of the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
Of course this lobbying goes beyond party lines, and all parties are equally guilty of playing this game. Unfortunately, these ethno-political interest groups have woven themselves seamlessly into American political culture. Is it not time to move beyond this? When will Americans simply be “Americans”? When will we stop referring to ourselves as African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Italian-Americans, German-Americans, Armenian-Americans and so on? It is time that we, as Americans, stand and say that we are Americans, one distinct group unto ourselves. These quasi-ethnic classifications just breed animosity and unnecessary division. All they do is reinforce differences between our fellow countrymen and put up walls that build stereotypes and lack of trust between ethnicities.
Very few of us who claim this hyphenated status of Americanism have ever even been to the country of our supposed ethnicity, yet somehow we still try to identify with it. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage, but most of us are several generations removed from the countries we claim to have direct connections to. What makes us distinctly American is that our ancestors have all come from different places. In this, our differences are what we have in common.
Ask an American what his or her ethnicity is and you will most likely get a laundry list of heritages the person claims to be. Why aren’t we simply Americans? This supposed ethnic pride that most of us, unless you or your parents were direct immigrants, have no real connection to, is partially responsible for the rise of ethno-political interest groups. These lobbying groups are largely self-serving, and they bridge both sides of the political aisle.
The detrimental nature of ethno-political lobbying on American politics manifested itself last week in the House committee resolution regarding the Armenian genocide. While Ms. Pelosi’s motivations behind advocating this legislation are unclear, the political ramifications could have been catastrophic for U.S. foreign policy and the U.S. military.
Conveniently, key Democrats in Congress, namely Ms. Pelosi, have brought up the
100-year-old question of whether or not the Ottomans committed genocide against the Armenians in World War I. Ms. Pelosi just so happens to have a large Armenian-American population in her constituency in California, which also has an ethno-political lobbying organization known as the Armenian Assembly of America. This lobbying group is now pushing for U.S. recognition of the genocide during the World War I, and in turn, the Democrats are using it as a political tool to push our forces out of Iraq. Pelosi is no doubt appeasing her Armenian-American constituents.
The goal here is a liberal attempt to destroy the important Turkish-American partnership that supports the American war effort in Iraq, and a key piece of the puzzle has manifested itself in ethno-political lobbying. Thus, in a way, an Armenian-American lobbying organization is attempting to dictate American foreign policy and destroy one of the few Muslim alliances the U.S. has in the Middle East.
The ramifications of an action such as this would be costly for American foreign policy in the region for years to come. Not only could this jeopardize the immediate support and supply of coalition forces in Iraq, it could also eliminate one of the few American allies in a region so vital to U.S. interests.
I don’t mean to single out liberals with this example. Conservatives are just as guilty of catering to ethno-political interests. This is merely a recent and relevant example of the power of these organizations. Conservatives have often yielded to Israeli-American lobbying interests, which has resulted in a strong Israeli-American alliance. This has had an untold number of consequences for our image and relations to the Arab world. Even if the U.S. wanted to withdraw its support from Israel, Israeli-American lobbying organizations would fight tirelessly to make sure that didn’t happen.
These are just a few examples of the influence of ethno-political lobbyists. The power wielded by these organizations is a scary, but unnecessary, evil. If Americans would put down their supposed ethnic allegiances and just consider themselves “Americans,” these organizations would be irrelevant and a much smaller threat to our political system.
Joseph Trovato (jtrovato@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in journalism and political science.
Anonymous (October 24, 2007 @ 3:58am):
Better yet, while the U.S. Congress tries to push this resolution on Turkey, Armenia refuses to open its archives, the U.S., England, France and Russia also continue to conceal historical evidence concerning events that occurred in southeastern Anatolia during WWI. How's that for justice? Turkey's archives are open and publicly available.
There a number of third party historians such as such as Bernard Lewis, Pierre Oberling, Dankwart Rostow, Stanford Shaw, Justin McCarthy, Norman Stone, Guenther Lewy, Heath Lowry, and Avigdor Levy who all conclude no genocide occurred. But the Armenian Diaspora, ever wary of free speech concerning this issue, just resorts to calling them liars. Yes, all these esteemed and acknowledged experts in Ottoman history are liars, whereas those in the Armenian Diaspora who are hoping to collect money and land--they're not biased at all.
If Armenians are so convinced a genocide occurred, why do they hide their archives? What's in there that they're so afraid of? Their own plans to ethnically cleanse southeast Anatolia of all Muslims and form a racially pure Armenian state?
I see the U.S. Congress now values passing criminal indictments with half the facts concealed--a new American value. Sounds more like a much larger ethnic group is tyrannizing a much smaller one. Doesn't really give rise to a lot of sympathy, especially when that larger ethnic group is concealing half the facts.
Edic Edic (October 24, 2007 @ 4:28am):
This an immoral act from a part of the media to abuse H. Res. 106 (Armenian Genocide) to attack Speaker Pelosi and US Congress.
The problem is , Turkey has managed to blackmail US and to create panic in White House by blackmailing and using the US media.
President Bush did wrong as he attacked US Congress openly on H. Res. 106, while this was asked by politicians in Ankara to do so! This was nothing but a trap.
Why should the "partnership" of US with Turkey be build on the foundation of lies and denial ? this is the denial of Armenian Genocide (for another more 85 years) and "Kurdish issue" by Turkey".
Turkey is acting more and more like a failed state.
.
Denying the Armenian Genocide is denying a part of American history. Because many American diplomats, US organisation not only tried to stop this genocide but they save as much "Armenian live" as possible in 1915-1923. By passing H. Res. 106 US Congress is going to pay its respect to those courageous Americans too. There is much talk about "Turkish pride" , maybe the H. Res. 106 is Americas pride!. This is not a question of timing, there is never the wrong time to tell the truth. US didn't have only "abo grabh"! Moral freedom, justice are American values too. Turkey has to understand this!
The routs from East Turkey to North Iraq goes through home land of those Armenians who were subject of a Genocide. Even many military facilities which Turkey is renting to US is built in Turkey on the home land of Armenians , who are in H. Res. 106 talked about. Many Armenians refuges had found in Iraq a second home land and hope after the Armenian genocide. There new home land and hope is destroyed again by a new war . US media makes no mention of this facts, while attacking US congress on H. Res. 106.
The problem is not the timing but "partnership" which US and Israel have built with TURKEY on the foundation of denial of Armenian genocide. Therefore it seems there will be never the right time to pas a House Resolution on Armenian Genocide, as it was in the past never the right time for this.
David Urman (October 24, 2007 @ 12:34pm):
Although the House should not pass the Armenian genocide resolution because of potentially serious geopolitical implications, attacking the efforts of Armenian-Americans and other ethno-political interest groups as "anti-American" is nefarious and shameful. There can't be a better expression of being an "American" than exercising one's democratic rights! Instead of casting out Armenian-Americans for opprobrium, condemn the Turkish government for their continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Anonymous (October 24, 2007 @ 1:33pm):
Ever think that Armenian-Americans have family back home, and might want to support their well-being?
In your next column, are you going to argue that the pro-Israel lobby is anti-American? Because they benefit not from non-binding resolutions, but billions in aid. But I'm kind of doubting you would be that consistent.
Anonymous (October 24, 2007 @ 2:28pm):
Here's the problem: Armenian-Americans
Why not just Americans?
What's up with this country and the dual-citizenship mindset?
C'mon, assimilate already!
Anonymous (October 24, 2007 @ 3:50pm):
I want to see a resolution concerning the shameful treatment of the Anglo-Saxons by the Normans after 1066!
Anonymous (October 24, 2007 @ 10:23pm):
With regards to the Israeli-American lobby, Jews make up a small fraction of the pro-Israel population. Weren't you here last year when evangelical Christians held their "Night to Honor Israel"? With regards to the statement that our relationship with Israel hurts our relations with Arab nations, I ask you: Who do Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia consider their best ally? If it weren't for U.S. dollars keeping those governments afloat they would turn Islamist.
Anonymous (October 25, 2007 @ 12:22am):
hey 1:33 this non-binding resolution support someone back home? and by back home do you mean San Francisco where all these people are from? this is the mentality thats so pathetic in america...we act like our ancestral "homeland" is our home. Most of these lobbyists have probably never even been to armenia...and I'm pretty sure the author calls out the Israelis too...hes claiming that all these lobby groups are anti-american
Anonymous (October 25, 2007 @ 12:33am):
There is a legitimate historical controversy concerning the interpretation of the events in question and most of the scholars who have propounded a contra genocide viewpoint are of the highest calibre and repute, including Bernard Lewis, Stanford Shaw, David Fromkin, Justin McCarthy, Guenther Lewy, Norman Stone, Kamuran Gürün, Michael Gunter, Gilles Veinstein, Andrew Mango, Roderic Davidson, J.C. Hurwitz, William Batkay, Edward J. Erickson and Steven Katz.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. A good number of well-respected scholars recognize the deportation decision in 1915, taken under World War I conditions, as a security measure to stop the Armenians from co-operating with the foreign forces invading Anatolia.
On the legal aspect, the elements of the genocide crime are strictly defined and codified by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Genocide, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1948. However, Armenians, claiming that "the evidence is so overwhelming", so far have failed to submit even one credible evidence of genocide.
__________________________________________________
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
