When the Turkish authorities gave the orders for these deportations, they were merely giving the death warrant to a whole race; they understood this well, and, in their conversations with me, they made no particular attempt to conceal the fact… I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the enormity of the atrocities committed against the Armenian people during the deportations of 1915.
Henry Morgenthau, Sr. reflects on the systematic deportation and annihilation of the Armenian people by Turkish authorities, characterizing it as a significant and unprecedented tragedy in human history. He emphasizes the intentional nature of these actions and the profound suffering endured by the Armenian race, suggesting that such acts of genocide overshadow past atrocities and have left an indelible mark on human history.
In practice
During a speech about human rights, one could reference this quote to underline the importance of remembering historical injustices.
As a people, our monuments never commemorate victories. They commemorate the names of the fallen. We don't need the Arc de Triomphe; we have Masada, Tel-Hai, and the Warsaw Ghetto - where the battle was lost, but the war of Jewish existence was won.
One thing 'not right' on the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches is the sad fact that the Edmund Pettus Bridge hasn't been renamed the John Lewis Bridge.
Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are believed to be true.
The story of the African-American people is the story of the settlement and growth of America itself, a universal tale that all people should experience.
History is about great forces, yes, but also about contingency.
The white men told lies for each other. They drove off a great many of our cattle. Some branded our young cattle so they could claim them.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.