It’s remarkable to look back as reactions to past genocides and see how little has changed today. In his book “The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response,” Peter Balakian reveals one of the first international human rights movements that took place a century ago in response to the Armenian Genocide.
The “Save Armenia” movement of a century ago looks a lot like the “Save Darfur” movement of today. Back then, letter writing campaigns targeted politicians. Many people called for military intervention. Brave journalists went on the ground to show the world the face of genocide. Massive fundraising and humanitarian aid programs were launched to feed and clothe the survivors of genocide. And also like today, political squabbling and “national interests” kept the powerful nations of the world from helping the victims.
If you have any interest in either the Armenian Genocide (for which this book is a good introductory history) or the history of human rights activism in the United States, then I urge you to read “The Burning Tigris.”
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