CNN Special: "Scream Bloody Murder" review

[Hovik]

I just got done watching the CNN special "Scream Bloody Murder". I had heard about it only about 5 times on NPR on my way to and from work today so I decided to watch. Christiane Amanpour of CNN created the report.

I feel that the film fell very very short in terms of describing the Armenian Genocide with the same detail and template if you will, with which the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur were covered. Armenia was given about 60 seconds in the beginning of the 2 hour program and was only referenced when Ms. Amanpour was describing where Rafael Lemkin came up with the word "Genocide". I give her credit for correctly pointing this out, but what happened after that? They flashed a handful of the NY Times news headlines accross the screen while telling about Lemkin's word, and that was it. I just now looked up the Armenian Reporter's recent interview with Ms. Amanpour where she responds to the interviewer's question about the Armenian content that "We actually didn't focus entirely on the Armenian Genocide", I am in shock, she used the word "entirely"! The AG was the red-headed stepchild of the whole program, is she nuts, she would've been better off saying "We actually didn't focus at all on the Armenian Genocide". She completed by saying "We focused a lot on the events that I've covered during my lifetime." That's funny, the Holocaust began about 2 decades prior to her birth (1958) and I'll be damned if it didn't get a major chunk of her focus in the program.

One thing that stood out to me in the program was that the use of parallells between Genocides was prominent throughout the duration. Parallels were drawn between Darfur and Rwanda, Rwanda and Cambodia, Darfur and the Holocaust, Bosnia and the Holocaust, and so many more I'd have to re-watch the program to list them all. In all this not a single parallel was drawn to the Armenian Genocide. If they couldn't come up with the hundreds between the AG and more recent Genocides, fine, that's just poor research. But the fact that there were no connections made between the Holocaust and it's blueprint - the AG, is atrocious! The rail cars, the gas chambers, the cloak of war, the Teşkilât-ı Mahsűsa, the vilification! I could go on and on and on. How could it be ignored that it was the same Nazis carrying out the Holocaust who as young conscripts during WWI were on the ground in Turkey absorbing the Turkish Genocide Machine devouring Armenians. Is Ms. Amanpour blind? And the denial of the Armenian Genocide, yes it got mentioned in passing during the film (something to the effect of "and the Turks still deny it today" - end of thought) wow dazzling Ms. Amanpour, you deserve a golfer's clap at best. The denial, by both the Turkish Government and their allies around the world, including successive US Administrations is the single largest, most blatant connection between the Armenian Genocide and every single instance of Genocide that has to the world's shame, followed it! It is a travesty that you failed to share this with your audience.

Ignoring, or "not focusing entirely" (as Ms. Amanpour calls it) does total injustice to this film, and is an insult to the viewers who gave 2 hours of their life to watch it.

Carla Garabedian's film "Screamers" was far from perfect, but did an excellent job of truly tying all Genocides together, I fear that Ms. Amanpour may have intentionally ripped off Ms. Garabedian's film and regurgitated a PG-rated version of it, and with the backing of a major network plastered it on nationwide prime-time television.

I'm far from dazzled, this film fell way way short of what it could and should, have been...

Hovik

I'd like to know if anyone else watched and if so, what were your thoughts?

[Sako]

I didn't watch it but I didn't even doubt that CNN wouldn't go deep into the Armenian Genocide. This has happened more then once and CNN is what I like to call a "Neutral" news channel most of the time because it doesn't go deep into everything even when there are facts and all. They won't show things that will bring them trouble, only what they're allowed.

[hipeter924]

I didn't watch it but I didn't even doubt that CNN wouldn't go deep into the Armenian Genocide. This has happened more then once and CNN is what I like to call a "Neutral" news channel most of the time because it doesn't go deep into everything even when there are facts and all. They won't show things that will bring them trouble, only what they're allowed.

Agreement there,lol. Sometimes Al Jazeera or Russia Today is better (when its on for a few hours in NZ).

[Sako]

when it's on for a few hours in NZ

Like once a year probably.

[Hovik]

I wonder if you could point to 97W with an FTA system? if you could RT & Al Jaz English are on 24/7, along with about 170 other free international channels including 5 Armenian...

H

[Joseph]

I just got done watching the CNN special "Scream Bloody Murder". I had heard about it only about 5 times on NPR on my way to and from work today so I decided to watch. Christiane Amanpour of CNN created the report.

I feel that the film fell very very short in terms of describing the Armenian Genocide with the same detail and template if you will, with which the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur were covered. Armenia was given about 60 seconds in the beginning of the 2 hour program and was only referenced when Ms. Amanpour was describing where Rafael Lemkin came up with the word "Genocide". I give her credit for correctly pointing this out, but what happened after that? They flashed a handful of the NY Times news headlines accross the screen while telling about Lemkin's word, and that was it. I just now looked up the Armenian Reporter's recent interview with Ms. Amanpour where she responds to the interviewer's question about the Armenian content that "We actually didn't focus entirely on the Armenian Genocide", I am in shock, she used the word "entirely"! The AG was the red-headed stepchild of the whole program, is she nuts, she would've been better off saying "We actually didn't focus at all on the Armenian Genocide". She completed by saying "We focused a lot on the events that I've covered during my lifetime." That's funny, the Holocaust began about 2 decades prior to her birth (1958) and I'll be damned if it didn't get a major chunk of her focus in the program.

One thing that stood out to me in the program was that the use of parallells between Genocides was prominent throughout the duration. Parallels were drawn between Darfur and Rwanda, Rwanda and Cambodia, Darfur and the Holocaust, Bosnia and the Holocaust, and so many more I'd have to re-watch the program to list them all. In all this not a single parallel was drawn to the Armenian Genocide. If they couldn't come up with the hundreds between the AG and more recent Genocides, fine, that's just poor research. But the fact that there were no connections made between the Holocaust and it's blueprint - the AG, is atrocious! The rail cars, the gas chambers, the cloak of war, the Teşkilât-ı Mahsűsa, the vilification! I could go on and on and on. How could it be ignored that it was the same Nazis carrying out the Holocaust who as young conscripts during WWI were on the ground in Turkey absorbing the Turkish Genocide Machine devouring Armenians. Is Ms. Amanpour blind? And the denial of the Armenian Genocide, yes it got mentioned in passing during the film (something to the effect of "and the Turks still deny it today" - end of thought) wow dazzling Ms. Amanpour, you deserve a golfer's clap at best. The denial, by both the Turkish Government and their allies around the world, including successive US Administrations is the single largest, most blatant connection between the Armenian Genocide and every single instance of Genocide that has to the world's shame, followed it! It is a travesty that you failed to share this with your audience.

Ignoring, or "not focusing entirely" (as Ms. Amanpour calls it) does total injustice to this film, and is an insult to the viewers who gave 2 hours of their life to watch it.

Carla Garabedian's film "Screamers" was far from perfect, but did an excellent job of truly tying all Genocides together, I fear that Ms. Amanpour may have intentionally ripped off Ms. Garabedian's film and regurgitated a PG-rated version of it, and with the backing of a major network plastered it on nationwide prime-time television.

I'm far from dazzled, this film fell way way short of what it could and should, have been...

Hovik

I'd like to know if anyone else watched and if so, what were your thoughts?

I avoided it because I did not want to be aggravated. The fact that the AG was even mentioned is somewhat a shock considering the enormous pressure CNN was under from the Turkish Embassy, State Dept. etc. It should also be noted that Amanpour's husband is a former State Dept. hack and Turkey seems to be the golden-child of the State Dept, even more so than Israel and Saudi Arabia. Still, it is an insult to gloss of the AG, especially considering the term was coined t describe what was done to Armenians. We seem to almost not exist.

[Joseph]

I avoided it because I did not want to be aggravated. The fact that the AG was even mentioned is somewhat a shock considering the enormous pressure CNN was under from the Turkish Embassy, State Dept. etc. It should also be noted that Amanpour's husband is a former State Dept. hack and Turkey seems to be the golden-child of the State Dept, even more so than Israel and Saudi Arabia. Still, it is an insult to gloss of the AG, especially considering the term was coined t describe what was done to Armenians. We seem to almost not exist.

Furthermore, after talking to my sister who watched, she summed it up by saying that Amanpour's heart might be in the right place but the documentary was more a homage to Amanpour and her ego.

[Sako]

Your sister was right, Joseph. I give up on CNN sometimes. There are sites that give you more info then any news channel ever could. Also, there are lots of politics so naturally I don't blame CNN or BBC or any other news channel.

[Edoman]

It confirmed what I have always believed in. Genocide, when occurring, can be used as a political tool to achieve certain aim by outside governments. It is a great opportunity to gain political points against a said country. In fact what better opportunity to take advantage of desperate people who are being exterminated with empty promises and kick them while they are down to achieve your own goals against the state that is committing the Genocide , or if that state is an ally then use their crimes as an ace in the hole.

Also the latest fashion is to misuse the name Genocide to their advantage. For example, Saddam killing 5000 Kurds as it was mentioned on the program was declared Genocide (Which is not, as brutal as it was, he was just putting down a rebellion, he was not trying to exterminate a race, not yet at least), why say Genocide? In order to take actions against Saddam because there boy would no longer play ball and had his own agendas.
This is perfect, now we can tell people that US, out of the kindness of its heart and being that we are the symbol of humanity decided to take action against Iraq to save the Kurds (Amanpour said this). They must think we are fools.
They know very well who has killed more Kurds than Saddam and who has the policy of ethnic cleansing. Do you really think that US would have done anything if Saddam was cooperating with US demands? Let’s not be naďve.

Africa? Unless there is strategical interest ain’t nobody going to do nothin. No country will ever send troops to help the oppressed. That is fantasy. They are all going to die. They must arm themselves and fight back, it is the only choice.

I couldn’t watch the whole program because I was getting very frustrated. I missed the first ˝ hr as well. I am surprised that Armenia was mentioned…wait, no I am not. The world cannot avoid this issue any longer (Those damn hard headed Armenians won’t let it go) but what they can do is to demean it, breeze right by it, brush it away as a crime committed by a long gone state that has no impact on today’s world or people, and let’s make it is a foot note of history and be done with it. Opening up the AG will expose their own ugly past (World powers), they cannot discriminate against themselves now can they.

As much as we the people strive for justice, humanity, and let’s live and let other live, the rules laid out on the ground are much different gentlemen. It is still the law of the Jungle. Kill or be killed, very simple.

My Suggestion to the Armenian Government:

Every time there is Genocide committed anywhere in the world Armenia must send relief troops to help the people regardless of the danger, threats, and condemnation from others. We as a nation must commit ourselves to ACTION; it should be our motto for I believe it will also help the Armenian cause and shine a spot light on us. Think about it, Genocide people helping people who are being Genocide.

Headline: << Armenia sends relief to Zimbabweans! >>

“A team of Armenian relief workers have reached the village of xxx to help them survive such terrible times.” Armenia officials stated that “We are committed in helping within our capacity all oppressed people anywhere in the world who are being persecuted regardless if we are made welcomed or not. We have setup private institution to act in case our state relief employees are not able to enter the country. Our efforts are strictly humanitarian. We ask the world community to support and join us in these efforts”

BREAKING NEWS: Several Armenians have been detained crossing the border with relief supplies…….

and we keep doing it over and over and over again.

[Sako]

I agree, thanks for your views Edoman. This really fleshes out what's going on a bit more if not a lot more.