In the reflection [4]"Bones" [4] [4], [4] Peter Balakian recounts a trip to Der Zor in Syria, which was the final resting place of hundreds of thousands of Armenian women, children, and men, who died during the Armenian Genocide. Balakian visits a memorial church that displays jars filled with dirt and bones then goes to the historical site of the massacre at Der Zor. At the site, every handful contains bits of bone from the thousands of Armenians who were massacred there by the Ottoman Turkish government. He takes handfuls of the dirt and bone and carries them with him back to the United States, reflecting on their meaning.
Other Resources:
Armenian Genocide [5] New York Times
State of the Denial [6] Southern Poverty Law Center
- Why do you think visiting Der Zor was important to Balakian? What do you think he hoped to find there? What do you think he found?
- What meanings do these artifacts hold for Balakian? Why does he believe these bits of bone, these organic artifacts are important to preserve?
- Despite all of the evidence, the Turkish Government and others deny the Armenian Genocide. What is genocide denial? What impact do you think denial has on the descendants of the survivors? What are the consequences of denial?
- How should individuals, groups, and nations respond to genocide denial?
- What do stories like this suggest about why this history matters? What are other historical events that people still discuss, argue about, and remember?