Kobe's Turkish Airlines Endorsments Angers Armenians

[snaquille oatmeal]

@ scorpion king- you said "Its unfortunate lot of people have to learn this because of Kobe's endorsment", on the other hand, it is fortunate some people are now aware of it because of Kobe's endorsment...and I still love your avi.

@ Tony- thanks for your opinion, much respect.

@ Edrees- I have to agree with you here.

[Iamabeasttt]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt9uLcBI6BI[/youtube]

[Biohazard]

Armenian people need to understand that they piss a lot of people off with their ridiculous nationalism although I know some that are quite the opposite. I once had a half Armenian girl at school tell me if she ever has a kid it has to be with an Armenian man even though she herself is mixed. According to her it was because they are the tiniest minority in the world

[H00PDREAMS]

Its always amazing media would report Paris puking in a club over millions of people dying. Its sad what this society has come to.

WHAT! Dude do you realize we have over a million troops stationed in over 20 countries in harms way trying to protect those who can't protect themselves. South Korea, Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and everywhere else in the world. So, excuse me if we are a bit introverted.

Should we really be the police of the world? Because every time we do something like that we get accused of being arrogant imperialist. I mean how many time must the Yanks and Brits save the world from Evil. I do think its time for the rest of the world to stand up and do whats right for once. Freedom isn't free. When will the world learn that?! Freedom is not something that America has to go out and GET for you. When you have freedom enjoy it! Celebrate your freedom by watching Youtube clips of Paris puking in a club! or Watching Blake Griff posterizin' LeBron! USA! USA! USA!

[NNYYKK]

On top of it Germany has paid reparations for the surviving victims. The Turks havent and they never will.

Oh I get it.So that's what it's all about.Having money over your heritage.Pathetic ...

By the way,your friend is a big fat liar for accusing Ataturk for the genocide.And accusing Turks for the other genocides? Man,that's something more than pathetic.

[rugby-hook]

This endorsement deal tells us one of two things: (1) Kobe's team recommended the deal without vetting the Armenian issue and thus they should be dumped, or (2) they vetted the deal and chose to ignore a touchy issue that was going to blow up in their face. Either result reflects poorly on Kobe and shows either his stupidity or insensitivity. Endorsements are not suppose to have drawbacks or downsides and becoming a frontman for a problematic governmental entity is risky and this deal is clearly not worth the cash collected. Wonder if he asked lamar what his in-laws would say? Is this how teammates should act?

Secondly, the Armenian Genocide is not an issue of money, it is about acknowledgement. The word "Genocide" was created by the United Nations to describe the mass slaughter of Armenians by the ottoman empire. The UN authored the subsequent Genocide Convention and this agreement is part of the canon of international law, which means it is signed and ratified by more than 150 countries including the United States.

The Republic of Armenia and the Armenian disapora simply want recognition for this historical fact. Of course, there are some extremists that want to get paid, but every cause has a group that wants to get paid. Teh greed of a few should trump the truth. The Turkish government has been hiring "deniers" on this issue and spending upward of $3.0mm per year to stop the passage of a Genocide resolution in Congress. Their fight shows why recognition is necessary; Germany embraced their history have a better society for it.

When dealing with crimes against humanity, there will also be crackpots that will say anything for cash. There was a poster on this board and simply re-typed the latest Turkish government press release on this issue. For Armenians and other hoping to prevent the repetition of Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda, recognition and the societal implications of recognition means that the world will be a better place.

This deal shows why recognition is important. Kobe would never have been the spokesperson for Pol Pot, but his team was willing to bring this deal to him. Thus, this difference demontrates the importance of recognition of the first crime against humanity in the 20th century -- the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

[hourockman]

Its always amazing media would report Paris puking in a club over millions of people dying. Its sad what this society has come to.

WHAT! Dude do you realize we have over a million troops stationed in over 20 countries in harms way trying to protect those who can't protect themselves. South Korea, Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and everywhere else in the world. So, excuse me if we are a bit introverted.

Should we really be the police of the world? Because every time we do something like that we get accused of being arrogant imperialist. I mean how many time must the Yanks and Brits save the world from Evil. I do think its time for the rest of the world to stand up and do whats right for once. Freedom isn't free. When will the world learn that?! Freedom is not something that America has to go out and GET for you. When you have freedom enjoy it! Celebrate your freedom by watching Youtube clips of Paris puking in a club! or Watching Blake Griff posterizin' LeBron! USA! USA! USA!

Good sentiments in here. Some Americans are self-loathers, probably after hearing too many anti-Yank commentaries from foreigners and reactionary idiots on the internet. I'm far from a gun toting FOX News watching "patriot" saying this. The American people, by and large, don't get enough credit for being decent and unselfish (yes, there are exceptions to the rule as always). The government, flawed and sometimes as corrupt as it may be in various aspects, seems to be likened to Nazi Germany in the minds of some.

[Getaway]

This endorsement deal tells us one of two things: (1) Kobe's team recommended the deal without vetting the Armenian issue and thus they should be dumped, or (2) they vetted the deal and chose to ignore a touchy issue that was going to blow up in their face. Either result reflects poorly on Kobe and shows either his stupidity or insensitivity. Endorsements are not suppose to have drawbacks or downsides and becoming a frontman for a problematic governmental entity is risky and this deal is clearly not worth the cash collected. Wonder if he asked lamar what his in-laws would say? Is this how teammates should act?

Secondly, the Armenian Genocide is not an issue of money, it is about acknowledgement. The word "Genocide" was created by the United Nations to describe the mass slaughter of Armenians by the ottoman empire. The UN authored the subsequent Genocide Convention and this agreement is part of the canon of international law, which means it is signed and ratified by more than 150 countries including the United States.

The Republic of Armenia and the Armenian disapora simply want recognition for this historical fact. Of course, there are some extremists that want to get paid, but every cause has a group that wants to get paid. Teh greed of a few should trump the truth. The Turkish government has been hiring "deniers" on this issue and spending upward of $3.0mm per year to stop the passage of a Genocide resolution in Congress. Their fight shows why recognition is necessary; Germany embraced their history have a better society for it.

When dealing with crimes against humanity, there will also be crackpots that will say anything for cash. There was a poster on this board and simply re-typed the latest Turkish government press release on this issue. For Armenians and other hoping to prevent the repetition of Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda, recognition and the societal implications of recognition means that the world will be a better place.

This deal shows why recognition is important. Kobe would never have been the spokesperson for Pol Pot, but his team was willing to bring this deal to him. Thus, this difference demontrates the importance of recognition of the first crime against humanity in the 20th century -- the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

So what's gonna be, either you recognise the Armenian genocide , or we won't let anybody to do anything with you. Is that it?

Just tell me that, why on the earth Kobe should care an incident which happened 100 years ago?? Seriously why should he care? Do you boycott all German products? Just because they recognise it doesn't mean they didn't kill 1,5 millions people. Do you boycott French products? They have killed so much Algerians, that some people call it genocide.

The Armeanian "genocide" happened 100 years ago, if it's a genocide.

The Turkish government simply tells that, we will open our archives , you will open yours than we will see. If there is really a genocide we are ready to do whatever is necessary.

If the Armenians truely believes that is a genocide, what are they afraid of? Why they don't wanna talk about it and keep saying just "you did it".

Than you curse an NBA player for making a deal with a company. Nobody has to care your national issues. Just get over it.

I'm sick of these two nations rasing generations who has to deal this things.

[TonyMontana]

On top of it Germany has paid reparations for the surviving victims. The Turks havent and they never will.

Oh I get it.So that's what it's all about.Having money over your heritage.Pathetic ...

The only thing here patethic is you and your ignorance. Learn how to read before you post.

You missed my point, the only thing you did was take ONE part of my post and ran with it.

Posters brought up Germany , BMWs etc and all the other B.S and the Jews and I simply pointed out how Germany has delt and addressed the Jewish Holocaust

Funny how some people on here are comparing some Jews actions and feelings towards Germany, but that is really not comparable.
For starters Germany HAS acknowledged the Holocaust, Yet the Turks and the US and other countries has never acknowledged or recognized the Armenian genocide.
On top of it Germany has paid reparations for the surviving victims. The Turks havent and they never will. Why pay when they don't even recognize it or acknowledge any wrong doings?
War crimes trials were held against the Nazis right after the end of WW2 and even to this day they are still conducting invetigations and some have even been executed.
Have the Turks ever been taken to any court. If the Jews did not have these things occur after the Holocaust, I highly doubt that they would have "gotten over it" today.
Does Armenia or Armenians enjoy the same level of aid as Israel either economically, militarily or politically from the world, especially by the West, and keep in mind as most of you know Im a veteran soldier that have served this great nation of mine for 4 years.

WHOTF cares about money when 1.5 million people have been murdered and massacred, and one of those people was my great grandfather as well as other members of my family.

So **** the money. Go back and reread my post before you sit here and talk out your arse. PLEASE.

By the way,your friend is a big fat liar for accusing Ataturk for the genocide.And accusing Turks for the other genocides? Man,that's something more than pathetic.

And then THIS NONESENSE garbage. You want to talk about pathetic.

It is widely acknowledged to have been one of the first modern genocides, organized manner in which the killings were carried out to eliminate the Armenians. Everyone knows thats the truth.

It is the second most-studied case of genocide after the Holocaust, WHY? Because its true, because the entire world knows yet only a few countries including the U.S who isnt willing to recognize it. Why? Why would they?

This is why!!!! So get your facts straight before you and others come on here and talk ish out your arse.


Heres a link for you too just incase you still have your doubts.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington ... htm?csp=34

The House Foreign Affairs Committee's 27-21 vote now sends the measure to the House floor — unless the Democratic leadership reverses course and heeds Bush's warnings.

At issue is the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, says the toll has been inflated and insists that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

Bush and other senior officials had made a last-minute push to persuade lawmakers on the Foreign Affairs Committee to reject the measure.

"Its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally in NATO and in the global war on terror," Bush said hours before the vote.

The Foreign Affairs Committee's Chairman, Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., warned of the potential fallout if the proposal passed. Lantos, a Hungarian-born survivor of the Holocaust, supported a similar resolution two years ago.

"We have to weigh the desire to express our solidarity with the Armenian people ... against the risk that it could cause young men and women in the uniform of the United States armed services to pay an even heavier price than they are currently paying," Lantos said.
Turkey raised the possibility of impeding logistical and other U.S. military traffic now using Turkish airspace.

Earlier, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates conveyed their concerns.

Passing the measure "at this time would be very problematic for everything we are trying to do in the Middle East," Rice told reporters at the White House.


The vote comes at a tense time in the region. Turkey's government is seeking parliamentary approval for a military operation to chase separatist Kurdish rebels who operate from bases in northern Iraq. The move, opposed by the U.S., could open a new front in the most stable part of Iraq.


"I have been trying to warn the (U.S.) lawmakers not to make a historic mistake," said Egemen Bagis, a close foreign policy adviser to Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Yet with the House's first order of business Wednesday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi made clear that Turkey's position was a hard sell. She introduced the Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians, Karekin II, to deliver the morning prayer — a daily ritual intended to be apolitical.

"With the solemn burden of history, we remember the victims of the genocide of the Armenians," Karekin said in the House. "Give peace and justice on their descendants."

Gates said 70% of U.S. air cargo headed for Iraq goes through Turkey, as does about one-third of the fuel used by the U.S. military in Iraq.

"Access to airfields and to the roads and so on in Turkey would very much be put at risk if this resolution passes and Turkey reacts as strongly as we believe they will," Gates said. He also said that 95% of new vehicles designed to better protect against mine attacks are being flown through Turkey to get to Iraq.

Lawmakers from both parties who supported the proposal said the moral implications outweighed security concerns and friendship with Turkey.


"The sad truth is that the modern government of Turkey refuses to come to terms with this genocide," said Rep. Chris Smith, R.-N.J. "For Armenians everywhere, the Turkish government's denial is a slap in the face."


Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami said the timing of Karekin's visit was a coincidence. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Republican, had requested the leader deliver a morning prayer earlier this year. The House chaplain arranged the visit based on Karekin's schedule and was not aware of the committee's plans, Elshami said.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara warned U.S. citizens in Turkey about "demonstrations and other manifestations of anti-Americanism" if the bill moved ahead. Protests were reported Wednesday outside the embassy and the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul.

Pelosi and the second-ranking Democrat in the House, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, met Wednesday with Turkish Ambassador Nabi Sensoy but emerged from the meeting unswayed. Hoyer told reporters he expects a floor vote on the measure before the House adjourns for the year.

Hoyer said he hoped that Turkey would realize it is not a condemnation of its current government but rather of "another government, at another time."

[TonyMontana]

Its always amazing media would report Paris puking in a club over millions of people dying. Its sad what this society has come to.

WHAT! Dude do you realize we have over a million troops stationed in over 20 countries in harms way trying to protect those who can't protect themselves. South Korea, Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and everywhere else in the world. So, excuse me if we are a bit introverted.

Should we really be the police of the world? Because every time we do something like that we get accused of being arrogant imperialist. I mean how many time must the Yanks and Brits save the world from Evil. I do think its time for the rest of the world to stand up and do whats right for once. Freedom isn't free. When will the world learn that?! Freedom is not something that America has to go out and GET for you. When you have freedom enjoy it! Celebrate your freedom by watching Youtube clips of Paris puking in a club! or Watching Blake Griff posterizin' LeBron! USA! USA! USA!

So by your analogy Black people should forgive and forget about slavery and they should just move on as you and others put it and stop crying about what happened in the past?? Am I correct?

Or Black people are more important than Armenians, or Armenians are more important than Jews or Amercian Indians are less important than other humans or vice versa??

Do you see a similarity in some respects. How can we recognize what happened Chronology on the History of Slavery 1600's. During the 1800's slavery began to increase in the West IN AMERCIA, so how can you as an African American sit here and talk about FREEDOM??

Im part Armenian and I served 4 years for this country, so I CAN and I WILL talk about freedom, but I will never forget the past and what my people have gone through.

So look at your own history and then tell me if your people were threated fairly??

[Getaway]

Its always amazing media would report Paris puking in a club over millions of people dying. Its sad what this society has come to.

WHAT! Dude do you realize we have over a million troops stationed in over 20 countries in harms way trying to protect those who can't protect themselves. South Korea, Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and everywhere else in the world. So, excuse me if we are a bit introverted.

Should we really be the police of the world? Because every time we do something like that we get accused of being arrogant imperialist. I mean how many time must the Yanks and Brits save the world from Evil. I do think its time for the rest of the world to stand up and do whats right for once. Freedom isn't free. When will the world learn that?! Freedom is not something that America has to go out and GET for you. When you have freedom enjoy it! Celebrate your freedom by watching Youtube clips of Paris puking in a club! or Watching Blake Griff posterizin' LeBron! USA! USA! USA!

So by your analogy Black people should forgive and forget about slavery and they should just move on as you and others put it and stop crying about what happened in the past?? Am I correct?

Or Black people are more important than Armenians, or Armenians are more important than Jews or Amercian Indians are less important than other humans or vice versa??

Do you see a similarity in some respects. How can we recognize what happened Chronology on the History of Slavery 1600's. During the 1800's slavery began to increase in the West IN AMERCIA, so how can you as an African American sit here and talk about FREEDOM??

Im part Armenian and I served 4 years for this country, so I CAN and I WILL talk about freedom, but I will never forget the past and what my people have gone through.

So look at your own history and then tell me if your people were threated fairly??

Letting go and forgeting aren't the same thing. Nobody is telling you to forget everything. They are just telling not to cry every year for an incident that even your grandpa didn't witness.

Black people haven't forgotten all the things done to them. But they are not protesting every person who makes arrangements with white people.

And please let me ask you, how many of these armenian communities have been actually a part of any anti racism campaings or anything against the black people? And now you're expecting from Kobe to care about your staff who happened 100 years ago, even thought you haven't done anything against the racism which his people are going through even now?

Everybody should make your problem their own , right. You are the king of the world.

[TonyMontana]

Letting go and forgeting aren't the same thing. Nobody is telling you to forget everything. They are just telling not to cry every year for an incident that even your grandpa didn't witness.

HTF do you know my grandfather didnt witness it, did somebody tell you that or were you with him when it happened??

Black people haven't forgotten all the things done to them. But they are not protesting every person who makes arrangements with white people.

Are you kidding me?? Your out your dam mind. LMFAO

Everyday every minute every second somebody is pulling out a race card, everything that has to do with a minority with a Balck individual the first thing that comes out there mouth is racisim and discrimination. WTF are you talking about???

And please let me ask you, how many of these armenian communities have been actually a part of any anti racism campaings or anything against the black people?
And now you're expecting from Kobe to care about your staff who happened 100 years ago, even thought you haven't done anything against the racism which his people are going through even now?

Im not even going to address this one since I already have. This is by far is a ignorant statement as it can be.

Everybody should make your problem their own , right. You are the king of the world.

Did I say that??

Your missing the point and Im sure its either because your young and immature or ignorant or have no feelings towards humanity.............. YOU BE THE JUGDE!!! PICK ONE!!!

The Armenian Genocide as well as other Genocides no matter who it was, what color of skin they have, what nationality they are, 38 million Native Americans killed over 300 years as well as the millions of African peoples enslaved and murdered by slavers in the US and Europe. Soviet pogroms and Chinese mass murders of their own people killed a fair number too Khmer Rouge (backed by the US) which murdered roughly two million of their own citizens out of a population of seven million, the Rwandan Genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus, approximately 500,000 people in 100 days, or Japan's rape of Nanking (Beijing), where they killed approximately 200,000 people in six weeks, or what religion they are is a A Shameful Spot in the History of Mankind. Get my point???

WhoTF cares who we are talking about?? Its about humanity and man kind in GENERAL.

Us as human beings and NOT ANIMALS need to understand and recognize our wrong doings and except our mistakes. We havent done that.

GET IT????

[dockingsched]

feel free to continue the discussion in a thread created on the current affairs board, i believe its more appropriate there.