Just throwing this out there...

If anyone comes-by this blog often, they'll be under the impression that I've completely forgotten about it because I've failed to update in ever-so-long a time.

And they'd probably be correct. This semester has been quite busy for me and I often find myself hard-pressed for time. Naturally, blogging is something which falls by the wayside. Interestingly, my spouse has become quite interested in regularly updating her Japanese-language blog to include recipies and anecdotes but it's certainly not something she devotes much time to.

Anyway, I wanted to type this little observation out because I hope I'll feel a little bit less as if I'm slowly going mad.

In late September, you'll recall that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, made something of a high-profle ass out of himself at Columbia University.

Among other things, he said that what happened during the Holocaust was still open to debate; he was (rightly) lambasted as a Holocaust denier. Indeed, Columbia University president Lee Bollinger's remarks have become well-known and the whole sad story dominated the media coverage for days.

But a funny thing happened about a week ago.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was warmly welcomed at the White House. This is a fellow who has threatened to sue states which recognize the mass-killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as a genocide. Indeed, Turkey recalled its ambassador from Washington last month when the U.S. Congress decided to put such a resolution up for a vote.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but denying a clear-cut case of genocide sort of falls into the same category as "Holocaust denial," does it not? Or am I talking crazy?

Sure, he didn't firebomb anyone's workplace or shoot someone in the head or give-out the other kinds of misfortunes that might greet someone who says "Armenian genocide" too loudly in Turkey, but you have to pause to admire the irony here, right?