This is such a difficult area that it is almost impossible for anyone to reconcile the pragmatism and logic of the head, with the emotion and pain of the heart.

I have nothing to offer here; I think you already know how I feel.
But a very recent viewing of a documentary on the Sook Ching massacre, brought back to mind the grave stories heard and heaving emotions experienced when they were told to me by older relatives so many years ago. I remember most especially, that haunted and hollow look that glazed over grandpa’s eyes whenever this matter came up, who lost brothers and children and himself only narrowly escaped.

But even within the burning emotions of grief, pain and anger, there may be a sliver of hope in Man’s humaneness, which allows us the hope and strength to carry on.
Shinozaki Mamoru, an officer in the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, may have saved 30,000 lives that would otherwise have perished in the 16-day Sook Ching massacre.

The documentary ends with an aged survivor saying evenly:
“You can forgive, but you cannot forget.”

Don

[I hear what you say: there are worse things than death, rape, mutilations to the physical bodies or even spirit.
Betrayal, yes...especially when it is yourself betraying your own spirit...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgrace
]

From a Turkish commentary:

“Irrespective of what the Turkish opposition parties say and how strongly Azerbaijan might condemn the development, indeed signing of the protocols represented a major diplomatic victory for the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government in Ankara. This is because, with this accord, for the first time since its independence from the Soviet Union, Armenia has not only agreed to recognize the borders of Turkey but also has accepted the creation of a commission of historians to examine the charges that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the former Ottoman Empire during the closing years of World War I. That is Armenia, without a direct reference to the treaty itself, has recognized the 1921 Kars Treaty and in a way dropped all territorial claims from Turkey. On the other hand, by accepting creation of a commission, Armenia indeed took a step back from its contention that the alleged 1915 genocide of Armenians by Ottoman Turks was an “absolute reality,” which required no verification or an investigation by historians.”

“Even from the point that Armenia has recognized the Turkish border and agreed that the genocide claims were not “facts” but claims that needed to be verified by a commission of historians is a sufficient diplomatic victory that requires people involved in this process to be congratulated.”

A line from the movie “The General’s Daughter” comes to mind:

“I once asked … what was worse than rape. Now I know.”
“Betrayal!”

Obama/Biden statements
Clinton statements
Letter to Clinton
Serzh Sargsyan’s reception by Armenian community in France
The Great Aznavour’s perspective
Serzh Sargsyan’s reception by Armenian community in New York
Serzh Sargsyan’s reception by Armenian community in Los Angeles
Serzh Sargsyan’s reception by Armenian community in Lebanon
Aram Catholicos’ message to Armenians (part 1, part 2, and part 3)
Signing ceremony in Zurich
Actual documents and ANCA’s analysis

Generations too, become insignificant in the span of billions of years.

And if it seems difficult to understand one’s place in the now, it approaches incomprehensible to understand one’s place in eternity.

What seems clear is that ALL human lives — when viewed from the Heavens — are much smaller than grains of sand on a beach. This perspective highlights the relatively EQUAL significance/insignificance of all human lives — yours included…

Thus, depending on whether one is a Nihilist or a Believer, this perspective can lead to either despair or exaltation. For me, it leads to exaltation.