"My column last week on the number of Armenians who died in mass killings and deportations in the Ottoman empire 90 years ago sparked a lot of mail, including several letters criticizing the column for minimizing the deaths and for seeming to set a numerical threshold for determining if genocide was committed. Neither was intended by the column, which looked behind a historical death toll that is often repeated without explanation, to examine how it was calculated. Armenian groups and advocates who are pushing Turkey to call the killings a genocide often cite death tolls in their accounts.
Here are some letters, edited for space and clarity:"
More:WSJ.com - The Numbers Guy
