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Warm Ties with the Diaspora
By MEHMET KAMIS
10.19.2006 Thursday - ISTANBUL 20:51
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 19 2006
The Armenian issue constantly confronts Turkey. Everywhere in the
world - in France, America, Lebanon - when Turkey is mentioned, some
group appears hating Turkey and opposing them to the death. I have
written on this story of hate in previous articles.
More than in those subjected to deportation, this is a hate that has
formed in later generations. The migration of Armenians, an Eastern
Christian group, after World War II to Western countries played a big
role in the transformation of the resentment of the first generation
into the hatred of later generations.
Last year was the 90th anniversary of the deportation. 2015 will be the
100th anniversary. The Armenians, or, more accurately, those who want
to put pressure on Turkey, are trying to keep this issue on the agenda
as much as possible and are preparing for a finale ten years from now.
In World War II, which began in 1939 and ended in 1945, 35 million
people died. Twenty million remained crippled. Twelve million mothers
miscarried before holding their babies in their arms. Occupying France,
Germany attacked Russia and caused the death of hundreds of thousands
of people. A total of 35 million people from England, France, Italy
and Germany lost their lives in this war. Killing millions of each
other's people just 60 years ago, these states are uniting under one
roof today by their own desire. But the events Turkey experienced with
the Armenians during World War I are constantly bearing down on it,
growing larger with each passing day.
This issue constantly confronts us in a different country.
There is only one action Turkey has taken against this situation.
That is to say as loudly as possible to anyone who begins speaking
about the alleged Armenian genocide that we didn't' butcher them,
they butchered us. Repeated more so in Turkey, these words don't
reach the rest of the world. The whole world believes the claims of
the Armenians; their voice comes out a lot stronger than Turkey's.
Turkey has no other approach or policy regarding this matter. When a
few authorities repeat these words that we didn't kill them, Armenian
gangs killed Turks, the subject is closed for us.
For example, if we say that historians should handle this, it isn't
going to resolve anything. The subject isn't closed for the Armenians
and because it is useful for big states, it is constantly brought up
against us. This situation could have been acceptable before because
Turkey was a country squeezed between the Kapikule and Habur borders
where only the rulers were happy. But things have changed today. We
are finally living in a country integrated with the rest of the world.
Turkey should change its policy on this issue and create warm ties
with the Armenian Diaspora. In fact, civilians should be doing more
than the government. We should sit down and talk with them a little
about Fenerbahce football. Eating stuffed grapevine leaves together,
presenting gold jewelry at weddings, and occasionally speaking
Turkish. In short, it's necessary to remember again that we are
societies that until yesterday did a lot of things together, ate the
same food, sang the same songs, and reacted similarly when insulted;
we shared the same emotions.
There are so many people in the Armenian Diaspora who have never met
a Turk in their whole life. Through face-to-face encounters, seeing
that Turks are different from the type of person they have created
in their minds could make a deep impression on them. Seeing that the
Turks they hate to death are not like the image they have in their
heads could turn their beliefs upside down.
Turkey can overcome this issue with more human-oriented policies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
By MEHMET KAMIS
10.19.2006 Thursday - ISTANBUL 20:51
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 19 2006
The Armenian issue constantly confronts Turkey. Everywhere in the
world - in France, America, Lebanon - when Turkey is mentioned, some
group appears hating Turkey and opposing them to the death. I have
written on this story of hate in previous articles.
More than in those subjected to deportation, this is a hate that has
formed in later generations. The migration of Armenians, an Eastern
Christian group, after World War II to Western countries played a big
role in the transformation of the resentment of the first generation
into the hatred of later generations.
Last year was the 90th anniversary of the deportation. 2015 will be the
100th anniversary. The Armenians, or, more accurately, those who want
to put pressure on Turkey, are trying to keep this issue on the agenda
as much as possible and are preparing for a finale ten years from now.
In World War II, which began in 1939 and ended in 1945, 35 million
people died. Twenty million remained crippled. Twelve million mothers
miscarried before holding their babies in their arms. Occupying France,
Germany attacked Russia and caused the death of hundreds of thousands
of people. A total of 35 million people from England, France, Italy
and Germany lost their lives in this war. Killing millions of each
other's people just 60 years ago, these states are uniting under one
roof today by their own desire. But the events Turkey experienced with
the Armenians during World War I are constantly bearing down on it,
growing larger with each passing day.
This issue constantly confronts us in a different country.
There is only one action Turkey has taken against this situation.
That is to say as loudly as possible to anyone who begins speaking
about the alleged Armenian genocide that we didn't' butcher them,
they butchered us. Repeated more so in Turkey, these words don't
reach the rest of the world. The whole world believes the claims of
the Armenians; their voice comes out a lot stronger than Turkey's.
Turkey has no other approach or policy regarding this matter. When a
few authorities repeat these words that we didn't kill them, Armenian
gangs killed Turks, the subject is closed for us.
For example, if we say that historians should handle this, it isn't
going to resolve anything. The subject isn't closed for the Armenians
and because it is useful for big states, it is constantly brought up
against us. This situation could have been acceptable before because
Turkey was a country squeezed between the Kapikule and Habur borders
where only the rulers were happy. But things have changed today. We
are finally living in a country integrated with the rest of the world.
Turkey should change its policy on this issue and create warm ties
with the Armenian Diaspora. In fact, civilians should be doing more
than the government. We should sit down and talk with them a little
about Fenerbahce football. Eating stuffed grapevine leaves together,
presenting gold jewelry at weddings, and occasionally speaking
Turkish. In short, it's necessary to remember again that we are
societies that until yesterday did a lot of things together, ate the
same food, sang the same songs, and reacted similarly when insulted;
we shared the same emotions.
There are so many people in the Armenian Diaspora who have never met
a Turk in their whole life. Through face-to-face encounters, seeing
that Turks are different from the type of person they have created
in their minds could make a deep impression on them. Seeing that the
Turks they hate to death are not like the image they have in their
heads could turn their beliefs upside down.
Turkey can overcome this issue with more human-oriented policies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress