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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 24 2011
Now, let's talk ourselves¦
by Mehmet Ali Birand
The dreaded has happened.
We are dragging France through the mud. And this is the easier side of
the job. However, the real job starts from now on. Because, whether we
like it or not, the Armenians have made the world accept their
genocide claims during those years when we buried our head in the
sand. From now on, we cannot transform international public opinion by
just publishing books, airing documentaries, cutting relations and
threats to boycott their goods. This train has left the station. We
cannot confront the whole world and live isolated.
There are three important steps we have to take if we want to avoid
being stigmatized with genocide in 2015. Firstly, we should question
the 1915 incidents without fooling ourselves. We should learn what
happened, what has been experienced and take our heads out of the
sand. We now have to be transparent. We should truly open up our
archives and, before anybody else, we should learn what has been
lived.
Secondly, using all judicial avenues, either a way should be found to
rebut genocide claims or a new strategy should be created to
re-introduce the Armenian protocols.
Thirdly, those publicity and lobby activities - and I'm not at all
hopeful -- that were not able to be done for 30 years should be
activated.
I have been writing the above suggestions for maybe for the 120th
time, even though I know they will not be done, you will see. We will
be stigmatized with genocide in 2015. We will first protest, take to
the streets and afterwards, again, forget it all¦
[HH] YaÅ?ar Kemal and the award
Last week, I was at the ceremony where renowned novelist and writer
YaÅ?ar Kemal was decorated with the French Legion d'Honneur (Legion of
Honor). He received his award from Army Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin,
grand chancellor of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor,
who flew from Paris exclusively for this ceremony.
My eyes watered.
I watched the giant man with admiration as he talked to the French
Ambassador Laurent Bili and Chancellor Georgelin before the ceremony.
He was laughing when he explained, `Before being a novelist, I was
writing petitions on the street. Those who had problems would come to
me and I would write petitions for them.'
I enjoyed getting to know him better.
I remembered how we made YaÅ?ar Kemal's life hell when we should have
been proud of him. I thought of the years when, instead of rewarding
him, the state of the Republic of Turkey was shoving him around and
treating him cruelly.
YaÅ?ar Kemal was angry but never took offence. What a pity, is it not?
We lot, who do not have our share of culture, were not able to digest
the fact a guy of Kurdish origin was being applauded in the
international arena. While he was telling the truth, we accused him of
communism and separatism. Despite this, he held his stance, remained
among us with constraint and then stood up and showed us what was
wrong and what was right.
His closest friends were invited. We applauded a master who was
laughing aloud, enjoying a time when he can now say whatever he wants
to.
It is such a privilege that we have a YaÅ?ar Kemal.
[HH] Fatma Å?ahin becomes a distinct minister
When she was first appointed, I did not know of Fatma Å?ahin. I had
doubts about what she could do as Family and Social Policies Minister.
More precisely, the appointments Justice and Development Party (AK
Parti) had made in the past to similar ministerial posts have left a
somewhat acrid taste.
Time has gone by, however, and Fatma Å?ahin has shown she is different
in terms of her personality, her stance and her speeches. She knows
her job and, more importantly, she has self-esteem. You may not share
some of her views but you will surely be influenced by her approach
and wording of the topic.
I think she is the most successful among the newcomers to the last Cabinet.
December/24/2011
From: A. Papazian
Dec 24 2011
Now, let's talk ourselves¦
by Mehmet Ali Birand
The dreaded has happened.
We are dragging France through the mud. And this is the easier side of
the job. However, the real job starts from now on. Because, whether we
like it or not, the Armenians have made the world accept their
genocide claims during those years when we buried our head in the
sand. From now on, we cannot transform international public opinion by
just publishing books, airing documentaries, cutting relations and
threats to boycott their goods. This train has left the station. We
cannot confront the whole world and live isolated.
There are three important steps we have to take if we want to avoid
being stigmatized with genocide in 2015. Firstly, we should question
the 1915 incidents without fooling ourselves. We should learn what
happened, what has been experienced and take our heads out of the
sand. We now have to be transparent. We should truly open up our
archives and, before anybody else, we should learn what has been
lived.
Secondly, using all judicial avenues, either a way should be found to
rebut genocide claims or a new strategy should be created to
re-introduce the Armenian protocols.
Thirdly, those publicity and lobby activities - and I'm not at all
hopeful -- that were not able to be done for 30 years should be
activated.
I have been writing the above suggestions for maybe for the 120th
time, even though I know they will not be done, you will see. We will
be stigmatized with genocide in 2015. We will first protest, take to
the streets and afterwards, again, forget it all¦
[HH] YaÅ?ar Kemal and the award
Last week, I was at the ceremony where renowned novelist and writer
YaÅ?ar Kemal was decorated with the French Legion d'Honneur (Legion of
Honor). He received his award from Army Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin,
grand chancellor of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor,
who flew from Paris exclusively for this ceremony.
My eyes watered.
I watched the giant man with admiration as he talked to the French
Ambassador Laurent Bili and Chancellor Georgelin before the ceremony.
He was laughing when he explained, `Before being a novelist, I was
writing petitions on the street. Those who had problems would come to
me and I would write petitions for them.'
I enjoyed getting to know him better.
I remembered how we made YaÅ?ar Kemal's life hell when we should have
been proud of him. I thought of the years when, instead of rewarding
him, the state of the Republic of Turkey was shoving him around and
treating him cruelly.
YaÅ?ar Kemal was angry but never took offence. What a pity, is it not?
We lot, who do not have our share of culture, were not able to digest
the fact a guy of Kurdish origin was being applauded in the
international arena. While he was telling the truth, we accused him of
communism and separatism. Despite this, he held his stance, remained
among us with constraint and then stood up and showed us what was
wrong and what was right.
His closest friends were invited. We applauded a master who was
laughing aloud, enjoying a time when he can now say whatever he wants
to.
It is such a privilege that we have a YaÅ?ar Kemal.
[HH] Fatma Å?ahin becomes a distinct minister
When she was first appointed, I did not know of Fatma Å?ahin. I had
doubts about what she could do as Family and Social Policies Minister.
More precisely, the appointments Justice and Development Party (AK
Parti) had made in the past to similar ministerial posts have left a
somewhat acrid taste.
Time has gone by, however, and Fatma Å?ahin has shown she is different
in terms of her personality, her stance and her speeches. She knows
her job and, more importantly, she has self-esteem. You may not share
some of her views but you will surely be influenced by her approach
and wording of the topic.
I think she is the most successful among the newcomers to the last Cabinet.
December/24/2011
From: A. Papazian