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Lost Relatives
asbarez
Friday, September 9th, 2011
by Garen Yegparian
This was one of those weeks when, seemingly, there were simultaneously
lots of topics to write about, but also, nothing to write about. I
considered a community involvement phenomenon I've noticed, RoA's
upcoming 20th re-independence anniversary, Erdogan's (portentous?)
fall from his (high) horse, the Arab world's rumblings/developments
and their relevance to us, and on and on. But Wikileaks came to the
rescue.
The particular document refers to the Turkish government's
anti-Armenia paranoia. Its information might even explain why they tie
Armenians in to the PKK and Kurdish stirrings in general. The key
quote is:
`Ankara was basing its suspicions on the meticulous population
registry (nufus kutugu) of family lineage which, among other things,
shows how many citizens - especially concentrated in certain regions
of the east and southeast - actually have an Armenian background
underneath their forebears' voluntary or forced conversions or
adoptions during the period when Armenians were being deported and
murdered en masse by the Ottoman authorities and local Muslim bands.'
So, the Turkish government knows, far better than any Armenian or
Armenian organization, how many crypto-Armenians there are in Turkey.
And this doesn't even include, presumably, those forcibly
de-Armenianized during the bulk (and earlier part) of the Ottoman
Empire's existence.
So it's time for our Ph.D. candidates to start digging up the
documentation in the `nufus kutugu' and compiling massive family
trees. Simultaneously, Armenians visiting the Western, occupied, part
of our homeland, should start a hair collection. They should get a
strand of hair from any crypto-Armenians they encounter, along with
any family information they can (or feel safe enough) to provide,
including village of family origin. Then, let the DNA analysis begin!
(CSI to the rescue!) This genetic database, crossed with the
genealogical data the Turks have been so kind to compile, and combined
with equivalent genetic and genealogical data on Armenians outside
Turkey (primarily, though not exclusively, in the Diaspora) could
generate another powerful legal argument in the pursuit of our rights.
Who knows? Perhaps a few million people might be afforded the
opportunity to return to their roots! And these are in addition to the
Hamshentzees who are already a known group of Islamicized Armenians
who still speak our mother tongue.
As a bonus, this kind of Western Armenia-directed effort might make
some of the (mis)rulers of the RoA behave a little better towards
Diasporans who seek to set up shop and residence there when they
realize RoA is no longer `the only game in town' for Diasporan
attention.
Let's start amassing data and reconnecting with the almost-forgotten
portion of our homeland.
asbarez
Friday, September 9th, 2011
by Garen Yegparian
This was one of those weeks when, seemingly, there were simultaneously
lots of topics to write about, but also, nothing to write about. I
considered a community involvement phenomenon I've noticed, RoA's
upcoming 20th re-independence anniversary, Erdogan's (portentous?)
fall from his (high) horse, the Arab world's rumblings/developments
and their relevance to us, and on and on. But Wikileaks came to the
rescue.
The particular document refers to the Turkish government's
anti-Armenia paranoia. Its information might even explain why they tie
Armenians in to the PKK and Kurdish stirrings in general. The key
quote is:
`Ankara was basing its suspicions on the meticulous population
registry (nufus kutugu) of family lineage which, among other things,
shows how many citizens - especially concentrated in certain regions
of the east and southeast - actually have an Armenian background
underneath their forebears' voluntary or forced conversions or
adoptions during the period when Armenians were being deported and
murdered en masse by the Ottoman authorities and local Muslim bands.'
So, the Turkish government knows, far better than any Armenian or
Armenian organization, how many crypto-Armenians there are in Turkey.
And this doesn't even include, presumably, those forcibly
de-Armenianized during the bulk (and earlier part) of the Ottoman
Empire's existence.
So it's time for our Ph.D. candidates to start digging up the
documentation in the `nufus kutugu' and compiling massive family
trees. Simultaneously, Armenians visiting the Western, occupied, part
of our homeland, should start a hair collection. They should get a
strand of hair from any crypto-Armenians they encounter, along with
any family information they can (or feel safe enough) to provide,
including village of family origin. Then, let the DNA analysis begin!
(CSI to the rescue!) This genetic database, crossed with the
genealogical data the Turks have been so kind to compile, and combined
with equivalent genetic and genealogical data on Armenians outside
Turkey (primarily, though not exclusively, in the Diaspora) could
generate another powerful legal argument in the pursuit of our rights.
Who knows? Perhaps a few million people might be afforded the
opportunity to return to their roots! And these are in addition to the
Hamshentzees who are already a known group of Islamicized Armenians
who still speak our mother tongue.
As a bonus, this kind of Western Armenia-directed effort might make
some of the (mis)rulers of the RoA behave a little better towards
Diasporans who seek to set up shop and residence there when they
realize RoA is no longer `the only game in town' for Diasporan
attention.
Let's start amassing data and reconnecting with the almost-forgotten
portion of our homeland.