Tweet
Today's Zaman, Turkey
April 29 2012
April showers bring May flowers
ARZU KAYA URANLI
The month of April means different things for different people. It
starts with the laughter of April Fool's Day jokes on April 1 then
continues with worldwide and national anniversaries, remembrance days,
holidays and birthdays.
April 4 is the anniversary of the day the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) was established. It was founded during the Cold
War and aimed at safeguarding the freedom of the North Atlantic
community.
This year April 6 was important both for Jews and Christians because
it was both Good Friday as part of the Easter season -- the death of
Jesus Christ by crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday -- and the
first day of eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover.
April 13 is the birthday of the third American president, Thomas
Jefferson, one of America's Founding Fathers and the principal author
of the US Declaration of Independence. I'd like to recall my favorite
quote of his to honor him: `History, in general, only informs us of
what bad government is.'
April 14 this year was the 100th anniversary of the day the Titanic
struck an iceberg. The 3D movie Retailers, marketers and promoters
have taken advantage of this anniversary with the re-release of James
Cameron's blockbuster movie `Titanic' in 3D, with the construction of
a new museum in Belfast and by selling remembrance trinkets.
April 17 was a very important day for working Americans since it was
the US income tax filing deadline. Albert Einstein once said of filing
tax returns: `This is too difficult for a mathematician. It takes a
philosopher.' But everyone has to do it anyway because as Benjamin
Franklin said, `There are only two things certain in life: death and
taxes.'
April 22 is the day we must remember that every day should be Earth Day.
April 23 is National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey. Most
Turks believe we are the only nation that has a national children's
day. However, according to the United Nations, there are 76 other
countries that hold a national children's day. Also, since Turkey
welcomes children from all around the world for International
Children's Day celebrations, we assume all countries know this day.
But it is not commonly celebrated in the US or any other country.
Yet, this year, the state of New Jersey officially recognized April 23
as Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day with the efforts of
the Pax Turcica Institute, the Assembly of Turkish American
Associations and the Federation of Turkish American Associations. I
think it's a great step to promote Turkish culture. Hopefully, at
least in NJ, the day will be more joyful for our children with the
activities they may have in their American schools to share their
cultural heritage.
April 24 is a critical day for both Armenians and Turks in the US.
This year, on the 97th anniversary of the dispute between Turks and
Armenians on the painful part of their mutual history -- Armenians
call it genocide and Turks say inter-ethnic violence. Both sides
awaited President Obama's annual remembrance speech and as in previous
years they weren't satisfied with his proclamations. Armenians were
upset because Obama didn't use the `G-word' and Turks were
disappointed because Obama's statement was one-sided.
Since I came to the US 16 years ago, nothing has changed dramatically
from April to April. Every year, as April 24 approaches, there are
campaigns on both sides to raise awareness of their claims about the
events. In the past, letters and faxes were sent to the authorities;
nowadays we send emails instead. And most recently we tweet our
messages to the public.
This year Kim Kardashian, like many other Armenian-Americans, wanted
to make #ArmenianGenocide a trend on Twitter but couldn't. I am not
sure if her failure was because she's not as popular as she wishes she
were or if the `g-word' is so overused and isn't taken so seriously
anymore.
Maybe it's about time for both sides to find common ground to face the
facts of history by starting joint historical research. We should be
more realistic and conciliatory to acknowledge the `shared pain' of
this memory. We cannot change the past but we can get together to
understand what exactly happened in the past to brighten our future.
If we want to make a difference we should build up a solid dialogue
not to fight to be right but to understand each other's points.
Profound historical traumas can be dealt with only through honest and
sincere dialogue. Why do we give power to third-party politicians to
use this matter for their political interests? We have enough rain in
April. It's time for May flowers to bloom.
And finally, April 26 is Poem in Your Pocket Day in the US. In
conclusion, here is a poem from my pocket for you:
Tender words
-- Rumi
Tender words we spoke
to one another
are sealed
in the secret vaults of heaven.
One day like rain,
they will fall to earth
and grow green
all over the world.
From: A. Papazian
April 29 2012
April showers bring May flowers
ARZU KAYA URANLI
The month of April means different things for different people. It
starts with the laughter of April Fool's Day jokes on April 1 then
continues with worldwide and national anniversaries, remembrance days,
holidays and birthdays.
April 4 is the anniversary of the day the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) was established. It was founded during the Cold
War and aimed at safeguarding the freedom of the North Atlantic
community.
This year April 6 was important both for Jews and Christians because
it was both Good Friday as part of the Easter season -- the death of
Jesus Christ by crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday -- and the
first day of eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover.
April 13 is the birthday of the third American president, Thomas
Jefferson, one of America's Founding Fathers and the principal author
of the US Declaration of Independence. I'd like to recall my favorite
quote of his to honor him: `History, in general, only informs us of
what bad government is.'
April 14 this year was the 100th anniversary of the day the Titanic
struck an iceberg. The 3D movie Retailers, marketers and promoters
have taken advantage of this anniversary with the re-release of James
Cameron's blockbuster movie `Titanic' in 3D, with the construction of
a new museum in Belfast and by selling remembrance trinkets.
April 17 was a very important day for working Americans since it was
the US income tax filing deadline. Albert Einstein once said of filing
tax returns: `This is too difficult for a mathematician. It takes a
philosopher.' But everyone has to do it anyway because as Benjamin
Franklin said, `There are only two things certain in life: death and
taxes.'
April 22 is the day we must remember that every day should be Earth Day.
April 23 is National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey. Most
Turks believe we are the only nation that has a national children's
day. However, according to the United Nations, there are 76 other
countries that hold a national children's day. Also, since Turkey
welcomes children from all around the world for International
Children's Day celebrations, we assume all countries know this day.
But it is not commonly celebrated in the US or any other country.
Yet, this year, the state of New Jersey officially recognized April 23
as Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day with the efforts of
the Pax Turcica Institute, the Assembly of Turkish American
Associations and the Federation of Turkish American Associations. I
think it's a great step to promote Turkish culture. Hopefully, at
least in NJ, the day will be more joyful for our children with the
activities they may have in their American schools to share their
cultural heritage.
April 24 is a critical day for both Armenians and Turks in the US.
This year, on the 97th anniversary of the dispute between Turks and
Armenians on the painful part of their mutual history -- Armenians
call it genocide and Turks say inter-ethnic violence. Both sides
awaited President Obama's annual remembrance speech and as in previous
years they weren't satisfied with his proclamations. Armenians were
upset because Obama didn't use the `G-word' and Turks were
disappointed because Obama's statement was one-sided.
Since I came to the US 16 years ago, nothing has changed dramatically
from April to April. Every year, as April 24 approaches, there are
campaigns on both sides to raise awareness of their claims about the
events. In the past, letters and faxes were sent to the authorities;
nowadays we send emails instead. And most recently we tweet our
messages to the public.
This year Kim Kardashian, like many other Armenian-Americans, wanted
to make #ArmenianGenocide a trend on Twitter but couldn't. I am not
sure if her failure was because she's not as popular as she wishes she
were or if the `g-word' is so overused and isn't taken so seriously
anymore.
Maybe it's about time for both sides to find common ground to face the
facts of history by starting joint historical research. We should be
more realistic and conciliatory to acknowledge the `shared pain' of
this memory. We cannot change the past but we can get together to
understand what exactly happened in the past to brighten our future.
If we want to make a difference we should build up a solid dialogue
not to fight to be right but to understand each other's points.
Profound historical traumas can be dealt with only through honest and
sincere dialogue. Why do we give power to third-party politicians to
use this matter for their political interests? We have enough rain in
April. It's time for May flowers to bloom.
And finally, April 26 is Poem in Your Pocket Day in the US. In
conclusion, here is a poem from my pocket for you:
Tender words
-- Rumi
Tender words we spoke
to one another
are sealed
in the secret vaults of heaven.
One day like rain,
they will fall to earth
and grow green
all over the world.
From: A. Papazian