Tweet
GENOCIDE IS OUR SHARED GRIEF - TURKISH BLOGGER
11:53 ~U 23.04.13
As April 24 is drawing near again, many politicians would wish US
President Barack Obama not to say Armenian Genocide to describe the
tragedy, a blogger of the Turkish Radikal has said in recent article.
Dogan Ozcan believes that Obama's failure to pronounce the word would
help many sigh with relief and think that the 1.5 million Armenians
who were deprived of life in the WWI-era tragic killings, died a
natural death.
"Have you ever argued with your friends over the Armenian Genocide?
Such disputes normally begin with a denial, the subsequent remarks
sounding like, 'they were the first to provoke it'. Did the Ottoman
Empire resort to self-protection by killing hundreds and thousands
of people, [including] children?
The Armenian massacre which became the first ever Genocide known
to history was pre-arranged, and long work was carried out in that
direction. The Ottoman Empire provoked the Armenian armed groups,
and later launched operations for 'defense'," he says.
Dwelling on the topic, the Ozcan says that the Turkish state later
claimed responsibility from the civilian population, deporting them
from homes.
"All those massacres were, as a matter of fact, arranged by the armed
groups throughout the deportation, with the disaster assuming larger
scales," the Turkish blogger says, characterizing the Armenian Genocide
as the best organized crime targeting an ethnic group.
"Even if the state fails to consider it genocide, it is aware at
least that numerous Armenians were killed during the deportation. The
Armenian people began commemorating the Genocide much later. The
nation's intellectual class were either killed or jailed. Unlike
other genocides, most intellectuals didn't manage to take flight.
It was not until 1965, the Soviet period, that the Armenians first
managed to organize [commemoration] events.
Nationalism, which has nowadays turned into a political tool, is
seeking to undermine that reality. By saying 'They were the first to
provoke it' and finding excuses, we look like a child who shifts the
blame on a friend whom he or she has beaten. But it is time to start
growing up now. Because if we, as members of the society, manage to
do that, it will not turn into political tricks, and a nation's grief
will not be used as a '[propaganda] machine' upon being brought on the
agenda. We must prevent it becoming a topic of a political blackmail,"
Ozcan continues.
He notes further that Armenians accounted for 35% of Anatolia's
population before the tragic events, their number reducing to 5%
after the tragic events. "What else could have been its cause if not
Genocide? It is necessary to think about that, setting aside all the
political concerns," he says, urging for efforts to avoid continuing
the Turkish ancestors' genocidal policies.
He calls upon the Turks to gather on the squares on April 24 "to make
the brotherhood real".
Armenian News - Tert.am
11:53 ~U 23.04.13
As April 24 is drawing near again, many politicians would wish US
President Barack Obama not to say Armenian Genocide to describe the
tragedy, a blogger of the Turkish Radikal has said in recent article.
Dogan Ozcan believes that Obama's failure to pronounce the word would
help many sigh with relief and think that the 1.5 million Armenians
who were deprived of life in the WWI-era tragic killings, died a
natural death.
"Have you ever argued with your friends over the Armenian Genocide?
Such disputes normally begin with a denial, the subsequent remarks
sounding like, 'they were the first to provoke it'. Did the Ottoman
Empire resort to self-protection by killing hundreds and thousands
of people, [including] children?
The Armenian massacre which became the first ever Genocide known
to history was pre-arranged, and long work was carried out in that
direction. The Ottoman Empire provoked the Armenian armed groups,
and later launched operations for 'defense'," he says.
Dwelling on the topic, the Ozcan says that the Turkish state later
claimed responsibility from the civilian population, deporting them
from homes.
"All those massacres were, as a matter of fact, arranged by the armed
groups throughout the deportation, with the disaster assuming larger
scales," the Turkish blogger says, characterizing the Armenian Genocide
as the best organized crime targeting an ethnic group.
"Even if the state fails to consider it genocide, it is aware at
least that numerous Armenians were killed during the deportation. The
Armenian people began commemorating the Genocide much later. The
nation's intellectual class were either killed or jailed. Unlike
other genocides, most intellectuals didn't manage to take flight.
It was not until 1965, the Soviet period, that the Armenians first
managed to organize [commemoration] events.
Nationalism, which has nowadays turned into a political tool, is
seeking to undermine that reality. By saying 'They were the first to
provoke it' and finding excuses, we look like a child who shifts the
blame on a friend whom he or she has beaten. But it is time to start
growing up now. Because if we, as members of the society, manage to
do that, it will not turn into political tricks, and a nation's grief
will not be used as a '[propaganda] machine' upon being brought on the
agenda. We must prevent it becoming a topic of a political blackmail,"
Ozcan continues.
He notes further that Armenians accounted for 35% of Anatolia's
population before the tragic events, their number reducing to 5%
after the tragic events. "What else could have been its cause if not
Genocide? It is necessary to think about that, setting aside all the
political concerns," he says, urging for efforts to avoid continuing
the Turkish ancestors' genocidal policies.
He calls upon the Turks to gather on the squares on April 24 "to make
the brotherhood real".
Armenian News - Tert.am