Peter

quote:Originally posted by khodja: Peter, FYI, both my grandfathers were killed by the henchmen of the Young Turks, even though one was not 100% Armenian. My aunt, an infant, was also killed. At least 100 other members of my family "disappeared." So don't think that I do not understand your feelings. Emotional outbursts, however, have gotten us nowhere. It is our minds, not our hearts that will be our salvation. Last year great strides were made to bring the Genocide issue to the attention of the world. It forced the Turkish government to assist in forming a commission to try to address the issues between Armenians and Turks. I do not know whether this commission will accomplish anything substantial, but it did force the Turkish leaders to make a move. Do not paint all Turks with one brush. By doing so you weaken your position. Organized intelligent effort and a willingness to put aside traditional Armenian divisions will help our cause. Raw emotions will only bring us more despair. The root of our present problems is the traditioanal position of the Armenian Churches over the perceptions of the people. Why should the Armenian Church be split into two, when the liturgy is identical? Why should Armenian Catholics and Evangelicals be looked upon with disdain? Until the historical grip of the Church is diluted we will go nowhere as a people. Khodja, I wasn't intending to be personal. I brought that example just to show how many of the Armenians feel. And I don't regard all the Turks being the same. I acknowledge for instance the fact that there were turkisch families who saved the lives of some Armenians during the Genocide. I am also aware of turkish intellectuals who don't deny the facts and cooperate with armenian groups on the issue of the Genocide. When I mention Turks, I mean those in charge, and the ones who follow and approve those in charge. And they still build a vast majority of the turkish people (unfortunately). To help forming a comission 85 years after those events is a very poor record on behalf of the turkish government. You don't seriously think that this comission is going to achieve anything positive to us Armenians, do you? This is an issue, where there can be no compromise. What happened then can't be changed or reversed. We Armenians shall not bargain over this matter, basta! As to the problem of the churches, I must admit that I don't quite see the connection to the question of the Genocide. Armenians are not always united, it is true. But when it comes to the subject of genocide they all speak the same language (with perhaps few exception).

The turkish authorities seem to beleive that their country would cease to exist if they admitted the truth. They have formed a state controlled by terror, suppression and lies. And evidently they are ready to maintain the current situation by all means. It is a wellknown fact that Turkey is anything but a democratic country. In fact, one could say that it is a form of military dictatorship. Any turkish citizen expressing criticism towards the state faces possible imprisonment. There are even turkish intellectuals who have suffered this way because of their views regarding the armenian genocide or the kurdish problem etc. As long as there is no freedom of speach and no freedom for press and media in Turkey, there won't be much change I'm afraid. As long as the the avrage man on the streets of Ankara and Istanbul reads the propaganda trash of the Hurijet-Newspaper day after day, I see no way of finding a solution for a better future. I am not an advocate of hate. However, the longer the state refuses to come out with the truth, the greater the hatred that grows among Armenians and Turks towards eachother.

quote:Originally posted by khodja: Gamavor, Must I remind you that there are 65 million Turks, 8 million Azeris and less than 3 million Armenians. The Armenian figure may be closer to 2 million, in reality. The remainder are now citizens of the world. So every Armenian would have to kill 40 Turks to make your wishes come true, while there would be 40 Turks who would have the chance to kill every Armenian. Given these odds, I think it would be better to try to find peace with them. I do not agree with your plans for national suicide. Coming from Texas, have you been instilled with a cowboy mentality? Listen Khodja, 1. In case you didn't know, it is quality that counts and not quantity! The problem which Turks & Azeris seem to face is their lack of quality. See the Artsax conflict: Artsax-Armenians vs. 8 Mio Azeris. You know the outcome! 2. Over 40% of you so called Turks are actually Kurds which are still suffering under terrible kinds of suppression in Turkey. Ask them what they really think of Turks. And them how they feel about living in a country in which people are forced to worship Kemal Attaturk as if he was God! Take my advice if you will and don't use any statistics; especially if you are not aware of all the aspects involved. You talk about peace? That's fine. I have a suggestion. I will come around and kill your father and rape your mother and take everything away from you and then, some years later I'll come back and talk about making peace with you without even apologizing!!! What do you think of that? It is not up to the Armenians to make peace with the Turks. What do you think they are suppose to do? Go over and kiss & hug the Turks for what they have done and tell them "It's Ok, let us become friends."??? Turks should do their homework first and then start talking about peace.

quote:Originally posted by khodja: Gamavor, Must I remind you that there are 65 million Turks, 8 million Azeris and less than 3 million Armenians. The Armenian figure may be closer to 2 million, in reality. The remainder are now citizens of the world. So every Armenian would have to kill 40 Turks to make your wishes come true, while there would be 40 Turks who would have the chance to kill every Armenian. Given these odds, I think it would be better to try to find peace with them. I do not agree with your plans for national suicide. Coming from Texas, have you been instilled with a cowboy mentality?