as i see it - Pt. IV

[vava]

long time no see vahan - welcome back....

[Nakharar]

If the Turks didn't win then why are we here?

 

I have to agree with Ara. They won a massive victory, because no one expected it. They played the few cards that they had very well and went to the kill when the hour struck. They would have done away with the Armenians with or without a contingency plan. We had no place in their worldview.

[ara baliozian]

Friday, May 06, 2005

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Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), Danish philosopher: “The tyrant dies and his rule ends, the martyr dies and his rule begins.”

*

An American academic once wrote me a letter with the following question: “Why the Armenian massacres? Was it the Armenians who committed the massacres?”

And I remember to have thought our tragedy has become someone else’s Comedy of Errors.

*

All it takes to pervert human understanding is a little ignorance (or is it innocence?) combined with a touch of apathy. Who among us will dare to plead not guilty to the charge of ignorance and apathy when it comes to the plight of other nations?

*

It is a well-known fact that in America when the cavalry won it was a victory, but when the Indians won it was a massacre.

*

And now let us test our own commitment to truth and objectivity. Is it the Hutu or the Tutsi massacres? Does it matter? Why is it so important to a hang a label on a human tragedy that is also an international scandal, in addition to being a routine occurrence in world history?

*

A number of Hutu and Tutsi scholars will no doubt write books on the subject explaining their side of the story, and I for one will question their objectivity. And if I ever feel like reading still another book on man’s inhumanity to man, I will wait until a Western historian publishes his version of it. Not that his version will come with a guarantee of objectivity; but the chances are it will be more objective than both the Tutsi and Hutu versions.

*

By the way, I have already read an article by a British journalist in which the Hutu (or Tutsi) massacres are placed in their proper historic context in such a convincing manner that they no longer appear as sudden and unpredictable eruptions of evil.

*

Perhaps what I am trying to say here is that, our version of the Genocide may arouse the sympathy of isolated individuals here and there, now and then, but not of nations. Nations may use the Genocide for their own selfish reasons if they can, but they will do so without a single particle of compassion, or, for that matter, love of justice.

#

[ara baliozian]

In Gallipoli, turks under ataturk lost 350,000 regular troops, fighting the great powers and their allies (from india and australia), but they won, and they used that victory as a licence to declare jihad and massacre all the christians within their borders. / ara

 

 

 

*

We see the Genocide as a tragedy; but it is also a defeat and a victory – a Turkish victory not only over Greeks, Kurds, and Armenians, but also Russia, the Great Powers of the West, and their Allies.

*

I don't think it was the Turkish victory. It more looks like it was a back-up plan in case of the lost war. I do not really understand why they picked a genocide of the christian minorities but it can hardly be called a victory over the WEST. Even well before Tallar/Enver and Co. in 19th century the Russian Tsar was warned by the Western Embassies in Istanbul that in case Russians take Polis by force the Turks will commit a genocide of all the Christian minorities, most of whom were "under Russian protectorate". At that time the Sultan was if not an Anglo-Russian puppet but strongly dependent on their "mood". Turks were very well aware that their Empire is on the abyss, and dependent on the British and Russian. What did not happen in the 19th century because of more careful political players, did take place in the 20th - the Empire collapsed and the Christian minorities were massacred.

 

This does not look like a victory of Turks over anybody, and I would like to know your opinion.

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[sen_Vahan]

In Gallipoli, turks under ataturk lost 350,000 regular troops, fighting the great powers and their allies (from india and australia), but they won, and they used that victory as a licence to declare jihad and massacre all the christians within their borders. / ara

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Thanks for the reply.

 

Perhaps you are right, I have to agree. However, it is a victory of people who brought the multinational Empire to the end creating a single-national republic instead. If we ignore the collapse of the Ottomans and all the lost wars and territories, then yes it was their victory. Perhaps it was the victory of the Young Turks alone but not Turks who had a huge territory under their control.

 

Vahan

[sen_Vahan]

long time no see vahan - welcome back....

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Thanks vava for welcoming me back Yeah, it has been a long time...

[vava]

well, it's good to have you back

[ara baliozian]

Saturday, May 07, 2005

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It has been said that nothing divides the Arab nations more than talk of Arab unity. Something similar could be said about us. Because I have been critical of our dividers, I too have been accused of being one.

*

To speak the truth privately but not publicly is to compound the felony of perjury with cowardice.

*

The best thing philosophy can do is to make us less gullible to the sophistries of political and religious leaders and their divide-and-rule tactics.

*

I wish God existed so that He would punish all those who dared to speak in His name.

*

I believe in progress. I believe in human perfectibility. I believe in the ultimate triumph of reason. These are my three greatest illusions.

*

It is easy to guess the collective IQ of a nation by the quality of its propaganda.

*

FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF GOSTAN ZARIAN

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Withered souls and twisted minds are parasites that smother life. Exposing them is our sacred duty.

*

They asked Nietzsche why some of his writings are obscure and incomprehensible and he said because he didn't want swine to enter his garden. Our swine have already entered our garden, alas, trampled over our beautiful plants and flowers, and reduced them to weeds.

*

To have a homeland means to be able to live in harmony in a certain environment and to feel at home in its atmosphere. With us, homeland has always been a distant mirage.

*

There are those who think membership in a party qualifies them as experts on any given subject.

*

With us, simple words become sources of endless controversy and everyone rises to the defense of his monastery, his chickens, his village, and his dialect.

#

[ara baliozian]

the turks were about to lose even the last shred of the empire, i.e. turkey, to greeks, kurds, russians, the great powers and their allies. they fought to the last man and under the charistmatic leadership of ataturk because they fought for their very survival..../ara

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Perhaps you are right, I have to agree. However, it is a victory of people who brought the multinational Empire to the end creating a single-national republic instead. If we ignore the collapse of the Ottomans and all the lost wars and territories, then yes it was their victory. Perhaps it was the victory of the Young Turks alone but not Turks who had a huge territory under their control.

 

Vahan

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[ara baliozian]

Sunday, May 08, 2005

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DEFINING ARMENIANISM

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If you analyze the Armenianism of our superpatriots, you may discover that most of it consists of tolerance for that tiny fraction of their fellow Armenians who are members of the same mutual-admiration society. Everyone else, including fellow Armenians (that is to say, 99% of mankind), are perceived as hostile witnesses and enemies.

*

ON GENOCIDE

***********************

Those who are on our side will be one our side for their own selfish reasons and regardless of what we or anyone else says. Those who are against us will never allow their conscience or sense of justice and fair play to shape their convictions. As for the skeptics, the ignorant, and the apathetic, the best way to enhance our credibility in their eyes is by presenting both sides of the story and allowing them to decide for themselves.

*

WORTH REMEMBERING

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There is no accounting for tastes. Some scholars are Turcophiles in the same way that some women fall in love with serial killers.

*

ON CONTEMPORARY

ARMENIAN LITERATURE

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The cruelest thing that has happened to Armenian writers after they were systematically and ruthlessly slaughtered by Talaat and Stalin was to become dependent on the charity of swine.

*

Millionaires don’t read books; they prefer to count their money. I don’t blame them. If I had any money, I too would probably trade in my typewriter for an adding machine.

*

One of our benefactors is quoted as having said to one of our writers: “I hire and fire people like you every day.”

*

Stalin had his commissars of culture whose function was to silence dissent and to bury critics. Our benefactors have their hirelings whose function is to be guardians of mediocrity by supporting only brown-nosers.

*

A LOSE / LOSE SITUATION

******************************************

After calling me the “son of a Turkish whore,” one of my gentle readers added, “No offense!” More recently another gentle reader (I have been blessed with so many of them) after leveling a string of insults, accused me of being too sensitive. Had I ignored his insults, I would have been accused of having the skin of a crocodile.

#

[vava]

A LOSE / LOSE SITUATION

******************************************

After calling me the “son of a Turkish whore,” one of my gentle readers added, “No offense!” More recently another gentle reader (I have been blessed with so many of them) after leveling a string of insults, accused me of being too sensitive. Had I ignored his insults, I would have been accused of having the skin of a crocodile.

#

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Dear Ara,

 

As I am sure that you have been asked this question before, please forgive me in advance.

 

It seems that you go through much torture and strife in order to simply write or express your thoughts and opinions on 'Armenian-ism'. Do you ever ask yourself if it's all for naught? Do you feel that your voice has a beneficial impact either for yourself, or for our culture as whole? Does it bring you any satisfaction? I hope, for your sake, that your answers to the above questions lend at least a potentially postive counter-balance to your 'plight'.

 

Regards...

[DominO123]

*

We see the Genocide as a tragedy; but it is also a defeat and a victory – a Turkish victory not only over Greeks, Kurds, and Armenians, but also Russia, the Great Powers of the West, and their Allies.

*

I don't think it was the Turkish victory. It more looks like it was a back-up plan in case of the lost war. I do not really understand why they picked a genocide of the christian minorities but it can hardly be called a victory over the WEST. Even well before Tallar/Enver and Co. in 19th century the Russian Tsar was warned by the Western Embassies in Istanbul that in case Russians take Polis by force the Turks will commit a genocide of all the Christian minorities, most of whom were "under Russian protectorate". At that time the Sultan was if not an Anglo-Russian puppet but strongly dependent on their "mood". Turks were very well aware that their Empire is on the abyss, and dependent on the British and Russian. What did not happen in the 19th century because of more careful political players, did take place in the 20th - the Empire collapsed and the Christian minorities were massacred.

 

This does not look like a victory of Turks over anybody, and I would like to know your opinion.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

 

Actualy, I think the West warning was just a way to prevent the Russian Empire to get hold of the Ottoman Empire and taking too much power, more than the British Empire could handle, in the same line in 1878, Russian advances was abrutly stopped by the British interventions for that reason.

 

Anyway, nice to see you back.

[sen_Vahan]

Actualy, I think the West warning was just a way to prevent the Russian Empire to get hold of the Ottoman Empire and taking too much power, more than the British Empire could handle, in the same line in 1878, Russian advances was abrutly stopped by the British interventions for that reason.

 

Anyway, nice to see you back. 

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Thanks, nice to see you too. I do nor temember you though, what was your previous nickname? (or name)

 

I agree with the point, I was just trying to point out that the genocide was in no way a victory but just a back-up plan.

 

Vahan

[sen_Vahan]

Ara,

 

How is it going with the book-selling business? Just curious, because you as well as many other writers post a lot online, which is free for the readers. Doesn't it affect the book-sells? The question is would I find more if I bought the paper versions or no?

 

Thanks

[ara baliozian]

Monday, May 09, 2005

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The Armenian psyche has been a central theme of our literature from Khorenatsi and Yeghishe (5th century AD) to Shahan Shahnour, Gostan Zarian, and Baruir Massikian (20th century). Everything I say about us is a paraphrase. I invent nothing, and I am original only in the etymological sense of the word – I go back to the origins…thus it was in the past, and thus it is today. Progress is our least important product, and vicious circle our favorite trajectory.

*

One way to define Armenianism is to say that it ought to be the opposite of Ottomanism. If Ottomanism is intolerant, despotic, cruel and ruthless, Armenianism ought to be tolerant, democratic, compassionate, and considerate towards underdogs and minorities.

*

If the Turks say, what really matters is only their side of the story, we should not say the same about our side of the story.

*

Perhaps the problem with Turks is that they think only with their Turkish brain. We should avoid emulating them. Instead, we should follow Woodrow Wilson’s advice and “not only use the brains we have, but all that we can borrow.” And we wouldn’t have to borrow from foreign sources either, because everything that needs to be said has already been said by our own writers.

*

Yugoslav proverb: “Man is harder than rock and more fragile than eggs.” If we view Turks as hard as rocks and ourselves as fragile as eggs it may be because, by uniting them, their leaders made them stronger; and by dividing us, our leaders made us weaker and more vulnerable. If you think I am the first to say this, read Yeghishe (410-470 AD): “If a nation is ruled by two kings, both the kings and their subjects will perish.”

*

To ignore our prophets is bad enough; to cover up their prophecies is to pretend that history fell on us without warning, like a thief in the night.

*

Here is another quotation from Yeghishe: “Solidarity is the mother of good deeds, divisiveness of evil ones.”

*

And now, compare these two quotations from the 5th century AD with two parallel quotations from Nikol Aghbalian (1873-1947), statesman, literary scholar, and educator: “When man does not submit himself to the rule of law, he will have to submit himself to the rule of men, that is to say, cliques and gangs.”

And, “We Armenians are products of the tribal mentality of Turks and Kurds, and this tribal mentality remains stubbornly rooted even among our leaders and elites.”

*

Thus it was in the past and thus it is today.

#

[ara baliozian]

i am doing what other writers have done before me.

whether it is effective or not, it is up to you to say.

as for me, i have no illusions.

i am no longer young, naive, and gullible.../ara

 

 

 

Dear Ara,

 

As I am sure that you have been asked this question before, please forgive me in advance.

 

It seems that you go through much torture and strife in order to simply write or express your thoughts and opinions on 'Armenian-ism'.  Do you ever ask yourself if it's all for naught?  Do you feel that your voice has a beneficial impact either for yourself, or for our culture as whole? Does it bring you any satisfaction? I hope, for your sake, that your answers to the above questions lend at least a potentially postive counter-balance to your 'plight'. 

 

Regards...

style_images/master/snapback.png

[ara baliozian]

the book-selling business is so paralyzed

that it might as well be either dead or in a coma..../ara

 

 

 

Ara,

 

How is it going with the book-selling business? Just curious, because you as well as many other writers post a lot online, which is free for the readers. Doesn't it affect the book-sells? The question is would I find more if I bought the paper versions or no?

 

Thanks

style_images/master/snapback.png

[DominO123]

Thanks, nice to see you too. I do nor temember you though, what was your previous nickname? (or name)

 

I agree with the point, I was just trying to point out that the genocide was in no way a victory but just a back-up plan.

 

Vahan

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Domino/Domino

[ara baliozian]

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

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LATERAL THINKING

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I don’t write against anyone, not even Turks. I write against the Turk in me.

*

Some of my readers operate on the assumption that by insulting me they assert their superior brand of morality and patriotism, as opposed to exposing themselves as products of an inferior educational system.

*

Who will disagree with me if I say to have an Armenian friend is to harbor a potential enemy?

*

There is a difference between history in the making and history as a fait accompli. History in the making is a messier affair fraught with uncertainties, doubts, and misunderstandings. During World War I the Turks had no way of knowing they will come out of it alive, in the same way that we were sure the Christian West would not abandon us at the mercy of bloodthirsty infidels and Asiatic barbarians.

*

Because we are experiencing a slow-motion and self-inflicted white massacre, we pretend it is not taking place.

*

I neither preach nor teach. I share. There is an element of coercion in both preaching and teaching. A preacher relies on a captive audience, and a teacher on his own authority. Sharing is between equals; it does not exploit or violate anyone’s freedom.

*

Martin Luther (1483-1546): “I am more afraid of my own heart than of the Pope and his cardinals. I have within me the great Pope, Self.”

#

[ara baliozian]

#

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

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If members of your mutual admiration society are unanimous in agreeing with you, the chances are the rest of the world will be against you.

*

Most so-called good Armenians are good only by their own definition. I have yet to meet a good Armenian who was not bad in the eyes of other Armenians; and some of the most repellent Armenians I have met thought of themselves as standard bearers of Armenianism. And if you were to ask me if I think of myself as a good Armenian, I will say that I am so busy trying and failing to be a good human being that I no longer care if I qualify as a good Armenian by anyone's definition.

*

To assume that one is better than others may be said to be the source of all violence. What are wars and revolutions, massacres and genocides if not results of this aberration?

*

As Armenians we see ourselves as innocent victims. As Turks they see themselves as unjustly accused. When we judge others, we always judge them in relations to ourselves rather than in relation to their fellow men.

*

Erich Fromm: "Understanding a person does not mean condoning; it only means that one does not accuse him as if one were God or a judge placed above him."

*

If you say I am making so many demands on my fellow Armenians that it amounts to victimizing the victims all over again; I will say, all I have been saying is that, only if we shed our Ottomanism may we usher in another golden age. You might even say I am the bearer of good tidings and joy.

#

[ara baliozian]

Thursday, May 12, 2005

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SUMMING UP

***********************

After the Sultan, Talaat.

After Talaat, Stalin.

And after Stalin, our own semi-sultans, mini-mullahs, and crypto-commissars – and all speechifying and sermonizing about liberty, fraternity, and equality.

*

Who’s next? What can we look forward to?

What else but another set of charlatans whose actions will contradict their words, as our academics go on producing scholarly works, organize symposia, grant interviews, and deliver lectures on subjects and events that have been consigned to the dustbin of history; as our elder statesmen and pundits carry on dishing out the same old platitudes about the first nation to convert to Christianity, the first nation to suffer a genocide in the 20th Century, Khachaturian, Mikoyan, Saroyan, Gulbenkian, and Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat (a non-existent object on someone else’s mountain); and as our charitable institutions brag about their good deeds on all continents except the Antarctica; and as our dupes brainwash themselves into believing we are in good hands and we never had it so good.

*

Am I talking about our past, present, and prospects for the future? No, of course not! I am only describing my own state of mind.

*

Even when we speak of others, we speak of ourselves.

*

Think twice before you say another word on Turks.

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[ara baliozian]

Friday, May 13, 2005

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When we think of our writers, we do so with a mixture of compassion, ridicule, and contempt. Our rug merchants have more self-esteem than our poets. I once heard of a poet who became the apprentice of a shoemaker in order to enhance his image in the eyes of his fellow Armenians.

*

True knowledge contains doubts, false knowledge only certainties.

*

If as a teenager I had read someone like me, I would have hated his guts.

*

When it comes to political awareness, we are an underdeveloped people no better than Zulus and Ugandans.

*

Turks may be bad folk but for us they make good conversation pieces.

*

A bad reader can be a mean critic.

*

An Armenian agrees as an Armenian, but he disagrees as a Turk.

*

Please note that I reply to all my critics. But on rereading I delete all replies that contain four-letter words, not only because the moderator wouldn’t allow profanities on his forum but because as a barbarian I like to project the image of a civilized man.

*

Once in a while I say nasty things about myself so that my enemies may have a less hostile disposition towards me.

*

Men have been talking about women since the beginning of time and they still can’t figure them out. What does that tell you about the state of human knowledge and understanding?

*

If we call Turks swine we run the risk of alienating the good Turks as well as the half-Armenians within Turkey, that is to say, our most important potential allies. Think about that.

#

[ara baliozian]

a reader writes:

**********************

 

 

"If you say I am making so many demands on my

fellow Armenians that it amounts to victimizing

the victims all over again"

 

I think you are exposing the real problem. We see

ourselves so much as

victims, that our "victimization" syndrome is

clouding our judgment. The

moment Armenians will start to see themselves as

members of a larger human

family that includes all of humanity (even Turks,

as difficult as that might

seem), rather than perennial victims, will be

when Armenians can claim to

adhere to the Godly standards of universal love

and brotherhood towards

other humans. Being in a constant state of

"victimhood"' implies that we are

no longer in communion with the rest of humanity

which goes against the very

essence of God's teachings.

 

Sincerely,

Jean-Grégoire

[ara baliozian]

Saturday, May 14, 2005

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If teachers in Turkey have no choice but to use textbooks approved by the state, in what way is the average Turk today guilty or evil?

*

What a book one could write on the role of misunderstanding in history!

*

When, at the turn of the last century, Turks heard Armenian Evangelicals singing "Onward Christian soldiers," they thought the giaours were planning another crusade.

*

If I took my critics seriously, I would have two instead of only one ulcer.

*

Some of my readers are disappointed in me because they think the function of a writer is to legitimize their prejudices.

*

Good men don't judge bad men, because good men (if they exist) are too busy examining their own heart.

*

It is only by confronting our dark side that we may see the light.

*

If an Armenian tells you he doesn't hate Turks, it may be because he loves to lie even more.

*

From a popular Armenian song: "An Armenian loves to eat (oudel) / and he eats to hate (adel)."

#

[ara baliozian]

Sunday, May 15, 2005

*********************************

Agreeable lies are the most popular truths.

Example: God is on our side.

*

When I think of my youth, the question that I ask myself again and again is, How did I ever manage to survive with so much ignorance?

*

Whenever I say something that makes sense, I make another enemy.

*

After every sentence I write, I would like to add: “Of course, I could be wrong.”

*

If you assert infallibility, you will be wrong if not in content then in style.

*

If God loves men, He must also love, or at least enjoy, watching them hate one another.

*

If making friends means going down to their level or lobotomizing myself, I’d rather make enemies.

*

Something must change. We can’t go on like this. It is high time that we move beyond the infantile stage of name-calling. We could begin by saying: “We know you suffered too. We feel as much pain for your victims as we do for ours. Let us therefore agree to lament for all victims regardless of race and religion.”

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