1915's Memory Confuses Turks

[Nakharar]

1915's memory confuses Turks

 

27/04/2005 Bianet.org

Turkish public gives vexed reactions regarding the heated debate on

Armenian Question. While some propose: "Let's recognize what had

happened in the past, this would only credit us", others retort:

"Europe and the US are attempting at dismembering us.

 

BIA (Istanbul) - As the people of Armenia and the Armenian

`diaspora' across the globe commemorate the 90th anniversary of

the `genocide' of 1915, Turkish public is divided between

conflicting opinions.

 

Some believe that Turkey approaches the issue with paranoid doubts,

and believe that relieving the country from the burden of the past by

recognizing whatever happened in history would earn credits for

Turkey. Yet others perceive the Armenian Question as US and EU forged

conspiracy in order to dismember the country.

 

Randomly interviewed by bianet reporter, Istanbul inhabitants reflect

motley shades of both opinions.

 

`Nobody is going to carve Kars (an Eastern town city neighbouring

Armenia) out of Turkey's boundaries. The Germans admitted that they

have killed the Jews and earned credits for repenting. It would not

be any different for Turkey,' says insurance agent Seda Katirci.

Student Hüseyin Alkan converges with the same opinion.

 

However a döner`grilled meat- seller Ahmet Barcin is cool to

say: `Nobody kills the other without reason,' and argues that all

talk is coming from `those who want to stain the reputation of

Turkey.'

 

Meanwhile barber Cüneyt Aslan raises the issue of Turkish casualties

inflicted during the Armenian uprisings of the early 20th century:

`Nobody is talking about the Turkish people who died there. This

shows that Armenians and the Europeans are playing it double'.

 

Student Aysel Oguz proposes a different approach though: `Let's

recognize what happened then and apologize. Since our public memory

is weak enough, it will soon be forgotten. Nobody cares about what

happens in Iraq today as much as what took place 90 years ago'.

 

Comments

 

Hüseyin Alkan, student

 

Whatever you may call it, genocide or else, you cannot change the

blunt reality that; people were killed. Turkey must start recognizing

some things. Once you do so, you do not belittle yourself, or you

lose from your dignity. Instead, I believe you are gaining some

appraisal. In the end, it is the Ottoman Empire who did it, not

Turkey.

 

Ahmet Barcin, döner `grill- seller

 

Nobody strangles the other without reason. Those who want to stain

our history are at work again as proved by this Armenian issue. The

only friend of the Turk is nobody but the Turk. The Europeans whom we

had defeated feel themselves hurt and looking for revenge in

supporting Armenians. We will not allow this, if somebody tries to

meddle with our business, they will have the answer in a responding

manner'.

 

Seda Katirci, insurance agent

 

"Europeans regard us as barbarians, they look down upon us, and they

try to dismember Turkey'¦ All these are illusions forged in our

minds. Nobody perceives us this way. Nobody is going to carve `the

Armenia-Turkey border city of- Kars away. These events happened 90

years ago. The Americans accepted they killed the Amerindians and the

Germans admitted the same for the Jews, and they earned credits for

that. I think it would be no different for Turkey.

 

Cüneyt Aslan, barber

 

The Crusaders are back again. They are talking about a war that

happened 90 years ago, as if it happened yesterday. Nobody is even

talking about the Turks who died there. This shows that the Armenians

and the Europeans are playing it double. If they are not accepting us

in the European Union because of this, then they better don't at

all'.

 

Aysel Oguz, student

 

It is as if whole world has left aside everything else and is

debating how many died 90 years ago. Yet they do not care how many

people already die in Iraq and in the ongoing wars elsewhere. Since

our public memory is extremely weak just like the fish memory. I

propose apologize. Everything will be forgotten soon. Thus, Turkey

will be relieved of the pressure coming from Europe and the US.

 

Hande Kocgürbüz, housewife

 

If we admit that genocide had occurred, I am afraid that very bad

things will happen. In the TV broadcasts, it is repeatedly reported

that Turkey's interests are at stake. I wonder does EU support for

the Armenians mean, and what for a negative attitude towards Turkey.

And what if the Armenians are right? What if Turkey is right? We do

not know the answers to these questions. A war had happened and

people were killed. Our rulers will do whatever necessary.

 

Bahri Yavuz, art historian

 

The whole problem is not detached of our own perception of history

and our attitude towards the minorities. The core problem is that

`in our popular conscience- everybody except Turks are perceived as

villains plotting against our national interests, and this is what is

taught to the public: `Our homeland will be taken away from us',

`The Armenians and the Kurds are plotting against our country'.

 

We must get rid of such paranoia and stop speaking of `so-called

genocide' but resolve conflicts instead. We should also recognize

that people from other ethnic backgrounds are also living in this

country. The Armenians are one of those. Refusals will not solve

anything.