Dr. Charny Dismantles Prof. Gunter's

[Yervant1]

Dr. Charny Dismantles Prof. Gunter's

Deceptive Genocide Denialism

 

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

 

As the Centennial approaches, Turkish officials and their cohorts are

searching for more subtle approaches to deny the Armenian Genocide.

Realizing that their past practice of outright denial is no longer

credible, they have initiated a more sophisticated campaign that intends to

raise subtle questions about the Armenian Genocide, sowing seeds of doubt

among uninformed masses.

It is not very often that I refer to book reviews in this column, but I

could not ignore the masterful way Dr. Israel Charny, Executive Director of

the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, dismantles Prof.

Michael Gunter's book, Armenian History and the Question of Genocide, which

illustrates the latest revisionist approach at genocide denial.

Here are brief excerpts from Dr. Charny's derisive review of Gunter's book:

"This is the BEST book I have ever read -- which means it is the best of

the whole terrible world of books that are devoted to ridiculous and ugly

denials of absolutely factual known genocides. It is, therefore, a TERRIBLE

work=85. This is the best DENIALIST work I have ever seen insofar as it is

written with a quietness, and solidity of coverage of issues, and even more

as if with an apparent fairness of representing ranges of ideas and

opinions about issues rather than strong-arm statements of single

opinion-truths.

"Gunter, a professor at Tennessee Tech, opens the book with a clear

acknowledgment-disclosure of his significant period of lecturing in Turkey,

and even as he says `I have long wanted to present an objective analysis

of

the Turkish point of view,' he clearly conveys that he is very much on the

side of Turkish denial of the Armenian Genocide=85.

"Gunter is nonetheless a kind denier who continuously throws us bones for

our respite -- and thereby of course it would seem proves and reproves his

announced objectivity. Thus in the same poisonous `Foreword' he quickly

adds to his core statement of denial crocodile tears: `Of course in no way

does this excuse the horrible excesses committed by the Turks.'

"Perhaps the highest praise I can give Gunter is that unlike other great

deniers he cites a large number of scholars and writers, who have published

the now wonderfully strong literature confirming the Armenian Genocide --

and I would add genocides of other peoples alongside the Armenians,

specifically the Assyrians, Greeks, and Yezidis, and also the beginning

moves of the Ottoman government toward a potential genocide of the Jews in

Palestine. Deniers generally stay away like the plague from writers who

confirm the Armenian Genocide=85.

"How does our intrepid `objective' scholar conclude his book? Of course, he

wants to be helpful in curbing the denial that fuels `continuing fear and

revenge.' So he offers strategies beginning with splitting the `more

affluent Armenian Diaspora' that is so concerned with `allegations of

genocide' from `the nation in Armenia' and the `immediate economic

reality

of Armenia.' Yes, he wants to be large-hearted and he calls on Turkey to

help Armenia with its economic problems, and thus in eternal realpolitik

`Turkey may begin to split the two Armenian actors.' But all is not lost in

deception. Goodhearted Gunter also includes a proposal to Turkey to open

the borders it has lockjammed with Armenia for so many years."

Charny concludes his incisive review by suggesting that Gunter's book

"should be studied by all students of denial for its artful stratagems of

sounding fair, acting fairly, citing scholarship that covers divergent and

contradictory points of view, speaking consistently softly, and of course

calling for justice and peace, all in the course of organizing a disarming,

deceitful, anti-history and anti-value-of-life work that should frighten

anybody who is concerned with integrity in intellectual and scholarly

works, and genuine valuing of human life."

Taking one last jab at Gunter's insidious denialism, Charny gives him a

parting underhanded praise: "Once upon a time, deniers were so wild and

obvious buffoons that they claimed that the Ottoman Turkish government

protected and took care of the poor Armenian exiles in their forced march

out of Armenia=85. Now increasingly we have a whole series of recognized

academicians who write in our contemporary language of scholarship and make

their points in the name of open discussion and fairness. Gunter can be

congratulated that he has risen to the top of this group=85."