…And Finding that There’s Enough to Fill a Book
Special for the Armenian Weekly
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we don’t need to see historical ruins or be present in Armenian communities or speak the language to retain our Armenian identity many in silence keep the heritage alive with or without the church but we share an obligation to let our children be aware of their glorious past.
Great piece! You really capture the uncertainty of these interactions well. I remember having the same feeling (“do I tell?”) when I was in Istanbul and Diyarbakir, and I was lucky to have positive experiences when I did answer truthfully. Nice pictures as well!
Why hide you are Armenian when in Turkey? When you duck the question, you arouse more suspicion. When I am in Turkey I always say I am Armenian when asked. 95% of the time, I get positive reactions. For the others, too bad for them.
“Why hide you are Armenian when in Turkey?”
because you might be attacked, savagely beaten, or even worse ?
[Turkish taxi driver attacks Armenian woman beating her]
http://www.panorama.am/en/law/2011/10/10/turkey-taxi/
{A Turkish taxi driver has become furious when he heard his passenger was an Armenian; he insulted and attacked the Armenian woman beating on her face, Armenian language “Marmara” magazine writes.
According to the source, the Armenian woman, whose name is preferred not to be mentioned, called a taxi and having a different accent she was asked about her nationality. “Are you Jewish or Armenian? When the taxi driver heard the woman was an Armenian, he attacked her, beat her and threw her out of the car.}
happened Oct 2011.
I travel frequently in Turkey, including Western Armenia. I tell everyone who asks me why I’m in Turkey that I am an American Armenian and I am visiting my grandparents homeland. If they ask further, I tell them that my grandfather was from Adana, and my grandmother from AfyonKaraHissar. I will tell them as much as I can before our interaction is over. Why? Because they do not know their history. Because they have been lied to. Because in meeting me they come face to face with the faceless Armenians. I have never been treated poorly. I have only been met with great hospitality from a curious people. I had a woman in Istanbul apologize to me on behalf of her family for any involvement they had in the genocide. It is time to stop holding accountable an uneducated people and focus our blame on the deniers.
I was cruising The Black Sea in Oct. 2014 including Istanbul, Trabzon & other parts of Western Armenia. To some nozy Turks being Canadian was not enough answer, they ask my ethnic background. O.K. You want to know, my ancestors are from URFA, I am GAVOUR Armenian. Suddenly they come to their senses and apologize “NO Sir, we don’t say that anymore”.
. As a 100 % Armenian, I want nothing to do with a Muslim controlled land, no matter that it is our homeland.
I take no comfort in seeing the destruction of our churches, persecution of hidden Christians, and the remnants of our noble civilization.
It is only heartbreaking.
Look to the future and build a New Armenia in land we control.
Strengthen Yerevan.
Build our communities in the Diaspora.
I would never tell Turks in Turkey I am Armenian.
First of all, what business is it of theirs?
Are they planning a dinner perhaps, in my honor?
I think not!
We shouldn’t avoid visiting the homeland, see it, feel it, touch it…we shouldn’t avoid the reality of today as painful as it can be…
If a curious Turk questions ones ethnicity reply with the following response Ben bir ermeni olduğumu diyene ne mutlu which translates as how happy is the one who says I am an Armenian:)
j have been to turkey on numerous occasions,and found that no one bothered me when i told them i was Armenian,in fact it seemed as they were told not to cause a disturbment with us,i tried to get a reaction from many turks,to no response.i even told them i speak turkish,and swear @ them still no reaction, i truly feel they have been told to stay away from any altercation with Armenians.
See MyArmenianVillage.com for my family’s similar experience in Historical Armenia.
Inspiring story . My Armenian family was from Diyarbekir .
It is very dangerous almost suicidal to say your Armenian in a cab being a woman alone!!!! However if you are skilled in the martial arts SCREAM YES I AM
I truly cherish the writer, photojournalist, historian and a true Armenian Proff. Mathew for sharing such a vivid presentation and description on our ancient homeland .