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Ayse Gunaysu

Ayse Gunaysu

Ayse Gunaysu is a professional translator, human rights advocate, and feminist. She has been a member of the Committee Against Racism and Discrimination of the Human Rights Association of Turkey (Istanbul branch) since 1995, and is a columnist for Ozgur Gundem. Since 2008, she writes a column titled "Letters from Istanbul," for the Armenian Weekly.

8 Comments

  1. Great article, however, human nature and especially the Turks do not function that way. They never have and they never will. They are opportunist pure and simple. They care about nothing and no one other then promoting their own self interest.  They are a race based upon taking. Getting. Receiving. All their actions are means to those ends. Whether they have to steal for it. Lie for it. Kill for it or befriend you for it.  Recognizing the horrors of their actions, especially their Armenian genocidal campaign, would mean having to “give”‘ recognition. “Give” an apology.  Rightfully “give” back plundered wealth and lands. Worst off all, “give” away the pseudo, fabricated history and self created stereo type of a glorious history and of a master race. They are not about “GIVING”.
    Remember in the movie, Midnight Express, when the American Michael Hayes was in a Turkish prison/sanitarium and everyone had to walk around a column in a certain direction?  Everyone had to follow the same direction.  And Michael Hayes chose to walk in the other direction and this was strictly forbidden and the crazies in a Turkish prison were all shocked and angered. This to me is a perfect analogy of Turkish mentality. Turkish society. Turkish history. They will not change and God help those that follow a different course.
    The only way to get true justice is for all the Armenians to unite as one. And, to collectively work toward an environment where the best “opportunity” for the Turks would be to recognize and come to terms with their crimes. If and when this happens that there is more “gain” in recognizing rather then denying the facts of the Armenian Genocide, that is when the recognition will happen also. They are pretty predictable and our actions should correlate with that in mind.

  2. John, these are racist remarks. remember, the person who wrote the “great article” (your words) you are commenting on is Turkish. Hence, what you are saying is insulting to her as well.

  3. Just to bring things back into perspectiven a bit:
    The Armenian Cause is not primarily about the Turkey’s “recognizing” the Armenian genocide but rather the longer term goals of reparations and regaining territory.  If you doubt this, ask yourself if the Armenian goal regarding Karabagh is primarily about getting Azerbaijan to “recognize” that it tried to ethnically cleanse Karabagh of its Armenians.

  4. I commend you for the article and forgive me for saying this but it is very surprising for me, a Diasporn Armenian living in Eastern Africa because my family had to run away to survive, to read a very different and bold view from a Turk. You are now a part of history and i thank you from my heart.

    Ara, what John said, albeit in harsh terms, is correct. It really is not racism because it is truth. When we talk about the white slave drivers of the past in the USA would you say it was racism because we talk about the “whites” in general terms? Of course not. I believe he is talking about the general Turk and Ayse is definitely an exception – actually from the millions of Turks i believe she is the 6th exception? (i exagerate i’m sure)

    Thanks again. Reparations or not, land or not, it is in my prayers and i sincerely hope to see the Armenian Genocide, the reason my family has been living so far away from home, recognised during my life’s span. I also pray for ALL Armenians to fight this together, unified and forget about the different politics, the different churches, personal differences and just, for a change, work together as ARMENIANS. Hay enk yev hbard enk!

  5. “They care about nothing and no one other then promoting their own self interest.  They are a race based upon taking. Getting. Receiving. All their actions are means to those ends. Whether they have to steal for it. Lie for it. Kill for it or befriend you for it.”

    Well, it is a good thing these entries are moderated!  Is it not ironic that this commenter considers Turks as racist?  Is it really possible to talk about truth and facts and realities to such people?

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