Imagine a world where Germany emerged relatively unscathed from World War II, formed alliances with other Western countries, was successful in escaping responsibility for the horrors of the Holocaust, and for more than 60 years continued to deny the destruction of Europe’s Jews. Imagine that a lecture is organized for the Jewish community in a town in Massachusetts, where the grandson of one of the top leaders of the Nazis is to speak.
The event is advertised as a “historic meeting.” The grandson of the top Nazi leader talks about the kinds of food Germans and Jews shared, says that “the Germans endured suffering too on both the eastern and western fronts,” and repeats the expression “let us respect each other’s pain” a dozen times.
He says, “We should not become captives of our history, not become prisoner of our pains and sufferings…a peaceful tomorrow cannot be established by remaining captive to the past.”
Some members of the audience are moved; they applaud enthusiastically. A historic meeting indeed!
***
Returning to our world, the Armenian community of Watertown, Mass., shared a comparable experience on Nov. 17, when prominent Turkish journalist Hasan Cemal—who happens to be the grandson of Cemal Pasha, one of the leaders of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) that planned and implemented the Armenian Genocide of 1915—spoke to them.
The panel discussion, organized by Friends of Hrant Dink and featuring Cemal, was advertised as a “historic meeting” with the Armenian community. And historic it was, for all the wrong reasons: the historic power asymmetries between Turks and Armenians, and the historic practice of relativizing the suffering, destruction, and dispossession of the Armenian nation were all at play as Cemal delivered his speech.
Cemal spoke of Armenians and Turks eating dolma, repeated slain journalist Hrank Dink’s words “first let us respect each other’s pain” a dozen times, and said: “The Turks have endured suffering, too. There was the pain of expulsion from the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the pain they endured in Anatolia during the wars. The Kurds suffered, too. They suffered the pain of being denied their language and their very identity. I know very well that pain such as this cannot be measured or compared or equated. That would be wrong. One people’s suffering cannot be compared with another’s.”
In no way did he imply, of course, that the pain and suffering of the Armenians might—just might—have been a bit more than that of the Turks. Or that the pain of being exterminated in one’s own homeland is different from the disintegration of an empire. Or that Armenians had nothing to do with Turkish suffering in the Balkans.
Cemal also repeatedly advised Armenians to be patient (read: It has only been 94 years, folks. Be patient!). It would take time to educate the Turks and change things, he said. The prominent Turkish journalist also mentioned that he has been reading Taner Akcam’s writing since the early 1990’s. Minutes later, however, he noted that he does not know much about 1915.
Cemal did try—and failed—to show genuine empathy, because his discourse was very similar to the one used for Turkish audiences. Moreover, he advised Armenians to be careful when talking about 1915 to Turks because tactlessness would rub the Turks the wrong way and all efforts to educate them would be made in vain. After all, we should be very sensitive about the feelings of Turks (but we can say all we want to Armenians)!
Cemal, by repeating the “let us understand each other’s pain” mantra, demonstrated that he never even considered what the Armenians would feel upon hearing such a statement, and seemed to have no clue that Hrant Dink himself—whose name and friendship he constantly evoked—was trying to be “tactful” with Turks by saying such a thing, but would not use the same discourse when he talked to Armenians.
We do not want to question the good intentions of Hasan Cemal. However, during the lecture we were reminded time and time again that the road to hell, too, is paved with good intentions.
Mr. Hasan Cemal has got deep and sad Armenian eyes. Peace be with Mr. Hasan Cemal.
jeshmarid@yahoo.com
Throughout the occupation of Armenia by the Turks when have they ever been sensitive to Armenians or anyone for that matter? I can care less about Turkish sensitivity.
Unfortunately, some Armenians are acting in UNARMENIAN way after the government of Armenia had sold the Armenian history through the Protocols of the Elders of Anatolia.
Few ,if any here online, or in the Armenian mainstream public know ,or they have conveniently “forgotten” that only about a year or so ago great Turkey anounced that they are establishing an Armenian chair in one(others too,indeed) of their most important universities, that of the highest Military academy in their capital, Ankara…
Pleae stop to think why? just to learn that unimportant language that is spoken only in Armenia ?
Indeed no.They ,their government that is, took the right decision ,that in order to begin a”THAW”,especially sjuitable for their intentions to enter EU and also actually concede few, real few small “concessions” to republic of Armenia and in extension to its Diaspora,thus paving their way into EU.Also show to the entire world that they mean “business” ..However…
In their cunning-wily way.You want examples? first the Aghtamar,then the show at Hrant Dinks´then just frecentgly beginning repairs on Ani etc.,that is their Philosophy ,nay their Ottoman turkish diplomacy.Armenian language teaching at their highest military academy?think,please think.
They may soon even come and kneel at Tsitzernakapert..also as a gesture of their kindness, ced strip of land around Ani and “Aghri Dagh” itself (Mount Ararat) so that EU diplomacy plus the Anglo_Am ones will then trupmet to the world”see great Tukrey is on its way to democracy and has begun to esteem Euro-American human rights etc.,
Not only Jemal´s son but a host of others such will pop up here and there giving a hand to their osmanly,sorry, great Turkey government in beginning a new courtship with above governments plus indeed Armenian “paremids” not to say, ” barzamids”. Now then, what have we thought of as COUNTER actions? participatge in such conferences and try to enter into discussion with such?
To begin with the Diaspora must,yes must decide NOW!!
1. To re-organize its structures around our 100,000 strong “Professional Colleagues Associations”..Five on the scene already.Have ten more other fields of Profession colleagues do so and then Interconnect these to become the “Inter-professional Colleagues Association”s delegating 3 person such to the Borad of same(yet to be formed).
2. request our political parties to join in with their delegates and one each from our Spiritual denomination delegates in every Armenian dense community,say Boston with surrounding areass, Marseilles, Beiruti B-Aires etc.,to each Armenian VCommunity country Central Council, proceed to have -elect from these their delegates to the Supreme Council of the Diaspora, with 5 departments-
3.A .The Legal Political in Strasbourg(next to RA delegates,not exactly sitting next to them) but in same town. B . Economic depat. in Geneva, CH( with its 16 offices ea representing one Profession,(where indeed the “National Investment Trust Fund” will be established ,beginning the NUCLEUS with our6/7 magnates with huge working capital input ,say each a few hundred million dollars)
C. The Executive ,in N.Y.(next to RA delegate to U.N.).D. The Social Services and future Repatriation organizing Dept. in Moscow(near abroad country)D.The only one we have,namely the Spiritual at St.Etchmiadzin(in conjunction with the Great House of Cilicia)
All above departments in constant contact with ea other and in extension with ea community country Central Council.
Main Objective the “Social formation” will be obtained through a crystalization mode(through work-profession Type) collectivities AND SOME HUGE COLLECTIVITIS INDEED:THEN :
COMMENCE TO HAVE THE ” F U N D ” ON WAY..FOR WITHOUT economic Power,we cannot achieve anything.With all respect due to our present political parties and theri affiliates, they have overlooked the HUGE COLLECTIVITIES ,THAT must be tapped upon!!!!
Certainly we can they establish our COUNTER-intelligence activities AGAINST OUR ADVERSARIES IN A MUCH ADVANCED,COORDINATED FASHION.Which needs financial support indeed.And ACTUALLY BEGIN REPATRIATION ON LARGE SCALE…
for Artsakh needs to be repopulated,so does Armenia proper…
Much can be realized-achieved if we RE-STRUCTURE THE DIASPORA.I have written in this respect many a time over and still insist ON IT.If it is not to the liking of some…then present un-enviable Status Quo will persist to the satisfaction of our adversaries..
Hama-Haigagani SIRO,
gaytzag palandjian
The Hrant Dink Foundation is naive, and these kinds of “reconciliation” events lead Armenians down the path of utter de-politicization of the Armenian Cause.
I repeatedly told the local Armenian American media for the last two years to look into Pam Steiner’s mini-TARC that she was holding semi-secretly at Harvard. She is the one that held a “reconciliation” panel with Cemal at Harvard on Monday night. The Armenian media paid NO attention to what Steiner was doing. The negligent Armenia media let their readers be blind-sided by Steiner, and I have no doubt that this will continue. Care to ask yourself why?
Armenian eyes? Cemal (Jemal) Pasha’s grandson is part Macedonian Jewish, Georgian and Circassian.
It is not clear from the article who organized this even, which organization. What was the subject of the meeting, seminar or conference? Were there other participants? It should be writer’s duty to tell us and give us details about the event. Excuse me but GP’s comments are lamentable, no mastery of the language and his whole comment has no essense or continuity. AW should do a better job screening and filtering the comments.
Equating the Ottoman perpetrators deliberate act of genocide and the ensuing consequences of suffering—with —feelings of remorse experienced by those whose diabolical empire crumbled is ludicrous. To trivialize the suffering of genocide victims, by diluting the intent of genocide in rhetoric of collective empathy is a feeble attempt to whitewash the crime of genocide.
The question analyzed here Cemal is NOT —– how long will it take to educate Turks about the Armenian Genocide? That is strictly a Turkish government issue. It may take 10 years, it may take 50 years. It really doesn’t matter how long it takes AS LONG AS IT BEGINS. The question you should be thinking about is WHEN will the Turkish government BEGIN taking the necessary steps in educating its own public about the Armenian Genocide? We have been waiting 94 years for this process to merely BEGIN. And BEGIN means Erdogan instructing the Turkish Department of Education to include chapters about the Armenian Genocide in all Turkish history books about a shameful chapter of Turkish history. BEGIN does NOT mean debating or questioning the fact of the Armenian Genocide.
How dare you ask us to be patient when NOT ONE shred of evidence exists indicating that the Turkish government has begun this process. The Turkish government has continued to feed its people denialist venom and there is absolutely not one shred of evidence to indicate that they are taking the necessary steps to sincerely and objectively begin educating their public about the indisputable historical facts of the Armenian Genocide.
Cemal, when you begin to better understand your government’s backward policies, I will begin to care more about what you have to say. Until then, organizations like “Friends of Hrant Dink” and their propagandists will remain tools for the Turkish governments continued efforts to deny the Armenian Genocide.
Dear Asbet.I welcome your critique.But wish to add I do not -like many many here online or on other forums-intend or pretend to show my “mastery” of that language.It is for the Anglos,may they proceed with it and express their “hypocracies”.I am fed up with their word twisting and “diplomatic maneuvres”..I f I had time I would type slower and satisfy readers who only are “interested” in Language proficiency.I am not.By the by I speak 7 ,read and write in 5..
I mainly think in Armenian.My spanish is on same level ,or a bit better than my English .I have lived near qtr,sorry quarter…century in España(Spain) for you the country of Javier Solana(another fox)preferred by the anglos.My Arme3nian ,both Western and Eastern,I´d say acceptably good.French pretty good.Persian,as well.I am not a product of the Western Hemispheric Anglo-thinking,though I attended school and college in England,London…good old London ,where only English speaking Americans fly to when they have saved enough monies to fly abroad.They have no idea how much more important culture exsists in Italy,Spain France and other Euro countries.Now!
git a load of the following please(American style)
You and others,I beg, must make out what the core of the post-writing ,article implies not think only of the errors.Yes,I do make plenty of typographical and sometimes gramatical mistakes.But my mind is set on trying to understand what such articles, symposiums and conferences are…
Again do please forgived my fast typing.I have today exerted energy(am old,near 80)to slow and type correctly.BUT I DO IMPLORE AND ASK OR REQUEST YOU AND OTHERS TO FOLLOW THE THREAD OF MY THOUGHTS-VIEWS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY EXPERIENCES I HAVE GATHERED DEALING WITH TURKISH ISSUES.I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW OF THEIR JOURNALISTS ETC.
ALSO PARTICIPATED IN ARMENIAN IMPORTANT GATHERINGS IN EUROPE MAINLY,ALSO IN THE U.S. BEEN ELECTED BY 400 PARTICIPANTS TO FIRST ARMENIAN CONGRESS IN PARIS 1979,WHERE 28 OF US WERE PRESENTING “PAPERS”ONLY 7 OF US ELECTED BY MAJORITY VOTE TO ITS EXECUTIVE BOARD.ALAS,IT WAS LACKING MECHANISM,WHICH I HAVE TRIED TO DEVELOP AND REDEVELP.PART OF IT APPEARS IN MY ABOVE POST,ALBEIT IN PRECIS FORMAT.MY LAST PLEA TO YOU AND OTHERS IS TO GET INTO THE COFRE OF THE MATTER,TRY TO GRASP ME OR OTHERS LIKE DR. HENRY ASTARJIAN WRITE,NOT ONLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE LANGUAGE FACTOR.LATTER BEING PERFECT OR QUASSI PERFECT..LIKE YOURS!!
THANK YOU FOR READING ME AND
HAMA HAIGAGANI SIRO, gaytzag palandjian( a mere soldier ,so to speak9
in our quest for ARMENIDAD-ARMENITY-NOT ARMENIANISM
some comparisons now.The spanish corect when expressing such as Comunidad(community)ARMENIDAD-Armenity..etc
E.& O.excepted
Sevag!
I appreciate and sympathize with your to the point comments,rather trying to educate a wolf´s
offspring.These people like I wrote above,no not the last one to Asbet,prior to that one….
The turkish government far from educating their public-people, they are setting up CHAIRS in their universities to learn not our language ONLY, but be able to penetrate amonst us-which they hve already been doing ,after the 50th ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE perpetrated on us.They have sent their operatives, proior to this new wave of Cemal grandson -like,some half siding with us -for that is their method,thus trying to caress our “Paremids” not to say “Barzamid”s and by and by admit…YES, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY in their wily fashion,like I pointed out, in my previous post and even thrown in some “turkish delights”,like mentioend <Mount Ararat etc.THAT IS THEIR STYLE.
Please do not take this as contrary to what you write,on the contrary it is to compliment yours!!!
The only thing that is different ,if you have noticed from last part of my post up above,is my “suggestions” to brace ourselves,in other words re-organize our STRUCTURE to be able to confront their -from now on-indirect such advances,shall I call to trap some of our well wishing compatriots,that all will be ironed out between our people and theirs.An impossibility like you write.May take more than a dozen years,even 50…
I ,personally prefer to think towards MOBILIZATION of our Diaspora.Not the way some picture haphazardly or just by rhetoric.Action is required ,mechanism is a must,for we did try in our time 30 years ago just trumpeting.That ain´t no good.Step by step organization should be the motto.
In this resepct,whether you him she like it or not the only way out is to get our “Professionals Coleagues Associations” on way.Man many thanks and gratitude to our so far acting political parties ALONE…may they go on with their objectives.bUT THEY VERY BADLY NEED SUPPORT,that cannot be obtained haphazardly.My humble input is there for the taking.Otherwise the present unenviable fragmented diaspora(s) will indeed carry on to the best of their abilities, however with very little if any real success.
Hama-Haigagagni SIRO,
gaytzag palandjian
If you want Turkish people – your audience, in effect – to understand real history kept from them, yes, you must respect the audience. That means listening to their fears and family stories, just as you expect them to listen to yours.
Whether those stories are real or imagined, linked to Armenians in any way or not, you cannot expect them to listen to you if yo won’t listen to them.
I am a bit disappointed in the tone of your editorial. I attended the first lecture at Harvard the previous evening.I walked away away with a feeling that it was a sincere effort. Did I agree with
everything he said? No,but that was not my expectation. If we are ever going to make progress
in pursuit of our cause, it is in our interest to have an understanding of the thinking in Turkey and to have an opportunity at dialogue. That’s exactly what I experienced. As Armenians, we all have
opinions of Turks( mostly negative); yet ridiculously few of us, except for diplomats, scholars and a few musicians, have had any real contact with Turks for generations. We need to move on from the old stereotypes and anger that has been the hallmark of our public perception. Turkish is slowly changing and we have to whether we want to encourage that change and be the benficiary…. or whether we want to be stuck in hatred. The latter is inconsistent with our faith and does not serve our cause. I can listen to Cemal and the Turks that spoke(many of whom were young and enlightened)
and still a passion for cause. Hrant Dink is rightfully revered to. in our community as a visionary. Let’s honor his memory by considering the opportunities.
I take it few here onlne follow the daily news emanating from RA or other Int´l sources-rather few this one though..-Latest has it ,as Harut Sassounian today explained,the Turkish side is not responding…they have according to him, intentionally put off their Parliamnet´s ratification of the protocols.Again ,as he mentioned ,according to the the wordingin protocls,they would do so “In a timely” fashion.And the “latest”,today has it that Mr. Aliev has reiterated his “demand”,that of withdrawal of Armenian troops ? from NK Artsakh.Fact is with support from great Turkey (Mr.Erdogan´s assurance to them ,on his lst visit recently) that they would not do so unless NK Artsakh goes back under Azerbaijan rule…
I do trust Mr. Akcam and/or Mr. Hasan Jemal follow the actual role played on bilateral give and take scenario by Azeri president, on behalf of republic of Turkey.That is ,instead of intervening to calm down Mr. Aliev´s belicose rhetoric(which he did mention again today) which clearly stated that only other solution to “conflict” is through force….
Let us hope that above two gentleman will pursuade both R.of Turkey and Azerbaijan to be more compromising….
Hama Haigagani SIRO,
gaytzag Palandjian
A BIT OF GOOD NEWS: Today´s latest on RA H1 T.V. some Turkish newspapers or media have scolded Mr. Aliev-some alleviation for us atg last-that latter´s belicose rhetoric is tantamount to he being either sick or “Himar” ,crazy-mad…when he ought to know that in case of declaring war on RA the Russian Federation,or the 5 nation ex-soviet states would jointly defend RA…
None of which favour war in the Caucases ,but they wish that Azerbaijan would follow a peacefull settlement of the Nk conflict. It seems -like many Armenians know quite well-that is the only language-unfortunately- that some in Turkey understand,i.e., the power of force or show of same.
However, you never know,they may yet think otherwise.After all , a few leftist orDr. Akcam -Hasan-like people ” no pintan nada” means they don´t paint nothing(important,I´d add).It is the great Turkish government that decides what is to be done.Hopefully though,some knowledgeable persons in their government begin to realize that the present world overall situation does not approve such tendencies, some probably may pursuade the other tough- stance ones to also act accordingly. No state-nation desires further military actions in that zone-this was also hinted at in the broadcast-especially in a region oil rich and profitable- to those surrounding it.There is much to be said in this respect,but all depends again on the KNOWLEDGEABLE people in governments of the world, who should try harder to pursuade the militarists to calm down and follow their stance.
Hama Haigagani SIRO,
gaytzag palandjian
So help me understand. What was the function of the Armenian “Scholar” on the panel. He would make a good stand-in as a sympathetic Turkish scholar, one-upping Cemal…
IT MAKES ME THINK IF ANY OF HASAN CEMALS FAMILY OR HIS BELOVED TURKYISH PEOPEL ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE GRANDSONS OFF STEPAN DZAGHIKIAN ,BEDROS DER BOGHOSIAN ,ARDASHES KEVORKIAN >>> AND LISTEN TO THE PAIN THAT THE GRANDPARENTS WHERE DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF THEIR FAMILIES AND 1.5 MILLION ARMENIANS
WOULD THEY GIVE THEM THE SAME RESPECT …..
I am still waiting to find out who or which organization sponsored or organized this event. Why do we always hear about such events after the fact? I am sure, many including myself would like to attend such events, specially when the speaker is Jemal’s grandson.
Mr. Balanian,
The editorial mentions the organizers. Did you even read it? It’s “Friends of Hrant Dink”. Any many papers, including the Armenian Weekly, started publishing advertisements weeks before the event. Try subscribing to one of the local papers before blaming them…
I am not blaming them, but this is not the first time. When Taner Akcam was in Philadelphia, almost no Armenians were there. Others had the same complains as me. For you information, I read most of the Armenian press, daily.
By the way, who is “Friends of Hrant Dink”? I like to have some names and contacts. May be another organization, like the ones mushrooming everyday in the Armenian world.