It’s finally happened. About two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet with two people, Aybars Görgülü and Sabiha Gündoğar, from the Turkish think tank TESEV. They were part of a larger group including two Armenians who were in the LA area for a working visit.
It was a pleasant enough experience, though given our history, there is always some background tension. The encounter was just about half an hour long, so we couldn’t go into much depth. They had no problems naming 1915 as genocide. When they asked me why I met with them and what I wanted, I replied that it was necessary to get acquainted. I want our territories back and reparations. Genocide recognition would be good, too, but that’s less important for me than the other two, and more their problem than ours, since it’s their society that will remain messed up for as long as it’s built on denial. This seemed to surprise them a bit, but, as I said, we didn’t have much time to discuss deeply, especially since we were also getting acquainted.
One unsurprising, but still somewhat disquieting, element was the facial resemblance I saw between my aunt and Sabiha. This of course speaks to the real roots of most Turks. They are us…
Perhaps more important than the minimal content of our discussion was the fact that it happened. We certainly need more such encounters, especially with decent folk who know what needs to be done, even though they may not now be in a position to do much about it. After all, no long-term project, especially one involving national liberation and “ceding” of territories, can occur without much preparation.
But there is a very fine and difficult line we will have to walk. These types of encounters will grow in number and deepen in profundity. But the difficulty related to them is that there are government functionaries, particularly in Ankara and Washington, who are tabulating every one of these meetings, then abusing, misrepresenting, and twisting their relevance to argue that Armeno-Turkish “dialogue” is occurring and that “reconciliation” is therefore on the way, so any other discussion of Armenian demands is not necessary. I say poppycock!
This distorted, despicable, and yes, even demented agenda is one I want no part of. Dialogue is a normal human function and should not be fetishized by murderous regimes or superpowers. Reconciliation is utterly irrelevant to us. In the Armeno-Turkish case, at best it is an incidental outcome, a fringe benefit, of our getting Wilsonian Armenia, reparations, recognition, and some kind of special arrangement for other historically Armenian lands.
I look forward to future meetings with other Turks who are prepared to and are taking risks with their own lives to do the right thing, for us and for themselves. Unfortunately, for the time being, this cannot include government officials since that part of Turkish society is still too far removed from decency.
However, as we build relationships, some of the right-thinking people will eventually make it into government. This is a generational process and will require much wisdom, patience, and caution. If you find yourself in such a situation, consult with others, as I did. Then cautiously meet, discuss, and report out on your experience.
Garen Yegparian
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Things are happening now that 2015 is upon us. I got a email from a Turkish publisher wanting to know if the Turkish rights for my book,the story of my mother’s survival, MY MOTHER’S VOICE is available! The inquiry alone is progress.
Sireli Garen,
In this excellent article, you ask us to “report out on your experience.”
On April 28, this year, Western University in London, Ontario, invited Dr. Fatma Mudge Gocek from the University of Michigan as guest speaker. There are very few Armenians in London, nevertheless, I was easily able to organize a group to attend her lecture. Dr. Gocek has endured threats, insults, and harassments because of her position on the Armenian Genocide. You are right, Garen, these scholars stand up at great risk to themselves. Dr. Gocek travels with the protection of the FBI.
Don’t mess with this outstanding scholar. She knows the truth about the Genocide and has the courage to stand up and acknowledge it. I told her I wanted Ararat returned—it’s a start. She said if it was up to her, she would gladly return it to us. Dr. Gocek said that she had engaged in independent research over many years before coming to the realization of the truth about the Genocide. She said change was in the air in Turkey. The younger generation have come into the discussion with electronic media, and they are better educated, so they no longer swallow the party line without question. No government can shut down electronic communication with the world.
The thing is, Garen, that each of us needs to “report out.” It’s not enough to say that we want honorable Turks to stand up and speak Truth at peril to themselves; we each have to contribute in some way to the struggle. I’m weary of those who are quick to tell you what needs to be done, but do absolutely nothing themselves.
Here are a couple of Dr. Gocek’s books. Ask your library to buy them. Support those who support us. That’s a very minimal start.
-The Transformation of Turkey: Redefining State and Society from the Ottoman Empire to the Modern.
-Rise of the Bourgeoisie, Demise of Empire: Ottoman Westernization and Social Change.
My own book will be out very soon. Resistance: a Diary of the Armenian Genocide 1915-1922 by Misak Seferian. My father’s writing is the only known seven-year diary of the Genocide. It is in English now. It spans a period from the time the Kurds murdered our family, until my father’s escape from a Bolshevik jail. For six years, my father fought alongside Antranig, Soghomon Tehlirian, Nzhdeh, Tro, Mourad of Sepastia, all the major front-line Generals, in all the major ARF battles. It’s primary documentation. Buy it—it will support Armenian charity, and you will better know why each of us is called to do our share, to have something to “report out” as Garen calls for.
I heard her and Taner Akcam at UCLA about 8 years ago. She is a great, humorous and brave person. As of this time I believe that she like the novelist and co-speaker Elif Shafak did not use the word “Genocide,” but I may be mistaken.
Does she use this word now?
I believe she comes from a military family and was cast out for her views.