Comments on: Mozart and the Armenian genocide http://www.blogrel.com/2007/10/19/open-letter-to-armenian-diaspora/ A blog about Armenia: business, politics, the future and good lavash Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:44:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: Alene http://www.blogrel.com/2007/10/19/open-letter-to-armenian-diaspora/#comment-768954 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:40:53 -0700 http://www.blogrel.com/2007/10/19/open-letter-to-armenian-diaspora/#comment-768954 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1673273,00.html Speaking of American media coverage, I wanted to point out this really great article that Time magazine published. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1673273,00.html
Speaking of American media coverage, I wanted to point out this really great article that Time magazine published.

]]> by: Haig Alexander http://www.blogrel.com/2007/10/19/open-letter-to-armenian-diaspora/#comment-912050 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:32:32 -0800 http://www.blogrel.com/2007/10/19/open-letter-to-armenian-diaspora/#comment-912050 I must say that the media in the US, once the Armenian Genocide was brought forth first focussed on the issue at hand and reporting what was going on. There were many articles for and sadly many articles against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. But after a few days, people started to write in and participate in the dialogue intitiated and I saw that a lot of the dialogue seemed to divert attention away from the Armenian Genocide and start to focus on what genocide recognition means to America, which is really a question that will lead away from the Armenian Genocide. The treatment of slaves was brought up as well as the genocide against the Native Americans. These issues are important to the US and should be addressed, but I was upset that we weren't able to control the attention of the media and public enough to keep them focussed on the Armenian Genocide and the current debate to recognize it. It's good to have some issues through which the Armenian lobby can engage a larger audience and get them educated about what's going on, but not, inevitably, at the expense of the Armenians' own cause: to have the US government officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. I hope that this post brings some new perspective to the table. It's something to think about for next year's war plan when the Armenian lobby brings the bill forward yet again. I must say that the media in the US, once the Armenian Genocide was brought forth first focussed on the issue at hand and reporting what was going on. There were many articles for and sadly many articles against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. But after a few days, people started to write in and participate in the dialogue intitiated and I saw that a lot of the dialogue seemed to divert attention away from the Armenian Genocide and start to focus on what genocide recognition means to America, which is really a question that will lead away from the Armenian Genocide. The treatment of slaves was brought up as well as the genocide against the Native Americans. These issues are important to the US and should be addressed, but I was upset that we weren’t able to control the attention of the media and public enough to keep them focussed on the Armenian Genocide and the current debate to recognize it. It’s good to have some issues through which the Armenian lobby can engage a larger audience and get them educated about what’s going on, but not, inevitably, at the expense of the Armenians’ own cause: to have the US government officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. I hope that this post brings some new perspective to the table. It’s something to think about for next year’s war plan when the Armenian lobby brings the bill forward yet again.

]]> by: Adrian http://www.blogrel.com/2007/10/19/open-letter-to-armenian-diaspora/#comment-971804 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:56:05 -0800 http://www.blogrel.com/2007/10/19/open-letter-to-armenian-diaspora/#comment-971804 It makes complete sense. I applaud Bush for making the only positive foreign policy stance in his whole presidency. I understand the Armenian anger over the genocide. I too believe that it was genocide. But please... I invite you to think about it rationally, not emotionally. The vicious cycle must end. 1) The Ottoman Empire does not exist. Why should Turks living today have to take this blame for a dead country that no longer exists? Because Armenians hold hatred toward Turks and want them to suffer for the past. It serves Armenia no purpose to push this -- closed borders with Turkey, grievances with Azerbaijan, Iran. Armenia's only friend is Russia -- not good for such a poor, landlocked country. 2) The US has no business making this into law. Then Turkey, Russia, etc. could pass a law declaring that the US slaughter of Native Americans in the 19th-20th centuries was also genocide (which it was). But it begs the question. So what? What will a law do? 3) The law only pacifies the Armenian diaspora in California and the powerful lobbyists in Washington. I understand that lawmakers need to represent their constituency. But it does not serve the interests of the US as a whole, which lie in Turkey & Azerbaijan and not in Armenia. Therefore, this issue is an issue for the diaspora (comfortably living in Fresno far both in time and distance from the motherland), not for ordinary Armenians. Armenia needs to solve this issue directly with Turkey, not drag the world's policeman into this century-old fight. P.S. I think the Turks are in denial. I lived in Istanbul for a month. All my new friends that I met randomly were Kurds and Armenians. Cool people -- we got along so well because I'm an American and not stuck up. The Turks I met were living in a bubble about history. But it proves my above points. Armenia needs to work bilaterally with Turkey to overcome this, not drag the US and Europe into it. It makes complete sense. I applaud Bush for making the only positive foreign policy stance in his whole presidency.

I understand the Armenian anger over the genocide. I too believe that it was genocide. But please… I invite you to think about it rationally, not emotionally. The vicious cycle must end.

1) The Ottoman Empire does not exist. Why should Turks living today have to take this blame for a dead country that no longer exists? Because Armenians hold hatred toward Turks and want them to suffer for the past. It serves Armenia no purpose to push this — closed borders with Turkey, grievances with Azerbaijan, Iran. Armenia’s only friend is Russia — not good for such a poor, landlocked country.

2) The US has no business making this into law. Then Turkey, Russia, etc. could pass a law declaring that the US slaughter of Native Americans in the 19th-20th centuries was also genocide (which it was). But it begs the question. So what? What will a law do?

3) The law only pacifies the Armenian diaspora in California and the powerful lobbyists in Washington. I understand that lawmakers need to represent their constituency. But it does not serve the interests of the US as a whole, which lie in Turkey & Azerbaijan and not in Armenia.

Therefore, this issue is an issue for the diaspora (comfortably living in Fresno far both in time and distance from the motherland), not for ordinary Armenians.

Armenia needs to solve this issue directly with Turkey, not drag the world’s policeman into this century-old fight.

P.S. I think the Turks are in denial. I lived in Istanbul for a month. All my new friends that I met randomly were Kurds and Armenians. Cool people — we got along so well because I’m an American and not stuck up. The Turks I met were living in a bubble about history. But it proves my above points. Armenia needs to work bilaterally with Turkey to overcome this, not drag the US and Europe into it.

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