Comments on: Op-Ed: The Problem With France’s Armenian Genocide Bill

By: Jack Kalpakian

Jack Kalpakian — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:08:19 +0000

Ultimately, Turks will have to decide if they want to have a discussion on this or not. A discussion cannot take place under section 301. And, it is Turks that need to have a discussion internally first about it, because they have always insisted on politicizing Turkish-Armenian relations. Armenia is not treated as a normal country by Turkey. It is blockaded, subject to pre-conditions, it is systematically excluded from economic projects, and it was even threatened with war. Turks decided to do these things as a political community, and they chose to confiscate foundations, not to protect Dink, and we even saw Turkish gendarmes get in line to have pictures taken with Ogun Samast. These are choices they made, along with the choice of not having diplomatic relations, and they made these choices as a political community. I think ianyan and Mr. Kerr protest a bit to much about supposed Armenian closed mindedness. Not in interested in politics, fine, then let those of us who are worry about this very political thing, because like it or not, Turkey acts as a political community, a collective. Personal relations and dialogue with Turkish individuals like the Zaman editorialists, Ergun Bahaban and OKC, absolutely worthy, but that does negate the political and the importance of moves that counter-isolate Turkey and provide it with an incentive to move on the Armenian issue. In fact, the discussions generated in Turkey by this bill over policy towards Armenia, Armenians in Turkey, and Diasporan Armenians itself makes it a worthwhile enterprise. Thank you Valerie Boyer, Thank you France.

By: Jack Kalpakian

Jack Kalpakian — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:53:04 +0000

If Armenia is to be excluded and blockaded, then Turkey will have to self-exclude from its own ambitions. If it suits the French to do this, fine, and their motives do not concern me. There will be a lot more of this, because now every country that has a issue with Turkey will realize that they can get Turkey to cut ties and act like a loon by simply passing a bill. The Turks have to decide whether they want relations or not, and Armenians are not going to go to Ankara on bent knees — which was tried by the way, over thirty times, by Gerard Libaridian. There is no warrant for dialogue after the Dink murder, and let us be clear on that.

By: Jack Kalpakian

Jack Kalpakian — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:47:53 +0000

This is written from a Anglo perspective that has no traction in societies that do not recognize the political philosophy of JS Mill. These societies include Turkey. After the murder of Dink and the failure off the accords, and the Turkish insistence on pre-conditions, this bill is payback to Turkey. This is how international relations work Mr. Kerr, they are not love-fests, they are defined by reciprocity. The French have limited freedom of speech when it comes to the Holocaust and the Armenian Meds Yeghren, and they have chosen this democratically, because they understand that there are those who want to have power always speak to the truth. And yes, their politicians want Armenian votes — is that not legitimate in democracy. Or do you believe we should remain voiceless? The problem with this site is that it is beyond naive and actually negative for Armenian interests in terms of relations with Turkey. Dialogue is worthless and actually counter-productive, unless it is litigative.

By: Andrew Michael Kerr

Andrew Michael Kerr — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:12:31 +0000

I met a fellow at a bar in Zagreb recently who made an interesting counter-argument to the gist of my op-ed. He asked me if I believed in evolution. I told him I did. He then said, “If a teacher decided to teach creationism in the classroom in the name of free speech, would you approve of that?” I told him “No.” He felt he got me with that one. But I argued back that in a secular society there is an expectation that we teach facts in our classrooms. Indeed, since the facts support the Armenian genocide, this should be taught in the classroom as well. I still feel that arresting people for expressing aloud an opinion is overboard; I wouldn’t even advocate the arresting and fining of a teacher who advocated such viewpoints to his or her students–dismissal is certainly enough.

By: elsuenodelarazon

elsuenodelarazon — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:48:19 +0000

A fine and well0argued piece. Spot on.

It is racist nationalists – often the successors of genocidal movements themselves – who are the sole beneficiaries of genocide-denial prohibition.

Unfortunately genocide-denial prohibitions seem to be easy and morally self-evident initiatives of a populist twist. The Left and the liberal must be equally opposed to this easy but misleading instrumentalisation of history.

By: Andrew Michael Kerr

Andrew Michael Kerr — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:09:25 +0000

The conversation is getting lively: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/24/world/europe/turkey-lashes-out-over-french-bill-about-genocide.html?_r=1&hp

By: Pilisopa

Pilisopa — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:58:25 +0000

Thank you Andrew for this great article. I share with you the same ideas about bringing hatred out into the light. Many people particularly find themselves completely shocked by the amount of hatred that can be found online. Yet this hatred was never created online. It existed for decades before that and was never addressed. That’s why racist regimes and ethnic violence can arise as everyone pretends there is no such thing before it’s too late.

By: Pilisopa

Pilisopa — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:47:15 +0000

Please… Respond to Andrew’s great points instead of acting like a historian. Any objective historian, Armenian, Turk or otherwise, knows the facts of the events which you yourself need to research a bit.

By: ordinary one

ordinary one — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:46:38 +0000

The real problem here is the biased point of view against Turks(formerly Ottomans). Have you ever througly done any research about this event ? There was a war going on, citizens (armenians) ally with your enemy (Russia). There were many viliges that are burned down, many babies butchered by those innocent! victimized! armenians. There are many elder victims in easter Turkey who can say how they were threatened by armenians.

Before accuse anyone be objective, consider situation in right context.