Gegham, I understand your reasoning, but I think you are also conflating government policy and individual attitudes. Just as anyone else, Turks (or the people of Turkey) are not blind followers of their state. This is one of the main issues with how the Diaspora frames Turkey. Yes, in the past state propaganda, the way history has been (re)written and told has largely shaped attitudes -and this goes for all countries- but especially in this age, when it takes me 3 seconds in Istanbul to read what Liana wrote in LA- people are increasingly exposed to more information and their attitudes are rapidly changing. The state is bound to keep up. They either keep up or they are toppled.

It is not just the genocide question, *everything* is questioned in Turkey these days. The history of the Kurds, massacres in which Turks killed Turks, rightists killed leftists, military coups that destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives, women that are married off as children, transgender rights, everything. It will take time, but hateful rhetoric only incites more hatred and pushes people into a defensive position.

As a Turkish citizen, as someone who went to Turkish schools for 12 years, when I read Hrant Dink’s message, or Liana’s message, I do not wish the memory of the genocide fades into history. I wish more of this can be heard in Turkey so that people can come to terms with what happened, and so we can all move on. This preoccupation with the past is not doing anyone any good, and certainly not for our futures.

Ms. L.A. I did find your post refreshing but a little defeatist. Sadly, I am also one who is embarrassed to wave placards and march to the Turkish embassy, but silent rememberance plays into the turkish government’s hand, their public relations would love it if there were no demonstrations. I really commend those who year after year outwardly express their sentiments, without them, our biggest tragedy would be relegated to a few fading memories.

But more importantly, I am not willing to cede ground as you do by ascribing our claim as an outflow of hate, or subscribe to the naive belief that if we embrace the turks and join our hands, they will mollify their rigid rejection of a historic fact.

Let me leave you with one bit of advice. The turkish government cannot be trusted at all, not until they come clean unilaterally.
Turks at large, that is another issue, on a one-on-one basis anything can happen, even marriage, but don’t conflate government policy and individual friendship.