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It's tragic how many
Armenians are so blinded by hatred that they prefer to live in the past, and
deny themselves the joys of their roots. Not all Armenians are like that. Some
Armenians prefer concentrating on their emotional attachments to the old
country. These Armenians know Turkish music, food and language form as much a
part of their identities as anything else, and don't appreciate being
ostracized by the larger, more hateful Armenian group. They feel they are
robbed of their precious past and cherished memories, and resent the
domineering attitude of the other group.
I'm a big fan of Edward
Tashji, who has the guts and the love to come right out and declare where
he stands. In his own words, this "Armenian-American has become 'famous,'
(he said with all humility), within the Turkish community, while becoming
"infamous", (he said with deep regret), within the Armenian
community." Also, in his words... he is : "An American born of an
Armenian mother and a Syrian-Orthodox father (.) He is the younger son of
parents who had been born in Ottoman Turkey, became eye-witness to the
conflagration of the First World War in their beloved homeland, and as a
result, their destiny brought them to the land where millions had
emigrated."
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Why
Did I Testify Against My Own People?! |
One Armenian’s Soul-Searching Self-Interrogation!
By Edward Tashji
It is a pleasure for me once again to be able to greet the Turkish-American community by
way of the printed word. For numerous years articles and commentaries written by this
writer, have appeared in many issues of the “Vision” and “Gorus” magazines and
Turkish newspaper publications, on issues of major concern to the people I am proud to
serve. My present contribution was requested by the Chairman of the World Turkish
Congress, to whom I am deeply grateful for allowing me the opportunity of extending my
best wishes to the readers of the “Focus” magazine, and to the members of the
Turkish-American community.
But the purpose of this offering, as indicated by the title, wishes to draw the reader’s
attention to a situation in which few people have had the misfortune to find themselves
confronted with. If you have read any of our many published contributions on
Turkish-Armenian relations, the negative posture of our news media pertaining to the
Turkish people, and our efforts pertaining to the Turks of Cyprus, Bulgaria, Crimea,
Azerbaijan, Germany, the newly established Turkic Republics and the slaughter of the
Muslims of Bosnia-Herzegovina, then you are aware of this monumental effort. But as an
American born of Armenian and Syrian-Orthodox parents, my life and the cause to which I
have dedicated myself, attempts to respond in all honesty and sincerity, to a profound
question which I have asked myself: Why did I publicly criticize and oppose my own
people?! The following describes the latest scene:
On December 6, 1993 — the New Jersey State Senate Education Committee assembled in the
Legislature Building in Trenton, New Jersey, to discuss Assembly Bill 2780 which had been
passed by the Assembly one week earlier. The Bill, which proposed the teaching of high
school students on the subject of genocide and the holocaust, includes the words: “...genocide
and the events in Armenia..." Considering the Bill was sponsored by the Assembly
Speaker, Garabed Haytaian, the reason for the vague inclusion, this blatant subterfuge —
becomes conspicuously evident. In an attempt to express the position of the
Turkish-American community, after the State Assembly and Senate were flooded with letters
and faxes, representatives of the World Turkish Congress, the Federation of
Turkish-American Associations, Inc., and the Jewish-American community, made themselves
present at the committee hearing, and numerous of our eloquent speakers presented our
opposition in factual, succinct, and most effective manner. Among our distinguished
speakers was the emphatic, impassioned, challenging and inspiring presentation of one, who
has come to be known as, “Turk dostu” — a friend of Turks. His delivery created a
hush in the entire room.
The attention paid by each Senator on his every word was very evident as they sat
literally riveted by his emotion and continuous flow of factual information. Because of
his Armenian ethnicity, his avowed testimony conveyed a unique significance, and his
opening remarks attempted to dispel any question pertaining to his veracity and
motivation. The following comments were among our statements presented to the Senators,
which had followed a television interview, and are offered here for your consideration:
My initial introduction to the Turkish-Armenian history was not from a book or any
newspaper, but from my parents who had been born and lived in Ottoman Turkey during the
early period of this century. Their eyewitness accounts and descriptions of the events
taking place during the First World War, remained free of animosity toward Turks, and they
had possessed extraordinary honesty in revealing the open rebellion as carried out by
several Armenian political and paramilitary groups. In my countless writings, speeches and
conversations, I have never denied the suffering of the Armenian people. But to dwell on,
to sympathize for the Armenian tragedy while totally negating the suffering of the
Syrian-Orthodox (my father's background), the Jews, the Arabs, and other ethnic groups, is
to accept only half a truth. Does not scholarship demand that we consider the
Turkish-Muslim dead?! What of the many facts which refute the Armenian allegations against
Turkey?
Yes, I testified against my own people, but not because I am anti-Armenian, but because of
the Armenian preoccupation with hatred. They have created a Frankenstein monster known as
hate and its legacy is carried from generation to generation. This monster has turned
against its own creators, and this manifestation of hatred has destroyed the Armenian
family and the sanctity of its church. No American editor or politician is qualified to
pass judgment upon the Turkish Nation! Their source of information are the enemies of the
Turkish people, who enjoy a highly financed and well orchestrated anti-Turkish influence
upon State and Federal legislators. The New Jersey Assembly Speaker, a victim of the hate
monster, has become incensed at the inclusion of the suffering on the Ukrainian and Polish
peoples in his Bill, and he demands the removal of the Senate amendments.
Political expediency had become the weapon of the “hate merchants” and under the guise
of education, they will corrupt the minds of our children. I abhor this wicked philosophy!
My judge is not Armenian, nor Turkish, nor American, my one and only judge is Almighty God
Himself to whom one day I shall answer. Yes the Honorable Senators listened to my
testimony, each with his own interpretation of my position, and the following represents
my conclusion to the committee:
I am free of hate! My wife and I are living examples of the six centuries of
Turkish-Armenian brotherhood, which continues to this day in the Republic of Turkey. If
the New Jersey State Legislature is to legislate education of genocide, then it should
begin with our own history and teach the genocide of the original indigenous people of
this land! The Armenians of Ottoman Turkey were not a subjugated or persecuted people, as
some politicians believe. The Armenians had been revolutionaries against the nation where
they had prospered and had achieved the highest levels of authority in the Ottoman
Government. But this fact, among many, remain unknown — a more correct word would be,
unaccepted, by certain groups. And the New Jersey Legislature purports to enlighten our
youth with “factual” history. Dear reader, much more needs to be stated, but I shall
conclude with my final comments directed to the youth of the Armenian and Turkish
communities:
Beloved Armenian youth: You have every reason to be proud of your culture, your Christian
Faith, and the genius of Armenian creativity and intellect. Through no fault of your own
you have become inflicted with the same genetic malady as experienced by the New Jersey
Assembly Speaker; it is known as eternal animosity. Free yourself of this bondage, be
proud of your history, of being an Armenian-American and extend your hand in friendship to
those you have been taught to hate. May love bring peace to your heart.
Beloved Turkish youth: You are the children of a great people; you are the children of the
immortal Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and as a result you have an awesome responsibility. Each
of you must face the challenge of those who malign, ridicule, and defame the honor of your
race and culture. Stand tall, revere your Islamic Faith, be proud of the humanity of your
Turkish origin, of being a Turkish-American, and extend your hand in friendship first —
as it will signify the inherent compassion of the Turkish heart. I know well, that only
love will bring peace to your heart.
Dear reader of the “Focus,” my life approaches its final chapters and as I look back,
just as each of you must do — I measure my failures and successes. I have aroused the
emotions of love and hate (of those who oppose me), but in my heart I believe far more the
former than the latter. Love recognizes no flag, no religion, no language, no geographical
boundary. Love is universal and no power on earth can surpass its impact upon each of us.
On behalf of my beloved wife, I bid each of you the infinite joy of love, as I thank you
for reading these lines. Till next we meet again, the work continues....
Edward Tashji
I am Called: "Turk Dostu" — A "Friend of Turks"
The above appeared in "Focus" Magazine, date unknown
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