Denial of AG by Dr. Ariel Barkan - Univ. of Michigan

[Joseph]

Please advise: if this is a Moderator's opinion, does it mean that we are closing the Barkan's issue? I shall respect the decision.

We can keep it open and by all means keep us posted about anything relating to Barkan.

[Joseph]

I have just had a phone conversation with a long time acquaintance of mine who is very active in various high-level Armenian groups and committees. He discussed the "Barkan issue" with some of his friends of different nationalities (Armenians, Turks, Americans, etc.). The common opinion was that people like Barkan are actually a big threat since they interfere with the building of a normal healthy relation between different nations. Barkan and alike serve like a trigger or a fuse to again and again ignite the hate between different nations. Ideally, the nations should acknowledge the facts of Holocaust, Genocide etc. - in the past - and while remembering these examples, they should all build the future that will be free of such things. People like Barkan interfere with this process by putting the seeds of hate into the soil... He is bad! I mean - really bad!

I agree with you that he is really an awful person but there is the risk of turning him into a martyr for free speech and believe me, the Turks will take up his cause to the extreme and he will become an overnight celebrity like the "judge" Samuel Weems. It could do more damage than good and this should be considered. I think his colleagues at Univ of Michigan {if they do not already realize it} should learn know about what a freak he is but to publicize him could very well backfire.

[Joseph]

I tend to agree with the above opinion - especially with the part I highlighted. Less of all we want him to acquire an image of a martyr. Still - I think it is absolutely unethical for a person of medical profession to publicly express nationalistic views. As for informing his colleagues at UM - again, IMHO it can be done - but on the level of a group letter addressed to the president of the university and signed by a handful of people - only this way it will impress the administration. I am willing to sign such paper - anybody else?...

I would sign it.

[Joseph]

Dear Members of the respected Forum,
The blind finally felt off my eyes: now I see why this Jewish newspaper published Barkan's letter and why it keeps silent and never responds to any of my messages. On the 30th of August 2007, the article entitled "Ghosts of Armenia Haunt Ethnic Relationship" was published by this yellow press: http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/13906/
Here is what we find in this article:
"Jewish leaders warned that recognizing the genocide, as Congress is now considering, could undermine American strategic interests in the Middle East, and Turkey's robust military and economic partnership with Israel. Also deemed at risk was the security of Turkish Jewry, which sent a letter earlier this year opposing a congressional resolution on the matter. ....... Though Jewish groups have toed a careful line on the genocide question for years, the issue exploded last month after the town council of Watertown, Mass. -- home to one of the country's largest Armenian communities -- voted to sever ties with an ADL anti-bigotry program in protest of the organization's refusal to acknowledge the genocide. ..... An outraged Turkey communicated its dismay to Israeli and Jewish leaders, with some Turkish officials going as far as suggesting that Israel had to "deliver" American Jewish groups on this issue."
I guess, there is nothing left to add - it is all political and - again, nothing knew in the world... So, what do we have at the end of the day? Turkish government pressurizing the Jewish officials, and Jewish officials trying to keep their strong position by networking internationally and influencing the U.S. And - Barkan is just one of the nuts and bolts in this well-lubricated machine...

My only request is that we move this ongoing conversation to this thread below where many of these articles are already covered and discussed. Thanks.

http://www.armeniangenocide.com/showthread.php?t=2757

[bell-the-cat]

I knew that the term "ethnic cleansing" was not invented yesterday.

Wrong. It was invented yesterday, or as near to yesterday as makes no difference. It is a fabricated term, coined by "wag-the-dog" propagandists in America and Europe in the 1990s.

[bell-the-cat]

I wonder if Prof. Papazian expressed just his own opinion or this opinion is based on his knowledge and understanding of the university's general policy on similar matters.

It will obviously be both.
I imagine Prof. Papazian gives a deep sigh of despair and resignation whenever he gets accosted by self-procaimed "activists" hell-bent on their latest vendetta. Will you now let this matter go?

[imported_crusader1492]

Dear Members of the Forum,

I have just received a response from the Founding Director of the Armenian Research Center at the Michigan University. Here it is:

"Dennis R. Papazian" <[email protected]> wrote:
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:04:08 -0500
From: "Dennis R. Papazian" <[email protected]>
To: Mike <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: denial of Armenian Genocide by the Michigan University Professor A. Barkan, M.D.: "evil doctor" must be stopped!

Barkan's letter was just one among many regarding the Armenian genocide. All the others were positive, while his was negative. I think the editors just threw his in to show that they were giving both sides of an argument. This letter is not at all persuasive, but certainly the University of Michigan will not get involved with a letter to the editor written by a medical faculty member.

I share your horror and dismay.

Dennis R. Papazian

I wonder if Prof. Papazian expressed just his own opinion or this opinion is based on his knowledge and understanding of the university's general policy on similar matters. Also, I kindly allow myself to disagree with Prof. Papazian's opinion on the newspaper "just throwing his [Barkan's] [opinion] in to show that they were giving both sides of an argument." As it follows from the previous publication in the mentioned yellow press, they support pro-Turkish anti-Armenian forces to save Turkish Jews from possible oppression and to not influence badly the Turkey-Israel relations. O tempora, o mores!...

Micromike,

That was an interesting response from Prof. Papazian. On one hand it could be construed as weak because he is not using his position to actively oppose Barkan. However, on the other hand, maybe this is a solid strategic move at not giving exposure to the denialist agenda.

Regardless, keep up the good work. Your activism will foster positive results.

[Gavur]

First off I believe thinking outloud is one of the functions of this forum, so that is healthy and ables us to reform and redirect our attitudes, beliefs and knowledge as we pursue this trek for truth.Thank you for starting this thread.

I remember not so long ago HR106 had a little less then 200 congressman, and all of a sudden we witness that number swell to 230's, amazingly in a matter of days.
We must ask ourselves why????? we must question our "Victory"'s as well are our "Defeat"'s.

Then the political machine started to churn, deal's were made and the die was cast!
As fast as those politicians joined our cause they left as quickly and joined the faceless opposition.
Then all hell broke loose we had the media attack against recognition where we couldn't respond to 100's of editorials,articles,broadcasts and letters.
We must ask why and how it happened that way?

This Dr. Evil is just a number (a one) of those rented pen soldiers, so excuse us if we don't get worked up, after what we just went through where we ended up with another moral victory but not a net one.

[1.5 million]

As fast as those politicians joined our cause they left as quickly and joined the faceless opposition.
Then all hell broke loose we had the media attack against recognition where we couldn't respond to 100's of editorials,articles,broadcasts and letters.
We must ask why and how it happened that way?

G - do I have to remind you and everone else - "I told you so"? Well? Thats OK though - really - in fact in some ways I think this status quo might be better for the "cause" - at least in the short term - in that periodically it inspires Armenians to make noise and be able to act indignant - and it exposes the Turkish Government for what they are and what they do - and the public actually gets more sympathetic (and aware) and more disgusted with the Turks (Turkish Government). If this toothless thing passed - while we could say - "look America recognizes the AG" - the bottom line is that it has no power to compel Turkey nor can it even affect U.S. policy. In the end i thhink we get more milage over this thing comming up peridically and getting defeated - exposing the nastiness and hypocirisy of Turkey (and the average politician and of the U.S. government aparatus in general) - think about it.

[imported_crusader1492]

I would love to read it. If you can post an english version, I will be sure to.
Anyway, your zeal on this issue is commendable.