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

[artusian1]

I have read input by members regularly and I start to post. This is troubling to read that Armenian genocide is denied by some people. It is very disturbing to read that it is denied by some high profile people like doctors! This cannot be accepted. I came across a site where a medical doctor named Ariel Barkan, denies it in a very harsh way. This was so disturbing that I chose to share this with members of this forum.

Read his message yourself:

(Armenian Tale of Turkish Genocide Simply Untrue
I am an Israeli Jew, originally from the former Soviet Union, and have no dog in the Turkish-Armenian fight.

Nevertheless, the history of Armenian-Turkish relations is a difficult and complex one, and Jonathan Tobin did it a disservice when he wrote to support the Armenian claim of genocide (A Matter of Opinion: "Choosing Allies Over Principles," April 26).

During World War I, the nationalist Armenian movement was egged on by Czarist Russia to revolt against the Turks. This was designed to protect the flank of the Russian Empire from an attack by Germany's ally Turkey.

The Armenians obliged and unleashed an unprecedented terrorist campaign against ethnic Turks that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians.

The Ottoman Turks ordered the Armenians ousted from the affected areas. In the process, many were killed by the Kurdish gangs, many died of infections and starvation -- although it should be stated that Turks were dying like flies as well, and from the same causes.

But there was no genocide, because of the lack of intent or organized action on the part of the Turkish government to exterminate Armenians as such. The "ethnic cleansing" was limited to Eastern Anatolia. No Armenian in Istanbul was expelled or harmed.

The Armenians want to preserve the status of victims, not unlike the Palestinians. For years, Armenian terrorists killed Turks all over Europe, sent letter bombs, and set explosives in Turkish cultural centers.
Ariel Barkan, M.D.
Ann Arbor, Mich. )

from this site

http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/13003/

After googling his name, I found that this man is a highly profiled doctor and this makes it even more disturbing:

http://www2.med.umich.edu/departments/endocrinology/index.cfm?fuseaction=endocrinology.facultyBio&individual_id=3822&um_department=Internal%20Medicine

How can an educated man deny the Armenian genocide? Read his message and you will find more about him. We need to find more people like this man who as highly-profiled people can do lot of damage to the Armenian cause. This is very outrageous. His speech on medical issue, obviously an educated man.

http://endocrinefellows.org/new_media/barkan2004/video_frame.html

Artusian

[Hovik]

I have read input by members regularly and I start to post. This is troubling to read that Armenian genocide is denied by some people. It is very disturbing to read that it is denied by some high profile people like doctors! This cannot be accepted. I came across a site where a medical doctor named Ariel Barkan, denies it in a very harsh way. This was so disturbing that I chose to share this with members of this forum.

Read his message yourself:

(Armenian Tale of Turkish Genocide Simply Untrue
I am an Israeli Jew, originally from the former Soviet Union, and have no dog in the Turkish-Armenian fight.

Nevertheless, the history of Armenian-Turkish relations is a difficult and complex one, and Jonathan Tobin did it a disservice when he wrote to support the Armenian claim of genocide (A Matter of Opinion: "Choosing Allies Over Principles," April 26).

During World War I, the nationalist Armenian movement was egged on by Czarist Russia to revolt against the Turks. This was designed to protect the flank of the Russian Empire from an attack by Germany's ally Turkey.

The Armenians obliged and unleashed an unprecedented terrorist campaign against ethnic Turks that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians.

The Ottoman Turks ordered the Armenians ousted from the affected areas. In the process, many were killed by the Kurdish gangs, many died of infections and starvation -- although it should be stated that Turks were dying like flies as well, and from the same causes.

But there was no genocide, because of the lack of intent or organized action on the part of the Turkish government to exterminate Armenians as such. The "ethnic cleansing" was limited to Eastern Anatolia. No Armenian in Istanbul was expelled or harmed.

The Armenians want to preserve the status of victims, not unlike the Palestinians. For years, Armenian terrorists killed Turks all over Europe, sent letter bombs, and set explosives in Turkish cultural centers.
Ariel Barkan, M.D.
Ann Arbor, Mich. )

from this site

http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/13003/

After googling his name, I found that this man is a highly profiled doctor and this makes it even more disturbing:

http://www2.med.umich.edu/departments/endocrinology/index.cfm?fuseaction=endocrinology.facultyBio&individual_id=3822&um_department=Internal%20Medicine

How can an educated man deny the Armenian genocide? Read his message and you will find more about him. We need to find more people like this man who as highly-profiled people can do lot of damage to the Armenian cause. This is very outrageous. His speech on medical issue, obviously an educated man.

http://endocrinefellows.org/new_media/barkan2004/video_frame.html

Artusian

Welcome to the forum! Tell us a little about yourself, where you're from, etc.

Ok, now to this topic you've started.

My first thought is, it's sad that at an institution such as University of Michigan such individuals are employed. This being especially disturbing when U of M is a home to the Armenian Research Center, and the Armenian Workshop. Maybe Dr. Barkan should go speak with our Turkish friends at the workshop if he doubts the AG.

Also interesting is that in watching the video you linked to I noted 2 things worth mentioning.

1: His field of specialty is medicine with focuses on cancer. He works for the University of Michigan. The world-renowned Cancer and Geriatric Centers at the University of Michigan Medical Center were donated by the Mardigian Foundation - named after Armenian Philanthropist Edward Mardigian - who personally suffered loss of family during the Armenian Genocide.

2: In the beginning of this lecture (first 20 seconds or so) he mentions a colleague in the audience named "John Bilezikian". In Google I learned this man is an Armenian who is closely associated w/ Columbia University, and is active in the Armenian Community - has even donated to Fund for Armenian Relief (see this article). This makes me wonder if he's a closet denialist or open about it. If he's in the closet, we should be sure to make sure his colleagues know about his ugly denial.

[artusian1]

Welcome to the forum! Tell us a little about yourself, where you're from, etc.

Ok, now to this topic you've started.

My first thought is, it's sad that at an institution such as University of Michigan such individuals are employed. This being especially disturbing when U of M is a home to the Armenian Research Center, and the Armenian Workshop. Maybe Dr. Barkan should go speak with our Turkish friends at the workshop if he doubts the AG.

Also interesting is that in watching the video you linked to I noted 2 things worth mentioning.

1: His field of specialty is medicine with focuses on cancer. He works for the University of Michigan. The world-renowned Cancer and Geriatric Centers at the University of Michigan Medical Center were donated by the Mardigian Foundation - named after Armenian Philanthropist Edward Mardigian - who personally suffered loss of family during the Armenian Genocide.

2: In the beginning of this lecture (first 20 seconds or so) he mentions a colleague in the audience named "John Bilezikian". In Google I learned this man is an Armenian who is closely associated w/ Columbia University, and is active in the Armenian Community - has even donated to Fund for Armenian Relief (see this article). This makes me wonder if he's a closet denialist or open about it. If he's in the closet, we should be sure to make sure his colleagues know about his ugly denial.

Hovick,

Thanks very much. I have always felt sympathy for Armenian cause and had lots of Armenian friends in France and the USA. I work in marketing/promotion field, among others for medical product. I was informed and came to this statement by this man, who seems to be very known in mediacl circle, and this was so hateful that I decided to post.
What you found about him is very revealing. How can he do that and work for a medical center financed by Armenians and insult Armenians like that. I am sure if he had insulted another minority he will be in many trouble. Why does he dare to do this? Especially since he is in medical field.

Artusian

[bell-the-cat]

How can an educated man deny the Armenian genocide?

Having an education does not preclude someone from being a self-seeking bastard. And the fact of being a self-seeking bastard does not preclude the said bastard from also having medical skills.

[bell-the-cat]

And Steph will now be on at me for using the word bastard three (sorry this now makes it four) times!

[Steph]

And Steph will now be on at me for using the word bastard three (sorry this now makes it four) times!

Happy New Year Bell !

[artusian1]

Having an education does not preclude someone from being a self-seeking bastard. And the fact of being a self-seeking bastard does not preclude the said bastard from also having medical skills.

You are absolutely right

Artusian

[Hovik]

Altrusian,

I was just curious, what's your origin?

[artusian1]

Hovik,

Sorry I misunderstood I am French, my best friends are/were Armenians. From my mother side we have also Armenian married to our family.

Artusian

[phantom]

Someone ought to bring this to the attention of both the Manoogian Foundations (there are several) and the Mardigian Foundation. I don't know how long this joker would keep his job if one or both of those foundations contacted the University and pointed out that the people responsible for founding those foundations were survivors of the Armenian Genocide, which this arsehole denies in such an ugly way.