Re: Letter from Prof. Ataov to US Senator about Armenian-Turkish issue
This is the root of your double standard: Turks have rights and Armenians don't. You say Armenians had no right to create their own country, by implying the Ottoman Empire was a multi-ethnic and equal society, but when it comes down to it, you believe Turks have greater rights than other groups. Your double-standard is evident to anyone who is reading this thread.
Armenians had their own state for thousands of years. Just because a group of Oghuz tribesmen controlled the region for a few hundred years, doesn't make it "yours". Even as late as the 19th century, most of the land on the Armenian plateau was owned and worked on by Armenians. Armenians had the most businesses in the region. Armenians managed their own local economies. When the region fell under the control of Muslims (after WW1), it became the most backward region in the Middle East.
You are avoiding the point: No single Armenian government body or Armenian organization supported ASALA. They were a secretive, underground group, who didn't even trust other Armenians. Thats actually part of the reason they broke up--- they didn't trust each other after a while.
On the other hand, most Turkish atrocities were committed with government aid. Again, as a PhD, you should be intelligent enough to know why this is a much more serious crime.
Ataturk said "centuries-old accounts were being regulated". In English, "regulation" is a euphemism for tampering with something.
There you go again with your double-standard: On the issue of paying for past crimes, Ottomans have no connection with modern Turks. However, when it comes to taking land, Ottomans ARE modern Turks. Its hard to have a discussion with someone who changes their mind from one comment to the next.
The Armenian state CANNOT lobby for laws in France or Switzerland. Its irrelevant what the Armenian state thinks about the laws, since they played no part in the process. You are nit-picking. The fact is the Turkish state systematically brings people to trial for speech crimes, and no matter how many times you dance around that fact, the fact still remains.
I don't care what you think about Pamuk or other writers... You're dancing around the subject again. The fact is the Turkish state has systematically outlawed freedom of speech, and punishes people for speaking their minds. Plus, Pamuk and his Nobel Prize have no connection with Armenians or the Armenian state. You are making connections that aren't there.
Have I tried to stop you from expressing your ideas? No, I haven't. So don't accuse me of being "intolerant". You're making baseless accusations because you ran out of things to say.
Originally posted by Emrah
Originally posted by Emrah
Originally posted by Emrah
On the other hand, most Turkish atrocities were committed with government aid. Again, as a PhD, you should be intelligent enough to know why this is a much more serious crime.
Originally posted by Emrah
Originally posted by Emrah
Originally posted by Emrah
Originally posted by Emrah
I don't care what you think about Pamuk or other writers... You're dancing around the subject again. The fact is the Turkish state has systematically outlawed freedom of speech, and punishes people for speaking their minds. Plus, Pamuk and his Nobel Prize have no connection with Armenians or the Armenian state. You are making connections that aren't there.
Originally posted by Emrah
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