From the 'revisionist'

[Brer Rabbit]

For the girl who accuses me of being a revisionist In 1915, shortly after my great grandfather was gunned down in Cyprus by the Turkish Secret Police, the authorities went after his family, believing they were smuggling guns into Turkey. Araxy Galustian was 15 years old. Her father had a farm outside of Moosh. When the soldiers came Araxy was hiding in the barn behind the hay stores where she would pray without the teasing of her brothers and sisters. The soldiers rounded up the family, her Father, her Mother, her 3 brothers and 3 sisters, the hired help, everyone. Her oldest sister was taken in the barn and raped, Araxy knew she could not make a sound or she would share her fate. The soldiers were reprimanded by their Captain, and called back to ranks, there was much more serious matters to attend to. When her Mother started screaming hysterically and beat on the man whom raped her daughter, the Sergeant shot her in the face, killing her. This was fortunate as she was not to endure the horror that ensued. Her Father knew from news around the province that they all were about to die, but this was to be one of the most infamous events in the history of the Genocide. The Captain demanded to know where they had hidden the guns my Great Grandfather had sent from Cyprus. As Araxy watched from a crack between the boards, the hired men were executed one after the other, each time the Captain would scream at her Father, “Where are the Guns!”. When her Father remained silent, this incensed the Captain, who scream in her Father’s face, “You will tell me! Where are the guns!”. He began with the oldest son. He pulled out his saber and cut off the end of the boys’ foot. He said, “Run boy, run! If you run far enough we will let you live!” . The boy, screaming in pain hobbled several yards before collapsing , and when he did the Captain had his attack dogs, large German Shepards, sicced on the boy, tearing him apart. Her father fell on his knees and wept, begging them to stop. The Captain screamed “Tell me where the guns are!” Her father only shook his head. Silent tears fell down Araxy face. She dare make no sound. In turn each of her brothers and sisters was killed this way the girls having a hand cut off the boys a foot. Oddly , each of the children tried to reach the point where their oldest brother had fallen, only to be ravaged by the dogs, each time the Captain demanding the guns. When only her Father was left the Captain told her Father he would spare his life, if only he would tell where the guns were. Her Father said, “I have no reason to live.” At this the Captain, thoroughly disgusted, took out his pistol and shot him dead. The remains were gathered in a pile and set ablaze with gasoline. The house was looted and the cattle taken, then the barn was set on fire. The soldiers left and Araxy was trapped in the barn, waiting to die. Miraculously, it began to rain. Araxy escaped and was secretly smuggled out of the country by Christian Missionaries. My Grandmother was her first cousin, my Aunt was named after her. This story was told to me as a horror story as a child to scare me. The details I learned from my Uncle Rueben before he died. He had heard this directly from my great cousin before she died in Chicago in the 1930’s. I resent anyone calling me a revisionist and I think I am owed an apology. My family suffered greatly from the Genocide. Never Forget!

[RSNATION]

Re: From the 'revisionist'

For the girl who accuses me of being a revisionist In 1915, shortly after my great grandfather was gunned down in Cyprus by the Turkish Secret Police, the authorities went after his family, believing they were smuggling guns into Turkey. Araxy Galustian was 15 years old. Her father had a farm outside of Moosh. When the soldiers came Araxy was hiding in the barn behind the hay stores where she would pray without the teasing of her brothers and sisters. The soldiers rounded up the family, her Father, her Mother, her 3 brothers and 3 sisters, the hired help, everyone. Her oldest sister was taken in the barn and raped, Araxy knew she could not make a sound or she would share her fate. The soldiers were reprimanded by their Captain, and called back to ranks, there was much more serious matters to attend to. When her Mother started screaming hysterically and beat on the man whom raped her daughter, the Sergeant shot her in the face, killing her. This was fortunate as she was not to endure the horror that ensued. Her Father knew from news around the province that they all were about to die, but this was to be one of the most infamous events in the history of the Genocide. The Captain demanded to know where they had hidden the guns my Great Grandfather had sent from Cyprus. As Araxy watched from a crack between the boards, the hired men were executed one after the other, each time the Captain would scream at her Father, “Where are the Guns!”. When her Father remained silent, this incensed the Captain, who scream in her Father’s face, “You will tell me! Where are the guns!”. He began with the oldest son. He pulled out his saber and cut off the end of the boys’ foot. He said, “Run boy, run! If you run far enough we will let you live!” . The boy, screaming in pain hobbled several yards before collapsing , and when he did the Captain had his attack dogs, large German Shepards, sicced on the boy, tearing him apart. Her father fell on his knees and wept, begging them to stop. The Captain screamed “Tell me where the guns are!” Her father only shook his head. Silent tears fell down Araxy face. She dare make no sound. In turn each of her brothers and sisters was killed this way the girls having a hand cut off the boys a foot. Oddly , each of the children tried to reach the point where their oldest brother had fallen, only to be ravaged by the dogs, each time the Captain demanding the guns. When only her Father was left the Captain told her Father he would spare his life, if only he would tell where the guns were. Her Father said, “I have no reason to live.” At this the Captain, thoroughly disgusted, took out his pistol and shot him dead. The remains were gathered in a pile and set ablaze with gasoline. The house was looted and the cattle taken, then the barn was set on fire. The soldiers left and Araxy was trapped in the barn, waiting to die. Miraculously, it began to rain. Araxy escaped and was secretly smuggled out of the country by Christian Missionaries. My Grandmother was her first cousin, my Aunt was named after her. This story was told to me as a horror story as a child to scare me. The details I learned from my Uncle Rueben before he died. He had heard this directly from my great cousin before she died in Chicago in the 1930’s. I resent anyone calling me a revisionist and I think I am owed an apology. My family suffered greatly from the Genocide. Never Forget!

Thanks you for sharing. When you start to think about just how many families suffered that same fate the anger starts to grow. We'll never forget and never forgive.

[Siamanto]

Re: From the 'revisionist'

With all honesty, I fail to see your point; in fact, I don't see how the sufferings of a person's ancestors can explain or elucidate the nature of the person's views a couple of generations later? [b] I can base my assessment only on your statements and views, expressed in public.
Furthermore, the fact that you have chosen to "refute" my "accusation" with a story that you perfectly knew will touch the hearts of the Armenian members of this forums, instead of rational arguments and elucidation can only reinforce my suspicions.

As for the veracity of your story, I can neither verify nor falsify it. As a matter of fact, other "Armenians" have used in the past such stories in order to make credible their revisionist statements and agenda. My past experience advises me to be risk averse and opt for skepticism.
However, I'll keep in mind that you're a "professional Storyteller" and it is very unlikely - not impossible - to be called Galustian in Moosh.

You may or may not be of Armenian descent - knowing that I may be wrong, I chose to assume that you are not - but, the following reflects revisionist views:


1- The number of the victims may be debatable

Today I heard an annoucement of 675,000 Iraqi dead since this war began. The government and the military both insist that the figure has never been higher than 50,000 and discounted the higher figure as 'unrealistic'. This is what we in America call 'spin'. If you support the war effort (as my neighbor who has a son in Iraq does) you believe the administration. If you are a cynic who believes the war was provocative (as I do ) you are more likely to believe the latter. This is a fine example of the varied view of the massacres of 1915. If you grew up in Turkey you are likely to believe the spin that Turkish history books recount. If you are a decendent of the survivors, your view is very different.

(The above is what some of us call the "revisionist spin." A sneaky way to say:
Numbers and facts are debatable because the different sides have different perceptions and perspectives.)





2- The Civil War argument

The Armenian relatives I lost were all Turkish, that much I should make clear.

To those of you who seem to hate everything Turkish I would remind you that nearly all of those killed were Turkish!

(So, it was simply *urkish people killing other *urkish people? The revisionist thesis of the "Civil War?")





3- What is a genocide?
It is noteworthy that you have started only two (non-introductory) threads; one where you wonder why some think how the Armenian Genocide may not be a genocide - i.e. de facto debatable, the other to say that the numbers may be debatable and subjective.
Do you expect me to believe that an apparently educated "55 year old" person who claims "It has become my personal endeavor to teach people about this terrible genocide" did not have an answer to the question why the State Department does not recognize the Armenian Genocide?





4- Armenians have lived in peace and harmony with *urks, those events were unusual and do not reflect the fact that most *urks were "Armenian friendly;" only some "extremists" were involved

especially after so much time has past. It is good to hear that Armenians and Turkish people are living together in peace, thank you for saying so.

(Of course, as revisionists maintain, Armenians and *urks lived in peace and harmony before the Genocide...and now, also, after the Genocide.)

They...died at the hands of extrememist, Turkish people are no worse than Americans, French, or Armenians. Hatred only begets hatred.

(Of course, *urks are loved by all their neighbors and they have always brought peace and prosperity wherever they have settled. How further pro-*urkish revisionist propaganda can go?)

I am surprised by the number of posts showing such hatred towards the Turks. These people (my people) who died so long ago were Turkish. It is akin to hating all Americans because of the Policies of President Bush, it is not a rational comparison.

5- It happened a long time, we should forget and get over.

remember, this happened 90 years ago. Turkish Armenians do not dwell on this, why should they.

(Really? Who authorized you to represent the survivors of the Armenian Genocide?
Note: According to Brer Rabbit, Diaspora Armenians fleeing the genocide of Armenians in Western Armenia are "*urkish" Armenians.)

Armenians and Armenian Americans need to realise this and move on. No good can come from projecting hatred on an entire culture because of one radical faction of that culture.

my Grandmother was the one who taught me about forgiveness, something that seems still beyond your grasp, Siamanto

(Nice touch! Exploiting , again, the memory of those who suffered to make yourself credible?)






6- Armenians should and would be content with a simple recognition

What we have issues about is the government of Turkey denying that these events took place,

Note: I have chosen to auto censor the words "*urk," "*urkish" or *urkic" because it is commonly perceived as unpleasant and offending, evokes unpleasant emotions and imagery and is pregnant with immoral and evil connotations!