Postcard

[armenianweb]

http://www.collectifvan.org/article.php?r=0&id=10086

[Joseph]

Armenians in France cont.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg190723.html

A Piece of Sassoun... In Paris
By Khajag Mgrditchian

Paris and Sassoun: Two very different regions with very different
cultures and values. But the sad realities of life and Turkish
policies have brought them together.

There are many Sassountsis in all corners of the world, just like
there are Armenians from all parts of Western Armenia in all corners
of the world. But the Sassountsis in Paris are different. They are the
ones that bore Turkish oppression and genocidal acts, but could not
bear the policies that succeeded the massacres: forced Turkification,
systematic attacks on national and ethnic identity, violation of basic
human rights and Turkish xenophobia that stems from Kemalism.

These hundreds of Sassountsis are different because they are the most
recent witnesses to a genocide that continues. Their ordeal can be
read in their eyes, but the most striking testimony they provide is
revealed when they start speaking'only a few of them can express
themselves in Armenian. The dominant languages during the
conversations are Turkish and Kurdish.

Unfortunately, the language barrier has created a barrier of
communication between these Sassountsis and their French-Armenian
compatriots. Of course, the Sassountsis can't be blamed for forgetting
Armenian, using Kurdish and Turkish and not being fluent in French
just yet. The blame should fall on those who approach this situation
without empathy and understanding. In this case, Diasporan
institutions are clearly expected to assist these Sassountsis, and it
is an unforgivable mistake to misunderstand the true causes of this
phenomenon and place blame on them. We must all realize that it is our
duty to help these individuals and bring them back into Armenian life.

Kurdish and Turkish influences have not been able to erase their
Armenian core, which they are in the process of rebuilding and passing
on to the next generation. In Arnaudville, a suburb of Paris where a
rented apartment has become their meeting place, each and every
picture hanging from the walls'Sassountsi Tavit, Gen. Antranig, a map
of the Armenian Genocide, picturesque images from Sassoun... and Hrant
Dink'is an outcry against the fate that has befallen them. You can see
the mythic. Pictures from different cultural and sports events attest
to the determination to survive.

More proof of this determination can also be found there. Armenian
dance lessons have been organized for the young Sassountis, and they
can now learn the Sassoun Kochari and the Yarkhoushda. The children
are also being taught Armenian (They need textbooks in Western
Armenian). There is also hope that a new initiative to build a school
in Paris for the Sassountsis might come to fruition. The Sassountsis
told the `Hairenik' that a building currently being renovated will
open in September as the `Hrant Dink' school. The school will be
opened initially with two kindergarten classes and will add a class
every year, thus becoming a new beacon of learning for the next
generation of Armenians.

That's all for now about the soaring Sassountsi spirit in
Paris. According to my colleagues, there are similar enclaves of
Sassountsis in other European countries, such as the Netherlands,
Belgium, Germany, etc... And here the role of an organized
European-Armenian community becomes extremely important. This
community must welcome and embrace the Sassountsis and understand that
helping them is one of the most important missions of Hay Tahd they
could be entrusted with.

Translated by Simon Beugekian

[bell-the-cat]

http://www.collectifvan.org/article.php?r=0&id=10086

I've got a copy of the huge book "Armenians in Turkey 100 Years Ago" that was published in Turkey and that illustrates about 750 of the postcards in Calumeno's collection. The book was published in two version, one in English and one in Turkish. The print quality is very good, but its text is a bit bland and simplified. However, it does openly give all the Armenian population statistics, region by region, town by town, as well as lots of other factual snippets of information about churches, schools, etc. Compared against the similar, though much smaller, 1979 book on the same subject by Ternon and Kebabdjian, titled "Armenie 1900", the older book is a very poor second.

[Joseph]

I've got a copy of the huge book "Armenians in Turkey 100 Years Ago" that was published in Turkey and that illustrates about 750 of the postcards in Calumeno's collection. The book was published in two version, one in English and one in Turkish. The print quality is very good, but its text is a bit bland and simplified. However, it does openly give all the Armenian population statistics, region by region, town by town, as well as lots of other factual snippets of information about churches, schools, etc. Compared against the similar, though much smaller, 1979 book on the same subject by Ternon and Kebabdjian, titled "Armenie 1900", the older book is a very poor second.

I bought the Turkish version when I was last in Istanbul. I agree, it was very bland and as it moved to the eastern regions, the language was very guarded and careful as it related to the ongoing massacres of the 1890-1909 period. The pictures were great though.

[bell-the-cat]

I bought the Turkish version when I was last in Istanbul. I agree, it was very bland and as it moved to the eastern regions, the language was very guarded and careful as it related to the ongoing massacres of the 1890-1909 period. The pictures were great though.

Though I haven't yet read through most of the text - I've mostly just looked at the pictures.
I wonder if the text is exactly the same in the Turkish one? Guarded seems to be the word to use for the English text as well. For example, I noticed that about the belltower of the Diyarbekir Armenian church, which was blown up by the Turks, the book just says that it was "taken down in 1916".

It is far too expensive though - it's the sort of book that should have been publised on cd-rom (but authors still seem to have a paper fetish!).

[Joseph]

Though I haven't yet read through most of the text - I've mostly just looked at the pictures.
I wonder if the text is exactly the same in the Turkish one? Guarded seems to be the word to use for the English text as well. For example, I noticed that about the belltower of the Diyarbekir Armenian church, which was blown up by the Turks, the book just says that it was "taken down in 1916".

It is far too expensive though - it's the sort of book that should have been publised on cd-rom (but authors still seem to have a paper fetish!).

You hit the nail on the head. The wording is extremely guarded and despite the amazing collection of photographs and postcards. My wife is fluent and Turkish and I can read French and a little Turkish and we both noticed that the translations were roughly the same. It was most certainly written keeping Turkish censors in mind, that is for sure and yes, it cost us over US$100; very expensive.

[Joseph]

Though I haven't yet read through most of the text - I've mostly just looked at the pictures.
I wonder if the text is exactly the same in the Turkish one? Guarded seems to be the word to use for the English text as well. For example, I noticed that about the belltower of the Diyarbekir Armenian church, which was blown up by the Turks, the book just says that it was "taken down in 1916".

It is far too expensive though - it's the sort of book that should have been publised on cd-rom (but authors still seem to have a paper fetish!).

What I do like about the book is that it is very well organized; moving from Adrianople east to through Western Armenia.