Originally posted by Antifascist
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Parev/hello from Istanbul.
I have come here because I would like to learn more about Armenia'a culture, traditions, cuisine, politics and language. Also, I am someone who wants Turkey to face its past properly and wants Turkey-Armenia relations to be normalised ; and, I would like to express my views on such issues.
I know that some Armenians, mainly the nationalists, won't welcome me here but I will speak out anyway (I have seen some posts in this section where some people generalised and wrote bad things about Turks). Dialogue is always healthy. I am here to exchange thoughts, ideas and experiences but I also hope that I will make some good friends here.
I am an anti-fascist. I oppose fascism and nationalism of ANY KIND. I believe that there is only a thin line between nationalism and fascism. Since I am Turkish, I write mainly in Turkish forums and since I speak out a lot against nationalism, I always receive bad words, insults and even threats from Turkish nationalists. Of course sometimes I write in non-Turkish forums too ; and nationalists from other countries write bad words to me too. I have noticed one thing : nationalists' level of intellectual argument is really basic. They keep repeating the same things and they often turn to insults and even threats. Sadly, fascism is still a big threat in Europe. I am sure many of you have heard about the Neo-Nazi party in Greece; they received about 7 percent of the vote in the general elections of last weekend. I believe that there should be an international anti-fascist alliance.
I was one of the Turks who attended the 24 April memorial service in Istanbul last month. I was there 2 years ago too (last year, I was outside Turkey so I couldn't attend). I was happy to see that from 2010 to 2012, there was a big increase in the no of people who attended it. This year, there were even 2 Turkish MP's who attended it. Of course, I know it is not enough. I really hope that one day a Turkish government will acknowledge the genocide and officially apologise.
A little about me.....my name is Cem...I was born in Istanbul in 1968.....I have spent most of my life in Istanbul but I also spent some years in England, Australia and Thailand. I have mostly been a teacher of English language......I have never been to Armenia but I would love to go there one day but I am bit worried about the reactions of Armenian nationalists there.
I like following political news and events...I like watching football and tennis.....I like playing billiard games and chess...and I love shopping
I identify myself as a liberal democrat who is anti-fascist and internationalist. I think that internationalism doesn't need to be based on Marxism. I am agnostic; I have never been interested in following any religion.
Cheers,
Cem
I have come here because I would like to learn more about Armenia'a culture, traditions, cuisine, politics and language. Also, I am someone who wants Turkey to face its past properly and wants Turkey-Armenia relations to be normalised ; and, I would like to express my views on such issues.
I know that some Armenians, mainly the nationalists, won't welcome me here but I will speak out anyway (I have seen some posts in this section where some people generalised and wrote bad things about Turks). Dialogue is always healthy. I am here to exchange thoughts, ideas and experiences but I also hope that I will make some good friends here.
I am an anti-fascist. I oppose fascism and nationalism of ANY KIND. I believe that there is only a thin line between nationalism and fascism. Since I am Turkish, I write mainly in Turkish forums and since I speak out a lot against nationalism, I always receive bad words, insults and even threats from Turkish nationalists. Of course sometimes I write in non-Turkish forums too ; and nationalists from other countries write bad words to me too. I have noticed one thing : nationalists' level of intellectual argument is really basic. They keep repeating the same things and they often turn to insults and even threats. Sadly, fascism is still a big threat in Europe. I am sure many of you have heard about the Neo-Nazi party in Greece; they received about 7 percent of the vote in the general elections of last weekend. I believe that there should be an international anti-fascist alliance.
I was one of the Turks who attended the 24 April memorial service in Istanbul last month. I was there 2 years ago too (last year, I was outside Turkey so I couldn't attend). I was happy to see that from 2010 to 2012, there was a big increase in the no of people who attended it. This year, there were even 2 Turkish MP's who attended it. Of course, I know it is not enough. I really hope that one day a Turkish government will acknowledge the genocide and officially apologise.
A little about me.....my name is Cem...I was born in Istanbul in 1968.....I have spent most of my life in Istanbul but I also spent some years in England, Australia and Thailand. I have mostly been a teacher of English language......I have never been to Armenia but I would love to go there one day but I am bit worried about the reactions of Armenian nationalists there.
I like following political news and events...I like watching football and tennis.....I like playing billiard games and chess...and I love shopping
I identify myself as a liberal democrat who is anti-fascist and internationalist. I think that internationalism doesn't need to be based on Marxism. I am agnostic; I have never been interested in following any religion.
Cheers,
Cem
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