Turkish propoganda FAILS!
Germany recognized the Armenian Genocide! YAY!!! Turkey is raging. Apparently their little DVD in Time magazine didn't work. I just got a copy of the DVD yesterday. It was a disturbing 60 minutes. It's actually 70 minutes, but after 60 minutes, I couldn't take it anymore. For the love of God, how many lies can you fit in a "tourism" DVD. The worst part was when they started showing mass graves being excavated, and claimed those to be Turks' remains. Later in the DVD, they try to make the argument that Armenians claim that there are so many mass graves, but we haven't been able to show any. "Where are these mass graves they talk about?" Dude, these are sick people.
So needless to say, this DVD is a joke. But the one thing that brings me comfort is that the idea of the average European opening this thing, watching the whole thing and sitting through 70 minutes of obvious lies on people who don't even live in Turkey (because according to them, we just left... or we were deported to safer locations where they had food and doctors ready to care for us... it was a shame that some people died along the way. Who would have guessed that some people might not be able to survived walking through the Syrian dessert in the middle of the summer with no food, water, and the occasional rapes and killings), doesn't seem realistic. The only people I imagine watching this thing are people who already have an opinion, and lets face it, Europeans seem to be more clear on the truth than anywhere else.
It seems Time's explanation is that they didn't know it was in there. I suppose I believe that. The way it was done is obviously very sneaky. That in itself also convinces me that anyone in their right mind would see this and realize that it's obvious propoganda distributed by the Turkish government. The arguments are weak as usual, there are so many gaps and contradictions, and their attempt at appearing to be such a westernized democratic state while bashing an entire culture on a "tourism" DVD while the world watches them get rejected from the EU over and over again for their poor human rights records, I just can't see anyone being influenced by this thing. But perhaps I'm so emersed in the situation that I can't even imagine the other perspective. Whatever it may be, if you feel like depressing yourself and reallly need a dagger in the heart, I highly recommend this piece of garbage.
So needless to say, this DVD is a joke. But the one thing that brings me comfort is that the idea of the average European opening this thing, watching the whole thing and sitting through 70 minutes of obvious lies on people who don't even live in Turkey (because according to them, we just left... or we were deported to safer locations where they had food and doctors ready to care for us... it was a shame that some people died along the way. Who would have guessed that some people might not be able to survived walking through the Syrian dessert in the middle of the summer with no food, water, and the occasional rapes and killings), doesn't seem realistic. The only people I imagine watching this thing are people who already have an opinion, and lets face it, Europeans seem to be more clear on the truth than anywhere else.
It seems Time's explanation is that they didn't know it was in there. I suppose I believe that. The way it was done is obviously very sneaky. That in itself also convinces me that anyone in their right mind would see this and realize that it's obvious propoganda distributed by the Turkish government. The arguments are weak as usual, there are so many gaps and contradictions, and their attempt at appearing to be such a westernized democratic state while bashing an entire culture on a "tourism" DVD while the world watches them get rejected from the EU over and over again for their poor human rights records, I just can't see anyone being influenced by this thing. But perhaps I'm so emersed in the situation that I can't even imagine the other perspective. Whatever it may be, if you feel like depressing yourself and reallly need a dagger in the heart, I highly recommend this piece of garbage.
posted by Arsineh at 9:08 AM
19 Comments:
Thanks for writing about this topic. I’m very surprised that an veteran news magazine with such historical significance would not pre-screen such a DVD supplement via their legal department. Sounds strange. In my media experience, this has all the makings of a dirty political hand. Let’s look at the Time-Warner board of directors by visiting www.timewarner.com/corp/management/board_directors/ Did you ever wonder?
As alarming as this action was by Turkey and Time(actually, it is a brilliant polito/marketing move), the good news is that European sentiment against Turks as a people is so negative, they could care less what is on the DVD. And, just like those AOL discs you get in the mail for free hours of internet use, most people will use them as coasters for their cups. Europeans view Turks as unskilled labor in Germany, The Bene countries, and in Eastern Europe that there is a cultural and societal friction. For example, people in Amsterdam were bluntly racist against Turks when I visited there a few times. That is the reality. So, my take is that this time, the DVD is not such a big deal. However, if you view this as a first step in their manipulation of the media, we really have to stand guard against it.
Meneshian.
I truly believe we need to stand guard, but moreso to bring it to the publics attention to expose Turkey for their dirty tactics. I see it as an act of desparation as the world is gradually turning towards recognition of the genocide. They turned up the heat out of fear of the Armenian diaspora, which means we are succeeding.
I believe that there was a dirty political hand with the whole Time magazine thing, sure. At this point, I suspect that in any situation My little exposure to politics has turned me into a conspiracy theorist afterall. But I also believe others there are furious, if for nothing else, at the amount of angry Armenians they have knocking down their doors about it, rightfully so. I just hope they act appropriately in their response.
We need to FORCE Time Magazine to apologize and to issue a story on the truth! Period! This is an outrage that would NEVER be allowed for ANY other genocide. The uproar over an anti-holocaust DVD would be unimaginable. We shouldn't accept second class status, we should raise hell. Seriously, I am so pissed. They cannot just say they didn't know what was on the DVD. Fine, I will assume they didn't know. That is no reason for them now not to apologize for the error, and report the truth to their readers. They should show where they stand and thus discourage other "advertisers" from trying such tactics...
The email to time magazine europe and an example letter to the editor is at:
http://www.cilicia.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=76
Make no mistake, my blood is boiling over this. I'm controlling myself to be the optimist and assume that they are going to do the right thing, because how else would moral people behave. Too naive? Maybe. Perhaps not after we all let them know just how absolutely WRONG it was to have that thing in there.
Guys, I just came back from visiting Sweden, Denmark and a few hours in Vienna ... and I saw Turkish tourism billboards everywhere. Sad. And as much as they are disliked in Europe, there are still thousands and thousands of Europeans (and Armenians) visiting their country every year.
I really don’t understand why Time of Europe would risk such a dark stain on their name, unless they were not doing well financially and the ad revenue was too good to refuse. Print media is a difficult sell, and during a down market, shady buyers come out of nowhere to purchase suppressed advertising rates. Can you imagine if they did that sort of stunt in the U.S. market? According to a 2003 ABC news-poll 43% of voting adults get their political education from, you guessed it, news magazines. Arsineh, how do you think the ANC or Armenian National Assembly will combat this European media effort?
Turkey paid $1 million for that ad. The ANCA has already responded. I know the ANC of Europe is working on something, not clear on the details. But I know Time will be facing a lawsuit soon. I have no info on how they may or may not respond. As for the ANCA here, in my last log I mentioned a list of action items they have on their site, this is one of them. They have an auto-email set up to send to Time, among others... Dateline, etc. On the Dateline front, I just talked to the ANCA folks and they just heard back from Dateline in response to many emails they received directing them to the ANCA for a response. So they are expecting a formal response from Dateline any minute now. I'll have more on that when I hear from them.
And as much as I REALLY don't feel like putting myself through this, I plan on watching the whole thing again to fully report on the whole DVD so you all can share in my misery. There are so many disturbing segments, outright lies, etc. that might be important to hear to understand their tactics. I wish I had someone to watch it with the first time because my mind was racing with all the inner-commentary, so now I shall share it with all of you... this weekend. I still need to catch up with my life after that wedding.
Arsineh, I'm glad you're on our side! :)
Pretty pathetic, if you ask me! Thank God I can read about these things from a friendly source! Here in Richmond VA, we don't exactly hear to much about Armenian issues, or ANY world news, for that matter! If it doesn't deal with NASCAR, or the Wahwah of Nawthun Uhgresssion ( I spelled it out phonetically; if you're confused...it's a Southern thing...), people in these parts don't really care! I wish I could get a copy of that DVD so I can see how the Turkish government wasted it's money! ;^) I mean, if you're going to do propoganda right, shouldn't they have talked to Fox News? "We report, you decide"! Since it most likely will be in PAL and coded for Region 2, I wouldn't be able to see it, any way! I read a really good book recently: "Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America's Response" I was going to buy "40 Days of Musa Dagh", but they were sold out of it. Do you think they'll have it on Netflix anytime soon? They have a pretty large fiction selection....
Dude, you're in Richmond? I'm in DC, drive up a couple hours I'll GIVE you a copy. I have an extra. Otherwise, stay tuned for my detailed report.
Actually headed to Crystal City on Sunday (6/26) to do some A/V at the Doubletree. So what format is the DVD in? I'm assuming since it was made for Europe, it's in PAL, right? If it makes you nervous to meet a complete stranger, (and if I were you, I would be!) you can drop it off there at the Doubletree with my name on it. Otherwise, I 'll be a good boy and wait. BTW, I googled "Germany recognizes Armenian Genocide", and didn't find anything. Where did you find the news? It's pretty sad that the template for the Holocaust, The Killing Fields, Rwanda, & Darfur isn't even recognized here in the States; even though the US took a lead role in relief actions for the survivors!
hi,
i wonder if you could upload the DVD? my colleagues in an organization of genocide scholars, and its listserv would love to see it.
www.h-net.org/~genocide/
perhaps you could burn a copy and send it to me?
please contact me at aceyamapola@hotmail.com
sincerely
jeannette smyth
you're in d.c.? me too.
let's talk.
jeannette smyth
Feel free to shoot me a line at looneyloon_2000@yahoo.com
I also want to make it over to the Old Country as well. Any tips would be gratefully received! Unfortunately, no one else in my family has been over there, and it isn't exactly like going to Ireland, where there are direct flights!
Lee Britt (don't let the last name fool you; grandfather's last name was Ajemian!)
Though I've contacted you both, let me respond quickly online. Germany's genocide resolution news can be found on groong.com if you go a couple weeks back. Tips for visiting the old country, your best resource is our buddies in the repatriate log on this website. They are the all-knowing ones on this matter, though I'd be MORE than happy to add my two cents when they're done.
Still haven't gotten back to the DVD... I'm procrastinating. Sorry.
Greetings from a Greek-American friend :).
I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about the Turkish effort to influence Ivy League schools, with their revisionist history.
Reason I wonder is cause this morning, a friend (20-something, very PC, Princeton grad), told me that the Greeks brought the Smyrna-1922 atrocities on themselves, and that they were the culprits.
My blood boiled for a few minutes, especially when I realized that she's probably indicative of most Ivy Leaguers. Thoughts?
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