Hrant Dink, Turkish-Armenian editor was shot dead
Wow, this news really sent a chill down my spine. It seems almost certain that Hrant Dink was shot to death simply for talking about the genocide, in a country which convicted him for insulting Turkishness. He was also charged with it again basically for saying he was an Armenian, not a Turk.I must say I lay the blame entirely on the Turkish Government. They have created a culture of lies, hatred and violence. Another death they will deny any responsibility for and which no doubt they will not be held accountable for.
The picture is one he sent me a few months ago when I asked for one for Armeniapedia.
RFE/RL simply wrote: "A Turkish-Armenian editor, who was convicted last year for insulting Turkey's identity, was shot dead outside his newspaper in Istanbul on Friday, a colleague and Turkish television said."
posted by Raffi K. at 7:09 PM
4 Comments:
I am sorry and ashamed that Hrant was killed in Turkey,
Istanbul,
most probably by someone who was proud to be Turk, but no more than DIRT on humanity.
Mustafa
"Wow, this news really sent a chill down my spine."
It is just the same, how I felt, when I read the new yesterday. As a turkish person I am deeply sorry for a conciliatory man, who could understand best both the armenians and turks.
I was not surprised about Dink's assassination because we have lost many valuable people of this land before, just like this to terrorism of not being free to speak your mind,regardless of the religion or nationality you may belong to.This was what Dink was fighting against,he wasn't killed because he said the genocide happened,he was killed because he could not be frightened into silence.We,the like-minded,now mourn his death and the loss that can never be replaced,both to his family and to his country.He saw Turkey as his land and we saw him as a brother that lives next door.I read the words that the change about Armenia and Turkey's friendship must come from within Turkey itself and I agree with you.From outside,Turkey may seem as the enemy.I assure you,there are many people who see you as friends in Turkey.We don't agree with the Turkish Government's dealings or rulings at all,but somehow we as the regular citizens,cannot affect our government here.It does NOT reflect the majority's views but unfortunately,from outside, our voices cannot reach you.I am hopeful,as a proud daughter of the Turkish nation,that the day will come when all of us will stop this stupid bickering about the genocide happening or not.I can also not understand why we Turks cannot swallow our pride and say "yes,we did it".In all our history books,we read about the honorable Turkish people,never doing anything wrong or deceitful when in reality I know as many dirt Turkish people as from other nations.It is always hard to say sorry.Also,to be just,both sides should acknowledge what they did to the other side during the war period of the 1900-1920s in Turkey.As in all war regions,people from both sides should be able to accept their faults and leave the past behind.Only then can we look at the future with hope of peace and friendship.I also read a comment from the UK,which is one of my top favorite places,that Tony Blair should not support our entry to the EU.Isn't that spiteful and childish?When we,as the minority who wants freedom of speech and democracy as much as the next person,are struggling to reach your standards,shouldn't you give us a lending hand to make the process easier for us so that we also can beat this unfair system in Turkey right now? Because without help,our voices get lost here...Otherwise,I find the suggestion that "Blair helping Turkey is disgusting" is not supportive of the peaceful point of view of looking at people and at nations.Don't forget,we are all striving for a better world and a better future!In reality,we are not so different...
Thank you for listening to me,
FUNDA
Funda,
I assure you that many Armenians want the same, the fair acknowledgement of history and moving on to good-neighborly relations with all of Armenia's neighbors. Of course, you should also appreciate the sheer gravity of the Armenian loss, the nation that has existed on its historical territory for about 2500 years through all kinds of hardships and invasions but which has lost its homeland and big share of its population in the 20th century Ottoman empire. It's not a simple matter...
And yes, modern Turks can really help in healing those old wounds, through knowing their own history, through honesty and compassion. And a lot of Armenians will appreciate the honest effort on the Turkish side and will reciprocate. But some will never do. For some Armenians, the worse for Turkey, the better. Even when it is worse for Armenia too. They are that blinded. But majority is not.
Artashes
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