You are not a reputed artist, politician or president of some association that others would extend the microphone to you for an interview. You are not a columnist, so that you can make your ideas heard from your newspaper corner. All is fine, but we are fed up with this affair. Other persons speak in our place, knowing or having no idea. [Read more...]

Yuksel Oktay

One of the earliest and best publications on revealing the Armenian propaganda against Turkey was a 20 page booklet prepared and issued by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) in 1982, almost 30 years ago. The booklet, Setting the Record Straight” opens with an advertisement that appeared in the New York Times on December 24, 1980, which begins with an appeal to all Americans to condemn terrorism and lists the names of Turkish ambassadors, Consul Generals and foreign service members who were murdered by Armenian terrorists. The booklet clearly states that “There was no genocide committed against the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire before or during World War One.”

The recent media reports on the French proposal reminded me of another booklet, issued by TESEV, but written by Aybars Gorgulu, a graduate of Saint Benoit French High School in Istanbul, whose president is one of the signatories to the letter to French Senate. The booklet, entitled, “Turkey-Armenia Relations: A Vicious Circle”, is 48 pages and examines the history of Turkey-Armenia relations, which have never been able to normalize since Armenia became an independent state. The one sided presentation is primarily on the obstacles to normalization of relations, attempts to find a solution and why a solution is necessary. However, there is no mention of the Armenian revolts and the resurrections across the eastern Anatolia, the massacre of Turks during World War One, which caused the drastic resettlement action that the Ottoman government took, and the murder of Turkish diplomats explained in the above pamphlet. There is also no information on the role of the western powers who created the Armenian issue and were determined to partition Turkey, especially the role of the French. [Read more...]

A two page article, complete with a large photograph of Yerevan (Erivan) with Mount Agri (Ararat) in the background tells the story of a documentary on cities established in Armenia with Turkish names – Arapgir, Maras, Malatya, Van. The article, written by Alpugra Bahadir Gultekin in Radikal newspaper (July 27, 2011), states that GPOT and Canfilm working with Internews Armenia has produced documentaries to further the dialog between the Turks and the Armenians.

Burak Pekgezer, an Armenian Turk and 5 other Turkish directors, has toured Armenia and produced 6 documentary films, starting in Yerevan. Burak Pekgezer’s documentary, “Nor Anadolu – New Anadolu” tells the story of three different characters and stories. The documentary opens with a panoramic photograph of Yerevan, one of the oldest cities of the world, a peer of Rome and Carthagenos in Tunusia, believed to be found in 782 BC (1). Names of some of the districts in modern Yerevan include Malatya, Maras, Antep, places where Armenians migrated from during and after the First World War.

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Caylee and Casey Anthony

Casey Anthony, a 25 year old mother , tried for the alleged murder of her 2 year old daughter three years ago, was found not guilty following nearly six months of testimony and 10 hour deliberation by a Jury of 12 members on July 6, 2011.  However, Casey Antony was already convicted by the Media, which was dubbed as the 13^th Juror by some people. Most everyone believed that she had murdered her own daughter and the latest polls indicate that two third of Americans did not accept the verdict of the Florida, Orange County Court.  The hearings were broadcast live on several TV channels, almost continuously, with continuous programs where prosecutors, defense lawyers, commentators, and many who knew Casey spoke, including her body guard who stated that Casey was a wonderful mother. Many videos and photographs of Caylee were also shown continuously, many showing her with Casey. The images of little Caylee showing her in hundreds of photographs and videos will live forver in most people’s memories.

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Sukru Aya

Genocide Recognition: Continuing a Flawed Political Strategy By Michael Mensoian

Part I

I want to believe that every Armenian hopes for the day when the Turkish leadership acknowledges that the uprooting and murder of some 1.5 million Armenians was a genocide. (1)

Good men and women, highly motivated and dedicated to Hai Tahd (Armenian Cause) and the best interests of the Armenian nation are working to achieve this objective. However, on Dec. 22 the latest fiasco in this annual drama occurred when the House democrat leadership in which our good men and women had placed their trust decided to fool the Armenian American community once again. (2) Specifically, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrat Leadership simply decided, without warning, to pull the rug out from under the feet of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) ostensibly because a favorable vote for passage of H.Res.252 (Armenian Genocide Resolution) was not likely. Behind the door machinations by the Turkish lobby aided by President Obama’s refusal to act on his stated beliefs on the genocide are the usual suspects. Maybe this is the moment when the ARF/ANCA finally realizes that while this annual pilgrimage to Capitol Hill may capture the emotional support of the Armenian community, it represents an inefficient and ineffective use of resources. . .

It was interesting to compare the response by the ANCA with the obsequiousness of the Armenian Assembly. Rightfully so, the ANCA conveyed the anger and disappointment of the Armenian American community, whereas the Armenian Assembly issued an immediate press release praising Pelosi and her leadership team for providing invaluable assistance and guidance during the process. The ANCA had every reason to believe that the vote would have been taken under the most favorable circumstances possible. An unconfirmed report attributed to the Assembly accepted Pelosi’s judgment that the vote would not favor passage. (3) [Read more...]

National World war I Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri is the only museum in America dedicated to the memory of millions who died, including over five million Turks, both before, during and after the tragic war, and to the veterans from around the World (1).

One of the mightiest empires of all times, the 600 year old Ottoman Empire, came to an end in 1922 and the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on October 29, 1923. Close to 30 new states were established on the  territories that were once part of the Empire that spanned three continents following the WW I.
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. from AGHET1915 on Vimeo.

Link for videos and replies: http://armenians-1915.blogspot.com/2011/05/3258-famous-turks-speaking-about.html

00:00:07 The Turkish government is convinced that the Armenians never underwent a genocide

R: What legal court’s verdict convinced you that Armenians underwent GENOCIDE?

00:00:18 For nine decades, they deny that it never it happened

R: What legally valid documentation you can show that it ever happened?

00:00:23 It’s shocking. We have no problem recognizing the Genocides in Darfur, Kambodscha, Rhuanda or the Holocaust [Read more...]

Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument

Dear members of the Montebello City Council and Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument Council,

While driving from Rosemead Ca. to Los Angeles on Route 60 E, on April 26, 2011, I noticed a large billboard with directions to the  Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument. After driving around and asking several people the exact location, a Spanish speaking attendant at a gas station told me hat George the Armenian would know where it is. When I asked where the monument was, his first question to me was “Are you an Armenian?’ I said, I just came from New York. He said it was right behind the Hilton Garden Inn and the Goflf Course, which i located very easily.

The monument stands on a hill with 7 tall pillars joined at the top. The area was covered with flowers, left from the commemoration on April 24, some still fresh, and several mementos, including a vase with a picture of Jesus, and a logo of Istanbul Armenians. This is what is written on the pillar:

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