237) We Must Respond Vociferously to Stereotypes and Hurtful Negligence! - A Subject Which Must Not Be Avoided -by Edward Tashji

Commentary by Edward Tashji    

 

It's tragic how many Armenians are so blinded by hatred that they prefer to live in the past, and deny themselves the joys of their roots. Not all Armenians are like that. Some Armenians prefer concentrating on their emotional attachments to the old country. These Armenians know Turkish music, food and language form as much a part of their identities as anything else, and don't appreciate being ostracized by the larger, more hateful Armenian group. They feel they are robbed of their precious past and cherished memories, and resent the domineering attitude of the other group.

 

I'm a big fan of Edward Tashji, who has the guts and the love to come right out and declare where he stands. In his own words, this "Armenian-American has become 'famous,' (he said with all humility), within the Turkish community, while becoming "infamous", (he said with deep regret), within the Armenian community." Also, in his words... he is : "An American born of an Armenian mother and a Syrian-Orthodox father (.) He is the younger son of parents who had been born in Ottoman Turkey, became eye-witness to the conflagration of the First World War in their beloved homeland, and as a result, their destiny brought them to the land where millions had emigrated."

 

 
We Must Respond Vociferously to Stereotypes and Hurtful Negligence! 

 

The constraints of space precludes a lengthy description of my perspective on what we must do, and therefore, allow me to present to you, factually, what we HAVE DONE! (The dates are accurate but not significant, our reactions and the results are of extreme importance.)

 

I. One of America's most prestigious publications is The Reader's Digest magazine. In its may 1971 issue, we had found a lengthy article entitled: "Let's Halt Heroin At the Source," written by Mr. William Schulz. The author emphatically blames Turkey for the scourge of drug addiction in the United States; (I'm being brief, remember?) In my three-page letter of protest dated May 28, 1971 refuting many of the groundless accusations, I had submitted many facts such as the following: the growing of the poppy seed, (in Turkey), which is used in the production of heroin, was under strict government (Turkish) control, and that it was sold ONLY to pharmaceutical firms in France where the heroin was produced for medical use. We received a response from the Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Hobart Lewis, and his letter of June 6, 1971 is most interesting NOT for what he had written, hut rather for what he DID NOT write! Not one of my comments was refuted, and he made vague references to drug addiction and official meetings.

 

II. One of America's most renowned corporations is the Kimberly-Clark Company. In its advertising campaign. a full-page advertisement had been printed in Modern Beauty Shop magazine, dated February, 1974. In its attempt to publicize its paper products, the following words are seen: "Don't let this terrible turk, (small t), take from your till..." "Get rid of that 'profit robbing' Turk (capital T)". There appear two images: one is of a bizarre-looking man with a large towel around his head, an ugly moustache, and an expression which can be described only as grotesque. The
second image is of a drawing of a mosque with minarets on either side. (This despicable "advertisement" had been shown in The Turkish Times of June 15,1993.) To my two letters of vehement protestation of March, 1974 — I had received the following two responses: (shown in part) "...I must confess, (sad to say, after the fact), that you had a right to be offended..." — "...and unfortunately, (we) overlooked the implications the ad would have for the Turkish people..." signed by Mr. Kenneth A. Grogan, Vice President-Publisher, of the magazine mentioned above. The second reply: "...we are canceling future production of this advertisement as quickly as we can. Your letter, Mr. Tashji, has taught us to be more sensitive to peoples' feelings of justifiable pride about their culture and history..."; signed by Mr. M. C. Sacher, Marketing Manager for Kimberly-Clark Corporation. I am certain that the compassionate Turkish heart will forgive them, but I CAN NOT and WILL NOT!

 

III. In the front-page headline of the New York Post, dated February 27, 1991, we read: "ALLIES TAKE KUWAIT', surrounded by the flags and names of the 35 nations which had formed the United Nations Coalition against Iraqi aggression. Would you believe the flag of one nation was "overlooked"? First, I pick up the telephone and reveal my protest; then I write a letter to the Editor with this opening sentence: "It is an outrage!!..." The very nexy day, the Post entered a picture of the Turkish flag and beneath it stated: "Missing flag — The Turkish flag was inadvertently omitted from the Post's Page One yesterday. We regret the oversight" What I was mumbling to myself cannot be printed here, but the tollowing day I had sent a letter of appreciation; (you see. I can be nice also.)

 

IV. In the issue of Newsweek Magazine, dated March 18, 1991 —a full page color advertisement states:
"Thanks America and the Global Family of Nations," with the flags and the names of the nations which had participated in the Persian Gulf War. The ad had been sponsored by the Government of Kuwait. Need I tell you which one country was NOT mentioned?? As politely as I could, in my letter of March 13, 1991 — to the United Nations Ambassador of Kuwait, I reminded the gentleman of Turkey's immediate action against Iraq, and that the Turkish-American community was bewildered by the omission. In his response of March 22, 1991, (he replied quickly didn't he?), His Excellency Ambassador Mohammad A. Abulhasam, Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, wrote in part, "I would like to reassure you that such (an) unfortunate oversight...is truly regrettable. I would like to seize the opportunity and renew the gratitude and thankfulness of the Government and people of Kuwait toward the Government and people of Turkey for their outstanding support and participation in the liberation of Kuwait,..". This was followed by my letter of gratitude.

 

V. Another advertisement, this time a television commercial. As I had been the Public Affairs Director of the Federation of Turkish-American Associations, Inc., on May 7, 1993 — I had phoned the executive offices of the Miller Brewing Company, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to register my emphatic protest for a T.V. commercial which had been shown in several southern states, that was degrading to the Turkish people. Within FOUR HOURS, I had received a call from the Vice-President of Corporate Affairs for the Miller Brewing Company, Mr. Richard Klemp, apologizing to the Turkish people and adding: "...That particular ad.. was pulled from the air..." In FOUR HOURS a fax followed and its apologetic content was repeated in a formal letter.

 

We have other examples in which a prompt and effective response has resulted in proper recognition and respect of the Turkish people. NO subject is to be considered insignificant when it pertains to the Turkish people or the Turkish Nation. If you would like to read my other examples, just ask please; until then, our work continues...

Edward Tashji

 

I am Called: "Turk Dostu" — A "Friend of Turks"

 

The Turkish Times

 

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A Subject Which Must Not Be Avoided 

 

Some readers of The Turkish Times, after seeing the writer's name, I believe, must ask themselves a question similar to the following: "Doesn't he have anything on his mind other than the Armenians?" To which the writer replies: Of course I do! Through many years I have spoken, written, and labored on behalf of: Azerbaijan, Cyprus, the Turks of Crimea, Germany, and Bulgaria, stereotypical images of Turks found in the United States, anti-Turkish sentiments pertaining to the Kurdish issue, and yes, the Armenian fraud which politicians and the news media have ordained as historical facts. If these topics are not sufficient, permit me to assure the reader that there are many subjects about which Turkish youth should be knowledgeable.

 

For most of my life I have been exposed to the fundamental traits of the Turkish and Armenian communities in the United States, and as such, I am convinced that the most paramount singular reason for all the anti-Turkish hysteria in our country, is the fact, that for eighty years the American people have observed Turks being described as, "evil."

 

"backward", "cruel", among countless other epithets; (and these three are by far the "least" offensive). During the many generations of blatant prejudice against people of Turkish background, together with the deliberate falsification of Turkish history, what has been the Turkish response? What steps have Turkish-Americans taken to inform the American people of the true history and culture of the Turkish people? Fully cognizant of the wide-spread and effective efforts of our organizations across our nation, I nevertheless believe we have achieved infinitesmal accomplishments when compared to the success of anti-Turkish groups. This newspaper serves as a beacon of illumination in a maze of distortions and vilification, while furthering understanding and friendship between the American and Turkish peoples. To the present time we have not been able to receive the interest of politicians and media persons to even consider the perspective of loyal Americans of Turkish ancestry! As a result, every April politicians, (bless their hearts), at every level, rush to participate in the annual Armenian "commemoration". While the White House responds to my letter — which requested President Clinton meet with representatives of the Turkish-American community — with polite rhetoric and, "...The President's schedule does not permit a meeting at this time..." Yet, at the same time, his schedule does permit a meeting with twenty representatives of numerous Armenian groups! What would it take to arrange even a few minutes with the President of "all" the people? I will give you one gue$$! No, it's not a misprint; is there anyone out there who doubts my assertion? Even the Lincoln bedroom is for "sale"! Let us return to important matters, now where was I?...

 

The most damaging manifestation of complacency within the Turkish-American community must be addressed. Turkish students and their families, who in recent years have settled in America and have become citizens, are confounded by the extent of American animosity toward everything Turkish. They are totally unable to comprehend a situation which does not exist in Turkey. If they were not educated in Turkey to the reality of Armenian obsession with hatred, (and you thought I could not "criticize" Turks), then the education must take place here. The subject, indeed, must not be avoided for one minute. Why?! Because there is a SIX YEAR OLD girl in Glendale, California, named, Edna Petrosyan, and upon the insistence of her mother this innocent child of God, recites a "poem" taught by her mother, to a visiting American reporter. Within this legacy of hate the following words are found: "... It's better that I be a dog or a cat, than a Turkish barbarian...". "...When the Armenian wind blows, it will not leave a single Turk standing in Armenian land..." (source: The Los Angeles Times — February 1, 1990) Is there one Turk who will ask, why? Do you feel my outrage at this brutality upon an innocent child? Edna is now a teenager and the cancer of hate must have condemned her to a lifetime of hatred. There are thousands like her who will never truly enjoy the joys of life, nor practice the divine teachings of their God.

 

At this point the following observation needs to be made: Nowhere in countless writings and the many public statements of this writer, can a denial of my ancestry or the suffering of the Armenian and Syrian Orthodox peoples, be found! In fact, the suffering endured by innocent people in Ottoman Turkey remains an indelible element of my existence! However, in all conscience, I can not adhere to the fallacious accusations made against the nation from which derives my culture and faith. Also, I will not deny the treason and the rebellion by Armenian revolutionaries who had been responsible of slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent Turkish Muslims at a time when a World War threatened the very existence of the entire country.

 

For the foreseeable future there can not be even the thought of a rational discourse between the Turkish and Armenian communities in the United States. It might be a pessimistic outlook but reality cannot be denied, and in reality we find the following Armenian demands: Turkish admission of the Armenian "genocide"; Turkish public apology to the Armenians; Turkish reparations to be paid to the Armenians; portions of Turkish lands are to be surrendered to Armenia; among others. These demands are as ludicrous as is the recent attempt to establish the "Republic" of Texas!!

 

Indeed, to establish that I do have other things on my mind, when next we "meet", I will offer for your pleasure, the joy and beauty of Turkish music, and the contributions of Armenians and other groups, as composers, lyricists, and artists to it. Until then, our work continues.... (But you expected that ending, didn't you).

 

 

 

Edward Tashji

 

I am Called: "Turk Dostu" — A "Friend of Turks"

 

The Turkish Times

 

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