1078) Are a handful of Armenians deceiving the entire world?

I have been thinking about this matter for a long while. How can a handful of Armenians persuade the entire world to believe in their genocide claims?

It's right, isn't it?
They number only a few million. Even if they are all capable people, it's not enough. Even if they are very good liars, not all of the people they lie to are idiots. They first ensured that some parliaments would pass resolutions accepting that Armenians were victims of genocide. They convinced a lot of people. Now they are working to ensure that those who deny their claims are prosecuted.

However, how do they manage to make so many people believe in their story?
I wonder if those who accept the Armenian claims do so because Armenians are Christians and all of them hate Muslim Turks.

It doesn't make much sense.
Do they hate us so much or see us as a huge threat that they exploit the Armenian claims to pressure us?

It sounds like a conspiracy theory, doesn't it?
But why do we face the current climate?

Actually, the answer is very simple.
Their numbers are few, but these guys have been working for 90 years to get acceptance of their claims.

They shouted their claims again and again.

They made movies and published books about them.

We, meanwhile, were “honorably” silent in our own corner. We didn't even talk about the matter among ourselves. We acted as if we had something to hide. We didn't talk about what we did wrong or right.

When we see what's happening today, we are surprised. We feel it's too late to do anything. Most of the world believes whatever Armenians say. Armenians also believe they were victims of genocide. They also believe we, as the descendants of the Ottoman Empire, should pay a price for what happened.

Then I ask myself, shouldn't we do something new to counter these claims.
Instead of delving into the past and accusing the Armenians of lying and arguing it was Turks who were the main victims, isn't it about time we acted in accordance with today's facts and open a new page. Don't we need a new strategy?

The public is very sensitive. I don't want to be misunderstood. I'm not trying to say the genocide claims should be accepted. I have repeatedly noted that I don't believe in the claims.

We should not forget the fact that these claims have stuck on us. It is impossible to extricate ourselves from them. We need to formulate a new strategy to wipe away the stain of genocide.

Let's stop being lazy. Instead of accusing others or blaming the Armenians, we need to formulate a realistic policy. We should act with our mind, not our emotions. If not, one day we will find ourselves in a one way road with no chance of return.

Mehmet Ali Birand
October 4, 2006
Turkish Daily News
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