Ken, it's a real traumatic issue for the Turks, as the title suggests. I can make the point clear about where I stand but this would not give an idea about the so-called "Turkish Psyche" (borrowed from the NYT article) since I'm not an "average Turk" at all.

First, as a person who deals deeply with history, I can say the massacre is an undeniable solid fact. Though I believe it was not a "regular state policy" of the Ottoman Empire but a very dark conspiracy of a gang, called The Unity and Progress Party and some of its leaders, who held the power during WW1; I think it's inevitable for Turkey to confront the past bravely. Unless it's done thoroughly, the "disease" can't be healed here. Bu...

Ken, it's a real traumatic issue for the Turks, as the title suggests. I can make the point clear about where I stand but this would not give an idea about the so-called "Turkish Psyche" (borrowed from the NYT article) since I'm not an "average Turk" at all.

First, as a person who deals deeply with history, I can say the massacre is an undeniable solid fact. Though I believe it was not a "regular state policy" of the Ottoman Empire but a very dark conspiracy of a gang, called The Unity and Progress Party and some of its leaders, who held the power during WW1; I think it's inevitable for Turkey to confront the past bravely. Unless it's done thoroughly, the "disease" can't be healed here. But as Ratilfar correctly points out, it's not easy for states to confront the rubbish in their past.

The official state ideology in Turkey does not allow it to be thoroughly discussed. It's a taboo. Though in recent years, many historians, intellectuals and scientists began to speak out loud about the dark past, talking even slightly about the genocide means jeopardizing your career, even your life, as in Hrant Dink's case. I don't only mean the lawsuits and prosecutions - more dangerous things can happen when the "nationalist masses" are incited and provoked against those who try to express their opinions here. Sad but true.

The official state ideology is very sensitive on some subjects and the Armenian question is the number 1 among them. As the NYT article correctly points out, the "Turkish psyche" is fed with a paranoia which is a sediment of the Sevres Treaty: "They want to divide our country, they secretly intend to harm the unity of our people!"

Here, "They" is not Armenians, nor Kurds but the Western World. When you look at the history, it's not difficult to understand this feeling: Since the Balkan War, the European powers looked determined to divide the Ottoman Empire, to take the land of a state who was called "The Sick Man" in the Western World. So, during every cr

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So, during every crisis we witness the resurrection of this paranoia: "If we accept the genocide, they'll demand land and compensation. They want to divide our land and they have been using the Armenians and the Kurds against us for this."

You just can't live in peace, if you allow such a paranoia to get over you. A disease can only be cured after facing the facts bravely and diagnosing it. For me, it's very clear: It was a horrible strategy of Ottoman Empire's last government and it harmed not only the Armenians but the Turks as well. It was the guilt of a state which does not exist now. Republic of Turkey can not be held responsible for the horrible...

(continuing - was out of space above)

So, during every crisis we witness the resurrection of this paranoia: "If we accept the genocide, they'll demand land and compensation. They want to divide our land and they have been using the Armenians and the Kurds against us for this."

You just can't live in peace, if you allow such a paranoia to get over you. A disease can only be cured after facing the facts bravely and diagnosing it. For me, it's very clear: It was a horrible strategy of Ottoman Empire's last government and it harmed not only the Armenians but the Turks as well. It was the guilt of a state which does not exist now. Republic of Turkey can not be held responsible for the horrible events that occured 8 years before it was founded.

BUT it's impossible to escape from reality. There's nothing wrong in confronting the history and the guilts of your ancestors. For me, the necessary thing to be done is accepting the genocide, condemning it and showing the world how honest and brave you can be.

Certainly, it's not easy to break paradigms, to kill the prejudices while this paranoia lives in the cells of the state. At the present situation here, if I speak out loud the things I said above, it means I'm really in a trouble.

Finally, I want to say I really worry about the things that have been happening recently. Turkey is slowly approaching to a very dangerous point about her situation in the world and I hope the common sense will take over again soon. Otherwise, I even don't want to think about the things that could happen in the near future.