File spoon-archives/phillitcrit.archive/phillitcrit_1997/phillitcrit.9711, message 558


Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 23:53:47 -0800
From: metin aktay <maktay-AT-superonline.com>
Subject: Re: PLC: Turkey Curiosity of Pat Sloane


Dear Michael,

Thank you for your sentiments. 

Nevertheless, I want to ensure I have conveyed how Stirling annoyed me
specifically, which was not my being offended as a Turk at the mention
of atrocities committed by Turks. My annoyance was at Stirling quipping
instead of debating. 

Meanwhile, Stirling has come back with such a thoughtful debate in
response to my show of annoyance that I am a bit sad for having been so
patronizing in my show of annoyance but also glad that it has made
Stirling debate and open my eyes to re-contextualisation, a subject I
hope Stirling will pursue.

I sincerely believe that we will learn from our past mistakes if we
learn to debate these mistakes as human mistakes effected by humanity
past in general.
We should cite the specific human portions who committed these mistakes,
be it Turks or Americans, for historical accuracy only, not for the
purpose of inferring or ascribing blame to their extant descendants. 

Humanity is a whole, I hope we are, and we have to learn from our past,
and from our present, be it Turk or Chinese, not for apportioning blame
for the past or the present to any individual, but for making our
collective future better. 

Sincerely,

Metin


Michael Chase wrote:
> 
> >> >>  In 1992, The World Jewish Congress honoured
> >> >>  Turkey as the only country in the world where Jews have lived in peace
> >> >>  as full citizens since the Spanish Diaspora of 1492.
> >
> >Stirling Newberry wrote:
> >
> >> The Turks had native minorities to massacre.
> >
> >
> >Dear Stirling,
> 
> M.C.: A lovely reply, Metin. It as of course thoughtless and impolite of
> Stirling to make such a remark - should Americans and Canadians be reminded
> of their extermination  of the indians, say, every time they open their
> mouths? But you handled it magnificently.
> 
>         I do hope Stirling doesn't pursue this matter. If he does, perhaps
> he could preface his criticisms of Turkey with an explanation of and
> apology for every injustice ever committed by an Anglo-Saxon.....
> 
>         Salaam, Mike.
> >
> 
> Michael Chase
> (goya-AT-uvic.ca)
> Victoria, B.C.
> Canada
> 
>      --- from list phillitcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---


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