Turkish observer advises Armenian Diaspora how to convince Turks in fact of Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - "I am no expert on the 1915 events. I don't have enough knowledge to decide whether the truth lies in your narrative, in our narrative, or somewhere in between. But I am open to learning more and reconsidering my position. "Follow the evidence," one of my core principles reads, "wherever it may lead." And, believe me, that there are so many people in Turkey who think the same way," Turkish Daily News observer Mustafa Akyol wrote in his "Open letter to the Armenian Diaspora".



"If you really want to see more Turks reflecting on your narrative about the tragedy of 1915, initiate a genuine dialogue. Try to convince not Mrs. Pelosi and her colleagues, but us, the Turks. Write more books and articles, create better movies and Web sites, and organize fair conferences and seminars telling us about your story. And do these not as propaganda tools against the Turks, but as communication efforts toward them."



"Convey your message calmly, in other words, and it will be heard. But don't try to impose it onto us. We are not a nation of monsters, but we do have a stubborn side. When foreigners start to dictate our history to us, we tend to revert back to our grandmothers' stories."



"If we will start listening to your narrative, that will not be because we are pushed into a corner by the politics of a powerful lobby, but because our hearts are touched by the memoirs of a terrible tragedy," Akyol wrote.