II. PURPOSE

My reasons for formulating this program are not intended to conceal any ulterior motives. Let us immediately dispel any thoughts of a desire for prestige or monetary advantage.


My writings are testimony to this fact. This “course of action” is just one more effort on my part in search of rational and constructive thinking on a subject which neither has prevailed. As always, this effort is mine alone. It represents no other person or organization, and I would not want it to be construed as such. I claim this work as my own and I am proud to dedicate this program to the memory of my beloved parents, George and Izabel Tashji, who throughout their lifetime bestowed upon me joy, not remorse —compassion, not vengeance - love, not hate.

AN OUTLINE OF MY PROGRAM:

 

a. Education — YOUR education. Learn exactly what your adversary is saying about you and your ancestors. Learn who your adversary is, where and under what banner does he function.

b. Organization — within the Turkish—American Associations committees should be formed throughout our country, and. contact with these groups should be maintained. The creation of new clubs should not be considered, but working committees can be selected from existing organizations from within the major Associations. Their functions will be discussed later.

c. Communication and publicity — Expressing the Turkish point of view to the news media, to other cultural and religious groups, to universities and libraries, to correspondence with members of our government, at all levels. A continuous flow of letters to the above mentioned, letters by the thousands, will in my mind create a positive atmosphere for Turkey, while raising a voice which till now has remained mute.

d. Demonstration — The time for peaceful demonstrations is now, and without it your rights will never be recognized. You are facing a Godless enemy whose source of life is hatred, whose only purpose in life is to kill innocent Turks. No other nation or people would display your patience as you have now buried twenty-three of your sons. Armenian terrorism against your nation and people will continue, and. Turks must take action to expose their barbarism to the entire world.

e. Dedication - For years I have been trying to tell the Turkish community the only people who can express Turkey’s position and its outrage, is none other than the Turkish people themselves! No one cares certainly, about your representatives or diplomats being killed. In fact we see examples of sympathy for the assassins in certain cities around the world. Their dastardly deeds are compounded by their continuous erosion of the truth, and by their claim that theirs is an act of vengeance; but against whom? It purports to be against a regime and government which disappeared over sixty years ago. I can not emphasize this strongly enough: There must be a commitment on the part of Turks wherever in the world they reside, whatever their position might be to raise their voice in a world where little is known about the Great Turkish People. More than the Turkish Government’s participation, and this is necessary, Turks, Turks of foreign citizenship, and. friends of Turkey, should - must — individually and collectively exert their energies in creating a Turkish voice of resounding impact. Let us now turn to specific information under each of the above titles shown as follows:

A. EDUCATION
B. ORGANIZATION
C. COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY
D. DEMONSTRATION WITHOUT A SMILE
E. DEDICATION

EDUCATION:

 

The position of the Turkish—American community in creating an effective responsive program, is similar to my entering into competition with a professional boxer. On the one hand we see an opponent with no physical training, lacking the strength and the ability in the technique of self defense. While on the other hand, we have an adversary who for years has trained for and prepared. his strategy for action, while building his strength to achieve a devastating blow. Since Armenians began coming to the United States, there has been within the Armenian Church and its community, a bitter hatred toward Turkey and this philosophy has extended to its youth. The seed of hate has been implanted into young minds and the world is witness to its results: 23 innocent Turkish Diplomats have been murdered in numerous cities around the world by Armenian extremists. Yes your position is difficult indeed, but not impossible!

Edward Tashji fired up at a 2004 Rutgers University conference

In any dispute or argument over a political issue, an effort should be made to concede where possible, in order to gain concession from the other side. Turks must be able to say, quite freely and honestly, that indeed a large number of innocent Armenians lost their lives in Turkey during the First World War period. But this in no way admits to a plan for genocide as the Armenians have accused you of. Suffering and deprivation were not endured only by the Armenians during those terrible years. The Greeks, the Kurds, the Jews, the Suryaniler (Syrians), Arabs, and certainly an entire nation of Turks; all these peoples shared that anguish. By what logic can the Armenians blame the nation of today’s Turkey, for what they regard as crimes committed by a crumbling Ottoman regime? Let us look further into the Armenian community and its church.

In America the Armenians are seen as an intelligent and hard working group of people, and above all they are Christians. The latter has been very beneficial to them in their convincing a Christian majority of the brutality of the Turkish people. To the outsider and uninformed they present an image of a righteous minority. Yet in reality, we see a community and church separated by a bitter hatred toward EACH OTHER. There are the Hinchak — Ramgavar —Tashnaksagan groups, its people and. church separate. The hate being so intense, the latter group has created its own church hierarchy. Every religious body has one head, the Armenians have two! We see a monument erected in front of an Armenian old—age house in New Jersey, reminding the elderly every day of old conflicts.



We see hundreds of Armenians at dock-side in New York City, on their way to Soviet Armenia. Taking with them their wealth and possessions, acquired in this country; in a shameful manner they urged other Armenians to abandon America and go with them to the land of their dreams, Soviet Armenia. — We see in major cities around the world, Armenian demonstrations and protests against Turkey and Turkish cultural activities. — We see Armenian pressure on the news media resulting in extensive time and space in reporting on what they call, “The first genocide of the 20th century”. — We see an ancient church split by the hatred of its followers, and yet this division serves as a weapon against the people of Turkey. —• We see an ever increasing campaign on the part of Armenian churches in perpetuating old wounds, to the extent of recording the voices of elderly people on tape as evidence against Turkey. We see such a hatred, so deep, so ingrained in the Armenian psyche, as to render impossible even the thought of an intelligent discussion between Armenian and Turkish spokesmen. We see much more that the Turkish people should become aware or.

Turkish-Americans have never witnessed this animosity between two ancestral brothers, in Turkey. The Armenians of Turkey are loyal and faithful citizens of a free and vibrant nation. As in their history, the children of the one and same motherland shall remain inseparable.

COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY: 

 

Ours is a most difficult task; to turn back the tide of anti-Turkish sentiment will require the efforts and sacrifices of a special people. If you did it while facing monumental obstacles, under the Great Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, then you will do it again under the spirit of this immortal leader.

Aside from the influential position Armenians enjoy in our country, there are a few state government officials of Armenian background, which strengthens Armenian propaganda against Turkey. Coupled with the Greek lobby in the Congress, ....it reminds us of the unmatched opponents to which I referred earlier. Advertising — without it nothing will sell. Publicity — without it no one will hear you. Paid newspaper announcements sponsored by our parent organizations should he increased. On national holidays a message extended in the name of the Turkish-American community, expressing best wishes on specific American celebrations will have a positive effect. Together with a writing campaign to the areas mentioned in my Outline section C., congratulatory messages should be sent on the following ethnic and religious holidays: Saint Patrick’s Day — Columbus Day — Pulaski Day — Stubbens Day — Christmas — Hanukkah — among others. Remembering the celebrations of non-Turkish Moslem societies should not be overlooked.

It can be argued that friendly greetings will not stop Armenian terrorism. I would not suggest for one minute that it could. But you are living in a nation that knows very little about your culture, and what it does know is based on information which for sixty—five years has been supplied by your enemies. An atmosphere of sympathy in certain countries for the Armenian assassins is reprehensible, and as a result these murderers are walking free, planning their next assault on Turkish Diplomats.

The news media — If the American press and news broadcasters do not give full coverage to the Turkish point of view, it is because they believe no one cares to hear it. If our politicians can make speeches before the Congress, commemorating the “Armenian genocide,” it is because their desks are not filled with letters of protest from the Turkish community. A flood of letters, telegrams, and phone calls to CBS, NBC and ABC will eventually make our case known. A constant flow of mail sent to our government officials will indicate to them that ours is a viable and responsible community, and we will demand that our rights be upheld. Since Armenian fanaticism has now taken the form of an organized band of killers, our efforts should extend to an F.B.I.. investigation of Armenian churches with special attention given to the Tashnaksagan group. As a staunch ally of the United States, Turkey must have her people and its facilities protected against this sick element.

  DEDICATION:

The program I have presented and. the opinions I have expressed are all meaning1ess without this one indestructible force: dedication! Can there be any question about the dedication of Armenian terrorists? That he remains faithful to his cause is beyond question. That in order to achieve his goals, he utilizes his resources to their fullest extent, is also beyond question. His one failure, however, and this will commit him to eternal damnation, is that his objectives and his entire philosophy are molded by hatred. You are the victim, and the world is not concerned. What answer will you give the children of our slain diplomats who were not even born during the conflicts of the early part of this century? Will these children and their children also have to worry about another assassin’s bullet? Who will be the next father, son, or husband slain by yet another Armenian terrorist?

Edward Tashji as an invited speaker for the Turkish-American student organization at Rutgers University in 2004. His wife, Mary, is at left.

Of top priority is the attitude and behavior of the Turkish-American community in relation to its revealing the feelings of the entire Turkish people. The heretofore activities of some of our organizations, as useful as they have been, fall far short of what our goals should be. These efforts have been isolated, ineffectual, and above all non—repetitive. Only by a network of communication, extensive planning, and mutual cooperation, among our organizations in all parts of the country, can actual deployment of our activities become a reality.

The first obstacle we must overcome is our own pessimism! Statements such as, “You cannot unite the Turks.“ — “There is discord within our organizations.” — “We are few and they are many.” — “I don’t have the time.” — Let the doctors do it, they are wealthy.” — “In a few years all the elderly of that period will be gone and all this hatred will come to an end.” -- If you adhere to any of the preceding quotations, then you can not consider yourself a true follower of the great Ataturk. There would not be the Republic Of Turkey today, If negative attitudes had crippled the vision and incentive of Ataturk for his people and his nation. You — each of you — must continue his efforts by realizing that indifference and disunity can only weaken your position in the world family of nations, while at the same time encourage the assassins to repeat their deplorable actions.

It is incumbent upon you to get involved, to fulfill your obligations toward your people and history, in making an effort to reveal the facts about Turkish-Armenian relations. NO ONE else will do it; you can, you MUST. Let there be a new beginning now, step by step, but always forward, to put forth any program that will continue the proper recognition due the great Turkish People. The success or failure of this mission depends upon YOU!

 

You have spent much time in reading my program and for the time you have given, I express my deep appreciation. But you shouldn’t consider it a complimentary gesture toward me, but rather an effort in behalf of your people.

Most of my adult life has been dedicated toward the service of Turkey and her people. That my interest and affection began with my parents is obvious, but the extent of my love for Turkey and her people could never have been foreseen. ‘The difficulties I have faced include the accusations made against me by my own people. I have never denied my ancestry and yet I am an outcast from my own kind. For the goodwill I have created, and for my humble efforts in continuing the brotherhood between the Turkish and Armenian peoples, I am proud and my joy is endless.‘

In preparation of this program much time and effort has been consumed, and yet it is merely a beginning. It does not claim to have all the answers, it does not suggest that Turks will accept it in its entirety, it certainly could never affect the course of Turkey’s future. Mine has been an honest effort to eradicate animosity by revealing the futility of it, and its potential for creating an even greater human conflagration. During the weeks spent on preparing this work, we are witnessing once again man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. The fabric of civilization is being torn apart by war in the Middle East and elsewhere. We have exerted our genius to bring us upon the surface of the moon, and yet humans have not learned war has never solved any problems, it only creates new ones. Of what value is our technology if we lack compassion and love?

As my program comes to a close, I offer for your consideration an item of major importance to which I have made no reference till now: There is in existence a dossier on Turkey prepared by and in the possession of this writer. I proudly claim it has no equal in the entire United States. The Counselor to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., Mr. Murat Sungar, having seen but a small section of my dossier, found it to be extremely valuable and suggested it should be given to the Turkish government. There are countless letters, printed articles, books, pictures, photographs, prints, magazine and newspaper stories about our efforts, thousands of Turkish recordings inc1uding some original Hafiz Burhan records recorded in 1913, thousands of newspaper clippings from the American press going back many years, books written in Osmanlica and more… much more. What is to become of this treasure, my life’s long labor? What is to become of Turkey’s position in the world of tomorrow? What will be the Turkish response to the hate merchants who profess to be Christians? Only you dear reader can answer these questions. I pledge to you to continue the love for Turkey passed on to me by my parents, and in their name I conclude with the words of the founder of the modern Turkish nation: NE MUTLU TURKUM DIYENE!*

 

(*Happy is He/She Who is a Turk)