So why do Turkish nationalists get so mad about the Armenian genocide being recognized? I'm not very well read on this issue, but wasn't this over a century ago and done by the no longer existing Ottoman Empire? Is it like one of those culture war things for them?
It’s a culture war thing for sure, but they also all do the Nazi thing where they’re like “It didn’t happen, but it should have!” If you push them even slightly.
I believe it undermines Ataturk’s conception of everyone inside Turkey being Turkish. I suspect Turkish elites are kind of wary of acknowledging the existence of minorities since at least half the fucking Ottoman Empire was pried out of their hands by emphasizing ethnic differences (and the rest of Turkey in Anatolia was nearly colonized as well). A kind of odd religious Turkish friend talked with me about this once and explained her view (not mine) that the Armenians were traitors who were working with the Russians and therefore asking for it even though no genocide actually took place? Others who know better than me please correct me if I’m mistaken.
I visited Turkey and found it pretty amazing. It’s such a fascinating place. There’s so many civilizations that have come and gone there. The Turks themselves are relatively recent arrivals but they’re in this odd situation where the most incredible building in their biggest city is a Byzantine church. My friend tried to square this circle by describing herself as Anatolian rather than Turkish, which is probably true, but it kind of reminds me of Elizabeth Warren ranting like a lunatic about her ancestor’s high cheekbones.
So why do Turkish nationalists get so mad about the Armenian genocide being recognized?
Why do Americans get pissy when you try to take down Confederate General statues or talk about Native American genocide?
wasn’t this over a century ago and done by the no longer existing Ottoman Empire? Is it like one of those culture war things for them?
A century ago, but still fresh in the minds of folks with a nationalist mentality. It's not as though the Turks have done a particularly good job of integrating their various ethnic sects since WW1.
So why do Turkish nationalists get so mad about the Armenian genocide being recognized? I'm not very well read on this issue, but wasn't this over a century ago and done by the no longer existing Ottoman Empire? Is it like one of those culture war things for them?
It’s a culture war thing for sure, but they also all do the Nazi thing where they’re like “It didn’t happen, but it should have!” If you push them even slightly.
I believe it undermines Ataturk’s conception of everyone inside Turkey being Turkish. I suspect Turkish elites are kind of wary of acknowledging the existence of minorities since at least half the fucking Ottoman Empire was pried out of their hands by emphasizing ethnic differences (and the rest of Turkey in Anatolia was nearly colonized as well). A kind of odd religious Turkish friend talked with me about this once and explained her view (not mine) that the Armenians were traitors who were working with the Russians and therefore asking for it even though no genocide actually took place? Others who know better than me please correct me if I’m mistaken.
I visited Turkey and found it pretty amazing. It’s such a fascinating place. There’s so many civilizations that have come and gone there. The Turks themselves are relatively recent arrivals but they’re in this odd situation where the most incredible building in their biggest city is a Byzantine church. My friend tried to square this circle by describing herself as Anatolian rather than Turkish, which is probably true, but it kind of reminds me of Elizabeth Warren ranting like a lunatic about her ancestor’s high cheekbones.
Why do Americans get pissy when you try to take down Confederate General statues or talk about Native American genocide?
A century ago, but still fresh in the minds of folks with a nationalist mentality. It's not as though the Turks have done a particularly good job of integrating their various ethnic sects since WW1.