Turkish Coalition of America, Action Alert and Update

Personal Note: I was reminded of exactly why those of us of Turkish-American, regardless if we are libreal or conservative, secular, Christian or Muslim, are all so strongly united against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's efforts to recognize the Armenian controversy in Congress. The reminder came in the form of a highly insensitive political cartoon which ran in the University of North Carolina's student newspaper "The Daily Tarheel." In the cartoon, a Turkish government agent looks at a man who is about to be thrown into a prison and says: "You still say, no genocide?" Turkish-American student Cagatay Akin who attends UNC confronted the cartoon's creator J.R. Fruto for racial insensitivities. To his credit, Fruto apologized for any misunderstanding and said that he did not intend to insult anyone of Turkish heritage.  I have frequently heard Armenian-American intellectuals critize us for not understanding their pain. I fully imagine that they have been through tremendous pain and difficulty, and in spite of our differences, I can appreciate that on a human level. But, conversely, many of them do not seem to understand the constant insult and humiliation that those of us of Turkish heritage have endured throughout the world. One of the chief political problems with the Armenian controversy is that it is used by people who arbitrarily hate us, regardless is they are left-wing radicals like Noam Chomsky or Christian fundamentalist Ayatollahs like the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, to feel that there is both jutification and vindication of their bigoted beliefs. As much as I disagree with Armenian-American activists, I do not hold them directly responsible for this reality. But, it is a reality nonetheless and as unaware of the problem as they might be, Armenian-Americans simply play into the hands of people who dictate such venom and hatred towards us. In fact, they indicate their bias most clearly when they say things like: "We should never forget what the MUSLIM Turks did to the CHRISTIAN Armenians." If this sentiment is not bigotry, I am not sure what is.

TURKISH COALITION OF AMERICA COMMUNITY UPDATE AND ACTION ALERT  October 17, 2007 Dear Friends, As you know, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed H.Res 106 by 21 to 27 votes. The measure has caused a major political crisis in relations between the United States and Turkey. Constant pressure by the US Administration and even previous presidents and secretaries of state and defense, effective diplomacy by Turkey, and, most importantly to us, targeted reaction and principled pressure by Turkish Americans toward members of Congress, which all resulted in media scrutiny on the timing and merits of this Resolution, have put a major roadblock infront of the Democratic leadership that is pushing for it. As a result, 21 co-signers of the Resolution (see below) have taken off their signatures (which requires them to speak on the House floor and state their reasons for withdrawal) and many more are expected to do so in the comingdays. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, have come under increased public and political pressure to let go of their zeal to push this Resolution through Congress. Members of Congress who withdrew their names: Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/15/2007)   Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/15/2007)  Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 3/15/2007)     Rep Jindal, Bobby [LA-1] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 1/31/2007)     Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/16/2007)     Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/15/2007)  Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/2/2007)    Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/4/2007)    Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 5/2/2007) Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/15/2007)   Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 3/13/2007)   Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 10/15/2007)       Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 1/31/2007(withdrawn - 4/18/2007)     Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 2/8/2007(withdrawn - 10/16/2007)     Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 2/8/2007(withdrawn - 10/16/2007)     Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 4/19/2007(withdrawn - 6/27/2007)       Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] - 6/21/2007(withdrawn - 10/16/2007)       Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] - 6/26/2007(withdrawn - 10/9/2007)   RepWicker, Roger F. [MS-1] - 6/26/2007(withdrawn - 6/28/2007)  Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] - 6/28/2007(withdrawn - 10/15/2007)      Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 7/18/2007(withdrawn - 10/15/2007)            As Turkish Americans we must continue to put pressure on our own members of Congress for mainly two reasons: 1. We need to be counted in this debate as Turkish Americans and our voice needs to be heard. This is the time. Furthermore, Washington politics can change from one hour to the other, a vote on this issue may still come up as early as next week. Please contact your Representative and Senators NOW by using our Action Alert site. 2. The Turkish argument that this is BAD LEGISLATION BASED ON BAD HISTORY has not been amplified strongly enough by our supporters. The reasons are many, but we must continue to press this point. This may as well be the only time that our arguments will actually be heard in Congress and by the wider public. Several members have already referred to local Turkish American opposition about this Resolution in their district, let's inrcrease their numbers. Almost as important as stopping this Resolution in Congress is changing public opinion, so that it correctly reflects Turkey's outrage about this Resolution. Turkey opened its archives to the examination of this history and has proposed a Joint History Commission, stating on numerous occasions that it will accept its findings. Turkey and Turks all across the world have every right to be outraged, if these overtures have been swept under the carpet and refused by the Armenian lobby and Armenia. We have a historical window of opportunity to show the world the truth, namely that this issue has NOT been definitively decided upon, that there are credible and notable historians who disagree with the Armenian version of events, and that the Armenian side's refusal to accept this fact is blocking reconciliation. We may never have this opportunity again. Therefore, please make it a priority to monitor your local press, respond to published articles through letters to the editor (feel free to contact us and other Turkish American organizations for information) , provide background information through personal phone calls to reporters covering this issue and by distributing books and other material to your local newspaper editorial boards. Encourage your non-Turkish friends to write their thoughts too. Several balanced articles have already been published in the media, you can access our selection on the TCA website. You may use them for inspiration in your outreaches. Again, now is the time for Turkish Americans to raise their voice. Thank you.

FOR INFORMATION ON TCA PROGRAMS, ISSUES RELATED TO US-TURKEY RELATIONS AND TURKISH AMERICANS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.turkishcoalitionofamerica.org   Turkish Coalition of America - TCA 1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW - Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202-370-1399 Fax: 202-370-1398  www.turkishcoalitionofamerica.org  -  info@turkishcoalitionofamerica.org

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