Washington, DC – In response to the President’s annual statement on Armenian Remembrance Day, G. Lincoln McCurdy, President of the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA), issued the following comment:
“Today, President Barack Obama issued the annual presidential statement marking Armenian Remembrance Day. Turkish Americans share the grief of Armenian Americans who lost their family members during those dreadful events nearly a century ago. In fact, in a 2009 letter to President Obama, signed by over 50 Turkish American associations, Turkish Americans stated that they mourn Armenian losses in those years as their mourn their own. This dual tragedy is not forgotten.
“What is, however, forgotten and even denied, is the equally tragic loss of even more Muslim lives in this turbulent period of Ottoman history. The suffering of one people does not justify or negate the suffering of others, and all who lost their lives deserve to be remembered on this day of remembrance. Where does the ethnic cleansing of Ottoman Turks from the Balkans, Eastern Turkey and the Caucuses with 5 million lost and 5.5 million refugees come on the President's list of ‘worst atrocities of the 20th century?’ Do they also deserve at least an annual presidential remembrance from him, as he dutifully makes on this occasion every year?
“To recognize this Muslim suffering is not to diminish Armenian suffering, but to respect all human loss and suffering regardless of the race, ethnicity or religion of the victims, and to place the Armenian tragedy in its proper historical context.
“In this context, TCA supports the establishment of a joint historical commission tasked with uncovering a complete historical narrative that could pave the way for reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian people.
“Today, TCA would once again like to extend its hand of friendship to the Armenian Diaspora in the US. Over the years, we have implemented programs that we believe are helping to heal the divide between Turkish Americans and Armenian Americans. This includes our scholarship program for Armenian Americans to study abroad in Turkey. It is our hope that by fostering dialogue between our communities, we can play a positive role in re-building a mutual understanding between the two nations.”
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Sezen Aksu: The Voice Of Istanbul
By: Neva Grant
National Public Radio
April 12, 2010
It was summer in Istanbul, 1989, and her voice steamed out of every doorway, as compelling as the call to prayer. Who was she?
After hearing her everywhere, I asked a waiter to write down her name, and he gave me a look like, "How could you not know Sezen Aksu?"
She is a superstar in Turkey, and a big name in the Middle East and Europe. She recently performed near Washington, D.C., and filled that hall, too, with mostly Turkish-Americans and immigrants, and quite a range of them — grandmothers in headscarves, teenagers in towering heels. Their male companions, by the way, did not look like they'd been dragged there.
Sezen Aksu is a sexy pop star, who for the past 30 years has sold millions of recordings. She invented herself and keeps reinventing herself in a language that doesn't lend itself to music.
"Turkish is not a good-sounding language. You know, it's not musical like French or English," says Turkish composer and pianist Fahir Atakoglu. "But with singers like Sezen, for the first time, the Turkish words became much more musical. It started saying something really deep; it wasn't simple anymore."
One of Aksu's most popular songs is "Istanbul Istanbul Olali," or "Since Istanbul Became Istanbul." It is about lost love, set against the backdrop of Turkey's largest city.
Discovering Her Voice
In an interview at Strathmore Hall near Washington, D.C., Aksu talked about discovering her voice.
"I was singing in the choir, and I realized all of a sudden my voice was louder than anyone else's," she says through an interpreter. "It was a school song, I remember."
But her talent did not amuse her mother and father. Aksu says her parents were intellectuals who wanted her to be a doctor or an engineer.
"Once I realized I had this gift, and my mother and father were opposing this, I used to wait until they went to the movies or went out," Aksu says. "I would turn off the lights, go out on the balcony, and look down in the street to see people gathering to listen to me."
A Mix Of Cultures
This was happening in the mid-1960s, an exhilarating time to be a young singer in Turkey. It was a time when Eastern music collided with Western rock; when a strait-laced lute could flirt with an electric guitar and get away with it. Aksu says she was inspired by it all.
"My music is like Turkey, like Anatolia," she says. "This hybrid, this mixture of cultures ... for all these years, different thoughts and ideas existed together and borrowed from each other. It's very eclectic, but also harmonious."
Aksu has not always found harmony in her own life: She's been married and divorced four times.
"People are so complicated," she says.
In her lyrics, say her fans, she captures the muddle of human emotion. Even if you don't understand the words, there's still a way in. Isn't that the definition of a great voice? One that sings in a foreign language but still stops you in the street. You don't understand a word she's saying, but on some other gut level, you do.
To Listen to the Segment, click here.
National Public Radio
April 12, 2010
It was summer in Istanbul, 1989, and her voice steamed out of every doorway, as compelling as the call to prayer. Who was she?
After hearing her everywhere, I asked a waiter to write down her name, and he gave me a look like, "How could you not know Sezen Aksu?"
She is a superstar in Turkey, and a big name in the Middle East and Europe. She recently performed near Washington, D.C., and filled that hall, too, with mostly Turkish-Americans and immigrants, and quite a range of them — grandmothers in headscarves, teenagers in towering heels. Their male companions, by the way, did not look like they'd been dragged there.
Sezen Aksu is a sexy pop star, who for the past 30 years has sold millions of recordings. She invented herself and keeps reinventing herself in a language that doesn't lend itself to music.
"Turkish is not a good-sounding language. You know, it's not musical like French or English," says Turkish composer and pianist Fahir Atakoglu. "But with singers like Sezen, for the first time, the Turkish words became much more musical. It started saying something really deep; it wasn't simple anymore."
One of Aksu's most popular songs is "Istanbul Istanbul Olali," or "Since Istanbul Became Istanbul." It is about lost love, set against the backdrop of Turkey's largest city.
Discovering Her Voice
In an interview at Strathmore Hall near Washington, D.C., Aksu talked about discovering her voice.
"I was singing in the choir, and I realized all of a sudden my voice was louder than anyone else's," she says through an interpreter. "It was a school song, I remember."
But her talent did not amuse her mother and father. Aksu says her parents were intellectuals who wanted her to be a doctor or an engineer.
"Once I realized I had this gift, and my mother and father were opposing this, I used to wait until they went to the movies or went out," Aksu says. "I would turn off the lights, go out on the balcony, and look down in the street to see people gathering to listen to me."
A Mix Of Cultures
This was happening in the mid-1960s, an exhilarating time to be a young singer in Turkey. It was a time when Eastern music collided with Western rock; when a strait-laced lute could flirt with an electric guitar and get away with it. Aksu says she was inspired by it all.
"My music is like Turkey, like Anatolia," she says. "This hybrid, this mixture of cultures ... for all these years, different thoughts and ideas existed together and borrowed from each other. It's very eclectic, but also harmonious."
Aksu has not always found harmony in her own life: She's been married and divorced four times.
"People are so complicated," she says.
In her lyrics, say her fans, she captures the muddle of human emotion. Even if you don't understand the words, there's still a way in. Isn't that the definition of a great voice? One that sings in a foreign language but still stops you in the street. You don't understand a word she's saying, but on some other gut level, you do.
To Listen to the Segment, click here.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Congress shouldn't write history
The Charlotte Sun
March 2, 2010
Editor:
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation's foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs, and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Connie Mack, are preparing to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as "genocide" tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now-defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey's support and active participation, squandering their time on an issue that has no relevance to America's foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: Lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, groups with money and manpower still control Washington's agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an "Armenian Genocide."
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress is neither the "conscience" of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It's time to put an end to an dangerous game, played year after year when Congress is taken for a ride by a single-issue lobby at the expense of America's national interests. This is that time, but it will only end when Floridians pay attention and raise their voice and tell Representative Mack to oppose this resolution Thursday, and every time it comes up in the future.
Lincoln McCurdy
President
Turkish Coalition of America
Original Link
March 2, 2010
Editor:
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation's foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs, and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Connie Mack, are preparing to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as "genocide" tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now-defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey's support and active participation, squandering their time on an issue that has no relevance to America's foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: Lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, groups with money and manpower still control Washington's agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an "Armenian Genocide."
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress is neither the "conscience" of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It's time to put an end to an dangerous game, played year after year when Congress is taken for a ride by a single-issue lobby at the expense of America's national interests. This is that time, but it will only end when Floridians pay attention and raise their voice and tell Representative Mack to oppose this resolution Thursday, and every time it comes up in the future.
Lincoln McCurdy
President
Turkish Coalition of America
Original Link
Oppose Resolution
Northwest Herald
March 2, 2010
To the Editor:
The United States is confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation’s foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs, and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Don Manzullo, is preparing to vote on March 4 on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as “genocide” tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the defunct Ottoman Empire, despite holes in the historical argument.
This raises the question: why is the committee squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America’s foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: Lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington’s agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an Armenian genocide.
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of Congress. It’s time to put an end to a dangerous game, but it will end only when Americans raise their voice and tell Rep. Manzullo to oppose this resolution.
By: Lincoln McCurdy
President, Turkish Coalition of America
Original Link
March 2, 2010
To the Editor:
The United States is confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation’s foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs, and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Don Manzullo, is preparing to vote on March 4 on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as “genocide” tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the defunct Ottoman Empire, despite holes in the historical argument.
This raises the question: why is the committee squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America’s foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: Lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington’s agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an Armenian genocide.
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of Congress. It’s time to put an end to a dangerous game, but it will end only when Americans raise their voice and tell Rep. Manzullo to oppose this resolution.
By: Lincoln McCurdy
President, Turkish Coalition of America
Original Link
Congress should do its job, not write history
The Star Press
March 2, 2010
by: G. Lincoln McCurdy
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation's foreign relations. America is managing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and trying to find ways to bring our troops back safely and without compromising our national security. We are working to maintain a nuclear-free Iran, secure our energy sources and prevent the growth and spread of international terrorist networks.
In all these and many other areas affecting Americans and millions of others around the world, we have an ally in Turkey. Our trade with Turkey topped $10 billion in 2009, leaving the United States with a $3.5 billion trade surplus, supporting thousands of valuable jobs in critical industries.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Mike Pence, are preparing to vote on March 4 on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as "genocide" tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey's support and active participation, squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America's foreign relations and interests?
The answer is simple: Lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington's agenda. In the United States there are nearly one million Armenian Americans, concentrated in a number of congressional districts, who support a lobby that spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an "Armenian Genocide." Their efforts have also made Armenia, a small landlocked region, the second largest per-capita recipient of U.S. foreign aid.
Proponents of the Resolution frequently admonish its opponents by pointing to a moral obligation of Congress to pronounce that the now-defunct Ottoman Empire, committed "genocide" against Armenians. In doing so, they choose to ignore the many well-regarded historians who dispute this claim. Still, Armenian resolutions persist due to the efforts of a well organized Armenian lobby that has turned hating Turkey into an existential cause.
To roaring cheers at a 2005 Armenian rally in New York, Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, proclaimed, "The Turkish envoy said that not only did the genocide never occur, but he suggested that the reason why Armenians want to recognize the Armenian Genocide today -- want the Congress and the other countries to be on record -- is because they wanted restitution and they wanted reparations. And I say to that 'Yes, we do!' It is important not only to recognize the genocide but we have to make it clear that those who committed it pay restitution ... There must be recognition, there must be restitution, there must be reparations for the Armenian Genocide."
The resolution comes up for a vote at a particularly strange time. Armenia and Turkey are trying to work through a diplomatic process, with the support of the United States, which lays out a roadmap to normalizing relations. This effort includes the establishment of a joint historical commission of scholars and experts. Turkey's leadership time and again has stated that it will accept the findings of such a commission. It is telling that the Armenian lobby and its supporters in Congress not only oppose the normalization process, but, with even greater zeal, the establishment of this commission.
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress is neither the "conscience" of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It's time to put an end to a dangerous game, but it will only end when Americans pay attention and raise their voice and tell Rep. Pence to oppose this resolution on March 4, and every time it comes up in the future.
Lincoln McCurdy is president of the Turkish Coalition of America and a former U.S. diplomat. Learn more about TCA at www.tc-america.org.
Original Link
March 2, 2010
by: G. Lincoln McCurdy
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation's foreign relations. America is managing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and trying to find ways to bring our troops back safely and without compromising our national security. We are working to maintain a nuclear-free Iran, secure our energy sources and prevent the growth and spread of international terrorist networks.
In all these and many other areas affecting Americans and millions of others around the world, we have an ally in Turkey. Our trade with Turkey topped $10 billion in 2009, leaving the United States with a $3.5 billion trade surplus, supporting thousands of valuable jobs in critical industries.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Mike Pence, are preparing to vote on March 4 on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as "genocide" tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey's support and active participation, squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America's foreign relations and interests?
The answer is simple: Lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington's agenda. In the United States there are nearly one million Armenian Americans, concentrated in a number of congressional districts, who support a lobby that spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an "Armenian Genocide." Their efforts have also made Armenia, a small landlocked region, the second largest per-capita recipient of U.S. foreign aid.
Proponents of the Resolution frequently admonish its opponents by pointing to a moral obligation of Congress to pronounce that the now-defunct Ottoman Empire, committed "genocide" against Armenians. In doing so, they choose to ignore the many well-regarded historians who dispute this claim. Still, Armenian resolutions persist due to the efforts of a well organized Armenian lobby that has turned hating Turkey into an existential cause.
To roaring cheers at a 2005 Armenian rally in New York, Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, proclaimed, "The Turkish envoy said that not only did the genocide never occur, but he suggested that the reason why Armenians want to recognize the Armenian Genocide today -- want the Congress and the other countries to be on record -- is because they wanted restitution and they wanted reparations. And I say to that 'Yes, we do!' It is important not only to recognize the genocide but we have to make it clear that those who committed it pay restitution ... There must be recognition, there must be restitution, there must be reparations for the Armenian Genocide."
The resolution comes up for a vote at a particularly strange time. Armenia and Turkey are trying to work through a diplomatic process, with the support of the United States, which lays out a roadmap to normalizing relations. This effort includes the establishment of a joint historical commission of scholars and experts. Turkey's leadership time and again has stated that it will accept the findings of such a commission. It is telling that the Armenian lobby and its supporters in Congress not only oppose the normalization process, but, with even greater zeal, the establishment of this commission.
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress is neither the "conscience" of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It's time to put an end to a dangerous game, but it will only end when Americans pay attention and raise their voice and tell Rep. Pence to oppose this resolution on March 4, and every time it comes up in the future.
Lincoln McCurdy is president of the Turkish Coalition of America and a former U.S. diplomat. Learn more about TCA at www.tc-america.org.
Original Link
Don't write history, Congress
The News & Messenger
Prince William, VA
March 2, 2010
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation's foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Gerry Connolly, are preparing to vote on March 4 on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as "genocide" tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: Why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey's support and active participation, squandering their time on an issue that has no relevance to America's foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, groups with money and manpower still control Washington's agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an "Armenian Genocide."
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress is neither the "conscience" of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It's time to put an end to an dangerous game, played year after year when Congress is taken for a ride by a single-issue lobby at the expense of America's national interests. This is that time, but it will only end when Virginians pay attention and raise their voice and tell Rep. Connolly to oppose this resolution on March 4, and every time it comes up in the future.
G. LINCOLN McCURDY
President of the Turkish Coalition of America
Original Link
Prince William, VA
March 2, 2010
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation's foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Gerry Connolly, are preparing to vote on March 4 on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as "genocide" tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: Why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey's support and active participation, squandering their time on an issue that has no relevance to America's foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, groups with money and manpower still control Washington's agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an "Armenian Genocide."
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress is neither the "conscience" of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It's time to put an end to an dangerous game, played year after year when Congress is taken for a ride by a single-issue lobby at the expense of America's national interests. This is that time, but it will only end when Virginians pay attention and raise their voice and tell Rep. Connolly to oppose this resolution on March 4, and every time it comes up in the future.
G. LINCOLN McCURDY
President of the Turkish Coalition of America
Original Link
Congress should do its job
The Galveston County Daily News
March 3, 2010
By: Lincoln McCurdy
The United States is confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation’s foreign relations.
America is managing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and trying to find ways to bring our troops back safely and without compromising our national security. We are working to maintain a nuclear-free Iran, secure our energy sources and prevent the growth and spread of international terrorist networks. In all these and many other areas affecting Americans and millions of others around the world, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, are preparing to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as “genocide” tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: Why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey’s support and active participation, squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America’s foreign relations and interests?
The answer is simple: lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington’s agenda. In the United States, there are nearly 1 million Armenian Americans, concentrated in a number of congressional districts, who support a lobby that spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an “Armenian Genocide.” Their efforts also have made Armenia, a small landlocked country, the second-largest per-capita recipient of U.S. foreign aid.
Proponents of the resolution frequently admonish its opponents by pointing to a moral obligation of Congress to pronounce that the now-defunct Ottoman Empire committed “genocide” against Armenians. In doing so, they choose to ignore the many well-regarded historians who dispute this claim.
Still, Armenian resolutions persist due to the efforts of a well-organized Armenian lobby that has turned hating Turkey into an existential cause.
The resolution comes up for a vote at a particularly strange time. Armenia and Turkey are trying to work through a diplomatic process, with the support of the United States, which lays out a road map to normalizing relations. This effort includes the establishment of a joint historical commission of scholars and experts.
Turkey’s leadership time and again has stated it will accept the findings of such a commission. It is telling that the Armenian lobby and its supporters in Congress not only oppose the normalization process, but, with even greater zeal, the establishment of this commission.
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of Congress, which is neither the “conscience” of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It’s time to put an end to an dangerous game, but it will only end when Texans pay attention and tell Rep. Paul to oppose this resolution Thursday.
Lincoln McCurdy is president of the Turkish Coalition of America and a former U.S. diplomat. The coalition’s Web site is at tc-america.org.
Original Link
March 3, 2010
By: Lincoln McCurdy
The United States is confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation’s foreign relations.
America is managing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and trying to find ways to bring our troops back safely and without compromising our national security. We are working to maintain a nuclear-free Iran, secure our energy sources and prevent the growth and spread of international terrorist networks. In all these and many other areas affecting Americans and millions of others around the world, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, are preparing to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as “genocide” tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: Why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey’s support and active participation, squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America’s foreign relations and interests?
The answer is simple: lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington’s agenda. In the United States, there are nearly 1 million Armenian Americans, concentrated in a number of congressional districts, who support a lobby that spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an “Armenian Genocide.” Their efforts also have made Armenia, a small landlocked country, the second-largest per-capita recipient of U.S. foreign aid.
Proponents of the resolution frequently admonish its opponents by pointing to a moral obligation of Congress to pronounce that the now-defunct Ottoman Empire committed “genocide” against Armenians. In doing so, they choose to ignore the many well-regarded historians who dispute this claim.
Still, Armenian resolutions persist due to the efforts of a well-organized Armenian lobby that has turned hating Turkey into an existential cause.
The resolution comes up for a vote at a particularly strange time. Armenia and Turkey are trying to work through a diplomatic process, with the support of the United States, which lays out a road map to normalizing relations. This effort includes the establishment of a joint historical commission of scholars and experts.
Turkey’s leadership time and again has stated it will accept the findings of such a commission. It is telling that the Armenian lobby and its supporters in Congress not only oppose the normalization process, but, with even greater zeal, the establishment of this commission.
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of Congress, which is neither the “conscience” of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It’s time to put an end to an dangerous game, but it will only end when Texans pay attention and tell Rep. Paul to oppose this resolution Thursday.
Lincoln McCurdy is president of the Turkish Coalition of America and a former U.S. diplomat. The coalition’s Web site is at tc-america.org.
Original Link
Dissing an ally
The News-Press
Ft. Myers, FL
March 3, 2010
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation’s foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs, and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, is preparing to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as “genocide” tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the defunct Ottoman Empire, despite holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: why is the committee squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America’s foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: Lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington’s agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an “Armenian Genocide.”
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of Congress.
It’s time to put an end to a dangerous game, but it will only end when Americans raise their voice and tell Rep. Mack to oppose this resolution on Thursday.
LINCOLN MCCURDY
President, Turkish
Coalition of America
Read it Here
Ft. Myers, FL
March 3, 2010
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation’s foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs, and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, is preparing to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as “genocide” tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the defunct Ottoman Empire, despite holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: why is the committee squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America’s foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: Lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington’s agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an “Armenian Genocide.”
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of Congress.
It’s time to put an end to a dangerous game, but it will only end when Americans raise their voice and tell Rep. Mack to oppose this resolution on Thursday.
LINCOLN MCCURDY
President, Turkish
Coalition of America
Read it Here
Once again, quest for Armenian genocide resolution begins
by: Michael Doyle
Feb 19, 2010
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — The latest version of an Armenian genocide resolution is on track to win House committee approval, but its long-term prospects remain uncertain.
This plot is familiar. Some characters have changed. The denouement is still to be determined.
On March 4, the House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to vote on a resolution declaring that "the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923." Some consider the resolution diplomatically dangerous, but vote-counters consider committee passage a foregone conclusion.
"We are confident of a positive outcome," said Bryan Ardouny, executive director of the Armenian Assembly of America. "We have a track record of the committee approving the resolution in the past."
Typically, congressional committee chairs will only bring up measures they are confident will pass.
Residents of California's San Joaquin Valley, and other regions with large Armenian-American populations, are watching all of the action closely, and in some cases participating directly in it. The House panel's members include a number of resolution co-sponsors, including Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.
Advocates of the resolution say it's important to account for the Ottoman Empire killings and depredations that occurred during and after World War I, when by estimates upward of 1.5 million Armenians died.
"Genocide is not something that can simply be swept under the rug and forgotten, and our nation cannot continue its policy of denial regarding the Armenian genocide," Costa said.
Approval by the 45-member House Foreign Affairs Committee, though, is a far cry from getting the diplomatically dicey resolution through the full 435-member House of Representatives.
Currently, for instance, the resolution has only 137 House co-sponsors, far short of the 218 needed for House approval. The last time the issue arose, in 2007, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declined to bring the resolution to the House floor until it had the requisite 218 co-sponsors.
Opponents are bringing out their big guns, warning the resolution would interfere with good diplomatic relations. Turkish and Armenian negotiators last year agreed to a set of protocols designed to smooth diplomatic relations, but the respective legislatures have not yet formally ratified them.
"That would be jeopardized by a political act of passing this resolution," said David Saltzman, chief counsel to the Turkish Coalition of America. "Passage of this resolution would be a potentially impenetrable hurdle (to reconciliation)."
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has likewise recently denounced the resolution as doing serious harm to U.S.-Turkey relations.
This plea of bad timing is one of the many familiar elements in the Armenian genocide fight.
In 2007, the Bush administration successfully argued the resolution would undermine the use of Turkish bases to resupply U.S. forces in Iraq. In 2000, then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert killed the resolution, citing "unusually tense" conditions in the Middle East.
High-powered lobbying is another familiar plot line.
Hastert is now registered as a lobbyist for the Turkish government. His firm, Dickstein Shapiro, has been paid up to $45,000 a month for its work on Turkey's behalf, public records show. One-time House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt is likewise a registered lobbyist for Turkey.
Some hope the arrival of the Obama administration will shake up these familiar faces and oft-heard arguments.
"A lot of things have changed," said Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
While they were in the Senate and campaigning, Hamparian noted, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all endorsed Armenian genocide recognition.
Presidents, though, often back away from their campaign-season Armenian genocide resolution pledges. Obama, for one, avoided the term "genocide" in his presidential Armenia proclamation in April. Reading between the lines, one might see further hints of a pending administration retreat on the resolution itself.
"Our view is that the negotiations that have been taking place between Turkey and Armenia offer a positive path for the future," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in early February. "Anything that would impede the success of those discussions and negotiations I think is objectionable. I would just leave it there."
Original Link
Feb 19, 2010
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — The latest version of an Armenian genocide resolution is on track to win House committee approval, but its long-term prospects remain uncertain.
This plot is familiar. Some characters have changed. The denouement is still to be determined.
On March 4, the House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to vote on a resolution declaring that "the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923." Some consider the resolution diplomatically dangerous, but vote-counters consider committee passage a foregone conclusion.
"We are confident of a positive outcome," said Bryan Ardouny, executive director of the Armenian Assembly of America. "We have a track record of the committee approving the resolution in the past."
Typically, congressional committee chairs will only bring up measures they are confident will pass.
Residents of California's San Joaquin Valley, and other regions with large Armenian-American populations, are watching all of the action closely, and in some cases participating directly in it. The House panel's members include a number of resolution co-sponsors, including Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.
Advocates of the resolution say it's important to account for the Ottoman Empire killings and depredations that occurred during and after World War I, when by estimates upward of 1.5 million Armenians died.
"Genocide is not something that can simply be swept under the rug and forgotten, and our nation cannot continue its policy of denial regarding the Armenian genocide," Costa said.
Approval by the 45-member House Foreign Affairs Committee, though, is a far cry from getting the diplomatically dicey resolution through the full 435-member House of Representatives.
Currently, for instance, the resolution has only 137 House co-sponsors, far short of the 218 needed for House approval. The last time the issue arose, in 2007, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declined to bring the resolution to the House floor until it had the requisite 218 co-sponsors.
Opponents are bringing out their big guns, warning the resolution would interfere with good diplomatic relations. Turkish and Armenian negotiators last year agreed to a set of protocols designed to smooth diplomatic relations, but the respective legislatures have not yet formally ratified them.
"That would be jeopardized by a political act of passing this resolution," said David Saltzman, chief counsel to the Turkish Coalition of America. "Passage of this resolution would be a potentially impenetrable hurdle (to reconciliation)."
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has likewise recently denounced the resolution as doing serious harm to U.S.-Turkey relations.
This plea of bad timing is one of the many familiar elements in the Armenian genocide fight.
In 2007, the Bush administration successfully argued the resolution would undermine the use of Turkish bases to resupply U.S. forces in Iraq. In 2000, then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert killed the resolution, citing "unusually tense" conditions in the Middle East.
High-powered lobbying is another familiar plot line.
Hastert is now registered as a lobbyist for the Turkish government. His firm, Dickstein Shapiro, has been paid up to $45,000 a month for its work on Turkey's behalf, public records show. One-time House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt is likewise a registered lobbyist for Turkey.
Some hope the arrival of the Obama administration will shake up these familiar faces and oft-heard arguments.
"A lot of things have changed," said Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
While they were in the Senate and campaigning, Hamparian noted, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all endorsed Armenian genocide recognition.
Presidents, though, often back away from their campaign-season Armenian genocide resolution pledges. Obama, for one, avoided the term "genocide" in his presidential Armenia proclamation in April. Reading between the lines, one might see further hints of a pending administration retreat on the resolution itself.
"Our view is that the negotiations that have been taking place between Turkey and Armenia offer a positive path for the future," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in early February. "Anything that would impede the success of those discussions and negotiations I think is objectionable. I would just leave it there."
Original Link
Congress wasting time on genocide resolution
Key West Citizen
March 3, 2010
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation's foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs, and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, are preparing to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as "genocide" tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now-defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: Why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey's support and active participation, squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America's foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, groups with money and manpower still control Washington's agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an Armenian genocide.
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Congress is neither the conscience of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It's time to put an end to a dangerous game, played year after year when Congress is taken for a ride by a single-issue lobby at the expense of America's national interests. This is that time, but it will only end when Floridians pay attention and raise their voice and tell Rep. Ros-Lehtinen to oppose this resolution on Thursday, and every time it comes up in the future.
Lincoln McCurdy, president
Turkish Coalition of America
Read it Here
March 3, 2010
The United States is currently confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation's foreign relations, including dual wars, meeting energy needs, and preventing the growth of terrorist networks. In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, are preparing to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252, which will recognize as "genocide" tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the now-defunct Ottoman Empire, despite many holes in the historical argument.
This begs the question: Why is the committee, at a time when we are dealing with pressing international and domestic issues, all of which require Turkey's support and active participation, squandering its time on an issue that has no relevance to America's foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, groups with money and manpower still control Washington's agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on furthering its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an Armenian genocide.
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Congress is neither the conscience of the world, nor its revisionist historian. It's time to put an end to a dangerous game, played year after year when Congress is taken for a ride by a single-issue lobby at the expense of America's national interests. This is that time, but it will only end when Floridians pay attention and raise their voice and tell Rep. Ros-Lehtinen to oppose this resolution on Thursday, and every time it comes up in the future.
Lincoln McCurdy, president
Turkish Coalition of America
Read it Here
'Genocide' Vote Unneeded
Rockford Register Star
March 2, 2010
The United States is confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation’s foreign relations, including dual wars, energy needs and preventing the growth of terrorist networks.
In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Don Manzullo, prepares to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252.
The resolution will recognize as “genocide” the tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the defunct Ottoman Empire, despite holes in the historical argument.
Why is the committee squandering its time on an issue with no relevance to America’s foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington’s agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an “Armenian genocide.”
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of Congress. It’s time to put an end to a dangerous game, but it will only end when Americans raise their voice and tell Rep. Manzullo to oppose this resolution Thursday.
— Lincoln McCurdy, president, Turkish Coalition of America
Read it here
March 2, 2010
The United States is confronted with a daunting number of challenges in our nation’s foreign relations, including dual wars, energy needs and preventing the growth of terrorist networks.
In all these areas, we have an ally in Turkey.
In a bizarre move during such turbulent times, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Rep. Don Manzullo, prepares to vote Thursday on House Resolution 252.
The resolution will recognize as “genocide” the tragic events that took place nearly 100 years ago in the defunct Ottoman Empire, despite holes in the historical argument.
Why is the committee squandering its time on an issue with no relevance to America’s foreign relations and interests? The answer is simple: lobbying.
Despite much bravado about limiting the influence of special interests, money and manpower still control Washington’s agenda. The Armenian-American lobby spends an estimated $40 million annually on its agenda, which revolves around recognition of an “Armenian genocide.”
This issue, ultimately, should not be on the docket of Congress. It’s time to put an end to a dangerous game, but it will only end when Americans raise their voice and tell Rep. Manzullo to oppose this resolution Thursday.
— Lincoln McCurdy, president, Turkish Coalition of America
Read it here
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Turkish rapper, Holocaust Survivor Team Up
by: Max Fisher
The Atlantic Wire
Many Americans happily welcome Muslim immigrant communities to the U.S., but European governments have a slightly more complicated track record. This may help to explain why two Europeans from very different nations and generations have come together to fight racism. Esther Bejarano is an 85-year-old German Holocaust survivor. She developed her musical talent playing in Auschwitz. Kutlu Yurtseven is a young Turkish immigrant in Cologne making a name as a rapper in the group Microphone Mafia.
Brought together by a shared legacy of enduring racism in Europe and by their love of music, Bejarano and Yurtseven combine rapping with old-Europe Jewish folk music. The two record youth-friendly music preaching racial acceptance. Their album, Per La Vita, is not currently available on Amazon. But you can listen to a sample track, "Desateur," below.
Original Article from the Atlantic
The Atlantic Wire
Many Americans happily welcome Muslim immigrant communities to the U.S., but European governments have a slightly more complicated track record. This may help to explain why two Europeans from very different nations and generations have come together to fight racism. Esther Bejarano is an 85-year-old German Holocaust survivor. She developed her musical talent playing in Auschwitz. Kutlu Yurtseven is a young Turkish immigrant in Cologne making a name as a rapper in the group Microphone Mafia.
Brought together by a shared legacy of enduring racism in Europe and by their love of music, Bejarano and Yurtseven combine rapping with old-Europe Jewish folk music. The two record youth-friendly music preaching racial acceptance. Their album, Per La Vita, is not currently available on Amazon. But you can listen to a sample track, "Desateur," below.
Original Article from the Atlantic
Chef Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" Istanbul
Chef Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" program on Travel Channel featured Istanbul on January 18, 2010. If you missed this program you can watch it now on You Tube.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Obama's Ideal Partner: Turkey
The Hill
by: Joshua W. Walker, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Transatlantic Academy in the German Marshall Fund, and Truman National Security Fellow
President Obama laid out his new Afghanistan strategy on last week by ordering an additional 30,000 US troops to the country. While the majority of the analysis in Washington has centered on the level of US forces, the President emphasized that the “burden is not ours alone to bear.” Yet the reality is that this international coalition is waning, not surging, and is in desperate need of a regional champion that can serve as a model partner for the US in Afghanistan. Obama’s ideal partner is Turkey.
Turkey has the second largest army in NATO, is part of almost every European organization, chairs the Organization of Islamic Conference States, is a UN Security Council member, is a member of the G-20, and is one of the few examples of a functioning Muslim-majority democracy in the Middle East. Having once contributed the third highest number of troops to the mission in Afghanistan, the Turks now are taking command for the second time and have recently doubled their troop levels to 1,600. With 2.5 million soldiers, strong Transatlantic and Muslim credentials, Turkey is an underutilized ally that Obama would be wise to actively engage.
The President should begin that process through a personalized request to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is visiting the White House today, Monday December 7. Highlighting the Turks’ considerable accomplishments and potential in Afghanistan would encourage Turkey to take a more active leadership role in the region. By playing to the Turks’ newly discovered self-confidence, the President can transfer critical responsibility to an ideal partner that is poised to play an increasingly important regional role for many years to come. Not only will enhanced US-Turkish cooperation serve the interests of Afghanistan but it is also a win-win for America and Turkey.
Link to Article
by: Joshua W. Walker, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Transatlantic Academy in the German Marshall Fund, and Truman National Security Fellow
President Obama laid out his new Afghanistan strategy on last week by ordering an additional 30,000 US troops to the country. While the majority of the analysis in Washington has centered on the level of US forces, the President emphasized that the “burden is not ours alone to bear.” Yet the reality is that this international coalition is waning, not surging, and is in desperate need of a regional champion that can serve as a model partner for the US in Afghanistan. Obama’s ideal partner is Turkey.
Turkey has the second largest army in NATO, is part of almost every European organization, chairs the Organization of Islamic Conference States, is a UN Security Council member, is a member of the G-20, and is one of the few examples of a functioning Muslim-majority democracy in the Middle East. Having once contributed the third highest number of troops to the mission in Afghanistan, the Turks now are taking command for the second time and have recently doubled their troop levels to 1,600. With 2.5 million soldiers, strong Transatlantic and Muslim credentials, Turkey is an underutilized ally that Obama would be wise to actively engage.
The President should begin that process through a personalized request to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is visiting the White House today, Monday December 7. Highlighting the Turks’ considerable accomplishments and potential in Afghanistan would encourage Turkey to take a more active leadership role in the region. By playing to the Turks’ newly discovered self-confidence, the President can transfer critical responsibility to an ideal partner that is poised to play an increasingly important regional role for many years to come. Not only will enhanced US-Turkish cooperation serve the interests of Afghanistan but it is also a win-win for America and Turkey.
Link to Article
Friday, November 20, 2009
Building a bridge between Native Americans and Turkey
By: SEVİM SONGÜN
Hürriyet Daily News
ISTANBUL --
A delegation of Native American scholars currently visiting Turkey plans to recommend the country as an academic-exchange destination following discussions with Turkish universities this past week. Turkish-Americans and Native Americans have much to learn from each other, says Lincoln McCurdy, the president of the Turkish American Coalition, which organized the exchange
A group of Native American scholars came to Turkey last week as part of an effort to boost university relations and create future student and faculty exchanges between North American and Turkish schools.
The two cultures have many things in common and have an opportunity to share these experiences, according to the visiting Native American delegation hosted by the Turkish Coalition of America, or TCA.
“I have never been to Turkey before – it was one of those places I had seen only on the map. This has been a wonderful experience for me,” said Evelina Zuni Lucero, who teaches creative writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico.
“Many Native American students are willing to come to Turkey. We are interested in non-Western cultures, particularly Middle Eastern ones, because we really know very little about them,” added Lucero, a Native American from the Isleta/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.
“As soon as I return to the U.S., I will make a presentation at my university about my experiences here and look for ways to arrange possible exchanges,” said Valerian Three Irons, a scholar from South Dakota State University.
He added that because most Native American students are from low-income families, he will try to arrange scholarships for them to receive education in Turkey.
Three Irons, who has a mixed heritage from the Mandan, Hidatsa, Crow and Cree nations, said he would arrange a summer-school program at the university so students can experience living with Native American families on reservations and see everything that happens in the community. The program would allow these visitors to see more than most tourists, he said.
According to Three Irons, who works with Turkish schools such as Bahçeşehir University on these exchanges, there are more than 700 Native American communities and each one has a unique religion. He said these communities like the idea of an exchange of ideas between nations because it is very different from their past experiences of conquest and exploitation.
Some exchanges between universities have already started with the TCA invitation to the Native American scholars.
Willard Sakiestewa Gilbert, an education professor at Northeastern Arizona University, will teach at Bahçeşehir University for one term. Gilbert said his home university has started a global initiative to develop more exchanges and that Turkey could be one of the partners in these efforts.
According to TCA President Lincoln McCurdy, the group has additional bridge-building projects involving Turkey and various American communities, including African-, Hispanic-, Bosnian-, Albanian- and Macedonian-Americans.
“Turkish-Americans have still not yet learned [how] to get involved in the political system in the United States, but they can learn a lot from Native, African- and Hispanic-Americans who have been successful after all the struggles to get politically involved,” said McCurdy.
He added that Native Americans can be inspired by the history of the Turkish Republic to rebuild their identities and maintain their heritage while modernizing.
According to McCurdy, the group is also working on future projects to increase business relations between Turkey and American communities.
Hürriyet Daily News
ISTANBUL --
A delegation of Native American scholars currently visiting Turkey plans to recommend the country as an academic-exchange destination following discussions with Turkish universities this past week. Turkish-Americans and Native Americans have much to learn from each other, says Lincoln McCurdy, the president of the Turkish American Coalition, which organized the exchange
A group of Native American scholars came to Turkey last week as part of an effort to boost university relations and create future student and faculty exchanges between North American and Turkish schools.
The two cultures have many things in common and have an opportunity to share these experiences, according to the visiting Native American delegation hosted by the Turkish Coalition of America, or TCA.
“I have never been to Turkey before – it was one of those places I had seen only on the map. This has been a wonderful experience for me,” said Evelina Zuni Lucero, who teaches creative writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico.
“Many Native American students are willing to come to Turkey. We are interested in non-Western cultures, particularly Middle Eastern ones, because we really know very little about them,” added Lucero, a Native American from the Isleta/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.
“As soon as I return to the U.S., I will make a presentation at my university about my experiences here and look for ways to arrange possible exchanges,” said Valerian Three Irons, a scholar from South Dakota State University.
He added that because most Native American students are from low-income families, he will try to arrange scholarships for them to receive education in Turkey.
Three Irons, who has a mixed heritage from the Mandan, Hidatsa, Crow and Cree nations, said he would arrange a summer-school program at the university so students can experience living with Native American families on reservations and see everything that happens in the community. The program would allow these visitors to see more than most tourists, he said.
According to Three Irons, who works with Turkish schools such as Bahçeşehir University on these exchanges, there are more than 700 Native American communities and each one has a unique religion. He said these communities like the idea of an exchange of ideas between nations because it is very different from their past experiences of conquest and exploitation.
Some exchanges between universities have already started with the TCA invitation to the Native American scholars.
Willard Sakiestewa Gilbert, an education professor at Northeastern Arizona University, will teach at Bahçeşehir University for one term. Gilbert said his home university has started a global initiative to develop more exchanges and that Turkey could be one of the partners in these efforts.
According to TCA President Lincoln McCurdy, the group has additional bridge-building projects involving Turkey and various American communities, including African-, Hispanic-, Bosnian-, Albanian- and Macedonian-Americans.
“Turkish-Americans have still not yet learned [how] to get involved in the political system in the United States, but they can learn a lot from Native, African- and Hispanic-Americans who have been successful after all the struggles to get politically involved,” said McCurdy.
He added that Native Americans can be inspired by the history of the Turkish Republic to rebuild their identities and maintain their heritage while modernizing.
According to McCurdy, the group is also working on future projects to increase business relations between Turkey and American communities.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Turkish Cultural Foundation Introduces Turkish Artists at SOFA
The Turkish Cultural Foundation is to proud to present the works of Turkish artists Ebru Dosekci, Emel Vardar, Suleyman Saim Tekcan and Ebru Yilmaz at the Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) Fair in Chicago on November 6-8, 2009.
SOFA Chicago features 68 prestigious galleries from 12 countries and is expected to be visited by over 35,000 visitors, including art collectors, museum and gallery curators. The Fair is respected for presenting a wide variety of modern art, contemporary designs, decorative and functional art, as well as designer jewelry. The Turkish Cultural Foundation has been sponsoring Turkish artists' participation in the SOFA fairs in Chicago and New York for the past three years and is the only Foundation participating in this international art exposition.
To learn more about SOFA, click here.
The Turkish Cultural Foundation's showcase of Turkish art toward at SOFA reflects the Foundation's mission to expand international opportunities for Turkish artists, as well as promote the finest examples Turkish modern art.
For more information, visit www.turkishculturalfoundation.org
Monday, October 26, 2009
Turkey's Rich History Attracts Film Director
By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
Hartford Courant
October 25, 2009
Born in England, Alan Parker knows a thing or two about traveling. The acclaimed director of "Evita," "Angela's Ashes" and " Mississippi Burning" has vacationed around the world. But ask the 65-year-old what his most memorable trip was, and he'll answer, " Turkey." That is where the director filmed part of his controversial 1978 film "Midnight Express." The Blu-ray version of the classic movie is now available ( Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) and includes some of Parker's observations and photographs from the filming.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: I love places like Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Venice, Dublin, Marrakech, Berlin and Leningrad. But visiting Turkey was an experience. It's a modern world mixed together with ancient history. If you're interested in history, how could you not want to visit Troy, Ephesus and Gallipoli? The food is very good there, but go easy on the national drink, raki. It's 45 percent proof, so add lots of water.
Q: How do you try to fit in when you're a tourist?
A: Smiling a lot always helps. English will get you by, unless you're really off the beaten track. Always remember that raising your voice will not help them understand any better. If you want one Turkish word, then "thank you" might go a long way: Teh-shek-kewr-eh-deh-reem.
To be honest, the story of "Midnight Express" wasn't too popular in Turkey when I first visited, so I was a low-key traveler with my hat pulled down over my face, clicking away with my camera. But I was just fascinated by the place. Istanbul has been the meeting point where East touches West for centuries, and you can feel the energy of this cultural collision just walking through the city. When I went to scout in Turkey before making the film, the country had an edgy, somewhat scary but exotic feel that had nothing to do with any European city I had visited.
Q: What observations have you made about American versus European travelers?
A: I think Europeans tend to travel more than Americans. After all, in the time it takes to travel from Los Angeles to New York, the same journey in Europe would take you through 20 countries.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: Camera, notebook, iPhone, lots to read and Zantac. It's amazing how little you actually need if you analyze it. On the plane, I used to give myself a hernia with my heavy carry-on bag containing dozens of scripts and books to read, and I never touched them. An iPod and one light paperback is all you need on a plane. The best advice about bags is never to have bags too big or too heavy that you couldn't carry them yourself in an emergency.
Q: What is your worst vacation memory?
A: When "Midnight Express" came out, it didn't go down too well in Turkey, and I was on a list of undesirables. But Turkey now has a thriving tourist industry, and my children have had wonderful holidays there.
Link Here
Tribune Media Services
Hartford Courant
October 25, 2009
Born in England, Alan Parker knows a thing or two about traveling. The acclaimed director of "Evita," "Angela's Ashes" and " Mississippi Burning" has vacationed around the world. But ask the 65-year-old what his most memorable trip was, and he'll answer, " Turkey." That is where the director filmed part of his controversial 1978 film "Midnight Express." The Blu-ray version of the classic movie is now available ( Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) and includes some of Parker's observations and photographs from the filming.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: I love places like Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Venice, Dublin, Marrakech, Berlin and Leningrad. But visiting Turkey was an experience. It's a modern world mixed together with ancient history. If you're interested in history, how could you not want to visit Troy, Ephesus and Gallipoli? The food is very good there, but go easy on the national drink, raki. It's 45 percent proof, so add lots of water.
Q: How do you try to fit in when you're a tourist?
A: Smiling a lot always helps. English will get you by, unless you're really off the beaten track. Always remember that raising your voice will not help them understand any better. If you want one Turkish word, then "thank you" might go a long way: Teh-shek-kewr-eh-deh-reem.
To be honest, the story of "Midnight Express" wasn't too popular in Turkey when I first visited, so I was a low-key traveler with my hat pulled down over my face, clicking away with my camera. But I was just fascinated by the place. Istanbul has been the meeting point where East touches West for centuries, and you can feel the energy of this cultural collision just walking through the city. When I went to scout in Turkey before making the film, the country had an edgy, somewhat scary but exotic feel that had nothing to do with any European city I had visited.
Q: What observations have you made about American versus European travelers?
A: I think Europeans tend to travel more than Americans. After all, in the time it takes to travel from Los Angeles to New York, the same journey in Europe would take you through 20 countries.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: Camera, notebook, iPhone, lots to read and Zantac. It's amazing how little you actually need if you analyze it. On the plane, I used to give myself a hernia with my heavy carry-on bag containing dozens of scripts and books to read, and I never touched them. An iPod and one light paperback is all you need on a plane. The best advice about bags is never to have bags too big or too heavy that you couldn't carry them yourself in an emergency.
Q: What is your worst vacation memory?
A: When "Midnight Express" came out, it didn't go down too well in Turkey, and I was on a list of undesirables. But Turkey now has a thriving tourist industry, and my children have had wonderful holidays there.
Link Here
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
2 American masters topics for seminar
The Washington Times
September 28, 2009
Two American masters -- self-exiled intellectual and author James Baldwin and "Record Man" Ahmet Ertegun -- will be the topics of discussion at Georgetown University on Oct. 5 when Magdalena J. Zaborowska of the University of Michigan and Georgetown history professor Maurice Jackson, a jazz specialist, lead a seminar titled "African American-Turkish Connections Through the Arts."
The seminar -- set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Copley Formal Lounge and co-sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America, the Institute of Turkish Studies, Howard University and Georgetown -- will look at the lives of two arts masters who were born as their homelands emerged from World War I and reborn as post-World War II America grappled with the meaning of civil rights and civil liberties.
Mr. Baldwin, a native New Yorker who lived in Istanbul and elsewhere in Europe for decades, once proclaimed that Turkey "saved my life" because of the freedoms he lived and breathed there but was denied as a black man in America. In the meantime, Mr. Ertegun, who grew up in Washington and whose ambassador father opened the family home to blacks who entered through the front door, was becoming a prolific arts entrepreneur whose love of music eventually lead to the formation of Atlantic Records. The label's hit artists included Ray Charles and the Clovers.
"TCA is proud to sponsor this program that highlights the shared history of Turkish Americans and the African-American community in D.C.," TCA President Lincoln McCurdy told The Washington Times. "The legacy of Ahmet Ertegun of breaking down racial barriers through music should inspire all Americans. Additionally, James Baldwin's works and his courageous stance on gender, race and sexual equality should remind us that local activism and the arts have always been close together in African-American communities, that they have always had a transnational and global dimension."
Said Ms. Zaborowska, author of "James Baldwin's Turkish Decade: Erotics of Exile," "Baldwin's claim, [that] Turkey 'saved my life,' referred to the freedom he felt in Istanbul from racial and sexual oppression, the freedom that transformed him and his writing as a black writer, novelist, playwright and civil rights movement activist."
Link to Article
September 28, 2009
Two American masters -- self-exiled intellectual and author James Baldwin and "Record Man" Ahmet Ertegun -- will be the topics of discussion at Georgetown University on Oct. 5 when Magdalena J. Zaborowska of the University of Michigan and Georgetown history professor Maurice Jackson, a jazz specialist, lead a seminar titled "African American-Turkish Connections Through the Arts."
The seminar -- set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Copley Formal Lounge and co-sponsored by the Turkish Coalition of America, the Institute of Turkish Studies, Howard University and Georgetown -- will look at the lives of two arts masters who were born as their homelands emerged from World War I and reborn as post-World War II America grappled with the meaning of civil rights and civil liberties.
Mr. Baldwin, a native New Yorker who lived in Istanbul and elsewhere in Europe for decades, once proclaimed that Turkey "saved my life" because of the freedoms he lived and breathed there but was denied as a black man in America. In the meantime, Mr. Ertegun, who grew up in Washington and whose ambassador father opened the family home to blacks who entered through the front door, was becoming a prolific arts entrepreneur whose love of music eventually lead to the formation of Atlantic Records. The label's hit artists included Ray Charles and the Clovers.
"TCA is proud to sponsor this program that highlights the shared history of Turkish Americans and the African-American community in D.C.," TCA President Lincoln McCurdy told The Washington Times. "The legacy of Ahmet Ertegun of breaking down racial barriers through music should inspire all Americans. Additionally, James Baldwin's works and his courageous stance on gender, race and sexual equality should remind us that local activism and the arts have always been close together in African-American communities, that they have always had a transnational and global dimension."
Said Ms. Zaborowska, author of "James Baldwin's Turkish Decade: Erotics of Exile," "Baldwin's claim, [that] Turkey 'saved my life,' referred to the freedom he felt in Istanbul from racial and sexual oppression, the freedom that transformed him and his writing as a black writer, novelist, playwright and civil rights movement activist."
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Turkish group reaches out to Armenian-American students
September 15, 2009
McClatchy Newspapers
By Michael Doyle
WASHINGTON -- New scholarships will enable Armenian-American students to study in Turkey, a gesture prompted by diplomatic progress made by two long-feuding countries.
The scholarships for 100 American students of Armenian descent will finance a semester at any Turkish or Turkish Cypriot university. The Turkish Coalition of America is offering the $2,000 scholarships in hopes of changing minds.
"We hope to encourage dialogue between Turks and Armenians, so that future generations won't have the burden of this animosity," coalition president Lincoln McCurdy said Monday. "The shared history of both cultures has been overshadowed by hostility for far too long."
The scholarships could prove particularly enticing in regions like the San Joaquin Valley, home to tens of thousands of Armenian-Americans. California State University, Fresno, hosts both an Armenian Studies Program and the nationwide Society for Armenian Studies, which spans many campuses.
Each year, roughly 10 Fresno State students graduate with a minor in Armenian Studies, and dozens more take history, arts and language courses through the program.
But the new scholarships also provoke questions in some Armenian-American circles, as do the broader talks now under way between Turkey and Armenia.
The two countries have been at odds for nearly a century over events between 1915 and 1923, when by some estimates upward of 1.5 million Armenians died during the final years of the Ottoman Empire before Turkey was founded. The Turkish government blames the deaths on civil war. Armenians call the deaths genocide.
"There's always skepticism, because of Turkey's attitude in the past," noted Barlow Der Mugrdechian, director of the Fresno State Armenian Studies Program. "Until Turkey recognizes the [Armenian] genocide, there's always going to be skepticism."
Der Mugrdechian said he would need to learn more about the scholarship's details before he could evaluate it.
More broadly, though, he noted that San Joaquin Valley Armenian-Americans have concerns that the Turkish-Armenian diplomatic breakthrough announced recently was accomplished in part through trading away a formal Armenian genocide recognition.
On Aug. 31, following negotiations brokered by Swiss go-betweens, Turkey and Armenia unveiled a roadmap toward mutual diplomatic recognition. This includes six weeks for parliamentary consideration, followed by opening of the Turkey-Armenia border within two months.
The protocols include establishing a joint historical commission that will presumably be genocide-oriented, though it is described in a round-about way.
Armenian-American organizations and their Capitol Hill allies have long pushed for an explicit congressional Armenian genocide resolution.
With the help of successive U.S. presidents, fearful of the diplomatic consequences, Turkish officials have resisted the genocide resolution efforts.
The Turkish Coalition of America was founded in 2007. It sponsors educational and other programs boosting Turkey, including the trips to Turkey sponsored for members of Congress and staff and scholarships for students.
The Coalition offers more information at www.turkishcoalition.org/.
McClatchy Newspapers
By Michael Doyle
WASHINGTON -- New scholarships will enable Armenian-American students to study in Turkey, a gesture prompted by diplomatic progress made by two long-feuding countries.
The scholarships for 100 American students of Armenian descent will finance a semester at any Turkish or Turkish Cypriot university. The Turkish Coalition of America is offering the $2,000 scholarships in hopes of changing minds.
"We hope to encourage dialogue between Turks and Armenians, so that future generations won't have the burden of this animosity," coalition president Lincoln McCurdy said Monday. "The shared history of both cultures has been overshadowed by hostility for far too long."
The scholarships could prove particularly enticing in regions like the San Joaquin Valley, home to tens of thousands of Armenian-Americans. California State University, Fresno, hosts both an Armenian Studies Program and the nationwide Society for Armenian Studies, which spans many campuses.
Each year, roughly 10 Fresno State students graduate with a minor in Armenian Studies, and dozens more take history, arts and language courses through the program.
But the new scholarships also provoke questions in some Armenian-American circles, as do the broader talks now under way between Turkey and Armenia.
The two countries have been at odds for nearly a century over events between 1915 and 1923, when by some estimates upward of 1.5 million Armenians died during the final years of the Ottoman Empire before Turkey was founded. The Turkish government blames the deaths on civil war. Armenians call the deaths genocide.
"There's always skepticism, because of Turkey's attitude in the past," noted Barlow Der Mugrdechian, director of the Fresno State Armenian Studies Program. "Until Turkey recognizes the [Armenian] genocide, there's always going to be skepticism."
Der Mugrdechian said he would need to learn more about the scholarship's details before he could evaluate it.
More broadly, though, he noted that San Joaquin Valley Armenian-Americans have concerns that the Turkish-Armenian diplomatic breakthrough announced recently was accomplished in part through trading away a formal Armenian genocide recognition.
On Aug. 31, following negotiations brokered by Swiss go-betweens, Turkey and Armenia unveiled a roadmap toward mutual diplomatic recognition. This includes six weeks for parliamentary consideration, followed by opening of the Turkey-Armenia border within two months.
The protocols include establishing a joint historical commission that will presumably be genocide-oriented, though it is described in a round-about way.
Armenian-American organizations and their Capitol Hill allies have long pushed for an explicit congressional Armenian genocide resolution.
With the help of successive U.S. presidents, fearful of the diplomatic consequences, Turkish officials have resisted the genocide resolution efforts.
The Turkish Coalition of America was founded in 2007. It sponsors educational and other programs boosting Turkey, including the trips to Turkey sponsored for members of Congress and staff and scholarships for students.
The Coalition offers more information at www.turkishcoalition.org/.
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