Armenian News-NEWS.am posts the Article “Great Tragedy” by Erguna Babahan, published in Today’s Zaman newspaper.

“We grew up unaware of the deportation of Armenians and genocide allegations. We didn’t learn about these in school books. It was obvious that it was an ominous topic because it was ignored,” the daily reads.

Then the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) activities began and people in Turkey started learning bits and pieces of information about the past.

“Ever since then Turkey’s official stance has not changed: The Armenians cooperated with the Russians and rebelled. They killed unarmed people in the East, and we killed them. In other words there was no massacre but mutual killing,” the source says.

“But this story does not explain why the number of Armenians, who have been living in these lands for centuries, can be expressed in the thousands in Anatolia. In Diyarbakır, there is only one Armenian couple. Yes, that’s correct only one old couple. There is no trace of Armenians from Sivas to Kayseri. Today they live in America, France and Lebanon.”

“The current generation only has one wish; the acceptance of what their ancestors lived through. But Turkey strictly opposes this. In doing so, Turkey is protecting the Ismail Enver, Mehmet Talat and Ahmed Cemal trio that is harshly criticized in history books,” the source says.

“The tradition of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) that also devastated the people when ruining the Ottoman Empire is an ideology that has managed to survive till the current day due to the role it played in the establishment of the republic. It has affected history, the public’s role in society and attitudes toward women. In addition, a generation that was raised with clichés like “we are surrounded by enemies on all sides; they want to divide us,” has made facing the past and the truth impossible,” the daily reports.

“However, Turkey has made tremendous progress in the last 10 years. People are no longer only curious about the recent past; they also want to learn the truth about events described in school books,” the source reads.

“The memorial services held in various parts of Turkey and especially in Iİstanbul on Sunday are an indication of this desire. These events were not marginal gatherings in which only a group of leftist intellectuals participated. They were gatherings that were supported by conservative groups as well,” the daily says.

“People may not know a lot about the past, but they know that something disturbing happened in 1915. Books don’t only express the view of the official ideology anymore. Newspapers and the media, at least those with a democratic stance, are no longer being pressured. For these reasons it’s not that important what term President Obama uses every year on April 24.”

“Just as he can choose to use the term “Great Tragedy,” which pleases neither the Turks nor the Armenians, he can choose to use the term genocide, which would irritate Turks and please Armenians. What is essential is how we, the Turks, who have lived side by side with Armenians for centuries, describe the events and whether we have respect for the pain they’ve suffered,” the daily reports.

“As the beloved Dink said this is essentially a matter of conscience. People’s consciences will awaken as they learn the facts. This facing up to the facts may accelerate the pace of extending our hands to Armenians who live right next to our border under difficult conditions,” the source reads.