University of Texas – The Daily Texan, TX
March 26 2007

Lectures examine Ottoman influence in 21st century
Empire’s history, policy actively inform today’s multicultural world

By Josh Haney
Though rumors of the Turkish population being lecherous and violent
barbarians were widely accepted through most of the 19th and 20th
centuries, the lectures given at the Joe C. Thompson Conference
Center this weekend depicted a considerate population that made
noticeable efforts to reach out to people of all religious and ethnic
backgrounds.

Professors and researchers from around the world convened at the
center this past weekend for a symposium examining the historical
diversity and tolerance of the Ottoman Empire.

"These principles, which go back to the prototypical Islamic
community, constitute the Ottoman spirit and could productively
inform the multicultural world of the 21st century," said Bernadette
Andrea, chair of the Department of English, Classics and Philosophy
from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Proof of their efforts can be seen in the Ottoman policies regarding
the employment of Christians in high positions and the implementation
of certain Byzantine organizational techniques, said Linda Darling,
an associate history professor from the University of Arizona.

Not all who attended the conference shared the perspective that the
Turks valued diversity to the extent that the lecturers reported.
Taleen Asadourian, a Plan II Honors senior, said the Turkish
government sponsored deportation of the Armenian population and
killed more than 1 million people.

"This was a very productive dialogue that we had here this weekend,"
said Rasul Iskander, a biology senior. "It is very important to look
to the past and learn from it. Over time, things get politicized, and
these things can become barriers between communication."