Today’s Zaman
28.08.2007
NICOLE POPE <[email protected]>[email protected] om
Columnists
Shelving history
Have you ever watched "Life Laundry"? This BBC reality show involves a team
of experts in clutter management swooping in on houses rendered almost
unusable by their owners’ pathological hoarding.
The show’s appeal lies in the fact that it strikes a chord in many of us.
Although outwardly the purpose is to help the show’s participants manage and
store their possessions more efficiently, it is really about freeing them
psychologically from the weight of their past.
We may not all be accumulating rubbish to that extent, but we can sympathize
with the tears of the willing victims forced to shed junk which, for reasons
known only to themselves, they perceive as an invaluable part of their
personal history. After all, we all go through life carrying a certain
amount of emotional baggage.
As Turkey once again pulled out all the diplomatic stops in its latest
attempt to block recognition of the Armenian massacres as genocide — this
time by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) — it occurred to me that countries
too could benefit from the "life laundry" treatment.
Few nations in the world are not burdened with a heavy past. Germany is
still coming to terms with the Nazi period, Britain and France with their
colonial past, while South Africa is struggling with the more recent legacy
of apartheid and racism. Even neutral Switzerland had to admit that it owed
some of its wealth to assets looted from Jews during World War II.
Countries may not be weighed down by possessions in the same way as
individuals, but they too can be hindered in their progress if they get
stuck in the past. The way they come to terms with events that happened in
earlier periods helps them not only put ancient issues to rest, but it is
also often the key to solving problems they face in the present.
In Turkey’s case, an official perception that non-Muslim minorities, as well
as non-Turkish or non-Sunni groups, were the tools of the country’s enemies
still colors the way they are seen today. When the head of the Turkish
Historical Society (TKK) refers to Alevi Kurdish citizens as being
"unfortunately of Armenian origin," it is easy to see that the past is still
clouding the present.
The Armenian issue has been a ball and chain to Turkey for decades. Much
diplomatic energy that could have been spent forging strong ties has been
spent warning friends and foes off the "genocide" word. The Armenian
diaspora deserves blame for turning the issue into a political arm’s
wrestling match, but it is also increasingly obvious that Turkey’s strategy
to contain the problem has not been successful. Spillage from Ankara’s
bulging historical cupboards is increasingly hard to contain.
As Turkey debates a new constitution, it needs to redefine the concept of
citizenship more broadly to embrace citizens of all ethnic and religious
origins. The Armenian question not only affects relations with many of
Turkey’s diplomatic allies, but also ties between the state and its own
non-Muslim citizens. A similar lack of trust has so far prevented a
constructive approach to the notion of Kurdish rights.
An open discussion on citizenship could be the start of a broader effort to
sweep away some historical cobwebs. Facing the past head-on would allow
ancient events, good and bad, to be shelved in their proper place. It would
free Turkey to move forward with greater confidence, in control of the past
rather than hobbled by it.
28.08.2007
Source: berno=120504
From: Baghdasarian