Watertown High Students Respond to Turkish Consul Letter to Globe

WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—On March 26, students in Watertown High School’s Armenian-language class drafted a “Letter to the Editor” to the Boston Globe in response to another letter published by the paper on March 20. Authored by Omur Budak, the consul general of Turkey in Boston, the letter, titled “Myopic View of Complex Episode Hurts Turkish-Armenian Relations,” was written in response to best-selling novelist Chris Bohjalian’s op-ed in the paper, titled “Why Does Turkey Continue to Deny Armenian Genocide?” published on March 9.
In his letter, Budak harshly criticized Bohjalian, arguing that his view of history was “myopic” and “problematic.”
“Chris Bohjalian disregards a deep history of 800 years of coexistence, cultural tolerance, friendship, and mutual respect between the two nations, and turns a blind eye to the very complex nature of this issue,” wrote Budak.
“The radicals among the Armenian diaspora are intolerant toward any different opinion. Their narrative, based on demonizing and disrespecting memories of millions of Turks, categorically labels any fair attempt to accurately understand this period as denial. Yet, contrary to Bohjalian’s opinion, there is neither political, legal, nor academic consensus on the description of the events of 1915,” wrote Budak, in a passage referenced by the students.
“To call the Armenian Genocide of 1915 a ‘complicated episode’ during World War I and to claim that those who acknowledge the genocide are ‘radicals’ is shameful,” wrote the students, adding that the Turkish government “seeks to create artificial controversy and confusion regarding an established historical event.”
The students ended their letter with the following: “To invite world leaders to the Gallipoli commemoration on April 24—Armenian Genocide Memorial Day—is truly, in Chris Bohjalian’s words, ‘appalling’ and exceedingly ‘offensive.’”
The Globe has not published the students’ letter, which is reprinted in full below.

Students’ letter
March 26, 2015
Dear Editor,
We are writing in response to Turkish Consul S. Omur Budak’s letter of March 20 (“Myopic View of Complex Episode Hurts Turkish-Armenian Relations”). To call the Armenian Genocide of 1915 a “complicated episode” during World War I and to claim that those who acknowledge the genocide are “radicals” is shameful. The Turkish government uses tactics similar to Holocaust deniers, and it seeks to create artificial controversy and confusion regarding an established historical event.
The Armenian Genocide, like the Holocaust, is a thoroughly documented fact. The International Association of Genocide Scholars, the leading group of experts on Holocaust and Genocide studies, unanimously declared in 1997 that “The mass murder of Armenians in Turkey in 1915 is a case of genocide which conforms to the statutes of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide.” They also condemned the Turkish government’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.
In addition, 126 leading scholars of the Holocaust, including Elie Wiesel, placed a statement in the New York Times in June 2000 affirming the “incontestable fact of the Armenian Genocide.”
Contrary to Mr. Budak’s claims, the historical record and proof of the Armenian Genocide is unambiguous and documented by overwhelming evidence.
To invite world leaders to the Gallipoli commemoration on April 24—Armenian Genocide Memorial Day—is truly, in Chris Bohjalian’s words, “appalling” and exceedingly “offensive.”

Armenian Language Class Students
Watertown High School
50 Columbia Street
Watertown MA 02472

Budak letter
Budak’s letter, “Myopic View of Complex Episode Hurts Turkish-Armenian Relations,” as published by the Boston Globe, follows.

RE “TURKEY’S denial” (Op-ed, March 9): The opinion offered regarding this complicated episode of World War I, in which millions of Ottoman citizens of all religions and ethnicities vastly suffered, only discourages current relations between Turks and Armenians.
Chris Bohjalian disregards a deep history of 800 years of coexistence, cultural tolerance, friendship, and mutual respect between the two nations, and turns a blind eye to the very complex nature of this issue.
The radicals among the Armenian diaspora are intolerant toward any different opinion. Their narrative, based on demonizing and disrespecting memories of millions of Turks, categorically labels any fair attempt to accurately understand this period as denial. Yet, contrary to Bohjalian’s opinion, there is neither political, legal, nor academic consensus on the description of the events of 1915.
Turkey fully understands and respectfully recognizes the sufferings of Armenians. As publicly stated by President Recep Erdogan on April 23, 2014, we hope that our peoples, who share similar customs and manners, will be able to remember together their losses in a decent way. The spirit of the age necessitates looking for ways to build a common future beneficial to all, rather than living in the disputable memories of the past.
Bohjalian’s views on the Battle of Gallipoli commemorations are problematic as well. April 25 is traditionally observed as Anzac Day, a day of war remembrance for Australians and New Zealanders, and the day prior has been established as an international day of remembrance for more than a decade in Turkey for the joint ceremonies held jointly by what were once enemy states. This joint commemoration epitomizes not only the great sufferings and losses of all nations, but also constitutes a vivid example of the spirit of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative undertaken by Turkey and Spain.
Our desire to share in the pain, to heal the wounds, and to re-establish friendship between Turks and Armenians remains sincere.
Omur Budak
Consul general of Turkey in Boston