Turkish
Community's warnings are falling on deaf ears
Has it become the new Canadian policy to condone
hatred?
While proudly identifying Canada as a world leader in multicultural
policy and assuming the role of one of the most democratic nations
on the topic, Canadian federal and provincial parliaments continue
to ignore the seeds of hate and racism being planted against the
Turkish community.
Quebec provincial
parliament and government, relying solely on one-sided information
and disregarding the Turkish community's requests to be heard, went
ahead and recognized April 24 as the day of the so-called Armenian
Genocide (Bizim Anadolu, January 15, 2004). In fact, April 24 is
the date when Armenian terrorists in Istanbul were arrested by the
Ottoman government of the time, and sent to other towns of the empire
inside Anatolia.
Subsequently,
on April 21, 2004, Canadian Federal Parliament, also refusing to
listen to the concerns of Turkish Canadians before coming to a decision,
proceeded to accept the war-time national security measures of the
Ottoman Empire, the examples of which have been witnessed throughout
the history everywhere, as the "Armenian Genocide" (Bizim
Anadolu, May 15, 2004). Furthermore, Canadian government, from the
mouth of the Prime Minister Stephen Harper, declared the dirty aggressions
that took place in Anatolia in 1915, the rightful struggle of Turks
to defend their homeland against the invading armies and the rebellion
of Armenians, as a "genocide."
Publicly-funded
broadcasters such as the CBC and Radio Canada, dismissing the wish
of the Turkish Community to voice their concerns on the topics that
are of great interest to them, commit discrimination and racism
on their radio and television programs with one-sided theories.
These programs incite hate against the Turkish Canadians, slander
their history and ancestry, and condemn Turkish people in the public
opinion of the Canadians at large.
Canadian schools,
making exclusive use of the biased narratives of another ethnic
community, attempt to give the students inaccurate information and
teach our children untruthful versions of history (Bizim Anadolu,
January 15 / February 15 2008). In public meetings related to this
issue, while the other side is allowed to make extensive one-sided
presentations using false documents, Turkish Canadians are either
excluded altogether, or the rights of representatives of the Turkish
community are cut short. Requests made on behalf of the Turkish
community to meet with the school officials and government ministers
are either denied or ignored completely.
Turkish Canadian
students are exposed to insults, threats and bullying of the children
of an ethnic community who chooses to raise their youth with feelings
of hatred and racism. Having passed legislations and recognitions
that promote bias, Canadian parliaments and governments allow and
enable such hatred and discrimination to take place in schools.
Members of the
Turkish community, who only wish to live in peace, harmony and safety,
without being subjected to racist attacks, discrimination, hate
and harassment, are asking the top politicians and officials in
Canada to listen to their voices.
Every year,
as April 24 approaches, hate propaganda intensifies in the form
of inflammatory and provocative posters in various public places
including universities. This kind of animosity greatly worries Turkish
Canadians and they feel that their well-being and their children's
future, even in a multicultural society like Canada, is at risk.
Members of the Turkish community of Canada are asking Canadian authorities
to remember that they too are citizens of this country and to put
an end to this perpetual seeding of hatred against them.
Don't you think
they have every right to demand this?
Notre Anatolie
April 2008
Old editorials:
Open Letter to the President of The National
Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada
Instead of hate, try understanding and
tolerance
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