10/26/2007 12:46:37 PM EST

The Young Turks...From an Armenian's Perspective.

posted by AnaKasparian

There's nothing like getting threatening and hateful emails from my Armenian counterparts. My absolute favorite emails include those that pose the question, "How can you work for the people who orchestrated the Armenian Genocide?"

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Here's the thing, I have not let one angry Armenian email go unanswered. But my fingers are sore from writing back to those who have never watched or listened to "The Young Turks," and just assume we promote hate and genocide on the radio. Do you really think the FCC would permit something like that on national airwaves? Let's be realistic here!

Here is my advice to you: It's usually a good idea to do your research before accusing someone of anything offensive. But in this case I can understand how a name like "The Young Turks" can turn Armenians off to the show. I was raised like most traditional Armenian girls. I read Armenian, write Armenian, speak Armenian, cook, dance, and BREATHE Armenian every single day. I don't need a long explanation of what happened to the Armenians in 1915. I know about the Genocide, I don't support those who deny it, and I'm not a "self-hating moron," as some of my fine Armenian friends have claimed.

The truth is, The Young Turks is an awesome political commentary show on Air America Radio. Discussion about the Armenian Genocide is rare, and even in that case the show doesn't talk about denying how the genocide happened. We spend our time bashing the Bush Administration, talking about the latest in entertainment, and we even dabble with offbeat news...not Armenians. We talk about contemporary politics, and have a damn good time doing it!

This is my career and I make the decisions. "I'm the decision maker." (Bush, 2007) So stop hating, and do your homework on the show!

If Cenk ever said something offensive about Armenians or the genocide, I wouldn't be working for The Young Turks. The fact of the matter is, Cenk doesn't have anything negative to say about Armenians. He hired me, Anahit Misak Kasparian, and treats me with respect. That's all that matters.

I love listener feedback, but I don't love reading messages from people who are so blinded by their own pride that they can't look past the name of a show. Watch or listen to the show, and if you still think we promote hate toward the Armenians, shoot me an email. I would love to read it!

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The Young Turks...From an Armenian's Perspective. | 12 comments (12 topical, 0 hidden)
Copy and paste is your friend, Ana. (none / 0)
Always remember that when it comes to those emails.

So are we, of course.

by jarett on 10/26/2007 05:55:39 PM EST

Maybe (none / 0)
Maybe they don't like that an Armenian works for a Turk?

by acroso on 10/26/2007 07:43:14 PM EST

I must have missed it? (none / 0)
One of the major issues in Congress this week was a Democrat proposal to condemn Turkey for the Armenian genocide in 1915. I don't know how much this issue was discussed on The Young Turks, but I missed the entire conversation.

This measure has widespread support among Democrats and the kook fringe liberal blogosphere. Needless to say, Republicans are very much oppossed.

Never mind that there was a similar resolution passed in the 1980s. The timing of this action is imbecilic. It attacks one of America's best allies in the War Against Nutty Islamic Guys.

This represents yet another attempt by Democrats to overtly damage America's position in the War on al Qaeda. The list of traitorous acts is mounting, and history will not be kind to Democrats.

Cenk, I'm talking directly to you. You are an expert on this issue. Where is your outrage?


by KenTX on 10/27/2007 06:11:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]
wrong link (none / 0)
Sorry, inserted the wrong link.

Link #1

Link #2

Link #3

by KenTX on 10/27/2007 06:18:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Leave it to Ken (none / 0)

Always spreading the right wing propaganda and ignoring the facts.

But the House resolution declaring the World War I-era killings of Armenians a genocide is only one cause -- and that's just a sideshow. Turkish-American relations have been deteriorating for years, and the root explanation is simple and harsh: Washington's policies are broadly and fundamentally incompatible with Turkish foreign policy interests in multiple arenas.

See? We keep making these messes in Turkey's back yard and leaving them to clean it up.

Nice try again though. 

by z1p101 on 10/28/2007 12:38:24 PM EST

[ Parent ]
right wing propaganda? (none / 0)
I posted three articles from the Washington Post, the UK Guardian, and MSNBC. Not exactly right wing sources.

The articles said that Turkey is very angry at America over Democrat-sponsored resolutions condeming Turkey for the 1915 Armenian massacre. There have already been two previous congressional resolutions on the same subject.

Republicans have no problem with Armenians. In fact, Armenian-Americans are overwhelmingly Republican. Ask Anna.

But the timing of this latest resolution is obvious. Democrats are just trying to stir the pot in the region.
 
I'll admit that I learned about this development on the Rush Limbaugh show, but it came from Armenian-Americans calling the show to complain that Democrats were actively trying to undermine recent progress in the Kurdistan region with a cheap stunt.

by KenTX on 10/28/2007 02:08:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]
No (none / 0)

We have real problems with Turkey right now and it started waaaaay before the Democrat-sponsored resolution. You are trying to state that everything would be just fine if it wasn't for that resolution which is the propaganda BS.

See what I mean?

TEHRAN, Oct. 28 (MNA) -- President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said here on Sunday that the nations of Iran, Turkey, and Iraq are “friends and brothers.”

Read my links Ken. 

by z1p101 on 10/28/2007 02:44:35 PM EST

[ Parent ]
"Read my links Ken." (none / 0)
I read your link, and it was an opinion piece from the LA Times. The writer had a biased viewpoint, so his opinion means nothing to me.

Answer this question. Since Congress has already passed resolutions condemning Turkey for the Armenian genocide, why are Democrats trying to create another issue at this inconvenient time? Are they trying to cause more problems in the region? 

I think you know the answer, but you don't care. This makes you a prototypical Democrat.

by KenTX on 10/28/2007 04:27:30 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Opinion page or not (none / 0)

I can find the historical facts backing everyone of those opinions. It is true, Turkey was not comfortable with us invading Iraq because they knew that it would create a Kurd problem for them and so did we. Don't believe me, ask him.

"Since Congress has already passed resolutions condemning Turkey for the Armenian genocide, why are Democrats trying to create another issue at this inconvenient time? Are they trying to cause more problems in the region?"

It actually has to do with those "pesky" constituents. You know, that whole people pressuring their elected leader thing.

The Massachusetts Democrat's suburban Boston congressional district has a large Armenian-American population, centered in Watertown, that has long been passionate about the issue.

But the Democrats have dropped it for now, haven't they?

And yes, the main reason Turkey is still pissed with us is because we dropped this whole Kurdish problem in their back yard and we have no way of cleaning it up.

That's right Ken, when the facts fail to make your case, start making stuff up. That makes you the prototypical neo con. 

by z1p101 on 10/28/2007 04:50:44 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Don't worry (none / 1)
"Maybe they don't like that an Armenian works for a Turk?"

Don't worry; Ana's in her early 20's. If "they" listened to the show, they'd know that Cenk will probably be working for Ana someday.

by Dogger on 10/27/2007 10:06:31 AM EST

hmmm... (none / 0)
and why are those armenians sending those hateful e-mails?

by azmhyr on 05/16/2008 01:08:55 PM EST

Ana,perspective from an Armenian who watches.. (none / 0)
Ana, Im Armenian and I watch the show on a regular basis. Obviously im not a big fan on the name, but it doesnt really matter. The show is great, funny, and interesting. You also make the show way better. Cenk has never said anything deamening to Armenians (from the time i started watchin way back in 2007)...His point of view on the genocide is my only concern (i've read articles about him denying it,then ive seen the video of him at the "Turks for Obama" event in which he also denies it,but this last time you guys talked about the protocols, he seemed more open minded),but that has nothing to do with you obviously. Keep up the good work and never leave the show!

by goldenshots on 10/28/2009 12:26:05 AM EST

The Young Turks...From an Armenian's Perspective. | 12 comments (12 topical, 0 hidden)
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