The Turkish are very angry about The Promise

[Here Comes Tomorrow]

I wrote a big post then the internet ate so here is the tl;dr version. Wasn't sure if this belongs here or RnP

The film "The Promise" is a drama set against the Armenian genocide commited by the Ottoman Empire and hasn't been put on general release yet.

The film has 66,000 reviews and a rating of 3.9/10 last I looked.

The films message board is filled with Turkish people denying or attempting to justify the genocide which is both sad and hilarious.

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt4776998/board?ref_=m_tt_bd

I had no idea people defended and denied it. But then it was Conan O'Brian who made me aware of it at all because no one ever talks about it.

I dunno why I made a thread about it. I just thought people should be aware of it. It.

 

[Zhukov]

Oh, this happens whenever the Armenian totally-not-a-genocide comes up in any context. The Turks have a serious chip on their shoulder about it. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Turkish escapist crawl out of the woodwork in this thread.

I personally know basically nothing about the actual history so I shall say no more.

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

Nihil novi, lots of water will have to flow til turkish people come to terms with that. Especially under current management.
Haven't seen the movie yet, but apparently it's directed by the same man that made Hotel Rwanda. Defo will have to give it a check.

 

[Saelune]

Fuck them then. I dont believe in automatically inheriting guilt just because you live in a place or whatever. Such as white people in the US being guilty of slavery cause it happened here before. But if we had pretended it never happened, then I would say we are guilty. (Just as I dont blame modern Germans for the Holocaust either) If they would just own up to it, it would absolve them as a generation. So good on you Turkey by maintaining being awful by being awful.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Fuck them then. I dont believe in automatically inheriting guilt just because you live in a place or whatever. Such as white people in the US being guilty of slavery cause it happened here before. But if we had pretended it never happened, then I would say we are guilty. (Just as I dont blame modern Germans for the Holocaust either) If they would just own up to it, it would absolve them as a generation. So good on you Turkey by maintaining being awful by being awful.

You're talking about the people that shot women with rubber bullets while they were holding a peaceful rally for greater legal protections against violence and improved working conditions.

I wouldn't be surprised if many Turks attached to the government kick puppies for fun.

 

[Neuromancer]

They can deny it all they want. It doesn't make the genocide against Pontics, Greeks, Assyrians and Armenians any less true.

The armanian genocide is a sure fire way to piss turks off, makes me wonder how on earth there's a liberal group that calls itself the young turks.

The Young Turks were a progressive force in the Ottoman Empire. They made many reforms to westernise Turkey and even played a large role in the founding of the republic. Doesn't make them any less genocidal, but explains why The Young Turks call themselves so.

 

[pookie101]

i had never heard of the promise but the moment the thread title mentioned turks going nuts... it was probably about the armenian genocide

 

[Casual Shinji]

Yeah this creeps up every so often; the Turks being all pissed off because the genocide their country at one point in history commited wasn't actually a genocide.

I'd almost forgotten it considering the current situation with turks in my country. One being of the oh-so well integrated Turkish community deciding to take the issue of the attempted coup in Turkey and drag it over here to the Netherlands cuz fucking reasons.

Legitimate question: Has any other country had to deal with turks losing their shit over this, or is it just mine?

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Yeah this creeps up every so often; the Turks being all pissed off because the genocide their country at one point in history commited wasn't actually a genocide.

I'd almost forgotten it considering the current situation with turks in my country. One being of the oh-so well integrated Turkish community deciding to take the issue of the attempted coup in Turkey and drag it over here to the Netherlands cuz fucking reasons.

Legitimate question: Has any other country had to deal with turks losing their shit over this, or is it just mine?

As far as I'm aware, it's only really Erdo supporters losing their shit over recent events as his style of leadership commands an almost cultlike authoritarian stance that attracts the more close-minded types.

OT: Haven't heard of the film till now, might go watch. Not surprised there are many over-defensive reactions, any criticism has to be crushed and fought tirelessly to maintain a sense of righteousness to those far into blind loyal support.

 

[Zontar]

The Young Turks were a progressive force in the Ottoman Empire. They made many reforms to westernise Turkey and even played a large role in the founding of the republic. Doesn't make them any less genocidal, but explains why The Young Turks call themselves so.

Hitler also rebuilt the economy of Germany, and created the first modern highway system a full two decades before anyone else. One can make the argument the national socialists where also a progressive force in that regard, yet no one would have the audacity to use the title without knowing what people would think they where talking about.

 

[Level 7 Dragon]

Having been in Armenia a year ago, I can safely say that it's still a pretty big deal and drives resentment between the two nations to this day. There were billboards and memorials to the victims of the tragedy everywhere, it was horrifying.

I can even say that the event still influences the geopolitical situation in the region to this day. One of the reasons why Armenia allied itself with Russia and had a controntational attitude with the West is the genocide. The States to this day is even afraid of using the word, as it may offend one of the most important NATO members.

Yeah, the entire event is till messed up. It would be great if both nations launched a rehabilitation program, bur we all know that this is unlikely.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Yeah this creeps up every so often; the Turks being all pissed off because the genocide their country at one point in history commited wasn't actually a genocide.

I'd almost forgotten it considering the current situation with turks in my country. One being of the oh-so well integrated Turkish community deciding to take the issue of the attempted coup in Turkey and drag it over here to the Netherlands cuz fucking reasons.

Legitimate question: Has any other country had to deal with turks losing their shit over this, or is it just mine?

As far as I'm aware, it's only really Erdo supporters losing their shit over recent events as his style of leadership commands an almost cultlike authoritarian stance that attracts the more close-minded types.

Yeah, but that seems to be the majority of them. The Turkish government is infamous for trying to exert influence over turks living abroad. So does Morocco for that matter. Remember that german comedian who roasted Erdogan and sparked an international crisis? Right after that the Turkish government asked turks in other nations to pass on any insults those countries' citizens directed at Erdogan over to them.

OT: Haven't heard of the film till now, might go watch. Not surprised there are many over-defensive reactions, any criticism has to be crushed and fought tirelessly to maintain a sense of righteousness to those far into blind loyal support.

You should check out the youtube comments on the trailer (of the trailers that don't have them disabled). It's fucking scary stuff. Everything from 'Propaganda!', 'Lies!' to 'We didn't kill you, but we should have.' and 'We should've killed all of you when we had the chance.'

 

[Neuromancer]

The Young Turks were a progressive force in the Ottoman Empire. They made many reforms to westernise Turkey and even played a large role in the founding of the republic. Doesn't make them any less genocidal, but explains why The Young Turks call themselves so.

Hitler also rebuilt the economy of Germany, and created the first modern highway system a full two decades before anyone else. One can make the argument the national socialists where also a progressive force in that regard, yet no one would have the audacity to use the title without knowing what people would think they where talking about.

I do not see how economic reforms have anything to do with progressive thinking.

Not to mention that the comparison between the Young Turks and the Nazis is inaccurate. The only thing they have in common is ultranationalism and genocidal tendencies. The Young Turks sought the abolition of monarchy, secularization of the state, and the creation of a constitutional republic. In that regard, they were progressive.

Turks deny the Armenian genocide, and thus do not see the negatives of the organisation. To Turks, Young Turks are synonymous with progressives, revolutionaries and radicals. Consindering how the youtube channel claims to be 'leftist' and 'progressive', one can see the connection.

Does that mean that they are ignorant, or at least feign ignorance, of the full asssociations made with the original Young Turks? More than likely. But then again, given how the network itself loves to cherry pick its stories and only provides one very particular point of view while also systematically dismissing anything else, I can't help but not be surprised about the name choice, and find it very ironic in that regard.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Of course they are.

There's little shame in one's nation having done something wrong many years ago. There is a great deal of shame if you deny it or try to prevent the same or repercussions today.

 

[Satinavian]

Legitimate question: Has any other country had to deal with turks losing their shit over this, or is it just mine?

Germany too.

Although relations were really bad even before the coup with ambassadors called home, German MPs being forbidden entrance, Germany "considering" abandoning Nato-deployment to protect Turkey with the Syria stuff and Erdogan calling German gouvernemnt members with turkish roots traitors for not making German Politics to his liking.
The coup and that many Germans were really slow condemning it didn't help but didn't make it much worse either.

 

[happyninja42]

But if we had pretended it never happened, then I would say we are guilty.

No, they are still not guilty, they are just wrong/deluded/misinformed/in denial. There is a difference.

The armanian genocide is a sure fire way to piss turks off, makes me wonder how on earth there's a liberal group that calls itself the young turks.

The Young Turks were a progressive force in the Ottoman Empire. They made many reforms to westernise Turkey and even played a large role in the founding of the republic. Doesn't make them any less genocidal, but explains why The Young Turks call themselves so.

Considering that at least by Wikipedia the young Turks had a big part in commiting the armenian genocide isn't this like having an animals rights group calling themselves "The national socialist party"?

More like a group that kills animals in large numbers calling themselves People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

 

[Sonmi]

Turks denying the genocide again, what else is new?

 

[Catnip1024]

The Turks get wound up over anything (e.g. Radiohead). No sense of humour, a cult of personality around a crazy dictator who is trying to instil nationalistic pride and who would probably attempt genocide on the Kurds if he thought he could get away with it. Of course they are getting shouty.

Considering that at least by Wikipedia the young Turks had a big part in commiting the armenian genocide isn't this like having an animals rights group calling themselves "The national socialist party"?

Sorry to be picky (I can't help myself), but the Nazi's weren't actually that bad to animals. It was the humans they screwed over.