Ertugrul Ozkok: The very thing I feared has happened: the Armenian conference cancelled

I wanted to write today about how I was going to set up a little protest table outside the doors of the conference hall at Bosphorus University. Not to worry, it wasn't going to be a violent protest. Just something where I handed out sheets explaining my view. Something that would maybe make it to the hands of the speakers gathered to air their opinions against the "government's official stance" on Armenian genocide claims. It was one of France's most popular magazines: "Le Petit Journal." One of the best selling magazines in France towards the end of the 19th century. Since photography use was limited in those days, the front cover of the magazine was always adorned with hand-drawn pictures. The November 24, 1895 issue of "Le Petit Journal" has a cover which shows a group of people with guns attacking another group of people in front of a mosque. Underneath, the legend says: "Events in the East. Armenians attack a mosque." Not Turks attacking Armenians, but the other way around.  ***** Some intellectuals, writers, and journalists were going to come together today at Bosphorus University. They were going to discuss, in their own words "their view in opposition of the government's official stance" on the Armenian genocide claims. I am not sure exactly what they were going to argue out. Since they almost all believe that the Turks slaughtered the Armenians. As far as they are concerned, the official view of the government is "No, we didn't slaughter the Armenians."  I think an academic organization is required not to stick itself in the middle of "true believers" of any kind. But now my deepest fears about this conference have come true. Because the moment the "anti-official historians" receive the slightest criticism, their response is "Are you trying to quiet us down?" All we want to do is discuss things. But really discuss. Not air our "true beliefs."  There might be a few people in Yerevan who have come out against the "official Armenian view." But its not that easy there. Just for writing news from Yerevan for a Turkish newspaper, an Armenian writer there got 10 years in prison for "treason." I wonder if the conference was going to mention the recent Swiss prosecutor's attempt to silence the head of the Turkish History Society.  Anyway, what we feared has come true, and the conference has been delayed. The conference participants reached their goal though-Turkey lost again. Because from today on, no one will listen to Turkey's reasonable majority. The voice of the monotone chorus will only go higher and higher. And we will return to our corners full of the same complexes.  Too bad. It is really a very big mistake.  If we had all listened together to the monotone chorus emanating from Bosphorus University, it could have been really helpful. Â