Dolf's Blog
Integral thoughts about development, humanity, spirituality
Istanbul
20 October 2006
Orhan Pamuk won the Nobel Literature Prize! I am happy because he loves Istanbul at least as much as I do (= a lot) and has the guts to open his mouth about politically sensitive issues in Turkey (viz. the Armenian Genocide). Even the Turkish government was happy, but mainly because it was good for attention to Turkey. As if everything serves to attract tourists to the country.. In any case: I don't consider the Armenian issue to be proven to be a genocide. Genocide requires a premeditated plan and historians like Bernard Lewis and Donald Quataert, who are authorities on Turkish History, are not even convinced that the tragedy (which it obviously was) was premeditated. Long live Orhan Pamuk and Istanbul!
