What do you think?
Rate this book
The Armenians in history and the Armenian question
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 16, 2013
Esat Uras' book is a big one (1000+ pages). Some parts were very dry and tedious to read, I wanted to sleep.
Uras' is a Turkish author who wrote his book in 1988. Obviously he is denying the Armenian genocide and taking a minority position. He goes on to argue that position for the next 1000 pages.
His main argument can be summarized: that during the so called "genocide" or "death marches" of 1915 the Turks were facing a double fronted war (Britain on the West, and Russia on the East) because of this the Armenians (who were living comfortable, serene and even successful lives under the Ottomans) saw fit a rebellion (because of the "lies" fed to them mainly by the Russians)against Turkish people. On page 119 Uras actually argues that the Armenians practiced open warfare, raped and killed Turkish Moslem citizens. He argues that the "genocide" was just because the Armenians were first to rebel.
Not to make matters long, Uras has some good points that he makes but doesn't provide an ounce of documentation (whether eye-witness, which would be the strongest evidence or source citations). In 1000+ pages he has only 5 footnotes.
He is also very big on the propaganda that Armenians create in order to have the "genocide" be recognized.
I disagree with the main tenet of his thesis but can agree to certain facts. Reading some other material has made this clear.
If you want to by pass the 1000 page book, this article will do. http://www.tallarmeniantale.com/Armen.... In my opinion this 20 page article does a better job than Uras' big book.
However neither Uras or Celik interact with "Ambassador Morgenthaus Eyewitness Story" (found here: http://www.amazon.com/Ambassador-Morg...)
This is by far the best (American) eye witness account of the genocide or death marches noted!
I wish to see more historical accounts from both sides of the debate, and don't want to simply acquiesce to all the arguments from the Armenian side. I believe 95% of Armenians believe that the genocide occurred because their parents told them or because everyone else believes it. We need to go where the facts lead, and not be sheep led by sheep.
Uras' is a Turkish author who wrote his book in 1988. Obviously he is denying the Armenian genocide and taking a minority position. He goes on to argue that position for the next 1000 pages.
His main argument can be summarized: that during the so called "genocide" or "death marches" of 1915 the Turks were facing a double fronted war (Britain on the West, and Russia on the East) because of this the Armenians (who were living comfortable, serene and even successful lives under the Ottomans) saw fit a rebellion (because of the "lies" fed to them mainly by the Russians)against Turkish people. On page 119 Uras actually argues that the Armenians practiced open warfare, raped and killed Turkish Moslem citizens. He argues that the "genocide" was just because the Armenians were first to rebel.
Not to make matters long, Uras has some good points that he makes but doesn't provide an ounce of documentation (whether eye-witness, which would be the strongest evidence or source citations). In 1000+ pages he has only 5 footnotes.
He is also very big on the propaganda that Armenians create in order to have the "genocide" be recognized.
I disagree with the main tenet of his thesis but can agree to certain facts. Reading some other material has made this clear.
If you want to by pass the 1000 page book, this article will do. http://www.tallarmeniantale.com/Armen.... In my opinion this 20 page article does a better job than Uras' big book.
However neither Uras or Celik interact with "Ambassador Morgenthaus Eyewitness Story" (found here: http://www.amazon.com/Ambassador-Morg...)
This is by far the best (American) eye witness account of the genocide or death marches noted!
I wish to see more historical accounts from both sides of the debate, and don't want to simply acquiesce to all the arguments from the Armenian side. I believe 95% of Armenians believe that the genocide occurred because their parents told them or because everyone else believes it. We need to go where the facts lead, and not be sheep led by sheep.
Displaying 1 of 1 review