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With and Without Hrant

[July 2, 2007]

In Armenia, Hrant's heroic death came as a shock and generated much pride as well as envy. The most widespread emotion of all that it caused was amazement – what a public reaction, what a funeral. And since what took place in Istanbul was beyond the realm of any comprehension for those in Armenia, they attempted to describe events based on what they did know. Hrant once said, “ Everyone defends what they know”, and I countered with, “Even more so, what they don't know”.

It would be of some interest to understand whom this man was whose death brought some 200,000 people out into the streets shouting, “We are all Hrant” and “We are all Armenians”. People, who soon forgot about the reasons for what happened, started opining about the consequences.

1. Those with a direct understanding said, “ Look at how many Armenians there are in Istanbul”.
2. The progressives “ realized” they were Turks but fake ones. “ Look at the games these people are playing”.
3. Those who traveled to Turkey to attend the funeral returned with the following explanation. “They were the representatives of the minorities but there were some Turks attending as well”.
4. There were no small number who also commented, “Didn't I say Turks were better than Armenians?”

By the way, other than those from the Republic of Armenia (ROA), the only other people in the whole world who were amazed at the turn of events were those who organized the killing in the first place. Even they were surprised by the reaction to Hrant's killing despite the fact that they had egged the killer on by saying that Hrant was the Mustafa Kemal Attaturk of the Armenians and that by killing Hrant he would become a hero. If they could only have imagined for a moment the huge silent crowd that filled Halaskyargaz Street and the pain felt for just one journalist, perhaps they would have thought of another way to remove Hrant.

“Were they really sincere?” was the doubt raised from those from Armenia and I've since come to easily accept their lack of understanding. Indeed, if they had known Hrant they wouldn't pose such a question. Rather they'd drown themselves in tears and flock to Istanbul, to the very doorstep where the Armenian journalist, who amazed the world with his courage, didn't reach. His bravery didn't stop at the taboos and we're not only talking about the genocide issue but human rights in general, one of which is knowing the truth. In 1996, based on his right to speak the truth, he founded the “Agos” weekly and continuously for 10 years defended the Armenian community from the slander and vitriol directed at it. At the same time he shed light on those pages of history that had remained in the dark till then. In a word he illuminated. In Turkish, an intellectual is called enlightened. What do Armenians from the ROA know about Turkey or Turkish-Armenians whom they call diasporan Armenians, a term which I can't accept since in comparison to a Turkish-Armenian we in the ROA are also diasporan to a certain degree. They keep asking me, “Was it a real funeral?” My answer is directed to all of Armenia. “Yes, it was real, as real as Hrant was, although in the annals of Armenian history he was unique. As real as Malatya, where Hrant was born. His last name was a truly Armenian, and not a name of one of the neighborhoods in Yerevan. It's so Armenian that Armenians today don't even know what it means (Dink is the millstone where bulghur is ground). As real as the land that he loved, not for the bounty it gave but because the bones of his forefathers rested there.

Hrant never tired of reminding people that Armenians had been living on these lands for 4000 years, which is probably the number of years needed for someone like Hrant to be born. He was a receptacle in which was concentrated the knowledge, conscience, optimism and love of peace that was passed down over the ages and which was reflected in a fashion uniquely his own. Audacity was another of his attributes that no force could restrain since it was based on the power of love. His patriotism led him to engage in true democracy. He realized that love of one's country did not translate into despising another or viewing it as the enemy. And what about the events of 1915? That's more of an issue for them, not us. Rather than exerting pressure from outside and within, it would be more productive to enlighten and increase the number of those who understand what transpired. Wouldn't you agree that it's more difficult as well as dangerous to confront the issue in this fashion? You're breaking down traditional modes of thought and calling into question long held stereotypes. And these preset notions are to be found on both sides. Those from Armenia rely on the same slogan at all times and merely add the number 1, thus “1,500,000 + 1”. Here's there's no room for change. In Hrant's case I'd say that it would be more appropriate to use the equal sign, thus “1,500,000 = 1”, since Hrant was far from being a naive utopian dreamer as the local media painted him. He was well aware of where he lived, the work he was engaged in and the price he might have to pay. Thus, he was racing against the clock. The average person facing the constant threat of death might put thoughts of such a possibility off for the time being and live as if tomorrow was another day. Hrant however realized that for him tomorrow might never come and that he only had today to do the work others might never achieve in several lifetimes. The fact that he was both Armenian and a citizen of Turkey helped shape his ideological parameters and this had its advantages. His perspective on the Armenian issue was not only colored in terms of black and white but included a gray zone as well; something that was unacceptable to both Turkish and Armenian national extremists. “ It is vital that the reconstitution of a shared Turkish and Armenian future not be left in the hands of such people.” This was in response to an open letter sent to Hrant Dink by Sungur Savran where he wrote “If they put a finger on you I'll die inside. Immediately I hear the following, “ Do you believe the words of a Turk? A Turk is a Turk; A Turk killed an Armenian”.

It's not the one who understands who kills, it's the person who doesn't. The person who comprehends nothing only understands hate, intolerance and death. And this person thought he indeed had killed Hrant.

•  “If they didn't kill Hrant no one would have known who he was.”

•  “By dying he accomplished much more then when he was living.”

This is also the view of those from Armenia who know little of what they speak. Let me set the record straight, “ No one from Armenia would even have mentioned Hrant had there not been such an impressive funeral. As to the above second point, it was that very funeral which proved how important Hrant was in life.” The sorrow expressed by the Turkish people shows how much he accomplished while living. He came into this world as a unique example of what one can achieve in life. The love he had for people fostered a reciprocal love. But the reverse side of all love is hate and in this case it manifested itself in all its ferocity.

Hrant's lifeless body lay on one of Istanbul's busiest thoroughfares for quite some time. When he died it's as if the street, the house and the city died as well. It seemed that the entire world became unlivable as the crowds gathered in the dark expanses no longer inhabited by Hrant. They gathered at the entrance of the Agos offices and shouted, “We are all Hrant”, which actually meant, “We are all dead as well.” If the killers felt no remorse it was those thousands at the funeral procession who experienced the pain and pangs of conscience in their stead. Hrant carried the burden of Turkey's democratization on his shoulders but all they could do was watch in silence as Hrant stood before the court and replied to its “word game” charges. What a travesty of justice...but who had the courage to stand up and raise their voice in support of Hrant. In the end, they were only able to convince Hrant don't to leave Turkey.

“Don't forget the fact that you are innocent...If you leave, the country will suffer as a result...”

“ If you leave you'll be taking the humanity of this nation with you as well...”

“If you go, you will be sentencing us to a most despicable fate...”

“I wish to apologize...While watching television another piece of my heart broke away. Dear Dink, the number of those enlightened like yourself are few in this land. Your parting would deeply wound me (since in our hearts we know you are absolutely guiltless.) As a Turk I ask your forgiveness...for all the pain we have caused you.” (Excerpts of a letter sent to Agos. October 21, 2005)

And Hrant remained. He will forever remain in this land. Waves of grief and pain washed over the road leading to his final farewell.

They were Hrant's contemporaries.

He was the best of the bunch.

Thus their time was cut short.

***

-Hrant, do you know why the sun shines?

He gives me a curious glance and tries to come up with an answer.

-Because the sun gives and gives of its own energy.

Hrant shouts out in amazement and translates for the young people present in the editorial offices who have difficulty understanding Armenian. We are there celebrating New Years and have all gathered in Hrant's private office. He treats us to a large variety of dried fruits from Malatya. Hrant has only took weeks left to live. Who would have thought or believed, that the reality of that day, of being with Hrant, would soon turn into a very unreal dream.

Dzovinar Simonyan-Lokmagyuzyan (Yerevan-Istanbul)
Photo by Onik Grigoryan