The AP reports today on the death of death of well respected Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was gunned down outside his newspaper on Friday. Significant as an outspoken critic of the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century, and a formidable proponent of free speech. Yet his tragic demise might help bring hope and healing to a long standing rift:
Amid the grieving, there were signs his funeral might become a catalyst for easing the antagonism between Turks and the dwindling ethnic Armenian minority.
The crowds marched along a five-mile route from Agos to an Armenian Orthodox church in one of the biggest funerals ever held in the city. They carried placards that read, "We are all Armenians" in Turkish and Armenian.
In a rare demonstration of free speech rights and reconciliation for the region:
Despite a request from his family not to turn the funeral into a protest, mourners raised their fists and shouted: "Shoulder to shoulder against fascism!" and "Murderer 301!" — a reference to the freedom-curbing Turkish law that was used to prosecute Dink and others on charges of insulting "Turkishness."
Which leads to this superbly optimistic yet not impossible conclusion:
The liberal outpouring, if it gains momentum, could have significant implications for democratic movements in the Islamic world, where demonstrations against terrorism and other violence have been muted.
And there lies the crux of the article, and my purpose/argument for this diary, which is many-fold. For one, there is hope for Democratic freedom in the Islamic world. Secondly, the only means toward this end ABSOLUTELY MUST come INTERNALLY from the people themselves, and not from any OUTSIDE sources (see U.S. invades Iraq, conflict still growing after 4 years). One cannot impose revolution upon a different civilization. Now this theme is nothing new and these ideas have been discussed in detail on here and elsewhere. I think it's particularly important to highlight however, that the rudiments of a truly progressive movement do exist and should be highlighted, encouraged, and nurtured through positive press and nonviolent support.
If you think about it, in many ways this also speaks volumes to the power, ability, and strength of our (progressive/liberal party). The so called, "liberals," whose definition might change somewhat depending on context are still unified in their belief in basic freedoms, fairness, and rights for all. Obviously this a concept Bush and his party still manage to miss at every turn. How can one possibly expect to lead by example when all this administration has succeeded in doing is limiting rights and shrinking liberties here at home, and then somehow expecting to 'force' others to abide by some ill-defined rule of law, all under the pretense of 'spreading' Democracy. I have said many times before that one cannot evangelize Democracy, something the radical right has not figured out for all their losses and failures.
But examples like the one mentioned in the article do provide the foundation and the necessary focal point, that these people too want to be free, and they bear the responsibility for realizing that dream:
"Seventeen or 27, whoever he was, the murderer was once a baby," she told mourners. "Unless we can question the darkness that turned this baby into a murderer, we cannot achieve anything."
In a service attended by Armenians and Turks, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II called for expanded freedom of speech.
"It is unacceptable to judge and imprison someone because of his thoughts, let alone to kill him," Mesrob said, weeping during his eulogy.
"It is mystical that his funeral turned into an occasion where Armenian and Turkish officials gathered together," Mesrob said.
Indeed we do need to question that darkness, a darkness we ourselves are not devoid of. And it's especially empowering and relevant (as contributors/members of DailyKos) to note that a journalist with an ideal was able to accomplish what an (ill-conceived) U.S. military operation was not - the peaceful merging of hostile peoples in the Islamic world. Now of course the situation in Iraq is far different, and there is so much further to go, but events like this should not (I dare say) be understated.