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brad6 Profile
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Regarding Genocide


 Today I happened to watch a program about genocide. this time it was the Turkish/Armenian situation near the first World War. It really happened and I have met a family who were ruined in that time.
I Remember...
I was living in Shrewsbury which is a lovely historical town on the Welsh/English border. My father had been promoted into his job there and so I found myself in a strange place at about the age of nine or so. My mother was brokenhearted at leaving our hometown, which was a real problem. Our church and my school were in our road which was fortunate. l soon discovered a house past the school that was rather unusual. It had turned the front parlor into a small shop. It was very bare and was really just a stationary pedlar business.. I once went in from curiosity and met a lady sitting behind the counter, actually a table. The goods were pens and pencils and pins and needles. Also shoe laces and then I saw sweets and chocolate and cookies and bread. Really a treasure trove for a nine year old. I finally used to go there several times after school and Miss Asuff (name I cannot spell never having seen it written) used to talk to me. I guess she was lonely and I was a good listener. I found out that they had been attacked and chased out of their home. in Armenia. She saw her father killed in their garden and also their older brother. She and her mother and older sister and another brother ran for their lives and managed to escape. I could not imagine seeing my father being killed in the garden. It was a very unhappy story but she was doing her best to be brave and try to make some money for her mother. they lived in the house. sometimes the other sister and the younger brother would visit during the week and I was accepted as almost a fixture. The most interesting thing for me was when Miss A. would play the zither. It was a square, table musical instrument and I just loved listening to her. Many times my mother would come looking for me and I would have to go home. I think as I remember that Miss A's name was Jeannie or Jenny. Seem to hear her mother calling her like that. I did not spend a lot of money there so I think she liked to talk and have a listener and that was me.
I found people were so interesting and I never really knew at that time just what a terrible time that family must have had. We left the town again after a couple of years so I hope they got on well.
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Hiroshi66 Profile
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Re: Regarding Genocide


Thank you for sharing that fascinating story, Peg. As an Armenian-American, I, too, have heard lots of stories about the genocide. My great-grandparents were some of the lucky few who survived and escaped Turkey, only to end up in Syria. It was under the French Mandate during that time, and so the French often gave jobs to Armenian refugees - including my two great-grandfathers. They lived there through the 1920s and 1930s, raising families, until the end of the Second World War and the departure of the French caused them to move again - this time to Soviet Armenia under Stalin.

I wonder if Ms. A's first name was Ojen? (The 'j' in the French manner, as in Jeanne.) This was a rather popular Armenian female name during that time period, so perhaps Ms. A anglicized it to Jeannie or Jenny after they escaped to the UK.

Last edited by Hiroshi66, 5/24/2015, 6:31 pm
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Dear Greg,
Your knowledge re this subject is very much more personal than mine. I am sure you have heard lots of stories and no matter who the people are, it is always hard to hear but when there is a happy ending that makes me feel more content. I cannot imagine what it must be like to lose a home and a country and be flung away to where you have no roots. I felt lost when I first came to US and was living in Manhattan but at least I knew I could always call home and later on, go and visit.
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Hiroshi66 Profile
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Re: Regarding Genocide


Yes, despite the many tragic stories surrounding the Armenian Genocide, there are also many incidents of families that had been broken apart being reunited with each other decades later in other countries. This year marks 100 years since the Armenian genocide took place in 1915, and so there are many interesting articles about it online.
5/24/2015, 9:52 pm Link to this post Send Email to Hiroshi66   Send PM to Hiroshi66 AIM
 
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Re: Re Regarding genocide


There have been several TV programmes also and it is still horrible to observe all the inhumanity and it happens in many countries. I was writing to a friend in UK and we both realized that UK is like a very large lifeboat nowadays. There are so many races, creeds and nationalities all over the country. No-one is turned away. they are given a place to live and a job if possible even money and a car if that is necessary. Does not apply to elderly British citizens however. Most of the time all is well I think. Not quite my England anymore except out in the countryside. I think my first home town is still as beautiful as ever and can't change too much because it is surrounded by mountains.

Last edited by brad6, 5/25/2015, 5:44 pm
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Re: Regarding Genocide


The world is changing at an ever-faster rate, it seems...
5/26/2015, 6:34 am Link to this post Send Email to Hiroshi66   Send PM to Hiroshi66 AIM
 


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