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May 13, 2008
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From Stateless to Diaspora, 1001 words
Kurdishaspect.com - By Prepared by Art-in-Mind
Stateless is the best response when asked where you are form upon arriving to Diaspora. As a previously stateless individual and now a proud Diaspora American I like to welcome you to the 20th annual conference of KNCNA in Washington DC , a hopeful center for democracy.
In 1983 few friends and I had enough from theocracy and decided to leave our homeland in search of democracy. My more conservative friends had better coping skills and decided to stay where they were. Few months later, we agreed leaving was not among my mistakes but staying was among theirs.
I left almost empty handed and was prepared to tolerate any hardship to survive. Thank to the support and mentorship of many great people in Europe and United States I moved beyond survival stage step by step. The hope to rely on myself and to choose my own destiny as much as possible was the key to my survival.
Because of denial of our national identity by four infamous states, most of us who leave those states are stateless immigrants. As such, we know how insignificant borders are. Being stateless and borderless helps us to adapt to new situations, although in back of our mind we count on ourselves to be of some service to the people we left behind. It is this mindset that makes us Diaspora citizens.
By living in Diaspora we are free to criticize those who abuse power and mistreat people who depend on them. We are privileged to do thing that people in our original homeland are not allowed even to dream of. In search of our dream outside our limited cage we have changed our world.
Although our world in Diaspora has changed, our divided, traumatized, mistreated, and vulnerable homeland still has a long way to become a self sufficient, free, developed, and democratic society. We independently have chosen a second homeland and experienced why independence is the best option for everyone else too. Yet, we know that some of our people have to work within certain pragmatic dependent parameters. Difficulties are numerous, while progress is undeniable. To make further progress, we need to keep an eye on our divided homeland and reach out to each other and to the free world. This is why we are here.
The people in southern part of our homeland have shown that as a united group they are a reliable and could make a difference in promoting democracy and bridging the gap between East and West. Many leaders there have done a great public service, yet some of them might need a much longer time to understand what democracy and public service means. The Diaspora has done and continues to do its share in helping them to become aware of their shortcomings without having any expectations from them. Diaspora in not in competition with them but wishes them success in serving their people with peaceful and democratic means.
In the northern part people are making progress and now with over 20 parliamentarians might be able to convince the NATO and the EU that Ankara has nothing to fear, if Anatolia becomes a multinational and democratic state before joining the European Union. Without the pressure of the people in Diaspora on European Union and the Union’s pressure on Ankara , the people in East Anatolia might continue to pretend they are Mongols in order to be safe.
The literally stateless faction of the people under the second Ba’ath regime have been active and are trying to unite and convince the West to push Asad toward democracy, before he has the same destiny as Saddam. Without the help of Diaspora the international community would not have known that Asad’s territory is at least a bi-national state that needs democracy desperately.
In the eastern part the people are still divided and isolated from the world but slowly are being heard by the groups that are opposing theocracy. Despite their emphasis on the dominance of the official language and culture, democratic elements of these groups have the potential to recognize that their country should become secular and multinational in order to live in peace and harmony together. If they do recognize this basic democratic concept, they deserve our support to make their country a democracy. Our Diaspora can help them reach that level without compromising on our natural rights for referendum and self determination.
As discussed, in Diaspora we have made or continue to make a difference for all or part of our divided homeland. To make further progress, we need a unified democratic voice to reach out to the free world for support. Before achieving such a grand unity, a unity in our Diaspora is a must.
In North America we as individuals or members of KNCNA are committed to bring unity among our people and their friends in Diaspora. We encourage all organizations and personalities to keep their independence and their own approach as they see fit. At the same time, we invite them to join us in working toward goals that we all could agree on such as that all children need to have access to public education in their own language, or that our people in all parts of their divided homeland deserve a referendum under international monitoring to determine their own destiny. As a committed organization we invite you to join us in reaching out to North American political, cultural, academic, and humanitarian organizations and personalities to assist our people to obtain their rights of self determination.
The panel I am chairing today is an example of how we as privileged individuals, community leaders, human rights activists, writers, and scholars in Diaspora could work together despite our differences. With our individual views, skills, experiences and our common interest we can make a difference in promoting liberty and equality. To make such a difference, we need to work together toward our independence, if not at our original homeland at least in our Diaspora.
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