Now and Then
New guy on the block.
He sits at an outside table and
eyes my scarf with the absolute contempt
usually reserved for racists and politicians.
(Hmmm. I grab a coffee,
sit at a table near him, knowing he’ll
start talking. Everyone does, with me.)
He starts right in with
“Do you know I am Armenian?”
No, I didn’t, cuz we’ve never met.
C’mon over and sit awhile with me. I’m Amy.
“I’m Armand. Do you know about
scarf you wear? You should.”
No, tell me about it, please, Armand.
“That scarf is from Muslims.
Same pattern Arafat wore, that dog.”
Yes, I know, but what does that have to –
“Many years ago, Muslims drove
Christians out of Armenia. You wear
this symbol like it’s just a scarf.”
(I reflect on Freud. Sometimes a scarf is just a – )
“Where you buy that thing?” he spits.
On the street in New York, from
a really nice homeless guy. Besides,
it’s cotton and I’m allergic to wool, so –
“Well, it off-fends me grrr-reatly,” he stammers,
“I wish you take it off. Glad Mama not here.”
Come inside the café with me, then, it’s cold out here.
(We sit; I’ve bought us a round and some pastries.
He was stuttering before; now he’s calmer.)
Why does my wearing this upset you?
“It reminds me of the atrocities.”
Tell me more, cuz I’ve never heard about this.
“They don’t teach Armenian Genocide in school here?”
Um, no.
“Figures. OK. In 1915, Muslims tie Armenians
together with rope, march them into desert. Leave
them to die. They rape many women, throw
babies into river, shoot fathers in front of families.”
Good Lord, I didn’t know that.
Did your mother lose people?
“Parents, the sister, brothers, many cousins.
She still light candles for them.”
I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine…
(We sit in silence, bonding over strong java.
He is teacher; I am student.
I slide the scarf into my purse, for now.
Later, I’ll head for the library.)
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Armand was right. In 1915, extremists who called themselves Muslims (note the distinction between my phrase and the media’s “Muslim extremists.” There is a world of difference, just as the most radical members of the Christian Right should be called “extremists who call themselves Christians”) emptied whole villages in the region called Armenia, long a haven for Christians in the Middle East. The atrocities were not deemed strategically important enough for America to intervene; even the British ambassador could not urge England to do anything.
The Armenian Genocide served as a “blueprint” for the plans of a failed art student from Austria to foment terror against many “others,” including Jews, gay men and lesbians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, those with mental disorders, and on and on. His name was Aloys Schicklgruber, but we know him better as Adolf Hitler.
As for the scarf, Armand and I continued conversing until he understood that I was not wearing it as a political statement. He also thanked me for learning more about the Genocide, because, as a homeless man from another country, he is usually disregarded.
The Turkish government steadfastly refuses to apologize for the incident; in fact, they fund many American colleges where Turkish professors teach revisionist history.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Sara v
Amy, WOW and then Wow again–amazing story and my heart expands with warmth and pride how you sat with him and listened, learned, gave the best of all gifts–respect, sincerity, and time. You are rocking the world, one person at a time 🙂 xoxo Sara
Polly Robinson
I’d never heard this story, Amy. Thank you.
Mama Zen
This is fascinating, Amy!
elleceef
This is a very gritty and powerful conversation. To be able to handle a discussion on such an emotional issue for this man is really special. Not many are willing to do that. I didn’t know this history story. Thanks for sharing it.
Sue
Yes, Amy, and this was as I understand it the second wave with the first having occurred in the latter 1800’s. The 1915 atrocities were the subject of The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian. I had to look at maps to discern the location of Armenia since I was confusing it with Albabia.
Good listening, good work educating us.
Sue
Albania, sorry.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
How much do we not know? How much are we never taught? Your scarf story and conversation with Armand have opened my eyes to my own ignorance. Amazing work, Amy, and I love you for making the distinction “extremists who call themselves Muslim” and “extremists who call themselves Christian” for they are representative of neither religion.
As an aside, my husband and his colleagues are meeting with their boss in Edmonton, Alberta, today. Their boss is Muslim, from Tanzania. We love him and his beautiful Muslim wife very much.
K
isadoragruye
Hiya…I really enjoyed this prose poem. You have captured the start of a growing friendship and an edcuation. I did not know much about the Armenian genocide of 1915. Thanks for the fun and informative read! oh and viva la
kimnelsonwrites
I knew of these atrocities because I attended a small Christian university in the late 1970’s where the grandchildren of those involved flocked for higher education. They had been raised in Iran, where what remained of their families had gone after the genocide. Then they sought asylum in the US after fleeing from Iran, during the fall of the shah. These Armenians had an incredible history and they share it freely, much like your Armand.
Debbie
Thank you for telling us about Armand and the genocide his people suffered. I didn’t know either .. .so much happens that I don’t know about. Your poem was perfect.
coalblack
The Armenian genocide is a fascinating and horrible chapter in history, complete with the cattle cars and death camps that would mark the holocaust. There was a young soldier who secretly took photographs–something he could have been executed for–and the photographs survive to this day. It is a largely forgotten event; I learned about it when PBS ran a multi-part series on World War One some years ago, which I recorded.
ladynimue
You learn. And you teach us a lot in every post. More than the history I am thankful for the messages you leave here and there hidden like gems for careful readers. Bless you Amy !
peggygoetz
A strong piece of writing Amy. Excellent.
Hannah Gosselin
I’m grateful for your heart in the world, Amy. Thank you for this!
Roger Green
And the Armenians are STILL looking for an apology, almost 100 years on.
Susan L Daniels
Wow, thank you for sharing this with us. I never knew.
margaretbednar
Are they really looking for an apology? Perhaps compassion, sorrow, regret, understanding, a chance to voice their grief. Like the Jews, life tragically turned and whole families were wiped out. It is a story that should be told over and over again so that it doesn’t happen again. Can you imagine someone wearing the swastika NOT knowing what it symbolized for so many people? The scarf you wore… shouldn’t we not all have known this history?
This reads like “the rest of the story”. The story leading up to Hitler.
Fascinating to read, this experience of yours.
ellaedge
You had me on the edge of my seat-wondering!
I had no idea…
Hubby had a red one from Bahrain….
so sad!
Well done on being the teacher ;D
vivinfrance
A frightening indictment of the education system that such a horrendous history is so little known. Thank you for telling it in such a way that every word sinks in. Well done, campaigning Amy!
I’m reading Ken Follet’s Winter of the World (sequel to Fall of Giants) at the moment and discovering other similar attrocities glossed over in the history books.
Kerry O'Connor
This was very enlightening – and raises questions in my mind about freedom of choice – both for the Armenians and the scarf-wearer, and to what extent the victim of an atrocity has the right to impose his offense on another. Genocide, and ignorance thereof, is surely a far greater issue than a single item of clothing.
claudia
there was a time when everyone wore that scarfs without thinking about the background…great conversation snapshot
I HAVE A VOICE
very captivating !