Pluralism toward a Kurdish National Alliance

By: Kamal H. Artin

May 2, 2005

Although Kurds might have much in common with the Arabs, Persian, Turks, and Israelis they are distinct from them without being against them. Unfortunately certain faction of other Middle Eastern ethnic groups might be against Kurds - usually the same faction that is anti-modernity, anti-Semitic, or anti-peace and prosperity for all. Kurds are not Israelis but like Jews they have been target of hatred and abuse. Kurds are not Arabs, but many of them have integrated Islam in their spiritual life and find inner peace with Islamic form of praying. Kurds are not Persians, but like them they have inhabited Iranian plateau and there is some similarity in their culture, and history. Kurds are not Turks, but like them they share the thought of promoting the so called Western style democracy - without violence of the past by the Ottomans - and join the European Union.

Kurds might not be true cosmopolitans, earth citizens, socialists, and communists but they are original and share same ideals that in a society the individuals should contribute based on their ability, and receive based on equal needs. Kurds are not nationalists, but like patriots of any nations they seek to have a national identity in order not to remain a subordinate of dominant groups but be able to contribute their share to humanity and world community in their name. Kurds are neither infidels nor fanatic and preoccupied with only one possible view on a higher power but spiritually flexible to seek knowledge about the truth. Kurds might not follow some rituals and practices of monotheistic Moslems, Jews, Christians, but consider spirituality to be a private matter and acknowledge the noble side of all religions serves the humanity.

One might ask why then the Kurds have remained so much behind compared to other nations in determining their destiny by themselves? The main reason that comes to my mind is the lack of a national unity. I am not aware of any other nation who has two or three national congresses, who excludes people out of the main stream from national unions, or who prioritize defending the identity of dominant groups over their own. With this in mind, it is essential to have a Kurdish National Alliance type organization - or any name the majority decides on - that includes not only all Kurdish National Congresses, but also Kurdish regional governments and all partisan and non partisan political, social, cultural, educational, humanitarian, religious, and commercial groups and individuals from left to right in all part of Kurdistan and diasporas.

In a meeting of our still evolving Kurdish American Education Society, the board members expressed the willingness to do everything they can in bringing all Kurdish groups together under one umbrella. We are welcoming an open dialogue between various individuals and groups who are willing to put their differences aside, think pluralistic, and form an elected body of representatives to represent Kurdish national interests. The next objective then would be to approach the UN and materialize Kurdish legitimate rights at international level toward self determination. To accomplish the ideal of such scope a collective plan by all of us is needed.

No progress has been possible without an idea first; now the time has come for us to take an important step toward unifying our nation with a common voice toward a common goal.

Kamal H. Artin
Kurdish American Education Society, California, USA