Reports & Opinions 
The Sum of All Fears 

Fight back nationalism with nationalism
by: Simko

Kurdistan Observer
May 31, 2002

As a nation with distinct identity, Kurds need to adopt a “defensive” nationalism strategy to guarantee their survival from the increasing pressure of Turk and Arab “aggressive” nationalism. Such a strategy may include most or all of the following:
 
1- Discourage all the Kurds to marry Turks or Arabs. Some may call it extreme but such a measure is necessary to protect the Kurdish population from gradual assimilation due to intermarriage and the vulnerability to the acceptance of the dominant cultures of their oppressors at the expense of their own. 

2- Discourage all the Kurds from indulging their spiritual thoughts in Islam religion. There is ample evidence both historic and recent that Islam is nothing but a tool to preserve and promote Arab identity as well as expanding Arab domination over other nations and their land. It is a fact that the vast majority of Kurds have for centuries accepted Islam as their religion. However, their tolerance and good will have been maliciously and savagely manipulated against them by the deceptive and canning Arab and Turk rulers. Saddam’s use of Anfal and its tacit acceptance “virtue of silence and having no reason for condemnation” by the Arab and Islamic world is a fresh example. 

3- Discourage all the Kurds from giving Turkish and Arabic names to their new born. Wherever and whenever possible, the Kurds should replace their existing Turkish and Arabic names with Kurdish names. 

4- As a strong expression of their Kurdishness and rejection of Turkish laws that prevent Kurds from using Kurdish names, Kurds from North Kurdistan who live in Diaspora should seriously consider changing their Turkish names with Kurdish names. Of course, when they encounter Turkish laws and authorities in visiting Turkey, they will be harassed and criminalized. However the fall out will only serve to further underline the fascist nature of the Turkish state and worsen its credibility. On the other side, it will publicize the Kurdish cause to the world. “Kurds need to learn how to tactically instigate legitimate issues and force their enemies into suicidal reactions”. 

5- It is long due for a pan Kurdish dictionary that incorporates all the Kurdish dialects to be developed. Using dialect variations, the enemies of the Kurds have been trying vigorously to slice the Kurds and reduce the significance of their homogeneity. A united Kurdish language is an important bond in Kurdish unity. Although the facts of oppression offer all the sense of unity that the Kurds need to stand united against their Arab and Turk rulers, however, a closer understanding of views and opinion can be much easier achieved when linguistic barriers are eliminated.
 

6- A Kurdish encyclopedia that tells the Kurds everything they need to know about their history and culture is a critical missing piece in Kurdish lives and their political and social struggle. Just imagine the significance from having both a unified Kurdish language dictionary plus a Kurdish encyclopedia at every Kurdish home to replace Quern or other books that only praise the identity and the cultures of  the oppressors of the Kurdish nation.

7- Kurdish comminutes in Diaspora need to focus on providing classes in teaching Kurdish to all those Kurds who were deprived from learning their mother tongue in Turkey or Arab countries.

Learning to fight nationalism with nationalism is “unfortunately” the only way the Kurds can get through to their violent natured and barbaric Turk and Arab rulers. Kurds who have respect for pluralism should not be hesitant about accepting such a radical approach. Some times we need to make difficult choices to take back what is robbed from us. In the case of the Kurds, their freedom, prosperity and dignity have been taken away from them for too many years. Accumulatively, Kurds have paid tremendous prices to Turks and Arab violent and aggressive nationalism. We have lost millions of innocent Kurds to such barbarism and Kurdistan is continued to be depopulated from Kurds by process of Arabization and Turkification. Today, Arab and Turkish nationalism is mainly targeted at Kurds and Kurdistan. For its strategic location, oil and water reserves, both Arabs and Turks wish that the Kurds were out of their ways and they have it all to themselves with no dispute and/or challenge. Now, it is up to the Kurds not to let that happen. We are facing a game of survival that needs the participation of every Kurd in every possible way. There are more than three dozen independent nations whose combined population is less than the total population of the Kurds. All these nations are represented in the UN and have a say about their destiny. They have the pleasure of raising and waving their flag with pride; They have the choice of participating in international sports, cultural and political events. While, the Kurds living under Arab and Turk rule are criminalized and brutalized for mere speaking their language, expressing their wish to cultural freedom and other basic democratic rights. 
 

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