tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281415835168736635Sat, 14 Sep 2024 09:10:47 +0000ARCHIVE: 2008-2010thoughtsLifeAdyga/CircassianWriting/PoetryCircassian ActvismReligionMy $0.02Around the WorldStrugglesBeginningsTravelNostalgiaPoliticsSochi 2014SyriaTagsVideoI am Circassian. Where is my nation?noreply@blogger.com (Dana)Blogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281415835168736635.post-6181983221373284287Fri, 05 Oct 2012 03:17:00 +00002012-10-04T23:17:16.318-04:00Adyga/CircassianCircassian ActvismMusings about the last 5 years of Circassian activism<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Five years ago, on October 4, 2007, a group of Adyghes and supporters stood outside Russian Consulates in Istanbul and New York City as well as the United Nations to protest the newly selected site of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the "450 Year Lie" </span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following is a write-up from that small demonstration: </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 5px; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;">
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">October 4th, 2007</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">450 years ago, Czarist Russia and the Kabarday Circassians signed a treaty for peace between the two nations. This treaty was broken when Russia committed war and genocide against Circassians. Over half of the population, 1.5 million Circassians were raped, kidnapped, beaten, and murdered. Over 750,000 more perished during the Exile of 1864. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Russia celebrated this 450 year old "treaty" in the Caucasus.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Winter Olympics in 2014 will be held in Sochi. Sochi, is the land of Circassians and also the site of when the Circassians met their tragical doom. As Circassia's last capital, it was the point of exile for one million Circassians. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This demonstration was to let the world know that Circassians are still alive. We shed light on the lies and oppose both immoral celebrations. </span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what are our successes since this particular action? Very basically... </span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The words "Circassia", "genocide", "activism" were re-introduced and became regular words in our vocabulary. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many conferences in Europe, the Caucasus, and the United States were dedicated to our history, our present situation and how we will build the future. Engaging experts and discussing our issues on an international scale marks a big shift from the dinner table talks and khasa social gatherings. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year, thousands of Adyghes and supporters around the world join in demonstrations that demand a free Circassia, recognition of the Genocide, stopping the Sochi Olympics on the site of Genocide, demand language rights in host nations as well as the right to return to our homeland. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Circassian Genocide was recognized in 2010 for the first time by Georgia, a UN member state. What was once called "a hidden genocide" is becoming more prominent topic of discussion.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A new understanding of the Circassian Genocide was understood thanks to the documents collected from the Georgia State Archives. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alliances with international groups and other nations are pushing the discussion of Circassia to an even wider public</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to efforts of activists, journalists, and scholars, many articles, books, journals, were published and thousands of people learned of what happened to Circassia. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Movies, documentaries, music, art and graphics have permeated the consciousness of Adyghes and awakened that a nation with a very rich and old culture can tell its story in a variety of ways. Besides dance, we are expressing ourselves in many more mediums. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... and more... </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what will the next five years bring? The issues we deal with today affect our compatriot's lives and the integrity of our nation. Questions that we face include:</span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What can be done to help our Circassian compatriots in Syria and those who returned to our homeland? How can we help them to build a sustainable living in our homeland? How can we protect our compatriots so that a humanitarian crisis does not befall our nation in other areas where Circassians reside? How can we help them when one does?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WIth less then two years remain till the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, how can we utilize our tools and limited resources to take advantage of the situation to tell our story to the world when it focuses its attention in Sochi, 2014? How can we continue to address the world when the Olympics pass?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can Circassians in Diaspora support our compatriots in the homeland, whose property, and human rights are under threat? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can Circassians in Circassia, help those in Diaspora rebuild a connection to the homeland? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What institutions and organizations can we establish and create to address the social and political issues of repatriation, assimilation and lobby internationally in our modern and increasingly globalized world? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which institutions and organization exist now that can address these very issues?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can we train the young generation to become lawyers, political scientists, journalists to spread awareness and advocate for Circassia?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The internet along with its social media platforms is an extraordinary tool that aided in the rise of an 'iCircassia'. How can our virtual nation become a real one on a map?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can an increasingly assimilating nation revive and sustain a language that was spoken for thousands of years?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What resources - financial and manpower- and how much of it, can we dedicate to fulfill the needs our nation?</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without a doubt, these are challenging times for our nation. The solutions are not perfect and not easy. A success today is met with a roadblock tomorrow and as with any society, not everyone agrees on a course of action. However, the the amount and scope of our accomplishments from the last 5 years (and the oppostional reactions that it generated) is one that should be celebrated. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a twenty-something that was (and will continue to be, so long as I'm capable) involved at the start of this movement 5 years ago (which really is nothing new, but a re-emergence of actions from decades ago)... I have hope that our nation is tenacious and able to meet these challenges. Our history proves that we have the talent. If the last 5 years is proof, we also have the courage to follow the footsteps of our warriors and build on the work of our freedom fighters. It truly is extraordinary that a nation is using its voice after nearly 150 years of forced silence, oppresive regimes, countless upheavals when we could have choked. It's just proof that our nation is not destined to die out at the hands of a nation with 100x more resources than ours, tries and hopes would happen... (Russia, I know you're reading this. I meant you.)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Action</em></strong> is what is restoring hope and making our future a little less bleak. It does not matter if you are 5, 15, 50 or 100, we all have a responsiblity <span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;">to do something</span> to protect our history and uphold our fundamental values. Every action counts. US President John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Where would you like to see our nation in five, ten or twenty years? How would you help to get it there? We are one people, one nation. Our destiny is determined by what actions (or inactions) we take. It will be hard, but I'm hopeful. I'm looking forward to the next five years.<br /><br />So with all my love, and all my faith... Long live Circassia. Адыгэ пco. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="; height="212" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Protest outside Russian Consulate on October 4, 2007 in Taksim Square, Istanbul Turkey. </span></span><a href="; style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 16.469696044921875px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">More photos from October 4, 2007, Istanbul</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="; height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Protest outside United Nations on October 4, 2007 in New York City, USA. </span></span><a href="; style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 16.479999542236328px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">More photos from October 4, 2007, New York City</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11.111111640930176px; line-height: 16.481481552124023px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
2012/10/musings-about-last-5-years-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dana)45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281415835168736635.post-1469756327443179198Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:00:00 +00002012-04-12T12:50:14.370-04:00Adyga/CircassianCircassian ActvismSyriaCircassians Protest at City Mall in Damascus, Syria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;">This post is an update to one of my (re)tweets earlier today, with the following message. Thanks to the twitter user </span><a class=" twitter-atreply pretty-link" data-screen-name="_Syria_" href="; rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #6a4836; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><s style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #a59186; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@</s><b style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #6a4836; font: inherit; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">_Syria_</b></a> for the tip.<br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="65" src="; width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="; target="_blank">Via @_Syria_</a> - Thanks for the tip!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">More information; thanks to Hamood Nour and others on Facebook, for being the messengers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 13px;"><br /></span>A play of protest against the murderous Syrian regime was given in a Damascus city center mall. It featured 4 Circassians--Sasha Ayoub, Salina Abaza, Leen Shaker, and Mohamed Abdallah. They were arrested on site. There is news <u><b>the girls have been released from jail</b></u> but no information has come about the status of Mohamed Abdallah. <br /><br />We hope and pray for the best for Mohamed Abdallah. May all that still suffer at the hands of the Syrian regime will find safety and freedom very soon.<br /><br /><b>(4/12/12 - 12:50PM EST) UPDATE: <u>Just received word that Mohamed Abdallah was released as well.</u></b><br /><br />Click "more" for pics and videos of this event.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brief video of the event:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="; width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Here are a few images of the event, circulating on Facebook. Photos credits go to Fadi Zaidan.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="214" src="; width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="; width="184" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="; width="214" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="214" src="; width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="272" src="; width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="214" src="; width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<br /></div>2012/04/circassians-protest-at-city-mall-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dana)279tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281415835168736635.post-8946530573721782168Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:02:00 +00002012-04-05T13:03:44.756-04:00Adyga/CircassianCircassian ActvismSochi 2014Al Jazeera- "Putin's challenge: The Circassians and the Winter Olympics"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great in-depth opinion piece by Ambassador Akbar Ahmed and Frankie Martin, research fellow at the Ibn Khaldoun Chair at American University, published yesterday on Al-Jazeera. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking forward to reading the upcoming book!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><a href="; target="_blank">Putin's challenge: The Circassians and the Winter Olympics</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How Putin treats the Circassians and the issue of Sochi will indicate which direction Russia will take<b> </b></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">"How Putin treats the Circassians and the issue of Sochi will indicate which direction Russia will take. By examining and helping to rectify the errors and tragedies of history, Russia can decide its status as a major 21st century world power and at the same time, help avert the extinction of an entire people. Putin must decide if he is to be Putin the Terrible or Putin the Enlightened."</span></span></span></span></i></blockquote>
<br /></div>2012/04/al-jazeera-putins-challenge-circassians.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dana)42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281415835168736635.post-2683775358680476673Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:23:00 +00002012-03-08T12:24:40.732-05:00Adyga/CircassianCircassian ActvismA message to Circassians on International Women's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 March 2012 - It is International Women's Day and there needs to be more women Circassian activists and men that support and work alongside them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Women are, or will be in the future, mothers of our nation. Besides the reverence we place in the Nart's Setenay or the lore of Circassian beauties, in the past Circassian women raised the warriors and defended our homes when our men fought in the battlefields. Women nurtured our customs and passed on our language. (I would not be surprised if there were Circassian women fighting <i>with</i> our men.) The women of our history were fearless, tenacious, patient, and had incredible courage. With these qualities, Circassian women kept Circassia together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many young Circassians (males & females) today are taught that to continue our existence on this Earth, it will be enough to "just marry a Circassian". But this is not the case. We see very high numbers of marriages outside our nation. Our language and customs are endangered. Our people are being killed and our human rights are practically non-existant. It is <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">naïve to think "just marrying within our nation" will solve the problems of our nation. <u>This can not be the end point of our destiny. This cannot be the end of our responsibilities.</u></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><u><br /></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like in our past, Circassian women today are the linchpins of our families, societies, and nation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, more than ever, we must wholly embody the noble qualities of our grandmothers in the past. It is true: it is our responsibility to continue our existence. To do so we must educate ourselves and pursue professions that will ultimately aid in achieving a free Circassia. We must have the patience and the tenacity to face challenges and resilient enough to not drown in them. We must be fearless in demanding our human rights. We must be courageous so that future generations can be inspired from our bravery.<br /><br />And a note to Circassian men, young and old: Recognize the very important role of the Circassian woman. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engage regularly with the womenfolk of society and v</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">alue their opinions and wisdom. They </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will be marrying you or your sons and raising your children. A nation is only as strong as the strength of all its parts, and we want Circassia to be as strong as possible.</span></div>2012/03/message-to-circassians-on-international.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dana)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281415835168736635.post-8379714300956645488Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:25:00 +00002012-02-16T19:25:24.334-05:00Adyga/CircassianCircassian ActvismQuestions for Thought...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h2 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<div class="entry-meta" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="by-author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: hidden;"><span class="sep" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="author vcard" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="; rel="author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #888888; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by circassiapassport"></a></span></span></div>
<div class="entry-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-248" height="300" src="; style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 24px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" title="circassian flag" width="194" /><span style="background-color: transparent;">Mr. Walter Richmond, a researcher of Circassian Genocide and author of The Northwest Caucasus: Past, Present, and Future is writing a new book based on findings of the Circassian Genocide from Tbilisi State Archives in Georgia. The following questions and answers will be used as research for the new publication.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please be a part of this great project. Answer these questions and email them to <a href="mailto:circassiapassport@gmail.com">circassiapassport@gmail.com</a> as soon as possible. It will than be forwarded to the author.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Thank you!</div>
<ol style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Did your family ever talk about any Circassian “heroes” in exile, people who the community looks up to as a role model?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Did your family ever share any general stories from the history of Circassians in exile?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you or anyone you know believe that “hijra” was a factor in your ancestors’ decision to emigrate?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> How knowledgeable are you concerning Circassian history prior to the Russo-Circassian War?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What other Circassian communities have you been physically in touch with? Do you think the common bonds are greater than the differences caused by living in different host countries?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How frequently do you talk to other Circassians via the internet? What countries do you communicate with? What do you talk about?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you argue with your Circassian friends and acquaintances? What is the main point of contention?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Which websites devoted to Circassian issues do you visit? Do any of them do a “good” job, in your opinion?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the number one factor in preserving Circassian identity?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Which is more important as an issue to be pursued: right of return or minority rights in the host countries?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How would you describe the effort to preserve the Adyge language?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In your opinion, how have the Circassians been able to avoid assimilation to this point?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How has the Abkhaz situation affected Circassian affairs?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is your perception of the Russian government’s behavior concerning the Sochi Olympics?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you concerned that there might be negative repercussions from the activism surrounding the Sochi Olympics?</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">List the languages you speak in order of fluency:</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the greatest challenge you personally face as a member of a displaced nation?</li>
</ol>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: red; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">UPDATE</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">:</strong> Thanks to our friends at <a href="; style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #743399; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Justice for North Caucasus</a>, these questions have been translated into <a href="; style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #743399; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Turkish</a> & <a href="; style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #743399; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arabic</a>. We hope all members of Circassia will be able to answer these questions and perhaps, use them in our daily conversations.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bot