United States Turkish Library and Museum for Friendship and Peace

Welcome to the Annual Meeting of The Light Millennium’s Special Event:
CONCEPTUAL DIVERSITY Water, Conservation, Timing, Poetry…

DATE: Friday, November 21, 2014 – VENUE: Julie Mardin Photography Studio, NY.
PROGRAM – TIME: 6:30p.m. – (Refreshments: 6:00-6:30pm.)

This program is dedicated to: Inspiring Early Generation of Turkish Women in the United States of America
Tonight’s program is dedicated a very important early generation of Turkish-American women who have been an inspiration to the Turkish-American community. They affected the role of women in society with their knowledge and performed and lived through as if they were appointed as Honorary Ambassadors in between Turkish and American community. They served both in Turkey and U.S as honorary cultural ambassadors, who presented a bright face of Turkey to the world and set an example with their lives. With that, we want to dedicate this program to the following names and commemorate four of those who inspired and guided Turkish women living in the US tonight.

ALİYE AK AYDAGÜL

Was born on 18th of August 1936 (nineteen thirty six) and died on 10th of November 2004 (two thousand four) at the age of 68 (sixty eight). She was the founder and producer of VOICE OF ANATOLIA (VOA, Turkish) very first Turkish weekly series which focused both on local Turkish-American news, presented Turkish culture, tradition, along with interviews with diplomats, politicians, authors, artists and professionals of various fields both from Turkey and the U.S. Aliye Ak received her certification from Queens Public TV in December of 1988. By the time she received the Sue Blank Spirit Award in 1993 she had produced over two hundred programs Queens Public Access (QPTV) and cable TV also a radio broadcast for about 15 years. Through her commitment to the Queens Community she inspired others to pick up the camera to tell their own stories. Further, Daughters of Ataturk International commemorated late Ak’s contributions to the Turkish-American community via “Ustun Kadinlar” award (Distinguished Woman Award) in 2005. [*] [Read more…]

Ashure is an authentic and unique dessert widely known in the Middle East, and made by the Christians, Jews and the Muslims alike. It is also called “Noah’s Pudding” a reference to the legend of Noah’s Ark. Traditionally; it is made on the 10^thof the Islamic month of Muharrem. In Arabic “Ashar” means Tithe, a tenth part of something; so it may have acquired its name from this connection.

Noah’s miraculous journey on a boat is a shared belief by the three monotheistic religions. Legend has it that thousands of years ago societies showed sign of corruption.  Persistent problems of violence, injustice, oppression, crime, immorality vexed and exasperated people. Prophet Noah, a wise man, with an unwavering belief to one God, urged his people to amend their evil and wicked ways. Yet, people refused to listen to his injunctions, even made fun of him, and scoffed at him. [Read more…]

A two page article, complete with a large photograph of Yerevan (Erivan) with Mount Agri (Ararat) in the background tells the story of a documentary on cities established in Armenia with Turkish names – Arapgir, Maras, Malatya, Van. The article, written by Alpugra Bahadir Gultekin in Radikal newspaper (July 27, 2011), states that GPOT and Canfilm working with Internews Armenia has produced documentaries to further the dialog between the Turks and the Armenians.

Burak Pekgezer, an Armenian Turk and 5 other Turkish directors, has toured Armenia and produced 6 documentary films, starting in Yerevan. Burak Pekgezer’s documentary, “Nor Anadolu – New Anadolu” tells the story of three different characters and stories. The documentary opens with a panoramic photograph of Yerevan, one of the oldest cities of the world, a peer of Rome and Carthagenos in Tunusia, believed to be found in 782 BC (1). Names of some of the districts in modern Yerevan include Malatya, Maras, Antep, places where Armenians migrated from during and after the First World War.

[Read more…]

Selimiye Camii, Edirne

UNESCO added Selimiye Mosque and its social complex in the Thracian province of Edirne to its World Heritage List on June 27, 2011, the 10th from Turkey. This magnificent structure was built by Sinan, a famous Turkish architect, when he was 90 years old after being commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Selim II. Selimiye Mosque is one of the most important works of Ottoman Turkish architecture and was called a “masterpiece” by Sinan.

Achitect Sinan was a Turk with Armenian heritage, just like Frank Lloyd Wright was American, whose parents on her mother’s side were from Wales. In fact, Frank Lloyd Wright, considered the greatest American Architect, declared that Sinan was the greatest Architect of all times. Sinan was born in village of Agirnas near Kayseri in 1490. Quite by coincidence, Wright died on April 9, 1959, on the same day that Sinan died in 1588. [Read more…]