Circassia we have not forgotten
Our blood is in your soil and our tears in your rivers
Circassian souls still roam on your fields
Our hearts ache for our return home
Soon all Circassians will reunite and return to you once and for all
Please be patient our return is near
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
As we approach May 21 Circassian Memorial Day
As we approach May 21 Circassian Memorial Day I ask all Adigha people to really think about the meaning of this day. This is the day that Russia recognizes as the conquest and defeat of the Circassian Nation. Military men paraded through Krasnaya Polyana on the graves of Circassians and were awarded medals for the death of your family and friends and the attempted death of your legacy. Our nation's heart and spirit has been broken but it can still be mended. Recognize the significance of this day and what your ancestors had to go through for you, their descendants, to be alive today. Understand that we have the opportunity to work together to rehabilitate our Circassian nation by talking and listening to each other and having the same ultimate goal.
We need to work together for our nation Circassia.
God bless all freedom loving people.
We need to work together for our nation Circassia.
God bless all freedom loving people.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Glamorizing others
Most Circassians live in Diaspora outside of their homeland. You can find us in Turkey, USA, Germany, France, Israel, Jordan, Syria and more. We are usually the minority of the population and have the propensity to assimilate into the majority culture.
It is true that we have been outside of our homeland for 150 years and that we are alive and remember that we are Circassians is a miracle. However, this will not be the case in the upcoming 50 years. As Circassians, we tend to adopt the traditions of our host country. We think we are Arabs or Turks or Americans. It is cool to listen to Arabic music, dance to Turkish music, eat kebabs and speak these languages, but it's not cool to be Circassian or know about our culture. I'm not saying it's bad to listen to other music or dance like other cultures, on the contrary, it is good to learn about the world, but I am saying that it is of paramount importance to understand and recognize your own culture and the value it has to your life. If you don't it won't be there for you tomorrow.
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| Who am I? |
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Circassians
I am a Circassian. You are probably wondering what that is. Circassians are indigenous people from the Northwest Caucasus in Eurasia and are surrounded by Russia, Georgia and Turkey. Circassians have lived in this area for thousands of years and are one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. Men are known for their warrior skills, women are known for their beauty and all are known for their freedom-living spirit and nobility.
There are approximately 700,000 Circassians in Circassia currently. The majority of the population is in Diaspora with 5 million in Turkey, 100,000 in Syria, 50,000 in Jordan, 40,000 in Europe (mostly Germany and France) 5,000 in USA and 3,000 in Israel. Up until the fall of the Soviet Union Circassians in Circassia were not aware of the existence Diaspora due to Russian propaganda and misinformation. This can be attributed to the grim history of Circassians especially that of the past 250 years.
Circassians have been a peaceful group of people for thousands of years. Their area in the Caucasus is strategically located on the Black Sea coast, and near the Crimea and Turkey. The land is rich in minerals and oil and is one of the most beautiful areas in the world. All of this has made Circassia imperative for Russia's geopolitical control in Eurasia and Europe and most atrocious crimes have been committed against these people to secure this power for Russia.
Russia waged a 101-year war against Circassians from 1763 to 1864 as they wanted "Circassia without Circassians." Over half the population was massacred (1.5 million people) and the remainder where herded onto death-camps on the Black Sea coast where they awaited their demise. Most of them perished due to famine and disease, while the remaining alive where herded like cattle onto Russian ships to take them to the Ottoman Empire. From there Circassians where forced by the Ottomans to enlist in their army to fight their wars to protect the "empire".
Most of this information has been erased from history and that is why you haven't heard of Circassians or Circassia. If you pick up any old map (I will provide later on), you will see that Circassia is clearly placed on it. The reason Circassia is not there anymore is due to the Circassian Genocide committed by Russia against these people. It continues today on a cultural and physical level. Russia does not recognize Circassians nor does it allow indigenous Circassians to repatriate to their homeland. Those that live in the Caucasus are in constant fear due to suppression and continual threats by the government on their lives and livelihoods. They are not allowed to speak their language in schools and they are not allowed to openly state their history and origins.
All of this is leading to mass assimilation of Circassians into the mainstream country of residences culture. Circassians in the Middle East are speaking Arabic as their main language, those in Turkey only speak Turkish now and those in America speak English mainly. Circassians are marrying outside of their culture which is causing them to forget their history and language as other cultures are being glamorized over their own. Due to the velocity of this assimilation, Circassians will most likely not exist in the next 50 years. There needs to be action taken to ensure this beautiful group of people can maintain their language, culture and dancing like all other cultures and countries are free to do.
There are approximately 700,000 Circassians in Circassia currently. The majority of the population is in Diaspora with 5 million in Turkey, 100,000 in Syria, 50,000 in Jordan, 40,000 in Europe (mostly Germany and France) 5,000 in USA and 3,000 in Israel. Up until the fall of the Soviet Union Circassians in Circassia were not aware of the existence Diaspora due to Russian propaganda and misinformation. This can be attributed to the grim history of Circassians especially that of the past 250 years.
Circassians have been a peaceful group of people for thousands of years. Their area in the Caucasus is strategically located on the Black Sea coast, and near the Crimea and Turkey. The land is rich in minerals and oil and is one of the most beautiful areas in the world. All of this has made Circassia imperative for Russia's geopolitical control in Eurasia and Europe and most atrocious crimes have been committed against these people to secure this power for Russia.
Russia waged a 101-year war against Circassians from 1763 to 1864 as they wanted "Circassia without Circassians." Over half the population was massacred (1.5 million people) and the remainder where herded onto death-camps on the Black Sea coast where they awaited their demise. Most of them perished due to famine and disease, while the remaining alive where herded like cattle onto Russian ships to take them to the Ottoman Empire. From there Circassians where forced by the Ottomans to enlist in their army to fight their wars to protect the "empire".
Most of this information has been erased from history and that is why you haven't heard of Circassians or Circassia. If you pick up any old map (I will provide later on), you will see that Circassia is clearly placed on it. The reason Circassia is not there anymore is due to the Circassian Genocide committed by Russia against these people. It continues today on a cultural and physical level. Russia does not recognize Circassians nor does it allow indigenous Circassians to repatriate to their homeland. Those that live in the Caucasus are in constant fear due to suppression and continual threats by the government on their lives and livelihoods. They are not allowed to speak their language in schools and they are not allowed to openly state their history and origins.
All of this is leading to mass assimilation of Circassians into the mainstream country of residences culture. Circassians in the Middle East are speaking Arabic as their main language, those in Turkey only speak Turkish now and those in America speak English mainly. Circassians are marrying outside of their culture which is causing them to forget their history and language as other cultures are being glamorized over their own. Due to the velocity of this assimilation, Circassians will most likely not exist in the next 50 years. There needs to be action taken to ensure this beautiful group of people can maintain their language, culture and dancing like all other cultures and countries are free to do.
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