THE MIRACLE A True Story be considerably tougher. After holding out for 79 days, the Kurdish revolution ended in a bloodbath in July, 1924. The Kurds are an ancient and historic people who are mentioned by Xenophon - he refers to them as the Karduchs. The Kurdish uprisings began long before the Greek Revolution of 1821, and they all ended in bloodshed. Over and over again, in 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928, they paid with their blood for their longing for freedom.    "The Turks were putting their usual tactics into effect: civilian populations were being massacred and villages destroyed, creating more refugees.    "On 30th September, 1930 the Turkish newspaper Milliyet published a statement by the Turkish justice minister, which presented the age-old Turkish philosophy that applies at any time and in any place occupied by the Turks: `The Turks are the only masters in this country. Anyone who is not a genuine Turk has only one right in this country: the right to be a servant, the right to be a slave.'    "And the Kurds who are still living in Turkey today, my boy, have this right only. The Greeks who stayed on in Turkey were all wiped out after the events of 1955. The final act of this terrible Greek tragedy is now being played out.    "The British, having bought Cyprus from the Turks on 4th June, 1878, made sure that they were involved in the issue again because they were quite sure the right of the Cypriots to self-determination would severely damage their own interests on the island."    Here Mr Kleopas stopped; he looked tired. There was a glint in his eye as he said these final words:    "Wherever you go, my child, make sure you read all about the history of Hellenism and always keep it in mind. There will be no better weapon against the Turks, as far as the Greeks are concerned, than a thorough knowledge of their own history. Because I can assure you, the Turks will never stop. Their predatory nature pushes them on constantly to make new demands and claims. The idea of the re-establishment of the Ottoman Empire will always be the goal of the modern Turks. Sooner or later, having resolved the Kurdish problem by massacring innocent civilians, they will turn their attention to Cyprus, Western Thrace and the Greek islands in the Aegean. The next generation of Greeks will have to do better than the previous one; they know the Turkish goals - they state them quite clearly - and so they will be able to deal with them.    "When you go and settle in free Greece, don't ever forget the roots of Hellenism which the Turks so violently tore up."    Miss Alexandra, who had been listening in silence to what her brother had to say, stood up quickly when she saw how upset he had become.    "You've said enough for one day," she said. "I think you should stop now." Turning to me, she added: "And you, young man, mustn't breathe a word of what you have heard today until you reach Greece. There, though, you must tell people about all this and make sure they realise the true facts. Now, off you go downstairs because your mother will be looking for you!"    Slowly, I stood up. My head was spinning with all that I had just heard.    "Thank you for telling me all this, Mr Kleopas," I mumbled. "I promise I'll never forget it."    I turned round quickly in order to conceal my own emotion, left the room and dashed down the stairs. 91 and 92 Leonidas Koumakis THE MIRACLE A True Story If you prefer a hard copy of the book, please send an email to HEC-Books@hec.greece.org Previous Page | Initial Page | Site Map | Next Page (93th of 204) © For Internet 2001 HEC and Leonidas Koumakis. Updated on 19 June 2001.