Tales of Truth - Channel Fund
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[The Tales of Truth YouTube Channel is authorized by the Soghomon Tehlirian estate.]
During "The Great War" (WWI) Talaat Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, ordered the extermination of the ethno-religious minorities under his rule. In total, as many as two million Ottoman Christians (Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, etc) were murdered by their own government. [Fully 75% were Armenian].
Talaat's tactics were so effective that on the eve of WWII, none other than Adolf Hitler paid him homage in a speech to his commanders. History would not judge them for the murder of women and children, he said. "Who, after all, remembers the Armenians?" Hitler had found a role model in Talaat.
But, whereas Hitler was thwarted by the Allies, and took his own life, Talaat was undeterred. Not only did he elude his enemies and escape a death sentence, he embarked on a brazen campaign to deny his own guilt, intent on his return to power.
Despite promises made to the Armenians that Talaat and his accomplices would be brought to justice, the Allies failed to follow through. Though the first world war had devastated most every nation involved, Turkish-Armenia had been utterly extinguished... and no one seemed to care.
Fast forward to June 2, 1921. A young Turkish-Armenian named Soghomon Tehlirian, who had survived the massacres, faced the death penalty in a Berlin courtroom for shooting a man at point blank range. Soghomon had confessed, and even admitted to premeditation. The judge was perplexed that this young killer exhibited not a single pang of guilt. Tehlirian insisted that he had done nothing wrong.
The following afternoon, after barely an hour of deliberation, the jury returned with a verdict. The judge asked the jury foreman, "Do you find Soghomon Tehlirian guilty of murder?" The answer came back, "No." And the courtroom exploded in cheers.
How could this be?
For the jury, the choice was simple. Though Soghomon had in fact killed a man, the man he killed, Talaat Pasha, had killed millions, and was ready to kill even more. Soghomon's act was no crime at all. Indeed, it was overdue justice.
Now a free man, Soghomon went on to write of the harrowing journey that culminated in his courtroom vindication. His is a coming-of-age story in the midst of unimaginable horror, and seemingly impossible odds. Yet through it all, he never strayed from his calling to bring justice for his people. Soghomon's trial is merely the final act in an epic hero's adventure, all documented first hand in his memoir. And I've been appointed by his family to share it with the world.
After almost three years of research in archives around the world, consultation and collaboration with historians, and the discovery of new primary sources and documents, this amazing story is ready to tell. Starting on the Tales of Truth YouTube Channel, the world will get a front row seat to my discovery of the greatest story ever forgotten. Plus, in 2021 the English speaking world will get to read Soghomon's words for themselves.
Exactly 100 years after he killed Talaat and was set free in Berlin (1921) Soghomon's memoir will be published in English. It's hard to believe such an incredible story could be suppressed for so long, but no more. Until then I will be working hard to produce content on YouTube that details my journey of discovery. The film script has been written and a team is being assembled. In the meantime, this GoFundMe will help launch a series of YouTube 'properties' to give a behind the scenes walk through of the whole process.
WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR DONATIONS?
$Any Amount: A "Thank You" shout out in one of the Tales of Truth videos.
$100 or more: A copy of Soghomon's Memoir*.
$250 or more: A limited edition autographed** copy of Soghomon's Memoir.
$1000 or more: VIP access at one stop on the book release tour***, limited edition autographed copy of Soghomon's Memoir.
$5000 or more: Call me, we'll talk. ;-)
_____________________________________________
* Upon Publication. ** Autographed by 2 Historians (who are writing the introduction) and myself. *** Book tour pending publication date.
Who is Michael Lee Gavlak?
Michael is an Emmy Award winning News Producer who resides in the greater Los Angeles area with his wife and three children. In 2017 he left his job in Hollywood to pursue Soghomon's story. In 2018, the family of Soghomon Tehlirian granted Michael and his business partner the exclusive rights to Soghomon's memoir. Michael and a team of historians and filmmakers have traveled the world to research and corroborate Soghomon's account. They've been to archives in Yerevan (Armenia), London, Venice, Berlin, Istanbul, and Boston. In February of 2020, Michael completed the first draft of a feature film screenplay which has been fact checked by historians, approved by the Tehlirian family, and is now in the hands of producers, including one of the producers of The Promise.
During "The Great War" (WWI) Talaat Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, ordered the extermination of the ethno-religious minorities under his rule. In total, as many as two million Ottoman Christians (Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, etc) were murdered by their own government. [Fully 75% were Armenian].
Talaat's tactics were so effective that on the eve of WWII, none other than Adolf Hitler paid him homage in a speech to his commanders. History would not judge them for the murder of women and children, he said. "Who, after all, remembers the Armenians?" Hitler had found a role model in Talaat.
But, whereas Hitler was thwarted by the Allies, and took his own life, Talaat was undeterred. Not only did he elude his enemies and escape a death sentence, he embarked on a brazen campaign to deny his own guilt, intent on his return to power.
Despite promises made to the Armenians that Talaat and his accomplices would be brought to justice, the Allies failed to follow through. Though the first world war had devastated most every nation involved, Turkish-Armenia had been utterly extinguished... and no one seemed to care.
Fast forward to June 2, 1921. A young Turkish-Armenian named Soghomon Tehlirian, who had survived the massacres, faced the death penalty in a Berlin courtroom for shooting a man at point blank range. Soghomon had confessed, and even admitted to premeditation. The judge was perplexed that this young killer exhibited not a single pang of guilt. Tehlirian insisted that he had done nothing wrong.
The following afternoon, after barely an hour of deliberation, the jury returned with a verdict. The judge asked the jury foreman, "Do you find Soghomon Tehlirian guilty of murder?" The answer came back, "No." And the courtroom exploded in cheers.
How could this be?
For the jury, the choice was simple. Though Soghomon had in fact killed a man, the man he killed, Talaat Pasha, had killed millions, and was ready to kill even more. Soghomon's act was no crime at all. Indeed, it was overdue justice.
Now a free man, Soghomon went on to write of the harrowing journey that culminated in his courtroom vindication. His is a coming-of-age story in the midst of unimaginable horror, and seemingly impossible odds. Yet through it all, he never strayed from his calling to bring justice for his people. Soghomon's trial is merely the final act in an epic hero's adventure, all documented first hand in his memoir. And I've been appointed by his family to share it with the world.
After almost three years of research in archives around the world, consultation and collaboration with historians, and the discovery of new primary sources and documents, this amazing story is ready to tell. Starting on the Tales of Truth YouTube Channel, the world will get a front row seat to my discovery of the greatest story ever forgotten. Plus, in 2021 the English speaking world will get to read Soghomon's words for themselves.
Exactly 100 years after he killed Talaat and was set free in Berlin (1921) Soghomon's memoir will be published in English. It's hard to believe such an incredible story could be suppressed for so long, but no more. Until then I will be working hard to produce content on YouTube that details my journey of discovery. The film script has been written and a team is being assembled. In the meantime, this GoFundMe will help launch a series of YouTube 'properties' to give a behind the scenes walk through of the whole process.
WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR DONATIONS?
$Any Amount: A "Thank You" shout out in one of the Tales of Truth videos.
$100 or more: A copy of Soghomon's Memoir*.
$250 or more: A limited edition autographed** copy of Soghomon's Memoir.
$1000 or more: VIP access at one stop on the book release tour***, limited edition autographed copy of Soghomon's Memoir.
$5000 or more: Call me, we'll talk. ;-)
_____________________________________________
* Upon Publication. ** Autographed by 2 Historians (who are writing the introduction) and myself. *** Book tour pending publication date.
Who is Michael Lee Gavlak?
Michael is an Emmy Award winning News Producer who resides in the greater Los Angeles area with his wife and three children. In 2017 he left his job in Hollywood to pursue Soghomon's story. In 2018, the family of Soghomon Tehlirian granted Michael and his business partner the exclusive rights to Soghomon's memoir. Michael and a team of historians and filmmakers have traveled the world to research and corroborate Soghomon's account. They've been to archives in Yerevan (Armenia), London, Venice, Berlin, Istanbul, and Boston. In February of 2020, Michael completed the first draft of a feature film screenplay which has been fact checked by historians, approved by the Tehlirian family, and is now in the hands of producers, including one of the producers of The Promise.
Organizer
Michael Gavlak
Organizer
South Pasadena, CA
