Final answer:
Blaming Turks can be viewed as an easy way out because it oversimplifies complex historical events, such as the Armenian genocide, the struggles for Turkish independence, and the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire. It redirects attention from the responsibilities of others and ignores the various experiences of different peoples under Ottoman rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
Blaming Turks for various historical events can be seen as an easy way out due to complex historical contexts and the tendency of victors or those in power positions to scapegoat former adversaries. During the Gallipoli campaign in World War I, Turks led by General Mustafa Kemal achieved a hard-fought victory, which played a key role in the founding of the modern Turkish Republic. However, the same period was marred by the genocide of the Armenian population by the Ottoman government, which accused Armenians of collaborating with the Russians. This was used as a justification to execute men and to force march women and children across deserts, resulting in the deaths of nearly one million Armenians.
The post-war period saw the Young Turk leader Mustafa Kemal aiming to preserve Turkish independence, with actions leading to the displacement and destruction of various ethnic populations, including the Armenians. The blaming Turks narrative simplifies these complex historical events and collective traumas, making it easier for other political groups or nations to divert attention from their own responsibilities or wrongdoings.
Furthermore, under the Ottoman Empire, territories and peoples, including Orthodox Christians, experienced varying degrees of autonomy, taxation, and treatment, sometimes even finding the Ottomans to be more lenient compared to other rulers. However, as conflict erupted and the empire began to collapse, ethnic tensions and expulsions became more prevalent, leaving lasting scars that made mutual blame and resentment an all too easy response.