This year, April 24th started quite early in the day, with a 6:30 meeting time for a commemorative hike organized by AHA (Armenian Hiking Association), which is just getting off the ground.

I haven’t even gotten to write the second one, and now I’m compelled to write the “third” tribute/testimonial/memorial of this year.

Since early 2012, we, as Armenians, have been in “elections mode”, especially those of us living in the U.S., and (arguably) more so those of us living in the Los Angeles area.

This year’s commemorative trail began on April 14, in Encino, for me. The AYF’s Sardarabad Chapter had organized the fourth (if memory serves me correctly) “Cycle Against Denial,” a roughly nine-mile loop starting at the Ferrahian School. This is a great idea, but the participation was markedly lower this year.

The guy writing this article is currently very frustrated and very excited, simultaneously!

As always, elections produce some great stories, some funny, some sad, and many frustrating. Burbank’s April 9 General Election was no exception. As you read these, please keep in mind that Burbank’s municipal elections are “all-mail” with all registered voters receiving a ballot at home.

I’ve been reminded of a sad situation twice in recent weeks. We may soon preside over the death of Western Armenian, handing Talaat and Ataturk yet another murderous victory.

That’s the dilemma we all face, right? “For whom should I vote?” is what we’re pondering as we’re lumbering to the polling booth to vote or mail box to send in our ballots.

Once upon a time, bands of marauding horsemen started moving westward across Asia. They gained infamy for their brutality and established dominion over many native peoples.

Last week, the City of Burbank held its biennial primary municipal election. As usual, the Burbank Armenian National Committee of America participated with endorsements, fundraising, and most importantly GOTV (get out the vote) work. It paid off! However, there was also a down side.

In Yerevan, we have the bleakness of a stolen election, politely and preemptively, of course, but stolen nevertheless.

It seems we as a society still have a lot of growing up to do. Here we are, 24 years after the first time Armenians ran for city council in Glendale to better represent that significant segment of the city’s the population, and we’re still encountering hate (Larry Zarian had served already, but his election was in a very different context).

In the heart of Armenian Country, U.S.A., local elections and their campaigns have kicked into high gear already. Burbank, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Glendale, more or less in that order, have dates coming up in February, March, April, and May for primary and general elections.

I’m not good at writing memorials/testimonials/eulogies, but sometimes, unfortunately, these become necessary.