BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN The news last week, that the number of cosponsors of the congressional Armenian Genocide resolution reached 200, sent shudders throughout the Turkish world. The Turkish government and its compliant mass media would probably get even more hysterical in the coming days as the number of House members supporting the resolution will reach…
More Good News
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN Two weeks in a row with positive things to say. I’m starting to feel like a cheerleader– a narcissistic cheerleader at that, with this and other references to my own spoutings. But fair’s fair, things aren’t all bad. On June 20, LA City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, hosted the opening of an exhibit…
Rabbis at Odds: Rabbi of Armenia Castigates Rabbi of Azerbaijan
BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN At the request of the Turkish government, the Chief Rabbi of Turkey and Jewish leaders in Istanbul periodically make public statemen’s against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the international community. Turkish officials make similar anti-Armenian deman’s from American-Jewish organizations during their frequent visits to the United States. Azerbaijan’s leaders, who…
Unspeakables… & Good News
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN I’ll abide by the “lav, pav, tzav” (OK, enough, pain) admonition applied by generations of Armenian parents. I’m going to have to mention a topic that just 15-20 years ago I would have come close to sneering at the existence of in our community. The third incidence of this unmentionable actually arose…
Chile Proves Genocide Recognition Is Based on Truth, not Lobbying
BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN Ever since 1965 when Uruguay became the first state to recognize the Armenian Genocide, a growing number of countries and international organizations have followed suit, despite tremendous political and economic pressure from the Turkish government. It would seem that Turkish officials are running out of excuses trying to explain to their people…
What Motivates Patriarch Mesrob’s Political Rhetoric?
BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN It is not always easy to figure out what prompts the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul), Mesrob II, to make at times conflicting and controversial statemen’s. Those familiar with the oppressive conditions within Turkey understand full well that the Patriarch and his flock are hostages in the hands of the Turkish government.…
Spiurkasdan
Isn’t that a great word? Diasporaland! I wish I’d come up with it! Those who did are a new band in Argentina, Los Armenios. It does the heart good to see this sort of progress. I like what I heard so much that I’m venturing into uncharted waters, I’m actually going to pretend to be a music critic!
Krekorian Wins Election despite Vicious Anti Armenian Hate Mail
By Harut Sassounian In an unsuccessful attempt to undermine the election of an Armenian American candidate in the Democratic Primary for the 43rd Assembly District of California–the California Latino Leadership Fund (CLLF) sent an ugly mailer last week that tarnished the image of the entire Armenian American community. The 43rd District includes Glendale–Burbank–North Hollywood–Silver Lake–Los…
So Many Lessons
By Garen Yegparian I really hope this’ll be the last election related piece for a while. Three back to back on the same topic can become boring. But–it’s necessary. The Armenian community is savoring a sweet victory right now. Paul Krekorian has won the Democratic Party nomination in the 43rd Assembly District of California–which houses…
EIs: On the March Again
By Garen Yegparian It’s election time again and our good buddies–the Electoral Idiots (EIs) have ventured forth anew to wreak political ruin for our community. This time around the stakes are higher–not just city council seats–but a State Assembly seat; in California; one of only 80; governing some 36 million people–almost 12.5% of the US…