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11/05/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenian American Issues Supporters Win Big in Congressional Elections 2) ANCA-WR Annual Banquet 3) Leading Community Organizations Congratulate President Bush 4) Prelate Mardirossian Congratulates Bush 5) NATO Head Praises Armenia Ties, Promotes OSCE for Karabagh Resolution 6) Arafat in Coma 7) ARS Summer Studies Institute at The University of Connecticut 8) MKR Prime Minister Danielyan Visits Pilibos 9) 'A Hair's Breadth from Death' 10) BUSH, BIN LADEN, OHIO, AND OTHER POST ELECTION RANTS 11) Lies, Disinformation, Misdirection, and Their Echoes 12) San Francisco Armenian Community Dedicates New Center 13) LETTER 14) CORRECTION 1) Armenian American Issues Supporters Win Big in Congressional Elections --Majority Senate and House endorsements win reelection; 138 of 142 Armenian Caucus members return to House WASHINGTON, DC--The Armenian American community scored bipartisan Congressional victories across the political landscape yesterday, with 199 of 202 Senate and House candidates endorsed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) winning their elections. "We are extremely pleased that such an overwhelming majority of our supporters won, including over 98% of those we endorsed in the House of Representatives and 97% of the Congressional Armenian Caucus," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working with these friends and the many new members of the 109th Congress on issues ranging from affirming the Armenian genocide to strengthening Armenia and defending Karabagh's right to self-determination within secure borders." "More than ever, we were gratified by the dramatically increased involvement of Armenian Americans in the electoral process, in particular, by the positive response to our voter education campaign on the ground in local communities and on our website--< ion,%20we%20registered%20over%2050,000%20unique%20visits%20from%20armenian%2 0american%20activists%20interested%20in%20learning%20more%20about%20where%20 their%20candidates%20for%20office%20st> In the weeks prior to the
election, we registered over 50,000 unique visits from Armenian American
activists interested in learning more about where their candidates for office
stood on the issues of importance to our community,” added Hamparian.
In a separate statement, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian congratulated President
Bush on his election victory, thanked Senator Kerry for a hard fought election
campaign, and praised the Armenian American community for an unprecedented
level of activism in this season’s electoral contests
US Senate.
All ten ANCA endorsed Senate incumbent candidates were re-elected, including
Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Barbara
Mikulski (D-MD), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Harry Reid (D-NV), Charles Schumer (D-NY),
Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Russell Feingold (D-WI).
In a stunning upset, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) lost his seat
to former South Dakota Congressman John Thune. Daschle, who had received a “C”
grade on the ANCA report card, had been largely unresponsive to Armenian
American concerns, withholding his support for the Genocide Resolution
(S.Res.164) in the 108th Congress.
Of the eight members of the Senate retiring, two–Illinois Republican Peter
Fitzgerald and Oklahoma Republican Don Nickles–had received an “F” grade from
the ANCA. The others, including Senators Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), Bob
Graham (D-FL), Zell Miller (D-GA), John Breaux (D-LA), and Fritz Hollings
(D-SC) generally failed to take a stand on Armenian American concerns. Of the
incoming Senators, the ANCA had endorsed Barack Obama (D-IL), who had reached
out to the Armenian American community in the months leading up to the
elections and Rep. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), who, as a House Member, had
supported
Armenian Genocide recognition initiatives. Rep. David Vitter (R-LA), who will
be replacing Sen. Breaux (D-LA), had received an “F” rating in the House from
the ANCA for his opposition to Armenian American concerns.
A consistent supporter of Armenian American issues, Democratic
Vice-Presidential candidate John Edwards, will be replaced by Rep. Richard
Burr
(R-NC), who has received a “C” rating from the ANCA.
US House of Representatives:
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) both will return to the 109th Congress, along with 138 of
the 142 Caucus members from the 108th Congress. Also returning are Armenian
American Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and John Sweeney (R-NY) each
winning
re-election by large margins.
Caucus member Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX) lost, in what emerged as one of the
most expensive House races, to Rep. Jeff Sessions, who has received an “F”
rating from the ANCA. Rep. Joe Hoeffel (D-PA) lost his bid for the
Pennsylvania
Senate to Republican Senator Arlen Specter. Other Caucus members retiring are
Gerald Kleczka (D-WI) and Jim Greenwood (R-PA).
ANCA endorsed non-incumbents Jim Costa (D-CA-20), Kenny Marchant (R-TX-24),
Joe Schwarz (R-MI-7), Dan Lungren (R-CA-3), and Cynthia McKinney (D-GA-4),
each
of whom won their election bids. Central California ANC members worked closely
with the Costa campaign in the months leading up to the vote. McKinney, who
served in the House of Representatives until 2002, was an outspoken
advocate of
Armenian genocide reaffirmation efforts, serving on the House International
Relations Subcommittee on Europe. Michigan area Armenian American activists
worked with and fundraised extensively for Joe Schwarz, who is replacing
outgoing House member Nick Smith–who received an “F” rating from the ANCA.
Other House Members with “F” ratings leaving Congress include New York
Republican Amo Houghton and Florida Republican Porter Goss.
For a full listing of ANCA endorsements visit
<; 2) ANCA-WR Annual Banquet PASADENA--Billed as the Armenian American community's largest gathering of political activists, public officials, academics, and ANCA-WR supporters, the Armenian National Committee of AmericaWestern Region 2004 Annual Banquet attracted more than 600 people, including an unprecedented gathering of elected officials. The event was held at the Ritz CarltonHuntington Hotel in Pasadena, California on Sunday, October 24. The distinguished guest list included Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, Los Angeles City Coucilmembers Dennis Zine, Wendy Greuel, and Antonio Villaraigosa, Congressman Adam Schiff, County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, State Senators Jack Scott and Jackie Speier, and Assemblymembers Ron Calderon, Dario Frommer, and Carol Liu, as well as a number of other local public officials including the Mayors of Glendale, Pasadena, and Montebello and the President of the Studio City Town Council. Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Gagik Kirakossian, Federal Judge Dikran Tevrizian, Los Angeles Superior Court Judges Zaven Sinanian and Greg Keosian were also present. The evening's Master of Ceremonies, Councilmember Frank Zerunyan of the City of Rolling Hills Estates, kicked off the program with a special "Tribute to Our Troops," which included a special color guard comprised of Armenian-Americans members of the United States Army and Marine Corps. Three of the participants in the Color Guard were veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and included Specialist John Muerguerian, United States Army Reserve, 308 Civil Affairs Brigade, who served 14 months in Baghdad, Iraq; Sergeant Shant Minas, United States Army Reserve 1997-2003, 376 AG Batalion, who served in Korea, Colorado, Washington; Sergeant Baleny Minas, United States Marine Corps Reserve, 775 Helicopter Marine Light Attack Squadron, who served in Fallujah for 6 months; and Raffi Bahadourian of the United States Marine Corps, who served in Iraq for 6 months. The presentation of the colors was preceded by a moment of silence for those brave men and women who serve their country when called on. Attendees were given an inside look at the ANCA Capital Gateway Program with a video presentation that gave an inside look at this unique program which invites college graduates to move to Washington, DC, and live in a dormitory for up to three months while ANCA staff helps them find jobs on Capitol Hill and elsewhere in Washington. The "2004 ANCA-WR Legacy Award," which acknowledges Armenian-Americans who have made an indelible mark in their respective field while mentoring the next generation of Armenian-American leaders, was presented to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) by last year's recipient, Judge Dikran Tevrizian. Congresswoman Eshoo was touched by the honor and praised the ANCA Capital Gateway Program in her remarks. The "2004 ANCA-WR Freedom Award" was presented to Near East Foundation. The Near East Foundation was started over 85 years ago by intellectuals, philanthropists, activists, and politicians in the United States who wanted to respond to the humanitarian crisis which was occurring in the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian genocide. The group raised an unprecedented amount of money in excess of 30 million dollars to help the orphans of the Armenian genocide and set the tone for subsequent international relief efforts. Their work helped save an entire generation of Armenians and gave them hope. The Near East Foundation continues to help people in the Middle East and North Africa today and raise awareness about the Armenian genocide by educating people about the roots and foundation of their organization (<;). For all these efforts, they were presented the "2004 ANCA-WR Freedom Award." The final honoree of the evening was California State Senator Charles Poochigian, who was presented the "2004 ANCA-WR Man of the Year Award." Senator Poochigian, who represents the city of Fresno in the California State Senate, has been a strong voice for Armenian Americans in the State legislature for nearly a decade. In the current legislative session, Senator Poochigian authored a number of bills that affect California's Armenian residents, including a bill that exempted any Genocide Era Insurance Claims settlements from California State taxation. Senator Poochigian had been instrumental in initiating laws that allowed for cases to be brought against Insurance companies who still held insurance policies of individuals who had died during the genocide era. The evening concluded with remarks from both ANCA-WR Chair Raffi Hamparian and ANCA Chair Ken Hachikian. The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet is the organization's main fundraiser to help educate Armenian-Americans about the voting process, as well as help fund outreach efforts to public officials in a various offices. Through these funds, the ANCA is able to educate the general public about the Armenian genocide, the Republic of Armenia, Karabagh, and other vital issues of concern to the Armenian American community. 3) Leading Community Organizations Congratulate President Bush November 4, 2004 President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Bush: On behalf of the Armenian National Committee of America--Western Region (ANCA-WR) and our family of community based organizations, please accept our congratulations on your re-election as President of the United States of America. Your victory represents a wonderful opportunity to bring America together. Your second term can bridge the issues that divide us as a nation and move us forward to a better America. We welcomed your remarks this past week in which you eloquently spoke of the trust the American people have again placed in you and your duty to serve all Americans. Mr. President, the past four years have been an era of lost opportunities with respect to building ties between the White House and the Armenian American community. Too many issues have divided the one and a half million Americans of Armenian descent from many of the policies of your Administration. By working together on issues ranging from strengthening bi-lateral US-Armenia economic ties, honestly dealing with the Armenian genocide, and promoting the freedom and right to self-determination of the people of Karabagh, we look forward to creating a new and positive dialogue with your Administration. We are confident, Mr. President, that you share our pride that Armenian Americans joined the rest of the country in casting their votes this Tuesday in unprecedented numbers. Armenian Americans are an integral part of our collective effort to build a stronger America. The ANCA-WR will continue to encourage the Armenian American community to be active in making America, in the words of the Founding Fathers, a more perfect union. Again, congratulations to you Mr. President. May God bless your second term as the leader of our great nation. Respectfully, Armenian National Committee of America Western Region Armenian Relief Society of Western USA Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of Western USA Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts of Western USA 4) Prelate Mardirossian Congratulates Bush Dear Mr. President, As the Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, I have the distinct pleasure to congratulate you on behalf of our entire faithful community on your re-election to serve the people of this great nation for four more years. Mr. President, I wish you success on your second term in office to lead the United States of America in these turbulent times. I am confident that during your term as president, you will guide your administration on the path towards peace and pursuit of justice for all those deprived of their inalienable human rights. I pray to Almighty God to guide you towards the realization of your goals and pledges to lead this great nation and its faithful people. Prayerfully, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate Western United States of America 5) NATO Head Praises Armenia Ties, Promotes OSCE for Karabagh Resolution YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--NATO's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer welcomed on Friday Armenia's growing cooperation with the Western alliance, during a brief visit to Yerevan that wrapped up his tour of the three South Caucasus states. "I think that the relationship between Armenia and NATO is developing very well indeed," de Hoop Scheffer told a news conference after talks with President Robert Kocharian and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. "Armenia has taken an important decision to develop the so-called Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO," he said, referring to a cooperation framework that will raise Yerevan's participation in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program to a higher level. Meeting with Scheffer, Kocharian reaffirmed his government's intention to forge closer links with NATO while maintaining its military alliance with Russia. "We want to have more active participation in a number of programs," he said in apparent reference to the IPAP. Also on the agenda of the NATO chief's talks was the unresolved Mountainous Karabagh conflict. Scheffer again ruled out a NATO mediation of the Armenian-Azeri dispute. "NATO has no intention and ambition to play an active role in finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict," he said. "That's up to the [OSCE] Minsk Group co-chairs." 6) Arafat in Coma PARIS (Reuters)--Yasser Arafat lies in a coma "between life and death" as a dispute brews between Israelis and Palestinians over a likely burial site. Palestinian envoy to France Leila Shahid denied on Friday the 75-year-old Palestinian president, in a French military hospital, was brain dead and said he was in a reversible coma. But back home, 14 Palestinian factions met in a show of unity meant to avoid strife in a possible power vacuum. Arafat has not named a successor and his illness has raised fears of chaos among Palestinians waging a 4-year-old uprising against Israel. Some of Arafat's powers, for security and financing, have already been handed over to Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie, a leading moderate. Palestinian officials refused to discuss funeral preparations openly. But Arafat has said he wanted to be buried in Jerusalem. Israel wants Arafat, admired by Palestinians but reviled by many Israelis--to be buried in the Gaza Strip. "Jerusalem is a city where Jews bury their kings. It's not a city where we want to bury an Arab terrorist, a mass murderer," Israeli Justice Minister Yosef Lapid told Channel 10 television. Arafat, who has spent the past week in France being treated for an unspecified illness, slipped into a coma on Thursday. "Today we can say that Yasser Arafat in his state of health and at his age is at a critical juncture between life and death," Shahid, the permanent Palestinian envoy to Paris, told French radio station RTL. "I assure you that he is not brain dead," she said. "He is in a coma. We are not sure what type. But it is a reversible coma." The 14 Islamic and secular Palestinian groups, which have waged the uprising against Israel, put up a united front at a meeting in the Gaza Strip. "We are people looking for freedom, not fighting tribes," said senior Islamic Jihad official Mohammed al-Hindi, who emerged from hiding for the meeting. "We have demanded the formation of a unified national leadership." In the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians were glued to radio and television broadcasts. Security has been boosted at Jewish settlements, Israeli television said. Ordinary Palestinians made clear they wanted a successor even less willing to compromise with Israel. "Unless a successor is more determined and steadfast on the fundamental Palestinian rights, he will never be trusted by the people," said 30-year-old Khaled Ammar at a Gaza mosque. But the European Union, whose leaders were meeting in Brussels, underlined the need to press on with peace moves with or without Arafat. "The people of Palestine...can be sure that Europe will continue to make every possible effort to ensure that the Palestinian state becomes a reality," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told a news conference. 7) ARS Summer Studies Institute at The University of Connecticut WATERTOWN--The 2004 Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Summer Studies Institute, a three-week program with intensive lessons in Armenian language, history, and literature, will be held from June 5-June 25, 2005, at the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs. The program features a three-credit Survey of Armenian History course through the University of Connecticut. Additional classes will also be offered in Armenian Language, Literature, Music, Art, Film, among others. Graduate level credits are available. Subjects are taught by University or College faculty who are experts in their field of study and research. In addition to supplementary lectures, workshops, and performances, weekend excursions to New York City and Boston are organized, where students can visit historic Armenian institutions. The ARS Eastern USA provides free room and board, meals, books, and includes the weekend field trips to New York City and Boston. Students who register after December 31 pay a higher registration fee. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. All students pay UConn tuition fees associated with the three-credit Survey of Armenian History course. Scholarships are available from the ARS Eastern USA and local ARS chapters. For an application, visit the ARS Eastern USA website at ARS 2004 Summer Studies participant Ani Saryan said, "The ARS Summer Studies program is a rewarding experience that all college-age students should experience. It is a wonderful experience for anyone who attends and they will learn a lot about their culture and history." 8) MKR Prime Minister Danielyan Visits Pilibos LOS ANGELES--The Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School elementary students warmly welcomed Mountainous Karabagh Republic's (MKR) Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielyan and his delegation on October 15, as they proudly waved the MKR flags they had prepared for the occasion. Accompanying the Prime Minister was the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Gagik Kirakossian, MKR Representative Vardan Barseghian, Armenia Fund Inc. Vice-Chair Ara Aghishian, Armenia Fund Executive Director Khatchatur Khudikyan, and Public Relations Executive Sarkis Kotanjian. Also present were His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and Reverend Father Viken Vassilian. The Prime Minister addressed the high school students at the new, state-of-the-art gymnasium, which he was visibly impressed by. Speaking about the Republic and the ongoing developments in the fledgling nation, Prime Minister Danielyan called on all students to, once again, collectively participate in the activities of the Armenia Fund, especially during the upcoming Telethon. The Prime Minister stressed that collective participation forms the basis of a stronger nation. After speaking to the students, Student Council President Ara Thomassian, presented Danielyan a copy of the school's yearbook and an athletic sweatshirt. Principal Yacoubian, addressing the delegation and the students, assured that Pilibos students would once more be fully committed to the efforts of Armenia Fund. He reiterated the importance of the next generation of young adults who will play an integral role in the rebuilding of their homeland. Archbishop Mardirossian stressed the importance of how activism of all students plays a vital role in cultural and ethnic identity and development. With that in mind, the Archbishop also praised the efforts of Armenia Fund, Inc.--an organization which has continuously supported the developmental efforts of the Karabagh Republic. The delegation was given a brief tour of the campus, with the new library being the point of interest. They were able to take a close look at the library's automated catalog and checkout system, as well as its fully cataloged Armenian collection. After completing his tour of the library, Prime Minister Danielyan signed a copy of the Pilibos 2004 Yearbook which will be housed in the library. 9) 'A Hair's Breadth from Death' Memoirs of Hampartzoum Chitjian Genocide eyewitness Hampartzoum Chitjian's first-person accounts of the Armenian genocide and its aftermath tell of his life of suffering, survival by living as a slave in Turkish and Kurdish households, his escape--via Persia to Mexico--and subsequently Los Angeles, where a sense of loss and injustice pervade his being. His raison d'etre becomes to ensure the Genocide is not forgotten. A very familiar face to the old-time LA community, Chitjian attended each and every April 24 demonstration held in the in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and even through part of the 90s. He died last year before his memoirs were ready for publication. His faithful daughter finished them, however; the two editions that compilation--one in English and one in Armenian-- be released next month. LOS ANGELES--On November 15, the Armenian Film Foundation will host a reception and book signing for A Hair's Breadth from Death, the memoirs of Hampartzoum Chitjian. Speakers include scholar Hilmar Kaiser, a German historian who has authored two publications on the Armenian genocide, Publisher Ara Sarafian of Taderon Press in London, and Chitjian's daughter, Sara. "Chitjian's memoirs are a unique contribution to the field of genocide studies, immigration studies, and the social-economic history of the Ottoman Empire and Armenia," says Kaiser. "His encounters with other shattered Armenian survivors offer a panorama of Armenian survival strategies and the appalling conditions and choices these few had to make. Students of immigration to the United States will find the account of the author's journey to the US most interesting." J. Michael Hagopian, founder and chairman of the Armenian Film Foundation, will present a short film on Chitjian, who appears in the AFF's "Witnesses" trilogy of documentary films, and will offer some personal reflections. Chitjian, who was born in Perri, Kharpert, was J. Michael Hagopian's babysitter. His daughter will speak about helping her father with his memoirs, which Seda Maronyan transcribed in Armenian over the course of several years. Sara translated the memoirs to English, finishing the work after her father passed away last year at the age of 102. Sarafian says, "Chitjian's life story is remarkable for the amount of detail that is included, and that is why these memoirs are one of the most important first-person accounts of the genocide and survival." The book signing is at 7 p.m. at the United Armenian Congregational Church hall, 3480 Cahuenga Boulevard West. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. For further information, please contact 805-495-0717. About the Book: A Hair's Breadth from Death represents one of the key memoirs of the Armenian genocide to date. Hampartzoum Chitjian (1901-2003) fleshes out, in great detail, the fate of Armenian women and children who were not "deported" in 1915, but separated from their parents for assimilation into Turkish and Kurdish households. According to some estimates, close to 200,000 Armenians were targeted for such assimilation during the genocide process, and only a fraction of them managed to revert back to their Armenian identity after the defeat of Ottoman Turkey in 1918. Chitjian survived the genocide in the Kharpert plain, until 1921, when he escaped to Mexico, and later moved to Los Angeles. On the eve of the 1915 Armenian deportations, Chitjian's father took his four sons to a Turkish orphanage in Perri, with the hope that they would somehow survive. The remaining Armenian population of Perri was soon deported and killed. Those fateful days became a turning point in Chitjian's life, as the world he knew collapsed around him, and he embarked on an Odyssey of survival--picking up the pieces of his lost world wherever possible. The bulk of his memoirs are a detailed, blow-by-blow account of his survival in Turkish and Kurdish families, and his escape to the new world. During this period he found surviving relatives, got married, set up his own family, and become a contributing member of Armenian communities in Mexico City and Los Angeles. Yet the Armenian genocide remained an ever-present element in his life, as he observed new generations of Armenians who were denied knowledge of their roots, their ancestral homeland (their yergeer), and who assimilated as a matter of course. His experience of the genocide never ended; it just entered new phases over the decades, until his own death in 2003. Perhaps it is for this reason that, like many other survivors of the genocide, he felt compelled to write down his thoughts and memories as a debt to his family, the people of Perri, and the quest for justice he felt compelled to champion. His memoirs are accordingly written in a passionate, forthright, and unabashed style. With his unconventional style, use of vernacular Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish terms, Chitjian expresses his fury as a survivor of the Armenian genocide in the modern world. How could the world forget the crime that was committed against the Armenian people? How can Turkish governments today continue to deny the genocide of Armenians? And how can Armenian communty leaders and political parties fail to unite against this injustice. Chitjian's work makes compelling reading, and can often be extremely disturbing. It is over 400 pages long and includes over 150 maps, diagrams and photographs, as well as a glossary of terms. It is a true landmark of a primary account of the Armenian genocide. Written as an autobiography in Armenian and translated into English, the book is available in both languages through Garod Books: books@garodbooks.com and at the Abril bookstore in Glendale. EXCERPTS: Left at the Turkish Orphanage by his father ...Without hesitating a moment my father took his four sons and walked towards the small [m]agtab (Turkish school), leaving the women behind in the house. As we walked, my father did not utter a word. He was completely speechless. I thought he was mute from the cruel beatings and torture he suffered in jail. No one uttered a word--not a sound was made. We all walked with fear and dismay in our hearts, not knowing what was going to happen to us or what was going to happen to the rest of our family--my sisters, my aunts, and stepmother. Why were we separating? In times of crisis the family should stay together. Instead we were splitting up and going in different directions. I did not want to part from my father. Why was he taking us to that school? I was so afraid. Custom prevailed, then as always. We were taught not to question my father's command. We obediently obliged. My father walked in front, clasping tightly onto Kaspar's hand. It was in our later years when I found out from Kaspar that my father had spoken as we were walking. My father's last words were that the Turks were going to send him and the women to America to unite with our brothers. At that point Kaspar asked why the boys were going to the Turkish school and not to America with the family. His final reply was, "America for us is the river." Kaspar confessed that he didn't understand his father's last response, and at that point he was more confused than ever. Unfortunately, we were to find out the true meaning of that statement when we heard it repeated so many times in the subsequent months... We were all too young to fully comprehend what was transpiring. Splitting up the family when all of the Armenians in Perri were picked up, imprisoned and tortured without cause or explanation was more than we could comprehend or bear. We continued to walk silently. My father's tortured posture showed no emotion or tears. Had his blood turned into stone? I could tell from his eyes he was smoldering from within. His mind and soul were completely devastated. I am sure he didn't know what to tell us. He feared if he said anything unknowingly it might jeopardize what we might later say or do, and thereby be harmful for us. He was a devout believer in God. He did what he thought was best and left us in the hands of God." Separating the Older Armenian Boys in the Orphanage for Execution Three weeks later without warning, about ten o'clock in the morning, three gendarmes entered the Protestant Church before we were taken out to pillage for the day. Without a word they promptly started to separate boys according to their physical size and age. They grouped me with the older and larger boys aged fourteen to seventeen and kept Kaspar, my twin, with the younger boys. Not knowing why we were being separated, I immediately yelled out, protesting that I did not want to be separated from my younger brothers or my twin. "I'm his twin, we are the same age!" I felt I had to protect them, and I was desperate. Suddenly, I felt a strong grasp on my arm. Immediately, I recognized the voice of Mihran Mirakian, my older brother's classmate. Mihran was also older and larger than I was. He quietly whispered into my ear, "Let him go, he might survive. . ." Witnessing the Kurdish Rebellion of Dersim, 1916 The following spring, the Kurds, another subjugated minority under Ottoman rule, rebelled against the Turks. They were advancing towards Medzgerd from the mountains of the Derseem, looting and burning the houses as they headed towards Perri. The Turkish soldiers weren't able to stop them. There were a number of Armenian fedayees fighting with the Kurds. Together they had become a strong force. As the Kurds got closer to Perri, Turkish soldiers were sent to help the Turkish civilians escapemany of them used their kaylahgs (river rafts) to cross the Perri River over to Hoshay. One morning I had gone to the Gahmarr Fountain to fetch water. Suddenly Doodaughsooz (cut-lipped) Khehder, Ehmeenehm's brother, approached me. He had acquired that nickname when his upper lip was cut away as punishment for a crime he had committed. The prosecuting lawyer who found him guilty was an Armenian. Thereafter, he despised all Armenians. He knew me as Korr-Mamoe's slave and was unaware that I was Armenian. He rushed up to me and told me to forget the water, to run home quickly and tell Korr-Mamoe to get on his horse and rush down to the river. I hurried home without the water and told Korr-Mamoe the news. "The avenging Kurds have advanced as far as Bahsue. The Gavours (infidels) were among them. They are burning and looting everything along the way!" Alarmed and without further questioning, he grabbed his horse and we rushed towards the river. Winters usually began in early October in Perri and lasted through the middle of March. There were always heavy, bitter snowstorms. The rivers froze three to four feet deep. Anyone traveling with a horse or donkey with a heavy load could safely walk across the river with relative ease during the peak of the coldest season. In no time we reached the bank of the Perri River. Because it was early spring, thick blocks of ice were still breaking loose and floating in the water. The large chunks of ice made it difficult for the fleeing people to cross over to Hoshay with their small kaylahgs. Many were thrown off as their kaylahgs collided with a boulder of ice. Once thrown into the frigid water, it was very difficult for them to swim ashore or to get back on their kaylahg. Many people drowned in their desperate attempt to escape. Suddenly, I saw my twin brother, Kaspar. Almost a year had passed since our last encounter. I desperately wanted to embrace him. At best, it was a relief just to know he was still alive and well. He was also escaping with his Turkish master, Meudayee Oomoomee, and his family. As they were getting on their kaylahg, I quickly approached Kaspar and whispered to him to ask his Effendi if he would take me too. I felt it would be safer going with them. At the same time, there might have been a chance we would be reunited again. Saving Armenian Women in the Kharpert Plain at the End of WWI While I was still living at the Armenian orphanage, we began to feel less intimidated because the Americans were still there--a false sense of calm prevailed. Both the American missionaries and soldiers encouraged Armenian boys to assist Kude Archbishop Mekhitarian to carry out his mission to rescue Armenians still held in bondage by Turks and Kurds. Many Armenian women who had been forced to become Turkish and Kurdish wives left their children fathered by Turks or Kurds and fled to the Armenian Protestant orphanage. Others refused to give up their children and made the choice to remain, just as my Aunt Aghavni refused to give up her children and remained in Perri. I tried to convince her many times but to no avail. While I realized what a difficult decision that must have been, I greatly admired the women who left their children and fled when they found the opportunity. With this opportunity in mind, I remembered the slave who worked in the gendarme's house in Parchanj. She always treated me well, while her Khanum, Fahtmah, always taunted me by calling me Gavour Boghee. One day when I had the opportunity, I decided to go to Parchanj and rescue the slave. I knew I was risking my life if the gendarme caught me. Nevertheless, I went. First, I dropped by to say hello to Khanum, the kind, elderly woman who had always treated me well. It felt good to know she was very happy to see me. She inquired about my problem with the ghosts. After a short pleasant visit, I told her I had come just to see her. Then I left. I quickly went across the street and went up to the second level of their three-story house where the slave had her living quarters, above the stable. The Armenian slave came out as soon as she saw me. Quickly and quietly, I told her why I had come. I was surprised by her response. Apparently, she and Khanum had anticipated my intentions when they saw me in the area and had made their own arrangements. The slave assured me that she could escape whenever she saw fit, and that it would be better for me to take Fahtmah Khanum herself. For some time, she was preparing to escape. Khanum had previously sent her daughter away to safety. Now, she was waiting for the opportunity to escape herself and was willing to part from her sons. So now she was relying on me to take her away--that day! I was struck by the sudden realization that the person who had been so cruel and hostile towards me, shouting Gavour Boghee at me every chance she had, now wanted me to risk my life to help her escape from her Turkish gendarme husband who terrified everyone just with his barbaric presence. I knew the gendarme or his mother could enter that room at any moment. So, we had to escape immediately. Without giving her suggestion a second thought, I agreed and quietly followed the Armenian slave up to the third floor. Fahtmah Khanum was ready and waiting for me to take her away. Silently, without a word, she motioned for us to go down the back stairs. She was dressed in her white charshaff (sheet). Her body and face were concealed. I had never seen her face before, nor did I see it then. Only her eyes were visible. "Gee dehk" she said in Turkish. "Let's go!" Bidding us farewell, the slave whispered, "Be careful--don't get caught!" When we got downstairs, I peered from behind the house to make sure no one was in sight. The coast was clear, so we fled, walking as fast as we could, making sure we did not attract anyone's attention. Fahtmah Khanum walked briskly by my side and never uttered a word. The walk from Parchanj to Kharpert was about two hours. After walking for some time on the road through Kehsereeg, I decided it would be safer to change our route, even though it would be much longer. By taking the new route, I avoided passing by the police station that usually had at least sixty policemen milling around. I was greatly relieved when we finally arrived in Mezreh. I took Fahtmah Khanum directly to the Armenian Protestant orphanage. Without a word, I quickly left. All the Armenian women and girls were housed there. Reverend Yeghoyan had converted his zhoghovahran, meeting hall, into an orphanage. Discovering the Fate of His Beloved Family Members One day while I was walking alone towards the Hokey Doon, a woman recognized me. Waving her hand, she called out my name, "Hampartzoum! Hampartzoum!" A warm feeling went up and down my spine. It was a nostalgic sound to hear my Armenian name called out by a familiar voice from Perri. As she got closer, I recognized her. It was a pleasant surprise and realization to know there were other survivors from Perri! After a few words, her mood changed and her eyes filled up with tears. She proceeded to tell me she had seen my sister, Zaruhy, in the Hokey Doon on one occasion several years earlier and hadn't seen her since. Nor had she heard what happened to her. That encounter took place when Zaruhy reached Haleb. She was very exhausted and weak when she began to tell the woman what had happened to her father and family. As Zaruhy began to relate her story to the woman, it was obvious she was unable to endure the agony of recalling the painful ordeal before completing her story. Zaruhy felt faint and collapsed to the ground. Medical attendants from the Hokey Doon rushed to her assistance and carried her away. Thus, the woman was able to tell me only what little Zaruhy managed to convey to her and no more: "After returning home from the Turkish orphanage where my father had taken my three brothers and me, he went home to pick up my stepmother, his sister Marinos, and my three sisters Zaruhy, Sultahn and Yeranuhi. They joined the other neighbors from Perri who were being forcibly deported, leaving behind their personal belongings and their homes. They were not given time to make preparations for the ordeals of deportation. As soon as they reached the banks of the Perri River, my father advised my sister Sultahn, who was only sixteen at the time, to throw herself into the river for a more peaceful death. Because of her crippled arm, he felt the Turks would only abuse and torture her, then inevitably they would kill her. Even though she was a pretty girl, no one would take her as a wife. Aware of what they had already done to my father, as evidenced by the dry bloodstains on his coat, Sultahn promptly threw herself into the rushing waters of the Perri River. "After a mournful prayer, the family resumed walking with the others. As they drew nearer Hoshay, a Turk attempted to grab my stepmother. At that point, my father tried to stop him, but the Turk reacted swiftly by slicing off my father's ears... "As much as we know, those were Zaruhy's last words, and with tears streaming down her face, she collapsed. Apparently her exhausted body and devastated soul couldn't endure any more. We will never know how she managed to escape from the demise of the others or how she managed to trudge across the horrible Der Zor Desert on her own." Hampartzoum Mardiros Chitjian, A Hair's Breadth from Death: The Memoirs of Hampartzoum Mardiros Chitjian, (London and Reading: Taderon Press, 2004), xx + 434 pp., ISBN 1903656303, maps, photos., illust., gloss., hb., US$35.00. To order contact books@garodbooks.com 10) BUSH, BIN LADEN, OHIO, AND OTHER POST ELECTION RANTS BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest. I feel as though I can finally breathe. I know most people were expecting me to spontaneously combust into a ball of flames if President Bush was reelected, but I'm not upset. I watched both Senator Kerry's concession speech and President Bush's victory speech and it made me realize that regardless of who's in office, the world will continue to go about its everyday business. The sun will rise and the sun will set. Bombs will be manufactured on an assembly line with the same precision and attention to detail as tiny jars of baby food and no one will take notice. Another four years and there will be more casualties in Iraq and more ready-to-eat headlines will be thrown at us by the "news media" and the band will keep on playing its tune. Has Skeptik lost his mind? I think he's finally snapped! No, No, No. Nothing can be further from the truth. I'm just preparing myself for four more years of the same. After the election results were finalized, I realized that I'm not like many Americans. In fact, I'm not like 59,459,765 Americans (that's how many folks voted for more of the same). The number still boggles my mind. I can understand 459,765 people somewhere in American wanting to vote for the President. In fact I think that's the entire population of North Dakota, if I'm not mistaken (give or take a few hundred). But where did the other 59 million come from? Time will tell. As for me, I've already ordered my "Don't Blame Me, I Never Voted For Him To Begin With" T-shirt. I figure they'll be really popular in about two years. It occurred to me that this was a historic election. It was one of those elections that Government students in high school will be studying years from now. It's one of those elections which will affect the way we, as Americans, think and act for years to come. I can just picture asking someone ten or fifteen years from now if they vote or not and the response being "Nope, I never vote! Well, I voted once, back in 2004, but my guy lost and I haven't voted since!" This is an all too familiar line for some folks, particularly Mondale and McGovern supporters. By the way, the greatest story that no one even cared to write about or pick up on in this election ordeal was run by the Drudge Report a few nights before the election. Apparently Walter Cronkite--America's News Anchor--made a comment on Larry King Live about how Karl Rove (The Bush Victory Architect) was behind the Bin Laden tape which was released just days before the election. I don't know if that's true or not but it seems interesting that even someone as well respected at Walter Cronkite would have the same suspicions that I did. After all, haven't we been after this guy (Bin Laden) for nearly 3 years? Yet he's released more videos to the public than Paris Hilton. We have the technology to drop bombs from tens of thousands of feet in the sky into a hole the size of a small doorway. We can track mouse or rat from outer space with spy satellites, but we can't find a seven foot tall Arab on dialysis in the mountains of Tora Bora or wherever he is. And finally, my Armenian American analysis of this whole outcome. The ink on my "inka vote" ballot was not even dry and the polls were still open in Hawaii when my friend (Mr. self-proclaimed Republican) called me up to gloat over the fiasco unfolding in Ohio. (My mother told me to never trust states that end in the same letter that they begin with!) My friend was so proud of the fact that he had voted for Bush. He was glowing with the pride that a gambler has after betting on the winning horse. He assured me that nothing would have been different for Armenians had Kerry been elected and that Bush would pursue a policy that would, by default, benefit Armenians. Here's a part of the logic and see if you can follow: Bush lowers taxes for Americans. Armenian Americans benefit from those lower taxes. With more money in their pockets because of Bush, more Armenian Americans will be able to support charities that help Armenia or send money directly to Armenia. THUD! (sound of my head hitting the wall). I asked him why he voted for Bush and he went on to explain that Bush was going to win anyway, and if all Armenians supported Kerry, it would mean that we would have no cards left to play with Bush. Ok, I can see that. In fact, I agree with that. But that argument loses merit when you spend all your time gloating and rubbing your victory in the faces of other Armenians who didn't support your decision rather than trying to actually cash in those chips with the Bush-Cheney Team. And my final point before I put this election nightmare to rest...You can't live your whole life bowing down to whoever is in power simply because you're afraid to rock the boat to make a difference. Armenians are, as I mentioned in my last column, the hacky sack at a hippie commune of world politics. We're kicked around and thrown in the dirt. So what's our response? Kissing the foot that just kicked us, because that's what 2000 years of living as a subject of foreign powers will do to you. We may be too small to win every battle, but you have to act with a winner's mindset; otherwise, you'll always be a loser. There are many ways to win in politics, as well as in life, but the one sure-fire, never proven otherwise way to lose is to never even play the game. Skeptik Sinikian is nobody's hacky sack. His opinions are his own and are not for sale. He can be reached for comment at skeptiksinikian@aol.com or visit his blog at <; 11) Lies, Disinformation, Misdirection, and Their Echoes By Garen Yegparian It's all over except for the certifications various state authorities must make. George W. Bush actually got elected this time. And that's what boggles the mind. Somewhere in the vicinity of four million more voters chose to vote for a consistent liar than his somewhat bland, but at least decent, opponent. This man and his regime and the so-called neo-conservative movement's minions lied to pave the way for invading Iraq. They continue to at least obfuscate to keep the true picture of events in that country from gelling in the American public's mind. They lied about the true cost and resulting price points of medication for seniors with Medicare 'reform.' They refuse to reveal the participation in Dick Cheney's energy task force meetings, clearly masking some nefarious machinations. They promulgated a Healthy Forests program that chops the trees down to save them. Despite a term marked by a NET LOSS of jobs for the first time since the Great Depression, they assert that jobs have been created, relying on the partial truth that jobs have been created in the LAST FEW MONTHS. They boast about a No Child Left Behind Policy while funding it insufficiently and forcing teachers to prepare students for standardized exams as if they were robots. A so-called Clear Skies initiative lets polluters off the hook so they won't have to reduce emissions. They claim to have made the US safer but animosity towards the country is rising all around the world and they issue unfunded mandates to local and state authorities who, as a result, cannot hire and train the requisite first responders--police, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, etc. They reject the Kyoto Protocol designed to reduce greenhouse gases that cause global warming by contending this phenomenon doesn't exist--despite massive scientific evidence to the contrary. They promulgated hundreds of anti-environmental regulations, usually announced on late Friday afternoons so no one, particularly the media, would notice. But how can people not see this? They're not stupid, right? That's the beauty of the con job. Because a solid bloc of people backs these "crazies" (as they were called by other government officials during Papa Bush's presidency), duplicity is channeled through these supporters. So, when Chief of Staff Andy Card says "President Bush received the most popular votes of any president in our history" (quote is approximate), the dittoheads made famous by Rush Limbaugh and others like them start echoing it. Wow, what a surprise, someone in 2004 got more votes than someone else got in 1904, who in turn got more than someone in 1804. Gee, I wonder if the country's steadily growing population has anything to do with it? But now this "fact" will be used to aggrandize Bush. It will be repeated so many times that its echoes will drown out all else and it will become relevant reality. Reminds me of the Nazis' approach to propaganda. Then, if someone dares point out salient facts, people will have become so used to the original 'fact' that this poor Johnny-come-lately will be vilified as a partisan, liberal hack. This explains how so many otherwise decent people could stoop to voting for a mass-murderer (see GOVERNOR George W. Bush's executions record). A number of the California propositions were drowned similarly. In this case, the echo-chamber effect was initiated by that 'paragon' of moderate Republicanness, Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'll focus on two of them through which people cut their own throats then precluded the prospect of treatment. Prop 64 passed. As a result, people and public interests groups can no longer pursue legal action against, let's say a company dumping toxic materials illegally, unless they have themselves been directly harmed. What was the selling point the governator and other advocates of this measure used? They claimed people were initiating frivolous lawsuits as a means of extorting money from innocent, small businesses. While a miniscule number of such cases do occur, is it worth eliminating something that's been on the books for decades and protecting the PEOPLE, instead of cracking down on abusers? Here's the pattern again. Use a partial truth or outright falsehood (abuses), get an echo chamber (Arnold), confuse concerned citizens, and let them vote against their own best interest. Prop 71 did not pass. Here, the contention was that small business owners would be saddled with onerous employee health insurance bills. A false advertisement, complete with an actress pretending to be the owner of a restaurant that WOULD NOT have been impacted by this measure, claimed the establishment might go under or have to fire employees. Then Arnold got into the act. Walmart, McDonalds, and other big abusers of employees funded the opposition. Despite the fact that well over 90% of businesses in California already provide health benefits to their employees, people were duped into voting against this measure. The VERY FEW, but very large, businesses who opposed this proposition got their way and now ALL OF US will pay for their employees who have no alternative but to resort to emergency, county facilities where they can get treated for free. See that pattern again? Be alert. 12) San Francisco Armenian Community Dedicates New Center The San Francisco Armenian community gathered for a ceremony on October 24 to name its community center after national patron Henry Khachaturian. Mr. and Mrs. Henry and Rita Khachaturian recently donated $1 million to establish the Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School Endowment Fund. The event was held under the auspices of Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian. 13) LETTER To the Editor: The 2004 election has come and gone. Despite the pundits' predictions that this would be the "closest election in American history," in the end, it wasn't really that close after all. President George W. Bush bested Senator John Kerry by over 3.7 million popular votes, and picked up two states that Vice President Albert Gore won in 2000--Iowa and New Mexico. When the sun rose on November 3, President Bush became the first candidate in 16 years to receive more than 50 percent of the vote, and received the most popular votes of any candidate in our history. This begs the question: So how does this impact the Armenian-American community and where do we stand, now? As we all know, most of our grass roots organizations whole-heartedly endorsed Senator Kerry. I believe that the reasoning behind this was the notion that a sitting Senator who had the luxury of pandering to various causes and interest groups throughout his 19 years in Washington would somehow translate into his actions as President. Wrong, wrong, wrong. How many elections will it take before our lobbying organizations recognize that candidate promises of genocide recognition rarely translate into April 24 proclamations from our Chief Executive? Or perhaps they do recognize this fact. It's almost as if most, if not all, of the major Armenian-American organizations march in lock step with the Democratic Party. While purporting to represent the interests of Armenian-Americans, these organizations craft a very narrow, unrepresentative set of issues that ignore the pressing domestic issues that impact the life of our community. The issue du jour is always the Armenian genocide. Most credible historians, as well as our friends in Congress recognize the historic fact of what took place--the brutal destruction of more than 1.5 million Armenians in what is today Eastern Turkey. Many were angered when President Bush did not properly recognize the Armenian genocide, but where was that same anger when President Clinton broke the very same campaign pledge throughout his eight years in the Oval Office? The best friend our community ever had, Senator Bob Dole, did not receive our community's endorsement in 1996. In fact, the very organizations that have lambasted President Bush threw their support behind President Clinton in 1996. These groups look at other issues, as well, but rarely do they examine domestic matters that directly impact the economic and social livelihood of Armenian-American voters. The time has come for these organizations to start paying attention to a variety of issues that matter to Armenian-American voters. Armenian-Americans, like most Americans, vote on a variety of issues that impact their families, their businesses, and their futures. Sadly, there was little meaningful debate inside our community organizations on topics such as a simplified tax code; the future of social security; the security of our nation; the ongoing war on terror; and the frightening assault on our shared culture and values from Hollywood elitists who flocked to the Kerry campaign like groupies at a Bon Jovi concert. These issues matter to our community, and the fact that there was scant discussion of them from our "representative" organizations borders on disgrace. So, to answer the question I posed earlier: How does President Bush's re-election impact Armenian-Americans?, I think that our community will not only survive, but also thrive. Our organizations, on the other hand, need to look deep inside and figure out whether or not they really do represent the sophisticated Armenian-American electorate of 2004. Aram B. Zamgochian Washington, DC 14) CORRECTION: In last week's special election issue, we inadvertently ran endorsements under the name of "ANCA-Western Region endorsements." Those endorsements were rather ANCA endorsements for US president, and Senate and House of Representative candidates running in the western region of the United States. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.