Author: Tigranian Ani

Fresno Bee (California)
October 18, 2007 Thursday
FINAL EDITION

Sugarcoated history is for sale, but I’m not buying it

Bill McEwen The Fresno Bee

President Bush and some members of Congress say this isn’t the time
to rile Turkey by addressing horrors of the past.

The things you learn.

I didn’t know there was a wrong time to denounce the massacre of
Armenians carried out by the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915.

Or that situational ethics should trump America’s moral obligation to
officially recognize the truth: The Turks waged genocide.

Well, we can make at least one thing official.

History’s on sale, and the politicians are wheeling and dealing with
an ally in the Iraq war.

"One thing Congress should not be doing is sorting out the historical
record of the Ottoman Empire," says Bush, who is pressing the House
of Representatives to forget about a nonbinding resolution
recognizing the genocide.

Bush is wrong, and so is Rep. Jane Harman, a liberal Democrat from
Los Angeles who co-sponsored the resolution but wants to tuck it away
until a more convenient day.

The Turks can call it what they want, but historians have provided
ample evidence of the atrocities. Women and children died because of
forced starvation. Cultural leaders were murdered. Thousands of
Armenians were asphyxiated in caves that foreshadowed Nazi gas
chambers.

The final death count: 1.5 million Armenians. A goodly number of
their descendants live here in the San Joaquin Valley.

One of them is Rob Saroyan of Fresno, who is disappointed about the
resolution’s diminishing prospects for passage. "When we so easily
compromise the truth," he says, "it erodes my faith in the tenets
we’re founded on."

Saroyan knows better than most that compromise is part of politics.
Early in his professional career, he was an aide to then-California
Gov. George Deukmejian and held other political jobs in Sacramento.

"I understand how the process works and how deals are cut," Saroyan
says. "It’s just too bad [Armenian-Americans] don’t have the
political leverage. Every year, there’s an excuse why we can’t do the
resolution."

Rep. George Radanovich of Mariposa repeatedly has sought genocide
recognition. This year, with Democrats in charge of Congress,
lawmakers Jim Costa of Fresno and Dennis Cardoza of Merced are
leading efforts.

If this resolution fails, the Armenian community will try again next
year. And the next. Until — international relations of the moment be
damned — the right thing, finally, is done.

"This only strengthens my resolve to carry on, because it resurrects
the suffering of our grandparents and great-grandparents," Saroyan
says, his voice cracking during a telephone interview.

"I remember seeing my grandfather, a strong man, crying. He was
robbed of his mother and father as a child. It burned him, and I felt
like he lived with hate and questions of why it happened."

Longtime Republican activist Mike Der Manouel Jr. of Fresno wants
Bush and Congress to call Turkey’s bluff and adopt the resolution.
His paternal grandfather’s first wife and their children were killed
in the genocide.

"How is the official denial in Turkey any different than the Iranian
[president] denying the Jewish Holocaust? It isn’t," Der Manouel
says.

The resolution isn’t only about what happened to Armenians a long
time ago. It’s about what America stands for. Have we reached the
point that right and wrong and the sanctity of life matter less than
strategic imperatives?

With history for sale, the ugly answer stares us in the face.

ARARAT DANIELYAN IS CHIEF JUSTICE OF NKR SUPREME COURT

KarabakhOpen
17-10-2007 17:43:34

Today the NKR National Assembly affirmed the nomination of the
ex-deputy prime minister of NKR Ararat Danielyan as chief justice of
the Supreme Court.

The NKR National Assembly elected Janna Galstyan as chair of the
Committee of Defense, Security and Law Enforcement by secret ballot. 25
of 26 members of parliament voted for her nomination.

TASTING AND LIVING HISTORY
By Bruce A. Scruton

New Jersey Herald, NJ
Oct 16 2007

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 Mail to a friend Printer Friendly Version

HOPATCONG – It was one of the props the two teachers planned to use
later that day in their English/Social Studies class, but the cook
spoiled the broth, so to speak.

"She said, ‘I couldn’t serve the kids that,’ so she put lots of extra
stuff in it," laughed Jeff Ryder, the Social Studies part of the
teaching team. The particular section they were teaching was based on
the book "Night," by Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor who became
known as "The Nazi Hunter."

The teachers were preparing stale (more than two-day-old) bagels and
what passed for soup to be served as the students’ "first meal" when
they arrived at the prison or concentration camp (classroom). While
the soup was richer than anticipated, the rest went off as planned –
students herded into a darkened room, being yelled at and not knowing
what would come next.

Ryder and Lisa Kenny – the English part – used the mock arrival
scenario as part of a program they call "Global Mosaic," which brings
the two fields together for ninth graders.

The program will be among those highlighted during the annual Parent
Fair from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Hopatcong High School gymnasium
on Flora Avenue.

The program will have nearly 80 groups with tables and booths
explaining their programs. Most are part of the instructional program
for all grades in the borough’s school district, but some tables are
from service organizations, ranging from Cub Scouts to soccer clubs
to the county prosecutor’s office.

There will be baby-sitting services provided and for slightly older
students – grades 5 to 8 – there will be a dance in the auxiliary
gym. Door prizes include a digital camcorder, IPods and a laptop,
among other items.

Thursday’s session is a warm-up of sorts for Ryder and Kenny. They
have been invited to present a talk on their program in mid-November to
the National Council for Teachers of English meeting in New York City.

The idea for Global Mosaic was born just over a decade ago over
lunch. Ryder and Kenny taught honors sections in their respective
disciplines and had back-to-back sessions. They began talking about the
idea of combining their subject matter, while she taught a particular
book, like "Night", or "Of Mice and Men" or "Kite Runner", he could
take the students to that time in history and the cultural issues
discussed.

The school board liked the idea and gave permission to bring it into
the honors classrooms. After two years of success at that level,
the team pressed to take it further.

"Now we have three teams and it’s mandatory for all ninth graders,"
said Ryder, adding that the program, including one of the teams,
is for special education students.

The idea was embraced so well, the revamped high school has a special
area for the teams; side-by-side classrooms, which have a moveable
partition to create one large space; special audio-visual equipment,
including several computers; and, most importantly, the school’s
library across the hall.

"If we get bogged down on a question, we can just move over there to
do research," said Ryder.

Throughout the class, students are encouraged to get involved.

"Activity driven," the teachers call it.

While the Holocaust is the focus of that time period, Ryder brings
into the discussion the genocide from other time periods, like Armenia,
Cambodia and Rwanda.

The Wiesel novel and the bad food, yelling, darkness and a touch of
fear add a sensory overload. "Start them off with an emotional unit,"
said Kenny. "Hopefully, we can grab them."

Posters cover the walls of the classroom and a large hallway display
case is filled with projects on the section dealing with "Night." On a
recent afternoon, teams of students worked at the computers, creating
Powerpoint presentations on the Chinese dynasties. The book being
studied is an autobiography by a man whose Chinese family owned land
before Mao’s Cultural Revolution took their social status away.

Both teachers said it is professionally satisfying to have students
come back a few years later, remembering particular parts of the class.

"I think it helps them become thinkers," Ryder said. "We try to make
the connections with culture and geography. It’s a perfect way to
weave the concepts together."

BUILDING STABLE DEMOCRATIC ARMENIA WITH LIBERAL ECONOMY, EFFICIENT ARMY ONLY WAY OF DISPLAYING ARMENIA’S POTENTIAL

ARKA News Agency
Oct 16 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, October 16. /ARKA/. Building stable democratic Armenia
with liberal economy and efficient army is the only effective way
of displaying Armenia’s potential, the Prime-Minister of Armenia
Serge Sargsian said at his meeting with the delegation of the World
Armenian Congress (WAC) and the Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR)
headed by the President of WAC and the President of UAR Ara Abrahamian.

Sargsian pointed out that Armenia is not rich in natural resources and
the country’s wealth is its educated, hard-working and enterprising
people, the Press Service of Armenia’s Government reported.

Sargsian welcomed the delegations and said that the country closely
follows the patriotic activities of WAC and UAR.

According to him, the programs of the homeland and the diaspora aimed
at building a strong state and strong diaspora are concordant. The
cooperation to achieve these targets is effective, but the potential of
the Armenian communities abroad is not utilized to the full, he said.

Among the planned measures Sargsian pointed out intensifying
the state initiatives in Armenia and abroad to preserve Armenian
identity. According to Sargsian, this will not only become an incentive
to philanthropists, but will also increase the confidence toward the
Armenian state among entrepreneurs.

The President of UAR Ara Abrahamian thanked the Prime-Minister for
appreciation and spoke in favor of more efficient use of the potential
of Armenian communities abroad. He introduced a number of programs in
the fields of agriculture, housing construction, healthcare, education,
science and culture implemented by the Union of Armenians of Russia
in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in the last years.

The leaders of the Armenian communities expressed their support to
the further development of relations between Armenia and the diaspora
and provided proposals on cooperation.

The Vice-Chairman of the Union of Armenians of Georgia, member of
Bureau of WAC General Council Van Bayburdian expressed his gratitude
to the Government of Armenia for assistance given to Javakhk and its
cultural and educational institutions in particular.

The Vice-Chairman of "Ramkavar-Azatakan" party, member of WAC General
Council Ervand Azatian welcomed the idea of setting a governmental
structure on diaspora issues.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT DISMISSES TWO JUDGES FROM OFFICE

ARKA News Agency
Oct 16 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN. October 16. /ARKA/. By RA President Robert Kocharian’s
decree, October 15, 2007, Judge of the First Instance Court of
Center-Nork-Marash Pargev Ohanian and Judge of the First Instance
Court in Aran and New Nork Community Vazgen Lalayan were dismissed
from office.

According to the RA President’s press service, workers of Armenia’s
Sate Judicial Department revealed a number of violations on 10
criminal and four civil cases prosecuted by Ohanian. No information
about Lalayan’s violations has been reported so far.-0–

BUNDESTAG DELEGATION TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency
Oct 16 2007
Armenia

Yerevan, October 16. /ARKA/. The delegation of Germany-South Caucasus
Parliamentary Group at the Bundestag headed by Steffen Reiche will
arrive in Armenia in on Wednesday, October 17, the RA Parliament’s
public relations department told ARKA.

On October 18, the members of the delegation will meet with National
Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosyan, representatives of the Standing
Committee on European Integration of the Armenian Parliament,
deputies of the parliamentary factions"Republican Party of Armenia",
"Prosperous Armenia", "Heritage", "Orinats Yerkir", and Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun.

On the same day the German deputies will meet with EU states
Ambassadors accredited in Armenia and Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister
Armen Bayburdyan.

On October 19, they will visit Holy Echmiadzin, as well as they
will meet with Armenia’s Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan
Khachatryan and representatives of German organizations operating in
Armenia.

TURKISH PROSECUTOR SEEKS LIFE IN BIBLE KILLINGS CASE

ChristianToday, UK
Oct 16 2007

A Turkish prosecutor is seeking extended life sentences for five men
suspected of slitting the throats of three workers at a Christian
publishing house, private broadcaster NTV reported on Monday.

Posted: Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 8:37 (BST)

ISTANBUL – A Turkish prosecutor is seeking extended life sentences
for five men suspected of slitting the throats of three workers at a
Christian publishing house, private broadcaster NTV reported on Monday.

The killings of the three men, including one German national, in
April this year shocked Turkey and caused worry in the European Union,
coming just months after Armenian-Turkish editor Hrant Dink was shot
dead and following the murder of an Italian Catholic priest last year.

The prosecutor sought three life sentences for each of the men accused
of entering the Bible publishing house in the southeastern city of
Malatya and binding their victims’ hands and feet before slitting
their throats, NTV said.

The prosecutor’s office was not immediately available for comment.

Missionaries and converted Turks continue to be viewed with suspicion
in predominantly Muslim Turkey, and the Christian community, numbering
about 100,000, has often complained that the government does not do
enough to counter mistrust.

The EU, which Turkey wants to join, has repeatedly urged Ankara to
improve minority rights.

U.S. HOUSE RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AN "HISTORICAL" MISTAKE?

RIA Novosti
Oct 15 2007
Russia

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti commentator Maria Appakova) – This week the
Turkish parliament will have to decide whether or not its government
should approve a cross-border military operation to chase separatist
Kurdish rebels who operate from bases in northern Iraq. The Turkish
parliament will most likely vote in favor of the operation.

The decision will be made at a time when Turkey’s relations with the
United States are worsening. On October 10, the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs passed a measure calling the massacre of Armenians
in World War I by Ottoman Turks genocide by a 27-21 margin.

This measure will prevent Washington, at least in the short term,
from stopping Ankara’s attempt to unleash one more conflict in the
Middle East.

Discussions of Turkey’s military operation in Iraq and the vote in
U.S. Congress on the Armenian genocide coincided in time, but it could
just be a coincidence. The two issues have been on the respective
agendas for a long time, and the decisions were long due.

Turkey’s parliament is ready to act because the military arm of
the Kurdistan Workers Party attacked the Turkish military again,
killing 13.

The Justice and Development Party, which won the summer elections
in Turkey, cannot disappoint its voters by leaving the matter
unattended. This would play into the hands of its political rivals,
primarily the military, who were against selecting the country’s
president from among members of the party.

The current Turkish leadership should avoid quarrelling with the
military, especially because it intends to carry out political reforms
in the country.

Likewise, the approval of the measure on Armenian genocide in the
U.S was a political decision made before the upcoming elections. The
Democrats, who initiated the measure, needed a bold political move, as
well as the support of the numerous and influential Armenian diaspora.

Although it is true that Armenians were massacred in 1915, we must
admit that current decisions on the genocide and infringements on the
rights of nations were made exclusively for political reasons. The
issues of human rights and freedom of religion have become win-win
topics.

All countries are doing this, but Washington is the loudest advocate
of political morals and human rights. Unfortunately, its actions do
not always support its words, as exemplified by disputes over the
Armenian genocide resolution.

President George W. Bush said several hours before the voting:
"Its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally
in NATO and in the global war on terror." He said that Turkey is a
moderately Muslim country and a NATO member crucial for the transit
of U.S. shipments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Did he mean that his administration would not protest against such
a resolution if it were passed about a non-moderate Islamic country
that is not an ally-and especially not a strategic ally-of the
United States?

Bush has said more than once that genocide is a subject for historians,
not lawmakers. But what about Serbia, Iraq and Sudan, where the issue
was-and still is, in the case of Sudan-not yet decided by historians?

His press service has expressed surprise that lawmakers concern
themselves with history when there are so many current acute problems
awaiting solution. This brings to mind what House Minority Leader
Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House
of Representatives, has said on the issue of Armenian genocide.

Pelosi told reporters at her weekly news conference that congressional
resolutions on Armenian genocide have been put off, with various
justifications, over the past 20 years.

There is never a good time to acknowledge that genocide has taken
place, Pelosi added, whether in the distant past or the present.

Turkey is vital for U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East
and the Black Sea region. Therefore it is believed that the House’s
resolution has harmed U.S. foreign policy interests.

The planned Turkish operation in Iraq is not the most harmful aspect of
the situation, but rather Turkey’s possible refusal to allow American
military planes to fly in its air space and use the Turkish air force
base. Overall, the honest decision made by the U.S. House may curtail
bilateral military relations.

The United States and Turkey will not sever relations, of course,
but the resolution may prevent Washington from convincing Turkey to
abandon its plans of a cross-border military operation in Iraq.

Yet the resolution is not the only stumbling block in bilateral
relations. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that
Ankara does not need anyone to tell it what to do in Iraq, because
the United States did not ask anyone’s advice when it deployed its
troops there in 2003.

The Turkish government has asked parliament for a 12-month permit to
launch a military operation in Iraq. This means that it can send its
troops to Iraq any time within a year, or not at all, using the permit
to put pressure on Washington, Baghdad and leaders of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Also, in late September Turkey and Iraq signed an agreement on
cooperation in the war on terror and agreed to remove from its text the
clause about the "right of hot pursuit." If Ankara wants to maintain
good relations with Baghdad, it should give Iraq a chance to fulfill
the agreement before taking such drastic decisions.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s and do not
necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

The Hill, DC
Oct 14 2007

Pelosi: I would not give Congress high marks on ending the war

By Klaus Marre
October 14, 2007

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Sunday that she would not
give Congress high marks with regard to ending the war in Iraq,
adding that she understands voter dissatisfaction on the issue that
has sent the congressional approval rating tumbling.

Pelosi said Democrats are `doing all we can to change the debate’ but
stressed that they do not have the kind of power that the White House
has.

The speaker, in an interview aired on ABC’s `This Week with George
Stephanopoulos,’ stated it was ironic that, as an outspoken opponent
to the Iraq campaign, anti-war activists are targeting her now.
However, Pelosi added that she understands and respects the
frustrations of the Democratic base.

`We will continue to pass legislation to make that point [that the
war should end],’ she said. `And we happen to be blocked by a 60-vote
hurdle in the Senate, but the public doesn’t want — care about that.
They just want us to end the war.’

Pelosi also said that she would not bring up to a vote language that
designates Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist
organization. The measure had passed in the Senate earlier this year.

She restated, however, that the House would take up a resolution
labeling the mass killings by Armenians early last century `genocide’
over the strong objections from the administration and the Turkish
government.

Pelosi said that President Bush had never raised the issue with her
in person to make his case against the resolution. The administration
is concerned that passing the language would have negative effects on
the mission in Iraq, pointing to the importance of Turkey as an ally
in the campaign.

Pelosi said now is the time to take up action on the Armenian issue
because the last of the survivors are dying.

`Some of the things that are harmful to our troops relate to values
— Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, torture. All of those [are] issues about
who we are as a country,’ Pelosi said. `And I think that our troops
are well-served when we declare who we are as a country and increase
the respect that people have for us as a nation.’

d-not-give-congress-high-marks-on-ending-the-war-2 007-10-14.html

Burbank Leader, CA
Oct 13 2007

IN THEORY:
Musings about a resolution on Ramadan

A congressional resolution recognizing the Islamic holy month of
Ramadan as important is reportedly being touted by U.S. Muslims as an
important sign that they are gaining acceptance in America and
becoming part of the fabric of the country. But Rep. Tom Tancredo,
R-Colo., argued that the resolution is nothing more than an example
of political correctness, which he reportedly said has captured the
political and media elite in the U.S. What do you think?.

The unanimous congressional resolution of Oct. 2 recognizing the
month of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual
renewal, is another watershed event for the tradition of religious
pluralism in our country. As strife and conflict dominate the
sensational headlines of press coverage about Muslims, there is a
more authentic story of American Muslims becoming a natural part of
our society’s mainstream. The real issue is our shared human and
democratic values in an informed American society.

The congressional resolution should not come as a surprise, as it is
an expected outcome of the American Muslims’ efforts for societal
integration and inclusion.

Recent examples include former President Clinton hosting the first
official `iftaar,’ or breaking of the daily fast, during Ramadan with
Muslim leaders at the White House – a tradition that has continued
with the Bush administration; the election of the first Muslim to the
U.S. Congress, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, who used a Koran
owned by Thomas Jefferson from the National Archives for his
swearing-in ceremony; and a new interfaith tradition emerging during
Ramadan called `fast-a-thons’ that started on college campuses in
2002 where non-Muslims participate for a one-day fast to raise money
for local homeless charities. This year an estimated 75,000
non-Muslims participated. advertisement

Locally, the Rev. Ed Bacon and several parishioners of All Saints
Episcopal Church in Pasadena fast in solidarity with Southern
California Muslims for the entire month of Ramadan – each year since
Sept. 11, 2001.

This past Oct. 5, Amira Al-Sarraf, the school head of New Horizon
School, an independent Islamic school in Pasadena, participated in
the State Department’s official iftaar honoring American Muslim
educators. Al-Sarraf sat with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as
the leader of the first Islamic school in the nation to receive the
National Blue Ribbon Award.

Muslims formed the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge in
December to become a beacon of peace and mutual understanding among
neighborhood residents and the greater community. The harmony of
diverse faith groups joining together in ethics, community service
and citizenship is part of advancing the tradition of religious
pluralism in our country. I invite Rep. Tom Tancredo and all to reach
out and get to know your American Muslim neighbors and associates on
a personal level to play a part in the greatness of our American
experiment.

LEVENT AKBARUT

Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge

It is important for us to remember that our country was founded on
the values of tolerance and respect for all beliefs. With this in
mind, it is completely appropriate for Congress to recognize the
Islamic holy month of Ramadan, especially since there’s a sizable
Muslim community in America.

Furthermore, since the Congress already offers recognition to major
holidays of many other religions, it would be disingenuous to exclude
this one.

I see this as a welcome symbol of the peaceful intentions of the
American people and their elected representatives toward those of the
Muslim faith.

Since the U.S. military action in the Muslim countries of Iraq and
Afghanistan – as well as our approach to other issues troubling the
Middle East – have sometimes been misconstrued as anti-Muslim, this
initiative offers proof that our legislators aren’t engaged in some
anti-Muslim crusade.

One can certainly analyze and debate the merits of U.S. foreign
policy, but it’s vitally important for all to recognize that our
actions haven’t been motivated by religious bigotry.

Now we can only hope that Islamic countries will reciprocate the
Congress’ goodwill gesture by passing resolutions that recognize the
religious rights of Christians, Jews and other faiths within their
own borders. Very few Muslim countries currently acknowledge other
faiths, and some are openly prejudiced against non-Muslims.

The road to world peace is essentially a two-way street. Harmony can
be achieved only if we come to respect the cultural ways of others
and let everyone worship as they see fit. With this resolution,
America has effectively reaffirmed its commitment to religious
liberty; it is high time that Muslim nations make such a commitment.

RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN

Chabad Jewish Center

I am first and foremost a Christian. Secondly, I am an American.
These two labels once went together; not that we lived in a theocracy,
or that everybody truly embraced Jesus as their lord and savior, but
we testified with our hands on His Bible, our Senate opened with a
Christian blessing, the Constitution was dated from the first
Christmas (i.e., `In the year of our Lord’) and the Pilgrims’ stated
purpose in the Compact was the `advancement the Christian faith.’

My point is that our nation, however much certain people wish to deny
it, began and sustained with a belief in the true and biblical God;
not Zeus, or Ra, Odin, or even the Allah of Ramadan.

For Congress to endorse other gods essentially repudiates the
exclusive claims of the One that we have known and are known for.
Such resolutions should not be made anyway, but officially
recognizing Islam as `one of the great religions of the world’ when
it is an imported belief system that denies all the essential tenets
of Christianity is too much. Islam denies the Crucifixion, the
Resurrection, that Jesus is the Son of God, and especially, that He
is God, the Son.

We are at war with Muslims abroad, and we worry about their
intentions here. Christians have no divine mandate to destroy those
who oppose Jesus, but we do have biblical warrant to support America.
Is this true of Muslims? They have yet to resolve as one voice to
denounce the violence and intentions of jihadists, terrorists and
Sept. 11, 2001.

Now, I don’t deny that we have become quite the pluralistic society,
but should we exalt the foreign religions to a place on par or even
above our own? We should sincerely love our Muslim neighbors, but
just as sincerely oppose Islam.

THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM

Senior Pastor

MontroseCommunityChurch.org

A congressional resolution recognizing Ramadan is certainly an act of
political correctness, but then again, so are all these types of
resolutions. What else can you say about them? It’s not like they’re
advocating one belief system over another, they merely recognize a
portion of reality. In so doing, they’re bringing a level of comfort
to members of our community – other Americans.

We need to stop being scared to face reality.

There is a sizable Muslim population in America. And the beauty of
America and her `dream’ is that there is room for everyone in this
country. I have heard the argument that `those countries’ would never
allow or grant non-Islamic minorities the equal status or recognition
with the mainstream religion.

But to me, that’s exactly the point.

We are not like the other countries. That’s what makes America great:
its ability to incorporate so many into something greater than the
components that make it up.

Ironically, this week’s news headlines pointed to another recognition
resolution regarding the Armenian Genocide.

We witnessed the sad demonstration of denial by the political
establishment, the president included, which wanted to compromise
truth and justice for the sake of politics.

You can’t escape the reality of an organized, systematic annihilation
of one group of people by a government. Its called genocide.

And a great country like America, with all of its greatness, cannot
be intimidated to not speak the truth.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

In His Shoes Mission

It’s a great day for America and for tolerance in America. Frankly,
I’m surprised there were no dissenting votes, but I am very happy
that there weren’t.

The promise of America is to all Americans, not only white males, as
it once was, and not only to white Christians, as some would still
like it to be.

St. Paul, in a very inclusive statement, says that in Christ there is
neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free.

I like to think that about America, too. Regardless of a person’s
race, gender, or creed, all are welcome here.

The recognition by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Islamic
holy month of Ramadan is another step in extending the promise of
America to all.

Keep in mind the words of our Pledge of Allegiance: …with liberty
and justice for all.’ What part of the word ALL does anybody not
understand?

THE REV. C. L. `SKIP’ LINDEMAN

Congregational Church of the Lighted Window

United Church of Christ

La Cañada Flintridge

Politically correct politicians are under the microscope for many
current trends, i.e. from banning trans fats in school cafeteria
foods to recognizing the Islamic holy month. If these politically
correct lawmakers’ actions result in healthier children and peaceful
communities due to acceptance of all faith traditions, then this
trend is laudable.

Recognizing the holy month of Ramadan was simple to do and didn’t
cost the taxpayers anything. Even though the United States is a
sovereign state, all Americans are also world citizens. Isn’t it time
to think globally and act with compassion and respect for all
people’s rituals and faith traditions planetwide?

Scientologists follow a common sense moral code, which includes
respecting the religious beliefs of others. L. Ron Hubbard wrote, `If
all the brightest minds since the 5th Century B.C. or before have
never been able to agree on the subject of religion or anti-religion,
it is an arena of combat between people that one would do well to
stay out of. In this sea of contention, one bright principle has
emerged: the right to believe as one chooses.

“Faith’ and `belief’ do not necessarily surrender to logic; they
cannot even be declared to be illogical. They can be things quite
apart. Any advice one might give another on this subject is safest
when it simply asserts the right to believe as one chooses. One is at
liberty to hold up his own beliefs for acceptance. One is at risk
when he seeks to assault the beliefs of others, much more so when he
attacks and seeks to harm others because of their religious
convictions.’

Let’s embrace religious diversity together with our families, friends
and Congress – and beware of those who poke fun at or try to discount
the acknowledgment of another’s sacred beliefs. Americans united in
religious celebration will make this country stronger.

Assalamu alaikum. Peace be upon you.

CATHERINE EMRANI

Volunteer Minister

Glendale Church of Scientology

I think most of us appreciate the freedom of religious practice our
country affords. That means, of course, that I am honor-bound to be
respectable to others of different faiths, and to recognize their
right to believe as they wish.

Islam has gotten a lot of press post-Sept. 11, 2001, so recognizing
it may well be a matter of political correctness. I’d certainly be
uncomfortable, though, if Christianity had attracted attention in the
same manner, and I’d be vocal about it.

A few folks may want to turn our country into a theocracy in line
with their beliefs about God, but that’s not my concern. I am
confident that when Jesus Christ returns, He will by Himself
establish His kingdom on a worldwide scale. I’m happy to know that
according to His promise I’ll be a part of it, and not cast out of
it.

What I think is offensive to many religious people is the modern
societal pressure upon us to accept all faiths as equally valid and
true. I follow Jesus Christ because I believe He alone is the truth
personified, He alone is the way to know God. I accept other faiths’
right to exist, but I reject the notion that their prophets are on a
par with my wonderful Lord.

PASTOR JON BARTA

Burbank

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