1) Turkish Human Rights Association Holds Press Conference about Genocide
2) California State Assembly Releases Proclamation Affirming The Armenian
Genocide
3) Presidents Aliyev And Bush Discuss Iran, Karabagh in Washington
4) ANCA Telethon Launches Web Site
5) Fun The Armenian Way: 5th Annual ARS Armenian Festival
6) Hamazkayin Accepting Applications for 2006 Cultural Forum in Armenia
7) Armenia’s Forgotten Chernobyl Heroes Fight for Their Lives 20 Years Later
8) Turkey Finally Hears Its Past: By Henry Morgenthau III
9) Critics’ Forum: Theater: By Aram Kouyoumdjian
10) Glimmers: By Garen Yegparian
11) BUSH CAN STILL SAVE HIS LEGACY: By SKEPTIK SINIKIAN
12) For the Record:
1) Turkish Human Rights Association Holds Press Conference about Genocide
At noon on April 24, the Istanbul office of the Human Rights Association
held a
press conference during which the association’s Istanbul Branch executive
committee’s read its press release about the Armenian genocide. International
and national representatives of the media attended the press conference, while
plain-clothes police officers stood right outside the door.
The following is the English translation of the press release from the
Istanbul Branch of the Human Rights Watch:
Today, the 24th of April, is recognized worldwide as the date signifying the
Armenian genocide. Only in Turkey it indicates a taboo. The Turkish state
mobilizes all its resources to deny the meaning of this date.
At diplomatic platforms, Turkish officials and their advocates claim that
they
recognize the “big tragedy” and they only object to it being named a
“genocide.” That’s not true. At every occasion in Turkey not only the Armenian
genocide, but also the great agony of the Armenian people is denied and
attempts are made to justify the Genocide.
It was only last month that during a Symposium on the Armenian-Turkish
relations the denialist official theses were voiced one after another,
offending the Armenians in Turkey and elsewhere and insulting the memory of
their grandparents. Lies were told in the name of “science,” like “Armenians
have always sold their masters,” “deportation was a means of crisis
management,” the “death toll of deportation is comparable to the death toll of
flu epidemic in England that time,” and “there is no other people as noble as
the Turkish nation in the world, it is impossible for them to commit a
genocide,” and many more, humiliating a people who were one of the most
advanced in science, art, and literature.
Denial is a constituent part of the Genocide itself and results in the
continuation of the Genocide. Denial of genocide is a human rights
violation in
itself. It deprives individuals the right to mourn for their ancestors, for
the ethnic cleansing of a nation, the annihilation of people of all ages, all
professions, all social sections, women, men, children, babies, grandparents
alike just because they were Armenians, regardless of their political
background or conviction. Perhaps the most important of all, it is the refusal
of making a solemn, formal commitment and saying “NEVER AGAIN.”
Turkey has made hardly any progress in the field of co-existence, democracy,
human rights and putting an end to militarism since the time of the Union and
Progress Committee. Annihilation and denial had been and continues today to be
the only means to solve the problem. Villages evacuated and put on fire and
forced displacements are still the manifestation of the same habit of “social
engineering.” There has always been bloodshed in the homeland of Armenians
since 1915. Unsolved murders, disappearances under custody, rapes and arrests
en masse during the 1990’s were no surprise, given the ongoing state tradition
lacking any culture of repentance for past crimes against humanity.
Similarly the removal of a public prosecutor and banning him from profession
just for taking the courage to mention an accusation against the military, a
very recent incident, is the manifestation of an old habit of punishing
anybody
who dares to voice any objection to the army. And today’s ongoing military
build up of some 250,000 troops in the southeast of Turkey is the proof of a
mindset, which is unable to develop any solution to the Kurdish question other
than armed suppression.
Turkey will not be able to take even one step forward without putting an end
to the continuity of the Progress and Union way of ruling. No human rights
violation can be stopped in Turkey and there will be no hope of breaking the
vicious circle of Kurdish uprisings and their bloody suppression unless the
Turkish state agrees to create an environment where public homage is paid to
Genocide victims, where the sufferings of their grandchildren is shared and
the Genocide is recognized.
Today we, as the human rights defenders, would like to address all Armenians
in Turkey and elsewhere in the world and tell them “we want to share the pain
in your hearts and bow down before the memory of your lost ones. They are also
our losses. Our struggle for human rights in Turkey is at the same time our
mourning for our common losses and an homage paid to the Genocide victims.
2) California State Assembly Releases Proclamation Affirming The Armenian
Genocide
As it has done in previous years, the California State Assembly discussed the
issue of the Armenian genocide in its Thursday, April 27 session.
His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, departed for
Sacramento on Thursday to attend the opening of the State Assembly’s session.
Also present at the opening was the Honorable Gagik Giragossian, Consul
General
of the Republic of Armenia, and Armenian National Committee representatives
Armen Carapetian, Aida Dimidjian, and others.
The Prelate conducted the opening prayer and delivered his message to Senate
and Assembly members.
On this occasion, the Assembly has issued a proclamation affirming the
genocide of Armenians by the Turkish Government, which they officially
presented to the Prelate, the Consul General, and ANC representatives. Later
on, during the general session, there was a moment of silence for the 1.5
million victims of the Genocide.
The Prelate reminded the Assembly of the injustices committed by the Turkish
Government–which to this day go unpunished–and expressed hope that following
the example of European governments, the US Government too will recognize the
Genocide and demand justice.
Earlier, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger proclaimed April 23-29
“Days of Remembrance” of the Armenian genocide.
3) Presidents Aliyev And Bush Discuss Iran, Karabagh in Washington
WASHINGTON, DC (Combined Sources)–US President George W. Bush welcomed Friday
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev for talks that ranged from their joint
efforts in Iraq and Iran’s nuclear program to Azerbaijan’s dispute with
Armenia
over Karabagh and democratic reforms.
In the days running up to the meeting, Aliyev had made it clear that he will
not allow his country to be used for any operations against neighboring Iran.
Bush sought to allay Azerbaijan’s concerns, saying the United States wants to
resolve the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program through diplomacy.
Bush has often said he intends to resolve the issue without the use of force,
but he stresses that all his options are open, including the use of military
force. On Friday, Bush didn’t mention the military option.
On Wednesday, April 26, Aliyev said that if the United States decides an
attack is necessary, it would have to do so without Azerbaijan’s help because
Azerbaijan and Iran–which share a nearly 300-kilometer border–have a
non-aggression treaty.
Aliyev and Bush also discussed Azerbaijan’s continuing dispute with
neighboring Armenia over Karabagh.
Bush and Aliyev said little of their discussions on these matters. The Azeri
leader said only: “I informed Mr. President [of] the latest status of the
negotiations [on Karabagh] and expressed my hope that a peaceful settlement of
the conflict will happen and will serve the peace and stability in the whole
region.”
In his remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations, President Aliyev said he
hopes the United States “as a superpower,” will contribute to the
resolution of
the conflict.
The Azeri leader will be in Washington several days. He meets with members of
Congress and with officials from non-governmental groups such as Freedom House
and Human Rights Watch. On Friday, he visited the Pentagon and the White
House.
4) ANCA Telethon Launches Web Site
–Nationwide phonathon and internet campaign kicks off fundraising effort
WASHINGTON, DC–The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Telethon
announced Monday the launch of a website devoted to the telethon at
(click on Telethon logo) where supporters of the Armenian Cause
can make online donations in advance of the May 21 nationwide telethon
broadcast. In addition, a nationwide inbound and outbound telephone campaign
has been launched to personally reach out to thousands of Armenian households
across the country during the weeks preceding the telethon. The purpose of the
telethon is to raise financial resources that will propel the advocacy for the
Armenian Cause to a broader scope and new level of sophistication. Proceeds
will be used to expand the ANCA’s advocacy and educational programs on
Armenian
issues within the halls of Congress, the White House, state and local
governments, and the media.
“The campaign leading up to the Telethon broadcast is meant to rally into
action everyone who believes in the Armenian Cause and use the latest
technological tools to unite us as a powerful force regardless of geography,”
said Steve Artinian, member of the ANCA Telethon’s outreach team. “There is an
amazing pool of professional talent who have come together to ensure the
Telethon reaches as many households as possible. We are pulling out the stops
on this effort and intend to raise the stakes for the Cause substantially in
the process.”
The ANCA Telethon reflects the next step for the many issues confronting the
community. For example, the ANCA’s media relations efforts during the last
year
alone are driving increased media coverage of the Armenian genocide. The
results are rapidly expanding public awareness of the issue and exposure of
the
shameful position of the government of Turkey and the US State Department,
both
of whom continue to deny the Genocide. The most recent example of the ANCA’s
anti-defamation efforts with the media has been confronting PBS for attempting
to broadcast their insulting panel discussion, which featured academics
paid by
the Turkish government to deny and distort the historical facts about the
Genocides. However, spurring increased media coverage across the country
requires greater vigilance in anti-defamation efforts to make sure media
coverage is accurate and repels the Turkish government’s denial campaign. This
stage has led to an increased need for professional resources and media
experts
in order to continue winning in the court of public opinion.
The ANCA Telethon will feature the ANCA’s many interesting and successful
programs asking for financial support. As a run up to the broadcast, the
online
Internet campaign and phonathon will allow people to show their support in
advance of the broadcast. To make a donation in advance, people can call the
ANCA at (866) 402-2622 or go to and click on the Telethon logo to
make a donation online.
5) Fun The Armenian Way: 5th Annual ARS Armenian Festival
GELNDALE–The fifth annual Armenian Relief Society of Western USA (ARS-WR)
Armenian Cultural and Food Festival will be held this year on Saturday, May 6
and Sunday, May 7 at the Glendale Civic Auditorium.
The festival will feature traditional Armenian dancing, music, and
exhibits of
local and Armenian products such as books, arts and crafts, drinks, and food.
There will be an Armenian costume show, with the opportunity to be
photographed
in traditional Armenian costumes. A workshop will teach participants how to
make traditional “lavash” bread and string cheese. The festival also
features a
special kids’ zone, featuring music and storytelling.
The festival is an ideal place to bring three generations of families
together, where Armenian music, art, dance, history, culinary heritage, and
children’s games can be enjoyed under one roof. Much of the interesting
programming enjoyed in previous years–by Armenians and non-Armenians
alike–will return along with expansion of activities and games for young
children.
“This year promises to be another colorful event celebrating our 96th
birthday
and enjoying all the various aspects of our culture. Our youth are our future
and we want them to have fun while enjoying all the sights and sounds of our
traditions and culture,” said Angela Savoian, Chair of the ARS-WR, Regional
Executive Board.
The Glendale Civic Auditorium is located at 1401 North Verdugo Road in
Glendale (the cross street is East Mountain Street). Admission will be $5 for
the public (young children are admitted free of charge). The festival will
begin on Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 PM, with official opening ceremonies at 2:00
PM. The entertainment will continue until midnight. On Sunday, May 7, the
festival will resume at 11:00 AM and end at 7:00 PM.
Advertisers and sponsors are welcome. For more information, contact the ARS
-WR Regional Executive headquarters at (818) 500-1343 (phone), (818) 242-3732
(fax) or [email protected]
(<http://www.arswestusa.o rg/>).
The ARS was founded in New York City in 1910; the establishment of the first
two ARS-WR chapters west of the Mississippi followed in Fresno (1915) and
Hollywood (1918). The region has grown to include 26 chapters, 5 Social
Service
offices, Child, Youth and Family Counseling, Saturday Schools. Orphan food and
school renovation programs are an important focus of the ARS-WR. The ARS-WR
headquarters is located at 517 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202-2812.
6) Hamazkayin Accepting Applications for 2006 Cultural Forum in Armenia
The Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Society is currently accepting
applications for its 2006 Cultural Forum to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, from
July 16-30. All college-aged individuals are encouraged to apply.
The Hamazkayin Cultural Forum is an annual event that started in 1995 with
the
aim to unite young Armenians from around the world to learn more about
Armenian
art, history, culture, society, and modern life in the homeland. It is a
unique
opportunity for people to visit Armenia for the first timeor as a returning
visitorand meet with fellow Armenians from around the world who are interested
in learning more about their people’s past as well as where they are headed.
`This is definitely an excellent way for college-aged Armenians to come
together and share ideas about what they envision as being important for
them,’
stated Asbed Kotchikian, Co-chair of the Forum Executive Committee. `If they
don’t have a thorough understanding of their history and culture, the Forum is
a great medium to learn about them. Plus, it gives people an excellent
opportunity to visit Armenia.’
`I know people who have formed close bonds with one another after attending a
Forum in the past,’ he added.
There is no limit to the amount of cultural activities that one can
experience
in Armenia. Every night you can find multiple concerts, plays, and music clubs
to attend for entertainment. On most evenings classical performances can be
heard in one of Yerevan’s many chamber concert halls, and in some restaurants
visitors have the pleasure of hearing authentic folk music any night of the
week. Jazz and rock clubs have become quite noticeable, and for those who
enjoy
dancing, there are dozens of discos located throughout the city.
Most of Armenia’s cultural legacy however is found outside Yerevan, in the
various regions of the country. Armenia is home to hundredsperhaps thousandsof
churches both preserved and in ruins. There are also ancient fortresses and
other fascinating structures to see, including a pagan temple in the town of
Garni. Another prominent site worth visiting is the Sardarabad Memorial and
History Museum, built on the very site where the historic battle against the
Turks was won and the first Armenian Republic formed.
During the Forum attendees will have the opportunity to hear several
lectures,
including one given by Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, Professor of Armenian and
Near Eastern History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the
author of numerous works, including `The Republic of Armenia,’ Volumes I-IV,
and `The Armenian Holocaust.’
To learn more about the Forum and how to apply, visit: forum.hamazkayin.com.
You can also send an email to [email protected] with specific questions.
All
applications must be received by June 15, 2006.
Hamazkayin is a worldwide organization with chapters in many countries that
aims to preserve and promote Armenian art, history, and literature. Its
goal is
to educate people about the humanities relating to the Armenian people and
perpetuate Armenian culture.
7) Armenia’s Forgotten Chernobyl Heroes Fight for Their Lives 20 Years Later
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–It took Norayr Manaserian two years to realize that he is no
longer the healthy man he was before a powerful explosion destroyed one of the
reactors of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on April 26, 1986. He was among
the hundreds of thousands of Soviet citizens who were sent to the scene of the
world’s worst nuclear disaster just days after it sent radiation billowing
throughout Europe.
“At first, my mouth would dry up but I didn’t care,” recalls the 58-year-old
retired KGB officer. “One day I got really sick and could barely breathe. Then
my stomach and eventually my kidneys began to hurt.”
Manaserian has barely been able to work and lead a normal life since then. “I
am hospitalized three or four times a year,” he said at a Yerevan clinic
specializing in treatment of serious burns and nuclear radiation.
His fate is typical of the 600,000 firefighters, servicemen and other people
from across the Soviet Union who joined in frantic efforts to contain the
unprecedented accident. Their heroic efforts spared Europe an even greater
calamity.
More than 3,000 of the people known as “liquidators” in the ex-USSR were from
Armenia. Nearly 400 of them have since died of radiation and other diseases
caused by it. Those who have survived seem largely neglected by the government
and forgotten by a society that has gone through other catastrophes since
1986.
The 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster was solemnly marked on
Wednesday, with world leaders, including US President George W. Bush and Pope
Benedict XVI, paying tribute to its thousands of victims. The main official
ceremony took place in the Ukrainian town of Slavutych that was built to house
the Chernobyl plant’s workers. Hundreds of people, each bearing a candle and
some with red carnations, filed slowly through its streets in the morning.
Ukraine as well as neighboring Belarus and Russia together estimate that more
than five million persons currently suffer health problems to some extent,
as a
result of Chernobyl. The accident forced the permanent evacuation of more than
300,000 people from over 5,000 towns and villages in the three nations.
In Armenia, a low-key commemoration of the disaster anniversary was mainly
attended by members of an organization uniting Armenian “liquidators.” Some of
them were received and honored by Prime Minister Andranik Markarian on
Tuesday.
Markarian admitted that assistance provided by his government is too modest to
address their problems.
Health is by far the most serious of those problems. According to a senior
doctor at the Yerevan radiation hospital, Marina Mirijanian, some 2,000 local
“liquidators,” still fight for their lives 20 years after the tragedy,
regularly receiving treatment at the specialized facility. She said most of
those who die are below the age of 50.
“We do our best to help them, but not all conditions are adequate,” said
Mirijanian. “Our equipment is old. We would love to replace it but can’t
afford
doing that. Also, there are some very expensive drugs which the hospital
doesn’t have and which patients themselves have to buy.”
There were only two patients at the clinic on Wednesday: Manaserian and a
45-year-old man who did not want to be identified. He served as an officer
at a
Soviet army detachment stationed in Kiev when a massive fireball ripped
through
the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl plant.
“Early in the morning of May 3 [1986], our entire regiment was put on alert
and taken to the reactor number four,” he said. “All troops in the area were
sent there. It didn’t matter if you were with interior troops, army infantry,
or tank detachments.”
Like the vast majority of other rescuers, the officer and his soldiers were
not given any personal protective equipment as they helped to evacuate
residents of nearby Ukrainian towns and villages. The ex-officer received vast
doses of radiation and has been effectively disabled since 1992.
“As a former officer, I get a military pension of about 30,000 drams ($67) a
month,” he said. “Other guys are paid only 9,000 drams by social security
bodies. Those are ridiculous sums.”
Manaserian, for his part, has to live on 23,000 drams but shies away from
complaining about his plight. “How can a man complain?” he said. “Some men
become ministers, prosecutors, presidents, or prime ministers, while others
end
up like me. What can we do?”
8) Turkey Finally Hears Its Past
By Henry Morgenthau III
CAMBRIDGE (Boston Globe)–‘Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story,” my grandfather’s
account of the killings of Armenians in Turkey in 1915, was published just
before World War I ended in November 1918. A personal chronicle of his service
as the US ambassador to Ottoman Turkey for 26 months, the book was published
last month for the first time in Turkish, a milestone in informing the Turkish
people of what happened in their country more than 90 years ago.
The term genocide had not yet been invented when my grandfather wrote his
book. Thus, Morgenthau refers to `the destruction of the Armenian race” as
`the
murder of a nation.” It was Henry Morgenthau’s lonely voice that alerted the
world to the premeditated atrocities of the Young Turk leaders and the
complicity of their German allies.
Why Morgenthau chose to speak out on behalf of the Armenians is a more
complex
question than how he did so. Almost from the time he arrived in New York as a
10-year-old German Jewish immigrant, he envisioned public service as his
ultimate calling. When the opportunity arose, he attached himself to Woodrow
Wilson’s rising star and was appointed US ambassador to Turkey.
At the end of 1914, Morgenthau noted a pattern: Palestinian Jews were
conscripted into the Turkish army, then promptly disarmed and placed in labor
battalions. This was a tactic the Turks used against Greeks and other
minorities, and, most ominously, against the Armenians.
Fearing reprisals against Jews in Turkish territories, Morgenthau warned
international Zionist leaders to contain their indignation. Then he took it
upon himself to call on the US Navy for help. In January 1915, the USS
Tennessee was ordered to Alexandria, Egypt, ostensibly to protect US citizens.
In fact, it made possible the evacuation of impoverished Jewish refugees,
including David Ben-Gurion and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, who became respectively
Israel’s first prime minister and second president.
Morgenthau was never able to carry out a rescue of the Armenians with the
effectiveness he achieved in saving Jews, though certainly not for want of
trying. There were fundamental differences between the Armenian and Jewish
situations. The Armenians were a minority located within the borders of
Ottoman
Turkey and Czarist Russia. The Jews, on the other hand, were widely dispersed
throughout Eastern and Western Europe and the United States, and to a much
lesser extent in the Near East, including the Holy Land. In Western Europe and
the United States, Jews had risen to positions of power and had learned how to
network internationally. The diaspora Armenians had not yet achieved such
status and so could not mobilize support for their persecuted kinsmen.
When Morgenthau appealed to Enver Pasha, the Turkish minister of war, to
permit US missionaries to feed starving Armenians, the response was coldly
cynical. `We don’t want the Americans to feed the Armenians… That is one of
the worst things that could happen to them… It is their belief that they
have
friends in other countries which leads them to oppose the government and so
bring down upon them all their miseries.” The Turkish minister of the
interior,
Talaat Pasha, was equally callous: `The hatred between the Turks and the
Armenians is now so intense that we have got to finish them. If we don’t, they
will plan their revenge.”
The memoirs of my grandfather factually chronicle an important period of
history. Yet, 91 years later, the Turkish state insists the genocide of the
Armenians did not happen. Why does Turkey protect the murderers of the past?
That is a question that needs to be asked over and over again until the truth
is acknowledged. As Turkey seeks membership in the European Union, it is being
challenged to open up its society and adopt free speech.
But its penal code has resulted in several Turkish writers being brought
before their own courts for speaking out about the Armenian genocide. Surely a
modern country like Turkey needs to treat its citizens with more respect. Free
speech cannot be denied, especially in a country seeking to join the EU.
Whatever may have motivated Turkish officials to deny the Genocide for more
than 90 years, there now appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel.
The
US government, which had knuckled under in support of the Turkish policy of
denial, is now urging all parties to accept the realities of history.
At this critical moment, the publication of the Turkish edition of
`Ambassador
Morgenthau’s Story” is an important step for the citizens of Turkey. It is
their right to know their own history, good and bad, without interference from
the state. A crime denied is a crime repeated. Great nations in history have
acknowledged the misdeeds of their earlier governments. It is time for Turkey
to join the ranks of those great nations.
Henry Morgenthau III, who lives in Cambridge, is the author of a family
history, `Mostly Morgenthaus.”
9) Critics’ Forum: Theater
Bogosian Double-Play
By Aram Kouyoumdjian
To describe a play as `talky’ seems rather silly; dialogue, after all, serves
as a foundation for drama. Eric Bogosian’s plays, however, are `talky.’ They
don’t unfold as intricate narratives. They don’t have much plot. Bogosian is
far less interested in what his characters have to do than in what they
have to
say. In fact, the need to talk, to rant, to spew words with ferocity often
defines the figures that populate Bogosian’s solo performance works.
The preoccupation with talk spills over into Bogosian’s full-cast plays, two
of which were revived in recent Los Angeles productions. The teens and
twenty-somethings of `subUrbia’ have little to do but talk, as they loiter
outside a convenience store. And words are tantamount to currency in the
aptly-named `Talk Radio.’
By all indications, the brief incarnation of `subUrbia’ at the Hollywood
Fight
Club should have been a disaster. The venue itself, located in a strip mall,
boasts a playing area for which `stage’ is too strong a word. At the matinee I
attended, the sun shining through the storefront windows asserted its own
`lighting design’ on a set that could not have cost more than a latte.
Unexpectedly enough, the show worked. Sort of. Well, it worked as much as it
could have in the face of such impediments. It worked mostly because of a
committed cast that generated honest and energetic performances to offset some
of this middling production’s shortcomings.
The play’s minimal plot finds its young suburbanites in front of a 7-Eleven,
their usual hangout, when a former friend from high school, who has found fame
as a rock star, returns for a visit. This auspicious reunion offers
potentially
life-altering choices for the locals. After all, dreams are still alive for
some of them, like the aspiring artist Sooze (Stacy Michelle Gold), even if
they’ve proven paralyzing for the idealistic Jeff (Beau Hirshfield) or
disillusioning for the jaded Tim (Jeremy Rodriguez).
For the most part, Bogosian’s script sounds authentic in recreating the
language of youth (although its slips are all-too-painful to the ear). The
language of youth, however, is fickle and ever-changing, so a number of
references in `subUrbia’ had been updated for this production in order to keep
the text, now a dozen years old, relevant.
Fortunately, the script had an ally in director Frank Krueger, who achieved a
sense of urgency whenever necessary (the `roughhousing’ among the characters
turned quite physical) but knew to allow quieter sequences to unfold at the
appropriate pace. Still, he never missed the play’s funnier elements
(drawing a
hilarious, albeit over-the-top, performance from Brad Robinson). One only
wished he were better equipped with the resources to have production values
consistent with his vision.
Crisp production values were on full display in the Gangbusters Theatre
Company’s staging of `Talk Radio,’ which had a limited run at Theatre 68 in
Hollywood. This early play from Bogosian’s canon, virtually devoid of plot,
dramatizes an hour from the talk show of controversial (and fictional) shock
jock Barry Champlain the night before his show is to go national. Scenic
designer Danny Cistone’s meticulous replica of a broadcast studio provided the
perfect setting in which Champlain, winningly portrayed by Christian Levatino,
would expose his callers’ demons while struggling with his own.
In a strong ensemble, Jonathan Burbridge stood out as Champlain’s call
screener, perfectly balancing Levatino’s intensity with a casual portrayal
punctuated by both laughs and poignancy. Equally worthy of mention was Matt
Mann, riotous in his scene-stealing turn as a drugged-out fan who finagles his
way onto Champlain’s show.
The play, however, belonged to Levatino, who constructed a complex character
in Champlain, even as he unleashed Bogosian’s words with all their intended
fury. In Levatino’s hands, Champlain’s rage was explosive and profane, his
introspection solemn and quiet. One could not help being struck by the
depth of
his performance, which revolved, for significant stretches of time, around a
microphone. But Levatino practically gave life to this inanimate object in
developing an organic, even visceral, interaction with `callers’ who never
appeared onstage.
Director Leon Shanglebee confidently helmed the edgy work, managing to keep
focus where the script meandered. Even in its deviations, however, Bogosian’s
raw, intense, and kinetic writing always maintained tension and commanded
attention.
Aram Kouyoumdjian is the winner of Elly Awards for both playwriting (`The
Farewells’) and directing (`Three Hotels’). His performance piece, `Protest,’
was recently staged at the Finborough Theatre in London. You can reach him or
any of the other contributors to Critics’ Forum at [email protected].
This and all other articles published in this series are available online at
To sign up for a weekly electronic version of new
articles, go to Critics’ Forum is a group
created to
discuss issues relating to Armenian art and culture in the diaspora.
10) Glimmers
By Garen Yegparian
We may be making progress, minor and mixed though it might be. I’m referring
to participation in this year’s commemorative activities, of course.
Last year, I’d observed that being a multiple-of-ten year seemed to have
helped turnout. Without that reason, numbers in two key places were up this
year. Others were less inspiring.
In Burbank, the ANC ran an essay and art contest for public school students.
The theme of `Learning from the Past, Shaping Our Future: What Does the
Armenian Genocide Mean to Me’ garnered 140 participants. Three students won
cash prizes in each contest, and another four received honorable mentions.
The
winners were also recognized at the April 18 Burbank City Council meeting
where
the annual Genocide proclamation was issued by the city. During that ceremony
the art was exhibited, one of the essays read, and a Siamanto poem recited in
translation. The meeting’s invocation was given by the Armenian clergy as
well. Also on April 18th, the Armenian students at Burbank High School
organized an event in the gym featuring Armenian bands. It drew a few hundred
students.
Meanwhile, about 100 people marched from McCambridge Park’s eternal flame,
dedicated to the memory of Burbank soldiers who died in war, to City Hall.
There, a program was held on the steps. Just over 200 attended. This matches
last year and is weak relative to a high point of over 600 a few years ago.
One of my two big disappointments was the youth rally organized by the ARF
Shant Student Organization. This event has drawn standing-room-only crowds
for
at least the last two years. This year the numbers were anemic. The program
was substantive, but I heard mumbling about insufficient publicity. I rather
think it was the absence of a name-draw. David Barsamian and Samantha Power
gave the preceding two years’ rallies substantial star-power. Just goes to
show, if we organize well and provide substantive material, our community will
support youth (and other) efforts. Failing that, people just won’t attend
except out of guilt, and/or because nothing else fit their schedule.
By far the biggest disappointment was the gathering at the martyrs’ monument
in Montebello, not least because attendance was under 2000. Once again this
year, the organizers deviated from the tried-and-true, to the detriment of the
event and our community. Instead of having the gathering on the 24th, it was
shifted to the 23rd. BAD CALL. Last year the corresponding event was
moved to
Glendale High School damaging the standing of the event. This year it was the
date change. Why don’t we get it? Our community, rightly, wants to have a
solemn gathering, at the monument, on April 24th. I would argue that even the
speakers are superfluous, and we should simply have the clergy performing
requiem services repeatedly over the course of several hours as people lay
flowers, a la the Yerevan monument.
Regarding the program, I have to confess it was better. First, and most
important, it was not interminable, under an hour and a half. Having Ragip
Zarakolu speak, though a bit too briefly, was a good touch. He brought two
key
ingredients. As one of the Turks involved in breaking the wall of silence, he
inspires hope among Armenians. Plus, he has a universal, pan-human worldview,
often acutely absent in our community. Unfortunately, his presentation was
very short. This has an eye-opening effect, especially coming from `a Turk.’
Having Peter Cowe speak in Armenian was a cutesy touch. But what was the
point? Based on what standing was he asked to speak? A professor of Armenian
studies? C’mon. Not that what he said wasn’t good, and true, and appropriate,
but it just wasn’t his place and time. California Lieutenant Governor
candidate and emcee Jackie Speier did a good job of keeping the program moving
and her California Senate and Assembly colleagues shortwinded. Adam Schiff’s
presentation was also appropriate and informative. However, these guys, as
I’ve suggested before, should be invited to speak at the Turkish consulate.
More on this below.
Interestingly, some people have decided to show up at the Montebello
monument,
on the 24th, formal program or not. One friend drove by on that afternoon,
and
thought 500 people were there. I called another who actually was there at
that
moment and was told more like 200. Regardless, it demonstrates where the
community’s soul is on this issue. Sadly, just before receiving these
reports,
I learned of a number of cars, yerakooyn draped, making nuisances of
themselves
on the highways leading to the Montebello monument. They got nailed by police
waiting for them as they exited.
The really interesting stuff, the glimmers of hope, came on the 24th. George
Bush was in Irvine speaking to a chamber of commerce. The AYF called a
protest
to demand that he properly recognize the Genocide. Outside the Hyatt where he
spoke, we outnumbered all the other demonstrators combined–be they anti-war,
generally anti-Bush, or on either side of the immigration issue. In fact, our
picketers were able to lead everyone else in a chant of `George, do your
job.’
The media there seemed focused on the immigration issue to the exclusion of
others. Eventually, a few reporters spoke to our representatives, though how
much was actually aired, be it TV or radio, I don’t know. Interesting is that
Telemundo, the Spanish TV station, interviewed one of us, in English.
Later, a
radio program, broadcast to several Spanish-speaking countries, interviewed
one
of us, in Spanish. How’s that for a vote in support of multilingualism?
For a
protest organized on very short notice that involved the possibility (and for
me the actuality) of traveling through traffic hell for most of participants,
the turnout of 100 or so was excellent, particularly since they all went to
the
Turkish consulate demonstration later in the day. The AYF did a good job on
this one. The value of keeping our elected’s on notice that their actions are
being watched and evaluated cannot be overstated.
From Irvine, it was off to Hollywood for the sixth `March in Little Armenia’
organized by United Young Armenians. Arriving late, I was unable to
participate in the march, but did catch most of the program at the end. What
first struck me were the hundreds of people leaving the area. Strange.
Factoring this in, it seemed to me that participation was up this year, to
something approaching 8000. This was confirmed when I queried city
officials.
Most importantly, this year’s program was far more substantive than the past,
though it was still a bit inaudible at the rear end of the crowd. Harut
Sassounian and Ragip Zarakolu spoke well and meaningfully and the program
overall was not too lengthy. Unfortunately, I heard the same-old, tired
chants
as the last few marchers entered Hobart where the stage and gathering were.
After the program, those on the stage seemed to hold court. A stream of
people
approached, discussed issues with, and took pictures of them. They seemed
thirsty for contact with our active, visible leadership.
Increased numbers at the rally were not the only highlight. The organizers
announced the AYF’s demonstration at the Turkish consulate. The event was
shown on Armenian TV, regardless of factional affiliation. Hopefully these
speak to a lessening of tensions and will lead to more integration of our
April
24th efforts. And, while still somewhat trapped in the spirit of
self-affirmation, the choice of speakers and content indicates progress
towards
politicization of this event. By this I mean making it more of an activist,
really Hai Tad pursuing event, rather than a partisan tool or convenient,
close-to-home means of assuaging Armenian guilt. The one criticism that I
have
is the decision to give Frank Quintero the podium. In the absence of most
other elected officials (except Greg Krikorian), this smacks of
internal-Armenian political gamesmanship. Most of the community is supporting
Paul Krekorian, Quintero’s opponent, in their 43rd Assembly District race for
the Democratic nomination. While the vast majority of those in attendance do
not even live in the district, video of this will likely be used by the
campaign, in-district, to his benefit and Krekorian’s detriment.
Finally, and appropriately, the culmination of the day was the AYF
demonstration at the Turkish consulate, now in a new location, 6300 Wilshire
Boulevard. Let’s see how long it’ll take to wear out their welcome. It is a
much bigger office building situated at the corner of Crescent Heights, a much
busier intersection than the old location. It gives us much more visibility.
Perhaps only by coincidence, but the office of `The Young Turks’ radio program
(see last week’s article) is located at 6230. I wonder…
This was the best turnout of my 17 years in the LA area, almost 3000 people.
This number was deemed a bit high by City officials, and the Los Angeles Times
reported 2500. I think it was a pleasant surprise to the organizers, one of
whom had glumly predicted decreased participation relative to last year. The
new location and unexpected numbers probably made managing the event more
challenging, but it went well. Life-size wood cutouts of Kemal Ataturk,
Ronald
Reagan, and Ambassador John Evans with their Genocide affirming quotes graced
this gathering–a novel and good idea. The slogans chanted, while more
numerous than in Hollywood, were still mostly retreads. A few new, good ones
are needed in that stable. While the police behaved well through most of the
now-shortened (two, instead of three, hours) protest, after it was over, they
behaved in their typically thug-y way when they `received the order’ to
have us
disperse. Plus, one of them was foolish enough to stop and cite a `flag-car’
for who knows what, literally in the middle of Wilshire Boulevard, in the left
turn lane, during rush hour. I suppose we should thank him for gnarling
traffic and drawing more attention to our demonstration from the circling news
helicopters above. It also seemed to me that the age distribution had
shifted,
the average age was lower, which bodes well for the future.
The biggest failing of this demonstration is its ending. It doesn’t leave
one
with a sense of accomplishment. That was compounded this year by the greater
participation and noisier intersection–a bullhorn is just not sufficient to
the task of offering inspiring closing words. Here, I return to the notion of
elected officials’ participation. It would make the protest much more
meaningful for them to speak in this venue. Imagine a Congressman, or even a
Senator, telling Turkey off right in front of their diplomatic faces! But, we
gotta ask first.
Simultaneously, removal of the elected’s from the Montebello event would
render it a more solemn, quiet, and contemplative gathering. People could
show
up, lay their flower, and proceed to the Turkish consulate. Buses could be
recruited to assist this process and parking problems at the monument would
dissipate. Those going to the Hollywood rally could thus be integrated with
our significant monument and most significant political action–the Turkish
consulate demonstration.
Some glimmers of hope are these increased numbers. To what are they
attributable? One interpretation I heard was Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi
Gonul’s visit (see my `Thank You Vecdi’ article). The protest held when he
spoke to the LA World Affairs Council may have primed people for this week’s
actions. I think the perceptible progress INSIDE Turkey towards Genocide
recognition may also be exciting, energizing, and re-politicizing our
community. In the same vein, Turkish official and quasi-official reaction to
this progress may also be triggering Armenians’ ire. It’s even possible that
something like `The Young Turks’ radio program galls people to action.
Some non-Armenian owned shops in Glendale actually closed on the 24th.
Conversely, many Armenian owned ones remained open on the 24th. It really is
time for a `list of shame’ website naming these outfits alongside purveyors of
Turkish products. What’s worse, I learned of an Armenian wholesaler who not
only remained open, but also disallowed Armenian employees to take the day
off!
Countless other events were organized. Besides those held in our Armenian
schools, it would be interesting to know how many people showed up at each
one,
and even more so, how many unduplicated individuals attended–I am far from
the
only person to attend multiple activities. That number, and its distribution,
would inform and guide future action.
Meanwhile, let’s keep hammering away at the Turkish wall of denial. The
hairline cracks are becoming visible. More importantly, let’s do it more
regularly. Anyone up for picketing that vile radio program next month?
11) BUSH CAN STILL SAVE HIS LEGACY
By SKEPTIK SINIKIAN
When I sat down to write this week’s column, I thought that the words would
just flow. This entire week I was a one-man Armenian activism machine working
to complete my `To Do’ list from last week’s column and help bring recognition
to the Armenian genocide. But each time I started striking the keys on my
keyboard, I ended up hitting the delete button and starting over. Maybe the
emotions overwhelmed me or maybe it was the lack of clarity with so many
thoughts swimming in my head, but something wasn’t coming together. It’s
probably both. Regardless of what the real reason is, I’ve now pumped my
system
with so many mocha shmocha caramel sweetness frappucinos and my blood
caffeine/sugar level is so high, that I’m ready to wrestle a large African
elephant with my bare hands. That’s what happens when you try to write an
article in a coffee shop and have had writer’s block for six hours! I guess
this is my way of saying “I’m sorry that this article is brief and not up
to my
usual standards” but the show must go on!
I’m not going to recap everything that took place over the course of last
week
(or month) related to the Armenian genocide recognition events but I do
want to
use this forum to say `Thank You’ to the members of System Of A Down who went
to Washington, DC to raise awareness about this issue. I don’t know what their
future holds, but I hope this crew of Armenian rockers have many more years of
success ahead of them before their VH1 `Behind the Music’ special featuring
Shavo’s or Serge’s old school Armenian neighbor, some guy named `Baron Sako,’
wearing a wool sweater and suit in 90 degree LA weather explaining what the
System kids were like growing up with subtitles scrolling at the bottom.
Serge,
John, Daron, and Shavo–Thank you, thank you, thank you! You made all of us
proud this week. You’re great Armenian Americans but more importantly, you’re
great human beings.
In spite of all the great coverage that the System guys received from their
visit to Washington, DC, it was still not as perfect as I would have hoped,
because at the same time our boys were `moshing’ (Put the dictionary down.
It’s
not in there. It’s a form of rock n’ roll dancing) around Capitol Hill,
President Aliyev of Azerbaijan was visiting our nation’s capitol to probably
discuss a wide spectrum of various issues with President Bush and US State
Department officials such as:
1. How much oil can Azerbaijan produce?
2. How much oil can Azerbaijan sell to the US?
3. How much oil Azerbaijan will pump through their Baku-Ceyhan pipeline?
4. How much oil…
You get the point. And how appropriate that Aliyev’s visit coincides with
claims President Bush has made about probing into price gouging by major oil
companies. Or how ironic that in addition to issuing a very political message
on April 24 that omitted the word `genocide,’ the President decided instead to
meet with the son of a former Soviet KGB official bent on wiping out the
Armenians of Artsakh (aka Mountainous Karabagh Republic) off the map. Atta boy
Mr. President! You never let us down. On April 24, a day that will live in
world history in infamy, your assistants met with a man who openly advocates
ethnically cleansing Armenians from their historic lands in Artsakh. What’s
next? Meeting with Holocaust deniers the week before the start of Hanukkah?
How
about visiting a tobacco farm during National Heart Association month? The
President should know better and if he doesn’t, then his staff is not doing a
good job of briefing him on issues that are important to his constituency.
The most recent polls show that President Bush’s approval ratings are the
lowest they have ever been. His approval rating dropped faster than a Hummer’s
gas gage going from `F’ to `E.’ I have a solution to the President’s
popularity
woes. It’s simple, fiscally responsible, and will set the tone for the legacy
of his Administration–and it doesn’t involve Iraq. Mr. President, all you
have
to do is issue a forceful statement to the Republic of Turkey stating that you
agree that if Turkey is to ever join the European Union (and the Westernized
world) then it must acknowledge its genocide of the Armenians and make the
proper apologies and reparations. It’s a very simple and morally sound
position
to defend. And even though some pundits or spin doctors will try to make it
seem as though it will hurt America’s interests in the region, your own
experience should show that our interests can’t be hurt any more than they
are.
At least this would show the world that America means business when it
comes to
freedom and liberty. You can do it! Some of us still believe that you will do
the right thing.
I didn’t want to write a long piece this week. I only had a few things to say
and I said them. I know that this President hasn’t been the best President
that
he can be, but I believe that he still possesses the potential to come around
on critical issues and show the world what Americans are really made of.
President Bush, if you’re reading this right now, please do the right thing!
Trust me on this one my friend. Do this and your approval rating will change
faster than Paris Hilton’s boyfriends. You can do it. A lot of people still
believe in you.
Skeptik Sinikian has been ordered to attend anger management classes
following
this year’s April 24 disappointments. This column was part of a 12 step
program
to control anger and frustrations. He will return next week when his mood
altering medication has worn off. In the meantime, you can email him at
[email protected] or visit his blog at
12) For the Record:
The article, `Israeli Police Prevent Armenian Pilgrims from Attending The Holy
Fire Ceremony And Arrest A Number of Armenians,’ appearing online Friday,
April
27, 2006, was written by Bedross Der Matossian.
www.anca.org
www.anca.org
www.arswestusa.org
www.criticsforum.org.
www.criticsforum.org/join.
www.sinikian.blogspot.com.