WHO LEGALIZES CORRUPTION

Lragir.am
14 April 06

During the past four-day meeting the parliament finally killed the
struggle against corruption, for the strategy of which the World Bank
allocated 300 thousand dollars to Armenia five years ago. How could
the World Bank know that in five years the National Assembly would
adopt a report on a program of privatization, confirming the donation
of state property that the government made to separate sons of the
nation. However, it is possible to understand the political forces,
which voted for the program of privatization. After all, the problem
was the struggle of two ideas: save the struggle against corruption
from formalities or save the national tradition of offering presents
from the wind of time. And it is difficult to accuse, for instance,
the Republican Party, which chose preservation of `national
traditions’ and proved by vote that the prospect of existence of the
Armenian people is preservation of national traditions, sometimes
shutting eyes to corruption.
The case of Dashnaktsutiun (the Armenian Revolutionary Federation) is
different, since one of its leaders Vahan Harutiunyan, on the day of
the massacres in Sumgait, announced in front of the house of
government that our foe is not Turks or Azerbaijanis but corruption. I
believe that who did not see the outcome of vote of Dashnaktsutiun to
the report on privatization is still excited about the bravery of
Vahan Hovanisyan when he revealed the new foe of the nation. Vahan
Hovanisyan and his fellow party members vote for a report on a program
of privatization, including companies which were sold several times
cheaper than these had been assessed. They should have phoned the
house of the president and consulted Bagrat Yesayan, the adviser to
president on anti-corruption affairs. He would honestly explain what
corruption is to his fellow party members.
HAKOB BADALYAN

KARABAKH WILL TRAIN ITS ARMY TILL LATE APRIL
Lragir.am
14 April 06
Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, Armed Forces Headquarters
Chief, Lieutenant-General Michael Harutiunyan highly appreciated the
training of the defense army of Nagorno Karabakh during his meeting
with the NKR president. The press service of the NKR president
informed the news agency ARKA. `What I saw was impressive, however the
final assessment will be given after summing up the results of the
training,’ said Michael Harutiunyan. The defense minister of NKR
Seyran Ohanyan also participated in the meeting. The training of the
Karabakh army will last till late April.

PBS HOPES THAT ITS PROGRAM ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WILL HELP AMERICAN
PUBLIC WILL GAIN A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS EVENT
Yerevan, April 14. ArmInfo. Our sincere hope is that the American
public will gain a greater understanding of these important events in
world history, Jan McNamara, PBS Corporate Communications Director,
says in an interview to ArmInfo speaking about THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
documentary film and the follow-up panel, THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE:
EXPLORING THE ISSUES to be telecast on PBS Apr 17.
It is part of the mission of public television to engender responsible
discussion and illuminate complex issues.
We have received numerous messages from across the country protesting
and praising THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE and the follow-up panel, THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: EXPLORING THE ISSUES. We are committed to offering
both programs, which we sincerely hope will help more Americans
understand this important chapter in world history. Both programs were
fed last month to PBS stations.
The final decision about what programs air in a specific market are
made individually by local stations. Implicit in PBS’ decision to
accept THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE for distribution is its recognition that
the overwhelming majority of historians have concluded that a genocide
took place.

ARMENIAN DEPUTIES BELEIVE RAMIL SAFAROV DESERVES LIFE IMPRISONMENT VERDICT
Yerevan, April 14. ArmInfo. The Armenian parliamentarians think
extradition will hardly be applied towards Ramil Safarov sentenced to
life imprisonment for murder of the Armenian officer Gourgen Margarian
in Budapest.
Gourgen Arsenian, leader of United Labour party, said that Safarov
deserved the verdict. He emphasized that extradition will hardly be
applied towards Safarov, as this issue concerns not only Azerbaijan,
but also Hungary and NATO.
While Aleksan Karapetian, member of “National Unity” party, expressed
gratitude to the Court of Hungary for fair verdict. As for extradition
of Safarov, he expressed hope that will not happen, as that would mean
Safarov is released, in fact.
Levon Mkrtchian, leader of “ARF Dashnaktsiutiun,” emphasized that the
fair verdict for Safarov is important for Armenian from both moral and
political viewpoint.
Victor Dallakian, Secretary of “Justice” faction, said that the
supreme court bodies of Hungary will not change the verdict taken by
the first instance court. At the same time, Dallakian expressed hope
that sooner or later the Armenians, Azeries and turks will leave in
peace and agreement.
While Galoust Sahakian, leader of the Republican party, said that the
verdict of the Hungarian court is even more severe than the Armenian
side expected.

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 0026
Tel: (37410) 44-74-01
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
April 13, 2006
PHOTO STORY: ATP Greens More Than 75 Community Sites in Armenia This Spring
The photos for this story are available here:
1306.htm
YEREVAN–Since the early 1990s, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) has been
successfully collaborating with local communities and institutions to plant
hundreds of thousands of trees through its Community Tree Planting (CTP)
program.
The CTP program begins by surveying the appropriateness of the site and the
community to receive trees. The program uses criteria such as the
availability of irrigation water, soil quality, caretakers, and residents’
enthusiasm for planting and growing trees. With this flagship program, ATP
has collaborated with people at over 500 sites in Yerevan and every region
throughout Armenia, including Artsakh.
On a daily basis, three ATP monitors–Navasard Dadyan, Arthur Harutunyan,
and Seyran Hovhannisyan–evaluate potential planting sites and visit sites
that were planted in previous years to check growth rates and provide
technical assistance. By the end of March, ATP selected 77 community sites
that were eligible to receive seedlings, and had begun the process of
helping residents plant nearly 25,000 new trees at schools, senior centers,
orphanages, hospitals, kindergartens, and other non-profit institutions.
To ensure a high survival rate at CTP sites, ATP publishes training material
on tree planting and tree care. Prior to planting, ATP distributes this
information to local residents and trains them on topics such as the proper
depth for planting new seedlings, how often to irrigate seedlings, and how
to monitor the growth of the trees. ATP also distributes hoses, shovels, and
other supplies and equipment as needed.
Sites in eight regions of Armenia–Armavir, Aragatsotn, Vayots Dzor, Shirak,
Ararat, Kotayk, Syunik, and Lori–received fruit and decorative trees from
ATP for village orchards, backyards, gardens, and common spaces.
`In a few years, the people in these villages will be able to reap fruitful
harvests and be in a position to receive great benefits from these trees,’
emphasized CTP Program Manager Anahit Gharibyan. Last year alone, ATP’s
trees in various communities had a harvest of over 250,000 pounds of
apricots, apples, peaches, plums, and cherries.
ATP’s nurseries in the refugee villages of Karin and Khachpar produce all of
the seedlings that are planted by the CTP program each year. Some of the
neighborhoods in Yerevan that received trees include Malatia Sebastia,
Davitashen, Achapniak, and Zeytun Kanaker, and ATP planted trees at the
State Medical University, European Regional Academy, and Genocide Memorial
Park. The CTP program is planning to plant an additional 125,000 seedlings
from one of ATP’s other nurseries this spring.
ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia’s future by
protecting its environment and restoring its degraded forests. ATP advances
Armenia’s socio-economic development by mobilizing resources for large-scale
reforestation, community-based tree planting, environmental education and
advocacy, and rural development through job creation. ATP uses trees to
improve the standard of living of Armenians, promoting self-sufficiency and
aiding those with fewest resources first.
Over the past 12 years, ATP has planted and rejuvenated over 750,000 trees.
With the establishment of the new Mirak Family reforestation nursery in
Margahovit and expansion of the backyard nursery program in the Getik River
Valley, ATP’s Rural and Mountainous Development (RMD) program is working
toward the goal of planting over one million trees in 2006. For additional
information about the RMD program and to support ATP, visit the Web site
PHOTO CAPTIONS
1. ATP Diaconia Settlement of Hope.jpg
Armenia Tree Project worked with families at the Settlement of Hope, which
was established by the Diaconia Charitable Fund to assist vulnerable
families; close to 400 fruit and decorative trees were planted by residents
with ATP on March 27, 2006
2. ATP Nor Nork planting training.jpg
On March 29, Nor Nork residents and the Habitat for Humanity youth group
participated in trainings with Armenia Tree Project and planted nearly 1,000
decorative and fruit trees; since 1997, ATP has planted over 10,000 trees in
the Nor Nork community
3. ATP Parakar village school.jpg
After receiving lessons on tree planting and tree care from Armenia Tree
Project staff, over 40 students from grades 6-7 in Parakar Village near
Yerevan planted close to 100 trees on the grounds of their school on March
23, 2006
4. ATP SOS Kinderdorf training.jpg
Armenia Tree Project worked with children at the SOS Village in Kotayk,
which was established by SOS Kinderdorf International after the 1988
earthquake; over 300 fruit and decorative trees were planted by the children
with ATP on March 27 and April 12
5. ATP Voskehat village school.jpg
After receiving lessons on tree planting and tree care from Armenia Tree
Project staff, over 40 students from grades 6-8 in Voskehat Village near
Etchmiadzin planted more than 100 trees on the grounds of their school on
March 28, 2006

WHERE MONEY OF HRAZDAN 5 GOES
Lragir.am
14 April 06
For the leader of the Armenian Christian Democratic Party Khosrov
Harutiunyan it is not clear why the money from the sale of the fifth
generating unit of Hrazdan to Russia should be transferred to the
balance of the Ministry of Defense. According to the leader of the
National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan, this means that `they do
whatever they want, so far they have got away with it, and they will
do whatever they want,’ says Vazgen Manukyan, hinting at the country’s
leadership.

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, April 14, 2006
Contact: Armen Carapetian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
SOUTHERN NEVADA ARMENIANS TO COMMEMORATE THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Armenian American community of the Greater Las
Vegas Area will commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923 on Sunday, April 23, 2006 at the Christ Lutheran
Church in Las Vegas.
`The Armenian Genocide – the first genocide of the twentieth century –
was a systematic, premeditated extermination of over 1.5 million
Armenian men, women and children beginning on April 24, 1915,’ stated
Hriyr Dadaian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Las
Vegas. `We honor the memory of the victims of this crime against
humanity every year to remind the world of the lessons of what
happened to prevent future genocides from taking place.’
Joining the Las Vegas Armenian American community in commemorating the
Armenian Genocide will be Senator John Ensign (R-NV), Congresswoman
Shelley Berkley (NV-1), Congressman Jim Gibbons (NV-2), Las Vegas
Mayor Oscar Goodman, among other distinguished guests. The Armenian
Apostolic Churches of the Western Prelacy and Diocese, the Armenian
Evangelical Church – Las Vegas, the Armenian-American Cultural Society
of Las Vegas, the Armenian National Committee of Las Vegas, the
Armenian Relief Society – Las Vegas Shoushi Chapter, the Homenetmen –
Las Vegas Artsakh Chapter, and the UNLV Armenian Students Association
will be participating in the commemoration. Armenian National
Committee of America Board Member Raffi Hamparian will be the keynote
speaker of the commemoration.
The official program will begin at 1:30 pm on Sunday, April 23, 2006
at the Christ Lutheran Church located at 111 North Torrey Pines Drive
in Las Vegas. Requiem services will be conducted by clergy from the
Armenian Apostolic Churches of the Western Prelacy and Diocese and the
Armenian Evangelical Church of Las Vegas.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

Boston Globe
April 14, 2006
Obituary
Arthur Davidian
Of Watertown formerly of Worcester age 98 died Monday, April 10, 2006 at the
Armenian Nursing Home in Jamaica Plain. Mr. Davidian was born in the Village
of Shentil, Province of Harpert in Historic Armenia. His parents Astur and
Shooshan (Najarian) Davidian and his two sisters Mari and Aghavni perished
in the Armenian Genocide. He was predeceased by his wife Rose (Der
Harootunian) and three brothers, Baghdasar of Worcester, Hovannes and Aghasi
of Marseilles, France. He leaves his 3 sons, Father Dajad Davidian, the
former Pastor of Saint James Armenian Apostolic Church of Watertown, Raymond
with whom he lived and Albert who resides in Portland, Oregon. Also survived
by seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Funeral service at
Saint James Armenian Church, 465 Mount Auburn St, Watertown on Wednesday,
April 19 at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
Visiting hours at the Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mount Auburn Street,
WATERTOWN on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. Prayer services Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint James Armenian
Church or the Shentil Foundation Of Armenia, 74 Grove Street, Belmont, MA
02478. As a young boy he spent 10 years in an Armenian Orphanage in Beirut,
Lebanon where he learned tailoring. He came to America in 1928 and owned and
operated Arthurs Tailor Shop in Worcester, MA for fifty years. His business
was located in a predominantly Irish neighborhood and he was affectionately
referred to as “Murphy” by his many neighborhood friends. His store was a
drop in center where neighborhood cronies would meet and exchange stories.
He and his late wife Rose were very active in the Armenian Apostolic Church
of our Savior in Worcester, MA. He moved to Watertown, MA in 1987 and was
employed as a tailor at School Street Cleaners in Belmont. Interment will be
in the family plot at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Watertown.
Published in the Boston Globe on 4/14/2006.
From: Baghdasarian

LETTERS
On the `The Armenian Genocide’ and Follow-up Panel
I read with great interest your story about the panel discussion to
follow the documentary about the Armenian Genocide. The problem is one
of finding and reporting the truth. If you put on some crackpot
historian from the midwest who doesn’t know the truth, but who wants
to be on TV, then you are doing the nation and the Armenians who were
stripped of their land and belongings and then marched to their death
a great injustice. Documents have been found that have proven the
Turkish government ordered these atrocities. Knowing this,it is
irresponsible for PBS to pass off ignorant people as authorities of
the subject. There are those who deny the Jewish Holocaust including
the present Iranian government, but because of our own GIs accounts of
the death campswe know that it happened. To give liars and fools a
podium on national television is a big mistake and great care should
be taken that the documented truth not be lost to them. The only
reasons the US has not officially recognizedthe genocide is the
political repercussions that it would cause with Turkey, not because
they don’t think it happened.
Lawrence Darpinian, Modesto, CA
I have just read your column entitled `Coming Soon to Viewers Like
You: The Armenian Genocide.’ Thank you very much for the detailed
discussionof the issue and your concerns. I certainly believe that PBS
is doing a great service by exploring issues that others do not,
whether I like the topic or not.
However, given the intensity and the importance of the debate, I
believe that PBS should provide the American public with a more
balanced view on the Armenian issue. As far as I understand from your
description, `The Armenian Genocide’ documentary seems to be heavily
influenced by the political and economic strength of the Armenian
community in the U.S.
I will not spend much time to describe how disappointed I am to see
that PBS fails to incorporate the views of the Turkish side to this
discussion. In particular, by accepting `The Armenian Genocide’ title,
which seems to assume that the issue has already been settled, PBS
fails to provide the American public with deeper insights regarding
this highly contested issue. Moreover, the very fact that the
Armenians do not want the airing of the follow-up panel should alert
PBS regarding the importance of having this panel discussion. In order
to protect `the public’s trust in the editorial integrity of PBS
content and the process by which it is produced and distributed,’ PBS
should ` shield the creative and editorial processes from political
pressure or improper influence from funders or other sources,’ as
stated in its own Editorial Standards.
Washington, DC
Is it actually a coincidence that you have published the `Ombudsman’s
Mailbag’ every month except March? My guess is that, to save PBS from
further embarrassment about the shameful act of giving voice to
Turkish Historians’ denial of the Armenian Genocide in a panel
discussion that accompanied a recent documentary dealing with the
subject, you conveniently neglected to publishour opinions. Sure, you
wrote some pithy response alluding to our comments, but you should let
our opinions be read.
Ty Smith, Sacramento, CA
The fact of the matter is that an overwhelming amount of the funding
and support for this documentary is from the Armenian community. This
should bea huge red flag as to how balanced this `documentary’
is. Consider that at the same time, the much briefer panel discussion
(which allows the dissenting opinions of two respected scholars)
received an onslaught of Armenian protest, and this despite still
incorporating the Armenian point of view. I find it difficult to
believe then, as New York’s WNET suggests, that the documentary is
unbiased and complete in its analysis. True, we all have yet to see
either program. ut I ask you – even if the panel merely repeats the
claimsof the documentary, why not air it anyway? The answer is likely
that two members of the panel disputed the documentary’s claims. And
by not airing this discussion, WNET and certain other PBS stations
have likely censored themselves to please the lobby of the well funded
and organized American Armenian community.
Toronto, Canada
I am quite pleased to see that the PBS has recognized the importance
of bringing to light one of the most important events of the 20th
Century. However, I am equally distressed at your lack of regard for
the hundreds of thousands of Assyrians and Greeks who perished in the
same Genocide. Proportionally,the Genocide of 1915 or the Seyfo (as
Assyrians call it) brought greater calamity to the Assyrians (also
called Chaldeans and Syriacs) in the Ottoman Empire.
It must be noted that two out of every three Assyrian living in what
is now called Iran, Turkey, and Iraq perished directly as the result
of this Genocide. It would be a great injustice if only the names of
one of the three equally important Christian communities in the
Ottoman Empire is noted in your reviews and television programming.
Wilfred Bet-Alkhas, Washington, DC
To me the use of the word Genocide is correctly associated with the
Nurenberg trials. It was the findings and judgment of a court similar
to any other judgment passed by a court after hearing the charges and
defense offered by recognized officers of that court using evidence to
support the positions of the parties. To imply that a country is
guilty of genocide without a proper trail is clearly a
`politicalization’ of justice.
Chris C., Scio, OR
It was a pleasure to read your fairly balanced comment on the
documentary and the follow up. Thanks for trying to understand the
issue with your own reasoning rather than depending on the others’ and
more importantlysupporting the freedom of speech for everyone no
matter if it is Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or something else.
Duru A., Boston, MA
In case of Armenian genocide, PBS feels that a historically settled
matter needs panel discussion after a related documentary has been
aired. However, documentaries such as FRONTLINE that deal with events
of greater controversy require no follow-up debate. PBS’s argument is
bogus.
Jack Yaghoubian, Sherman Oaks, CA
The decision to have a panel discussion is not a bad idea. I wish that
rather than including total deniers, you would have considered
moderate Turks who are objective and willing to review the
issue. Bringing a panel of deniers only fuels the argument that the
State Department’s influence on`Free Media’ remains as strong as ever.
Vatche’ Nazarethian
Your column, while providing interesting background information,
completely misses the point that thousands of Armenians have made to
your station. You are giving airtime to people who deny a genocide
which, as you have shown and agree, is accepted to have taken
place. You would never, ever have a couple of Neo-Nazis sitting on a
panel with Holocaust scholars arguing that therewas no Holocaust. You
are giving them legitimacy whether you intend to or not.
You are giving them a chance, in a few minutes of airtime to make
allegations that would require scholarly texts to rebut, something
nobody could hope to accomplish during an on-the-air panel. Freedom of
speech is the right of a person to say something. Justin McCarthy has
the right to say what he likes, but when you put him on PBS, you have
instantly given him something he does not deserve: credibility.
Raffi Kojian, Orange, CA
One wonders how far outside the norms of scholarly discourse people
need to drift before organizations such as PBS stop using the excuse
that it is necessary to broadcast every opinion, no matter how
contrary to reality it may run. Would PBS give air time to people who
deny the Holocaust? Would it give air time to people who deny Darwin’s
Theory of Evolution? Would it giveair time to people who think that
humans never walked on the moon? Would it invite a panel discussion by
people who think that Elvis Presley is still alive? Isit really
necessary to broadcast a lie to counter every truth?
Bruce Boghosian, Lexington, MA
By calling the program `Armenian Genocide’ are not the program-makers
becoming the judge and also the jury? Why not let the historians
decide after they study all the archives. Armenians killed many
innocent Turks in Erzurum while the Turkish army was fighting with the
enemy (WWI). The so-called documentary has been financed by
Armenians. How could it be unbiased and impartial?
Does it mean whoever has the money can change the history? This
program should not even be aired on PBS.
Minneapolis, MN
I will be watching the `Armenian Genocide’ documentary withgreat
interest.
I am very proud of PBS for showing the documentary and allowing many
of its members to see, maybe even for the first time, the horrific
events of the genocide and it’s tragic aftermath. I am however very
disappointed about the decision to allow the `discussion panel’ to
follow the documentary. For me personally, all this does is
demoralizes and de-humanizes, all those who lost their lives and
suffered unspeakable horrors. It’s a disgrace to their memories and a
great dishonor to its descendants.
San Francisco, CA
A Summing Up What follows are excerpts from a lengthy letter from
David Saltzman, Counsel of the Assembly of Turkish American
Associations. His initial reference to PBS policy refers to
widely-quoted remarks in the press in recent weeks from PBS officials
that the network believes the genocide `is settled history’ and
`acknowledges and accepts that there was a genocide.’
Our concern is that PBS’ publicly stated policy supporting the
genocide thesis prevents PBS affiliates from making an objective
assessment whether to broadcast the post-film discussion, which, at
least in part, challenges the genocide thesis …
Few episodes in history are more controversial than the historical
treatment of the suffering brought on by the dissolution of the
Ottoman Empire, an event which saw the birth of more than 20 new
states. Many of these states include as central elements of their
national lore some form of heroic struggle to wrest themselves free
from `The Terrible Turk.’ This lore,in many cases has bred lingering
anti-Turkish prejudice that applies not just to the Turkish state, but
to all who are ethnically Turkish …
>From the Turkish American perspective, the oft-told stories of
suffering during the late Ottoman Empire tend to extricate and isolate
the Armenian experience from the complex circumstances of the day. One
is thus given the impression Armenians were all good and Turks were
all bad and that Armenians suffered alone …
PBS, by establishing an official position on a matter of historic
controversy, provides cover to PBS affiliates who bow to pressure
brought on by government officials and panic-stricken proponents of
the genocide thesis.
WNET/WLIW
(in New York) are not alone. Already PBS affiliates in Los Angeles,
Boston, Orange County, CA, Miami, FL, Fresno, CA, and Mountain Lakes,
NY have determined not to air the post-film discussion. Thus, two of
the three largest PBS markets will not see the discussion. Orange
County, Boston, and Miami are also among the largest 20
U.S. metropolitan areas served by PBS …
We remind PBS that no person, living or dead, or any foreign state or
sovereign body has been tried for the crime of genocide stemming from
the Armenian allegation of genocide despite the opportunities to do so
that continue even today. Yet the accusation of the crime of genocide
permeates all presentations favoring the genocide thesis …
Turkey unequivocally denies the genocide allegation made against it in
such films, statements, and legislative resolutions. Whether the facts
of the Armenian tragedy in eastern Anatolia during World War I
constitute genocideas defined by the Genocide Convention is a matter
that experts have yet to debate in the arena deemed competent by the
treaty itself – the International Court of Justice (‘ICJ’) at The
Hague. Any future such adjudication will be poisoned by the one-sided
treatment of the issue by quasi-governmental bodies such as CPB and
PBS.
What follows are excerpts from a letter from Peter Balakian, a
professor of the humanities at Colgate University, who was an advisor
on the documentary and appears in the panel discussion that follows.
The fact remains that PBS would not run a fair and rich documentary
about the Armenian Genocide – one that included nearly a dozen
Turkish voices – without running what many in genocide studies
consider to be an unethical privileging of denial.
This is not a free speech issue as much of the scholarly community has
made clear. The deniers are free in this country to express themselves
without fear of prosecution or harm but this does not guarantee them
the right to elite forums. The leading authority on Holocaust and
genocide denial, Professor Deborah Lipstadt, has written:
`Denial of genocide whether that of the Turks against the Armenians,
or the Nazis against the Jews is not an act of historical
reinterpretation. Rather, the deniers sow confusion by appearing to be
engaged in a genuine scholarly effort. The abundance of documents and
testimonies that confirm the genocide are dismissed as contrived,
coerced, or forgeries and falsehoods. The deniers aim at convincing
innocent third parties that there is another side of the story. Free
speech does not guarantee the deniers the right to be treated as the
other side of a legitimate debate, when there is no credible other
side; nor does it guarantee the deniers space in the classroom or
curriculum, or in any other forum.’
Like many others, I fear that PBS resorted to the post-show panel as a
kind of fire insurance because of the negative experience it had with
Turkish government harassment in 1988 after airing an Armenian
Genocide documentary, as you note in your column. While this was no
doubt an uncomfortable experience, many institutions and organization
around the world in recent years have ceased paying attention to
Turkish harassment, and many of us hoped that PBS would not feel that
sense of intimidation this time, with this particular documentary.
Lastly, I find (PBS’s co-chief programming executive) Ms. Atlas’
explanation for the post-show program a bit disingenuous. She claims
that its goal was not to provide a `platform for those who deny the
genocide,’ but to `explore how serious historians do their work and
look at evidence.’ However, by inviting two professional deniers (who
have worked closely with the Turkish government) on a PBS program, a
large platform was indeed provided for the repulsive lies that
constitute denial. And, in the twenty-five minutes we had, there was
not even a remote possibility that the show could explore how
historians work. As fine a job as (panel moderator) Scott Simon did
hosting it, the post-show could not help but be more than a staged
`bake-off,’ and sadly, a forum that abused the reality and memory of
one of the major human rights crimes of our time.
Having made these points, I still applaud PBS for putting on `The
Armenian Genocide,’ which is a landmark documentary. And, I appreciate
your thoughtful wrestling with this issue.
Posted by Michael Getler on April 14, 2006 at 1:48 PM

ASBAREZ ONLINE
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04/14/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Communities Mobilize in Support of Armenian Cause 2) ARF Hosts "Armenians and the Left" Conference 3) Turkish Station Follows 'Ararat' with Panel about 'Armenian Propaganda' 4) Stephen Mann to Visit Yerevan in May with New Proposals 5) Prelate's Easter 2006 Message 6) Southern Nevada Armenians to Commemorate 91st Anniversary of The Armenian Genocide 7) Armenian Navy Band Wins World Music Award 8) The British Blue Book And Denial of The Armenian Genocide: The Continuing Saga 9) LACC to Screen 'Ararat' in Commemoration of Armenian Genocide 10) Armenian Genocide Benefit Show at Henry Fonda Theater 11) Youth Gathering on Palm Sunday 12) Jerry Tarkanian: Coach... Legend... Champion: By John Krikorian 13) Missed a B: By Garen Yegparian 14) ICE HOCKEY, SELF DISCIPLINE AND EASTER: RANDOM THOUGHTS: By Skeptik Sinikian 15) Genocide Events Calendar 1) Communities Mobilize in Support of Armenian Cause --Enthusiasm builds toward nationwide Telethon on May 21 WASHINGTON, DCCommunities across the nation have begun a major mobilization effort in support of the first ever nationwide telethon for the Armenian Cause to be broadcast on May 21. The groundbreaking initiative's purpose is to propel the Armenian Cause and issues facing the Armenian American community to a new level of success. Organized by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the proceeds from the national telethon will go toward broadening the scope and resources with which major Armenian issues are pursued within the halls of Congress, the White House, and state and local governments around the country. "We are fortunate to enjoy the support, confidence, and enthusiasm of the vibrant and growing grassroots network of Armenian Americans around the nation," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA's Washington, DC headquarters office. "We are making major strides on all fronts and have those who oppose justice for the Armenian nation on the run. Now is the time to put more resources behind our efforts which will raise the stakes and score major victories for our people." Communities across the country heeded the call to action several months ago as the ANCA Telethon planning process began. Today there is a major public awareness campaign underway in every Armenian community and logistical details have been put into place so that the Telethon will be broadcast wherever there are Armenians in the US as well as on the Internet. Utilizing many different technologies, the Telethon will perhaps mark the most ambitious effort in the history of the Armenian American community to boost advocacy efforts for the Armenian Cause. Pledges for financial support are gathering steam as churches, community centers, schools, and a broad-based coalition of community organizations have mobilized members of the community in support of the Telethon. "This is a historic moment as we look to invest more deeply in strengthening our communities here in the US," said Aram Sarafian, member of the ANCA Eastern Region Board of Directors. "By increasing the resources we put behind our efforts here in the US we will achieve greater victories in securing justice for the Armenian genocide, defending the rights of our communities, and ultimately securing the freedom and future of Armenia and Karabagh." One of the ways the ANCA Telethon is reaching out to the community is by phone. Thousands of phone calls are being made every week to notify members of the community that the Telethon will be taking place and asking that people tune in to their local television broadcast. To make a pledge for the Telethon in advance, call (866) 402-ANCA. 2) ARF Hosts "Armenians and the Left" Conference --Fisk announces plans to speak in Turkey NEW YORK--The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) concluded a weekend-long conference titled "Armenians and the Left" on April 9, when featured speakers Robert Fisk and Noam Chomsky spoke at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in front of a crowd of 750 about War, Geopolitics, and History: Conflict in the Middle East. During his lecture, Fisk explained why the Armenian genocide must be [known] in order to understand how the region has been condemned since World War I to foreign intervention, chronic war, and mass slaughter. The conference began on April 7 at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, where over 1,000 people attended a lecture by Fisk about the Middle East and US journalism. The crowd featured many out-of-town guests, including twenty members of the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada as well as individuals from Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Boston, and Los Angeles. The conference's main events took place on Saturday, April 8, when twenty activists, scholars, and opinion makers gave presentations at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan. Six separate panel discussions took place on a variety of critical topics, including human rights in the Caucasus, women and political power, globalization and imperialism, Armeno-Turkish dialogue, Armenian political identity, and reparations for mass crimes against humanity. The day ended with Robert Fisk and David Barsamian's presentation about "War, Propaganda, and the Media" in the presence of all the conference attendees. Fisk also promoted his most recent book, "The Great War for Civilization," in which he dedicates an entire chapter to the Armenian genocide that he described as "the first Holocaust." In his column last weekend for The Independent, Fisk took up the case of John Evans, the US Ambassador to Armenia, who is being forced to retire over his affirmation of the Armenian genocide during a speech he gave last year in San Francisco. After rebuking the Bush Administration for its imminent dismissal of Evans, Fisk announced his plans to travel to Van and other areas of Western Armenia to promote the Turkish language edition of his book. 3) Turkish Station Follows 'Ararat' with Panel about 'Armenian Propaganda' Kanalturk, a private, Turkish television station broadcast Thursday Atom Egoyan's film "Ararat" for the first time in Turkey. Although a spokesman for the station said the film would be shown "with no cuts or censoring," several scenes and some dialogue were removed from the film. Scenes that were deleted included Turkish soldiers setting Armenians on fire and the rape of an Armenian woman by a Turkish soldier. Before showing the film, a presenter warned the audience that the film contained lies and propaganda. After the film, the station aired a panel about the "truth." Hrant Dink, the editor of the Armenian language weekly Agos, was to appear on the program, but reportedly changed his mind at the last moment. The remaining participants of the panel claimed that the film was based completely on Armenian propaganda. Egoyan's film about the Armenian genocide deals with the members of a contemporary Armenian family, who are faced with both Turkey's denial of genocide and their own individual plight. 4) Stephen Mann to Visit Yerevan in May with New Proposals (Combined Sources)Steven Mann, the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, will visit Yerevan with new proposals for a resolution to the Karabagh conflict, said US Congressman Jim Kolbe in Baku. He will arrive in Yerevan in May, said Anthony Godfrey, deputy US Ambassador to Armenia. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said he was presented with unspecified "new proposals" on Karabagh last week during a meeting in Washington with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He told Trend news agency that Baku will respond to those proposals during Mann's upcoming visit to the conflict zone. During his visit to Azerbaijan, Representative Kolbe also said that as one of the countries co-chairing OSCE Minsk Group, the United States supports a fair and long-lasting solution to the Karabagh conflict, stressing that long-lasting peace and economic development in the region depends on reaching a solution to the conflict. 5) Prelate's Easter 2006 Message On The Feast of The Resurrection: Let Us Go to Emmaus And Beyond It is Easter once again. The good tidings and message of the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, uplifts us all. With the defeat of evil and death, goodness and life inspire the world with new hope. On the day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, He came across two men walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus, and discussing the recent occurrences. As Jesus approached them, they did not recognize Him. The Lord asked what they were referring to and why they seemed sad. One of the men, Cleopas, said "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" When Jesus asked "What things?" they told the story of Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet who has condemned to death and crucified by the chief priests and rulers. The men had hoped that He would be the redeemer of Israel. They continued, "Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early morning and did not find His body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." Jesus replied, "Oh foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" He began to explain all the Scriptures, beginning with Moses, that foretold of what would happen to Him. As they reached Emmaus, they asked Him to stay the night with them given that it was getting late. At the table, He took bread, blessed it, and offered it to them. Their eyes opened, they recognized Him, and He disappeared. They immediately returned to Jerusalem where they found the disciples and said, "The Lord is risen indeed!" And they told of how Jesus had been revealed to them and of the breaking of bread. (Luke 24:18-35) Dearly Beloved, this appearance of our risen Savior is the greatest message of brotherhood and Divine attention directed to mankind. He appeared only to simple and modest individuals. The only thing that is known about them is that they were followers of Christ and they loved Him. For these reasons alone they became worthy of seeing Him, for they became spiritually renewed by His words and by the breaking of bread. Indeed, the Holy Scriptures and the breaking of bread make up the spiritual foundation of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and are the source of Christian renewal for our faithful. The Glorious Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ is not only a historical fact but also a reality in our everyday lives. Through the Holy Scriptures and the breaking of bread, our Heavenly Father abides in us eternally, lives with us, and through us. This Easter and Eastertide and throughout the upcoming year, let us join together and walk to and through Emmaus, as disciples and followers of Christ, so that we may also be worthy of seeing Him. As travelers to Emmaus, let us go out to Jerusalem and to the four corners of the world to spread the hope and joy of the Resurrection of our Lord. Filled with the mystery of the Resurrection, as we study the Scriptures and through the breaking of bread share the Holy Communion, let us collectively invite the Lord to abide within us and live with us. May the joy of the Resurrection be the daily miracle in our individual lives, and also for Armenia, Artsakh, and the diaspora. Together, let us renew the hope of the Resurrection in our lives, so that through us He may renew the lives of others. The triumphant message of the Resurrection of Christ is an invitation for us all to follow in the path that the Church leads us, in accordance with the faith of our forefathers. Every morning and every evening, through the singing of psalms, prayer, and reading of the Holy Scriptures, let us praise His name and glorify Him. With these Easter messages I invite the Armenian faithful, and especially the clergy and servants of our parishes, educational institutions, and organizations to travel with us to Emmaus and beyond, and may today and every day be an occasion for us to pray: "Lord Jesus Christ abide with us." With these prayers and wishes let us proclaim: Christ is risen from the dead. Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ. Prayerfully, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate Western United States 6) Southern Nevada Armenians to Commemorate 91st Anniversary of The Armenian Genocide LAS VEGAS--The Armenian American community of the Greater Las Vegas Area will commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923 on Sunday, April 23 at the Christ Lutheran Church in Las Vegas. "The Armenian Genocide--the first genocide of the twentieth century--was a systematic, premeditated extermination of over 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children beginning on April 24, 1915," stated Hriyr Dadaian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Las Vegas. "We honor the memory of the victims of this crime against humanity every year to remind the world of the lessons of what happened to prevent future genocides from taking place." Joining the Las Vegas Armenian American community in commemorating the Armenian genocide will be Senator John Ensign (R-NV), Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV-1), Congressman Jim Gibbons (NV-2), Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, among other distinguished guests. The Armenian Apostolic Churches of the Western Prelacy and Diocese, the Armenian Evangelical Church - Las Vegas, the Armenian-American Cultural Society of Las Vegas, the Armenian National Committee of Las Vegas, the Armenian Relief Society - Las Vegas Shoushi Chapter, the Homenetmen - Las Vegas Artsakh Chapter, and the UNLV Armenian Students Association will be participating in the commemoration. Armenian National Committee of America Board Member Raffi Hamparian will be the keynote speaker of the commemoration. The official program will begin at 1:30 PM on Sunday, April 23 at the Christ Lutheran Church located at 111 North Torrey Pines Drive in Las Vegas. Requiem services will be conducted by clergy from the Armenian Apostolic Churches of the Western Prelacy and Diocese and the Armenian Evangelical Church of Las Vegas. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. 7) Armenian Navy Band Wins World Music Award YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow)--Armenia's favorite exotic ensemble, the Armenian Navy Band won last week the "Audience Award" of the prestigious BBC World Music Awards. Armenian Navy Band was selected as a finalist two months ago through online voting by fans. Four groups, including three others from Brazil, Iraq and Italy, were judged by a panel of music critics and Armenian Navy Band came out on top. The group's founder and percussionist/vocalist Arto Tuncboyaciyan appeared at the BBC Awards ceremony and gave a 20-minute performance. The 12-member group is led by Tuncboyaciyan and has become popular for its interpretations of traditional Armenian songs. Tuncboyaciyan composes all of the songs, which in his words, "have the sound of my life." Tuncboyaciyan's original compositions express the sound of past generations, with a modern twist; this is what he calls "avant-garde folk." The music is infused with sounds of Armenia and Anatolia and fused with elements from different musical genres, including jazz. The Armenian Navy Band represents the synthesis of Arto's musical journey and life experiences. As an ensemble with particular virtuosity, it also has great ability to perform live music and compositions taken from both the tradition and modern culture of Armenia. The musicians of this ensemble, which are some of the best musicians living in Armenia, range from ages 20-45. The instruments vary from traditional: duduk, zurna, kemanche, kanun; to contemporary: trombone, alto sax, tenor, soprano sax, trumpet, bass, drums, keyboard, and piano. The members of the band include Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Anahit Artushyan, Armen Ayvazyan, Armen Husnounts, David Minasyan, David Nalchajyan, Tigran Suchyan, Norair Kartashyan, Vartan Grigoryan, Arman Jalalyan, Vahagn Hayrapetyan, and Artyom Manukyan. This ensemble together with the unique vocals and percussion of Arto creates a musical journey to the past and present, bringing sound into the future. To learn more about Armenian Navy Band, visit < t; 8) The British Blue Book And Denial of The Armenian Genocide: The Continuing Saga Last year, on the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) mounted a campaign against the 1916 British Parliamentary Blue Book. Disguised in terms of improving relations with the republic of Armenia and resolving the Armenian genocide issue, Turkish Parliamentarians claimed that at the root of the Armenian genocide thesis were British propagandists during World War I and the TGNA requested that the British Parliament rescind the 1916 work. This official Turkish onslaught, which is still in progress, reflected the continuing cynicism of Turkish authorities when addressing the Armenian issue. The soft language of peace masks a more disturbing agenda. The main culprits in this effort remain Sukru Elekdag, the former Turkish ambassador to the United States (now a member of the TGNA), and his long-standing ally, Justin McCarthy, a long time denier of the Armenian genocide. Only a few weeks ago, at a special symposium on improving Turkish-Armenian relations, Sukru Elekdag gave an update on his efforts to co-opt the British Parliament in the denial of the Armenian genocide. In his talk at Abril Bookstore, Ara Sarafian, the British archival historian, will provide an update to the activities of Turkish authorities in the United Kingdom, and discuss the main lines of opposition to Turkish efforts. The event will take place at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, April 18 at Abril Bookstore. The speaker, Ara Sarafian is an archival historian specializing in late Ottoman and modern Armenian history. He is the director of the Gomidas Institute (UK) and editor of Gomidas Institute Books. His publications include the critical edition of the famous 1916 Blue Book, The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1916-1916 [Uncensored Edition]. Over the past year he has advised a group of British Parliamentarians who have opposed the efforts of the TGNA to deny the Armenian genocide. Sarafian was also a participant at the Istanbul University symposium on Turkish-Armenian relations (March 15-17, 2006). Abril Bookstore is located at 415 East Broadway, Suite 102, Glendale, CA 91205. For more information, call (818) 243-4112. 9) LACC to Screen 'Ararat' in Commemoration of Armenian Genocide --Special reception honoring David Alpay, star of "Ararat," will be held following screening Canadian actor David Alpay will be the guest of honor at a special reception held at LA City College (LACC) at 4 PM on April 23, following a screening of the film "Ararat," in which he plays the lead role. The reception is part of a commemorative program being held to raise awareness of the Armenian genocide. The LA City College Foundation is presenting this educational screening of Atom Egoyan's 2002 film "Ararat" and the reception for Alpay at LACC's Camino Theatre, located at 855 N. Vermont Avenue in East Hollywood. Steve Maradian, president of LACC and cosponsor of the event, noted that the afternoon's program is being held in recognition and understanding of the Armenian genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives. Critics have called "Ararat" one of Atom Egoyan's most provocative films to date. The film depicts the estranged members of a contemporary Armenian family who are faced both with Turkey's denial of their catastrophic past and with their own complicated present. In the film, David Alpay portrays a young man, Raffi, who, after being interrogated by a customs officer, recounts how his life was changed during the making of a film about the Armenian genocide. A resident of Toronto, Alpay has appeared in a number of movies and TV shows since his debut in "Ararat." The film also features actors Charles Aznavour, Eric Bogosian, and Christopher Plummer. A Canadian filmmaker and four-time Cannes Film Festival winner, Egoyan, has written or directed over two dozen movies, and is one of the most well-known filmmakers of Armenian descent. The event will serve as a fundraiser to set up scholarships for Armenian students in the field of theater and cinema/TV at the college. After the film screening, a buffet reception will be held in the adjacent Caminito Theatre and attendees will have the opportunity to meet Alpay. This program is one in a series of educational and cultural programs the college offers in an effort to understand and bring focus to the diversity found on the campus. For tickets and reservations, call the LACC Foundation at (323) 953-4011 or (323) 953-4000, ext. 2490. 10) Armenian Genocide Benefit Show at Henry Fonda Theater The Apex Theory, a critically acclaimed Los Angeles-based band, has organized "Izabelle's Scar 2006: An Armenian Genocide Benefit Show" dedicated to raising awareness about the Armenian genocide. The band will be joined by various artists and organizations dedicated to promoting human rights on Sunday, April 23 at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. The Apex Theory hope to help raise money and bring more awareness to this issue with this event. Also participating in the event are Amnesty International, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Axis of Justice, and Darfur Relief Fund At the event, The Apex Theory, Harout Pamboukjian, Onesidezero, Human, and others will perform. The end of the night will feature a jam session with John Dolmayan (System of a Down), P-Nut (311), Djivan Gasparyan Jr., Khalfani (Burning Star), and Kobol. The program also includes spoken word and special appearances by Knowledge the Wordsmith, ACRS, Maria, Jibilian, and DJ Edward K. (Pro-Tez). Doors open at 6:00 PM. For more info contact [email protected]. 11) Youth Gathering on Palm Sunday The Prelacy Youth Central Directorate Committee held its monthly joint gathering on Palm Sunday, at the Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church of Encino. With Armenians participating from all Churches of the Western Prelacy, participants had the opportunity to learn more about the ACYA and to receive the Word of God. As one of the first of its kind, this event marked a historic day for the Armenian Church Youth Association. The first ever joint gathering was held just last month, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, at the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church of Montebello. Five more joint gatherings are scheduled, one per month, in cities across the State of California. The youth gatherings are a part of a campaign by the Central Directorate Committee of the ACYA to spark a spiritual revival in Armenian youth. It will provide a bridge to those who have been seeking and have yet to seek the Armenian Apostolic Church. Sunday's event began at five in the evening. In attendance were Very Reverend Father Muron Aznikian, Rev. Razmig Khatchadourian, Holy Martyrs Board of Trustees Chairman Levon Arabian, and ACYA Central Directorate Committee Chairman Gregory Martayan. Opening remarks were made by Manuel Achekian of the Holy Martyrs ACYA Executive Council who welcomed the guests, after which Rev. Khatchadourian conducted the opening prayer. Rev. Khatchadourian expressed his continuous support of the ACYA and its mission. ACYA Central Directorate Committee Chair Gregory Martayan then welcomed guests on behalf of the Western Prelacy Central Youth Executive. The most important and profound part of the evening came from Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian. In his dialogue about how to achieve eternal life through the gates of heaven, Very Rev. Fr. Aznikian spoke of how good works and faith go hand in hand. "Faith without work is useless; both together will help us achieve righteousness." A question and answer period followed the dialogue, during which the Very Rev. Fr. Aznikian addressed issues relating to baptism and its role in the cleansing of sin. Present from the Western Prelacy ACYA Central Directorate Committee were Ani Daglian (Holy Martyrs, Secretary), Sona Hagopian (Pasadena, Treasurer), Hratch Yesayan (Glendale), and Hagop Tchagaspanian (Glendale). Present from the Holy Martyrs Executive Committee were Maria Abrahamian and Sevan Keushkerian. The Central Directorate Committee of the ACYA will be hosting events in every city where the Western Prelacy Armenian Apostolic Church has an established church. The next lecture will take place May 14 at St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale, where Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian will speak about "The Virgin Mary according to the doctrine of the Armenian Apostolic Church." The monthly schedule of the Armenian Apostolic Church Youth Association's lecture series can be found by accessing the Prelacy's website at <;www.Weste rnPrelacy.org or by requesting materials from your local church office. On July 9, the ACYA will be sponsoring an event in San Francisco, and on August 12 there will be a Grape Blessing joint gathering in Fresno. The Armenian Apostolic Church Youth Association's goals are: to instruct Armenian youth and young adults on the doctrines and traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church; to raise awareness of spiritual, religious, ethnic, cultural, and national heritage; to promote Christian love among members, so that they may manifest that love through harmony, mutual respect, and dedication, striving to become better Christians and ideal citizens; and to nurture dedication and loyalty towards the Armenian Church, so members can take an active role in the betterment and progress of that institution. For more information about the ACYA, please contact the Western Prelacy at (818) 248-7737 or your local parish priest. 12) Jerry Tarkanian: Coach... Legend... Champion By John Krikorian Jerry Tarkanian, former basketball coach of the 1990 NCAA Championship UNLV Runnin' Rebels, will give a free lecture sponsored by the Friends of the Glendale Public Library, Thursday, April 20 at 7:00 PM. Tarkanian will discuss his revealing and hilarious autobiography "Runnin' Rebel: Shark Tales of 'Extra Benefits,' Frank Sinatra, and Winning It All." Tarkanian visits the library to talk about college basketball, recruiting wars, his friendship with Frank Sinatra, and how he won a $2.5 million lawsuit against the NCAA. Parking at the Marketplace lot across the street from the Library is free for three hours with validation from the library. For more information, please call (818) 548-2042. "I am an Armenian. That doesn't mean a lot to a lot of people, but to Armenians, it means everything. And for good reason." Chapter 2 of Jerry Tarkanian's recently released book, "Runnin' Rebel" begins with these words. He is the controversial, colorful, winningest college basketball coach and this April, he is coming back to his local Armenian roots. "Tark the Shark," a nickname he earned because of his infamous sideline towel chewing habit, will be at the Glendale Public Library at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 20. From his birth in Ohio, early years in Pasadena, Fresno, and finally his rise to college basketball fame in Las Vegas, Jerry Tarkanian has taken the values and lessons he learned from his family, his Armenian roots, and early mentors with him. His track record is highlighted by 19 seasons as the legendary coach of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, with a remarkable 778-202 record. Jerry was named "college basketball coach of the year" in 1983, 1987, and 1990 with 17 appearances at the NCAA "big dance." Either in spite of or because of all of these remarkable accomplishments, Jerry's frequent habit of stirring up controversy--crossing the NCAA in his recruiting practices, his scorecard of NCAA penalties, and other general acts of rebellion--has led him to become one of the most memorable and beloved college basketball coaches of his time. Born in Ohio, Jerry admits to not focusing seriously on basketball until he arrived at Pasadena City College as a coach in 1966. This career move was perhaps inspired by his early passion for Pasadena. When he was 14, Jerry's father died tragically from tuberculosis and his mother moved the family to Pasadena in 1944. In his book, Jerry recalls of Pasadena as a city with one freeway leading to Los Angeles, hardly any smog, and full of orange groves. "It was just like paradise." Today Jerry's brother Myron and his wife Virginia live in nearby Arcadia with Jerry's nephew and three nieces. Both are teachers, a natural instinct in the Tarkanian family as evidenced by Jerry's years as a coach and mentor to his players. The strongest motive for the Tarkanian family's move to Pasadena in the 1940's, however, was the small Armenian community that existed there. The man who was originally to be named "Gregory" after an Armenian saint, but ended up as Jerry because of his mother's broken English, is proud of all the qualities and traits he picked up from his family roots and still holds close to his heart today. Jerry Tarkanian is now happily retired in Las Vegas with his wife of almost fifty years Dr. Lois Tarkanian, a City of Las Vegas Councilwoman. The couple has two sons and two daughters. His sons have followed in his footsteps--Danny played on his father's first string at UNLV and became an assistant coach, also practicing law. Danny has now announced his candidacy for Secretary of State in Nevada, George is head basketball coach in Visalia, California. His daughter Jodie is a nurse and a homemaker and Pamela is a special education administrator in the Clark County School District. In the end, Jerry Tarkanian may be the most colorful, but at the same time gentle shark out there--from his strong belief in teamwork, education and sportsmanship, to his local Armenian roots, family and love of the area that contributed so much to his passion for coaching basketball. Early on, Jerry Tarkanian learned a valuable lesson from one of his coaches. The coach, Jerry said, "was an extraordinarily intense individual and he demanded equal intensity from his players." If that's not the legacy of Jerry Tarkanian, personally and professionally, then really what is? 13) Missed a B Garen Yegparian Just over two years ago, I gleefully wrote about the ousting of then Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, one of those who energetically supported the murderous adventure in Iraq. Then I dared hope that two other thugs, Tony Blair and George W. Bush, would be ousted. But I missed a B, as in Italy's Silvio Berlusconi. As of this writing, he seems to have been dumped. However, it's a squeaker of an election and the results may not be clear for weeks, so it's too soon to gloat. This would likely further weaken Bush, at least on the international/Iraq war front. With recent revelations of Bush' subordinating matters of state security to political/electoral machinations, calls for his resignation or impeachment may grow louder and get more traction. Add to this the possibility that the immigration-related-rights demonstrations (in which we should really be involved since we suffer the same community impacts of current US law) could grow. They could also morph into a broader based agenda of reforms. Now consider the corruption of numerous Republican Congressional leaders (think Jack Abramoff), and consequent weakening of the Bush regime's influence over the legislature, particularly as a lame duck president. Federal and statewide elections are coming in November with their primaries around the corner. The Republicans are feeling the heat generated by their misrule. The result? The band of crooks occupying the White House could be reeling. Why all this in April when Genocide issues should be foremost? Exactly for that reason! Do we matter enough? Can we raise enough of a ruckus, take advantage of the above and other developments to corner the White House/Department of State into at least sitting on the sidelines and allowing passage of a Genocide resolution in both houses of Congress? Obviously, securing a simultaneous action by the Executive branch would be even better. As you read this, it's less than ten days to the twenty-fourth. Our communities' attentions are actually focused on the issue. Might we channel that into an explosion of pressure and achieve our goals? For those of us who have a conscience and generally cannot tolerate the Bush regime's and its legislative cronies' shenanigans, it might mean having to suck it up and shut up about these vile creatures in exchange for them doing the right thing for once. Are we willing to make such a deal with these devils and maybe even say something (shudder) nice about them? Who's going to take up this banner and lead the charge? 14) ICE HOCKEY, SELF DISCIPLINE AND EASTER: RANDOM THOUGHTS By Skeptik Sinikian I need to start off with an apology to all my readers. Last week I introduced a new idea called Skeptik's New Rules and the abbreviation throughout the piece appeared as "SNL" instead of "SNR." Now my editors are supposed to catch mistakes like that but God bless them, they actually took my word for it this time and left it as it is (If only they'd practice that behavior more often). So I'm claiming my own mistake and admitting that the L in SNL stands for Loser. I had a momentary lapse in spelling and grammar which is not too uncommon in my creative realm but which usually slips under the radar undetected. Not this time however... and my readers made sure of that. So one more collective "I'm sorry" and "Thank you." There. We are done. Let's move on. I almost forgot that there was one more unrelated portion of this week's column. This is a plug for a loyal reader known only as "Hrair" who asked me to promote the Armenian Ice Hockey Team's fundraiser this weekend at the Pickwick Ice Rink in Burbank. I have to admit that when I read his headline of "Armenia v. Turkey in Iceland" I didn't know what to think and thought it was one of the many SPAM emails I receive and get ticked off about. But sure enough, this was an actual email from a reader and he is part of an Armenian Ice Hockey Team trying to raise funds to go and participate in a showdown against the Republic of Turkey. Here's a portion of his email: "Hey Skep, Before I tell u the reason for my e mail, I just want to say that I love seeing ur editorial on the pages of Asbarez every Saturday. Thanks for vending the frustration of many Armenian Americans. I just want to let u know about a fundraiser this weekend at 10 pm at Pickwick Burbank. It's a $5 fundraiser to help the Armenian Ice Hockey team have enough funds to fly to Iceland. The International Ice Hockey Federation is having its annual Ice Hockey games in Reykjavik, Iceland beginning on April 24th. The first game is between the countries of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey on April 24th at 4 pm. I don't know about this year, but last year Armenia ranked # 45 out of 45 countries that participated in the games. I hope you will can post this on your blog and maybe make your readers aware of the upcoming fundraiser and game." Hrair jan--consider it done! Tell Bjork I say "hello" when you see her in Iceland and as for the game, kick some Turkish butt for all of us! If anyone has any questions about the details (like which day this weekend the event will be) just email Hrair at [email protected]. By the way, can anyone tell me when it will stop raining? This is Southern California and it's supposed to only rain three days out of the year here! What is going on? I'm sorry, that was the sugar high that took over. I've been eating nothing but Cadbury Easter Eggs for the last three days straight because one of my coworkers blackmailed me into buying boxes of candy from her daughter's Elementary school fundraiser. Right now, I'm sitting in front of my computer, eyes completely glazed over, unshaven, disheveled, and my mouth area covered in chocolate stains like some sort of insane clown. It's not a pretty sight. I'm really jittery and have the attention span of a hummingbird on three double shots of espresso! Let's seriously try to move on... I was at a loss for a topic idea this week. I didn't know what to write about or comment on. I always reach this literary impasse every April as I'm faced with the challenge of saying something that hasn't been said in the last 91 years or trying to be clever with the obvious. Neither of these are challenges that I feel quite up to. I asked some of my readers during an online session what I should write about. I got some great ideas and some you'll see in future articles. (The Church came up more than any other topic and pretty soon, we'll have to talk about the white elephant sitting in the middle of the room.) But in the meantime, I thought I'd digress and write about something that had to do with tolerance, temperance, and self discipline. After all, it is April and that means Easter and April 24--both days that signify rebirth and commitment to eradicating evil from our lives. Both are days that require us to focus on Christian values like self discipline, temperance and such. In spite of their thematic similarities, all too often Easter takes a back seat to the more immediate, Armenian-specific Genocide recognition efforts. That's too bad considering the message that Easter bears for Christians and seeing as to how Armenians were massacred by the Turks in large part but not solely because we were Christian. There's a greater connection here and one that we need to focus on and apply to our April 24 rituals of demonstration and activism. Easter is preceded by Lent, which when I was a kid, thought it was called Lent because all we ate in our house was Lentil soup or "Vospi abour." I still don't know where Lent comes from nor do I understand why Good Friday is called Good Friday but I DO know that Lent is marked by depriving yourself for 40 days from something that you derive pleasure from. It's a way for men and women to control their desires and for at least a month or so walk in the steps of Jesus Christ. This idea of deprivation during Lent is an interesting concept and in a lot of Armenian traditional homes, it means going completely vegan for forty days. That means eating NOTHING that comes from an animal for forty days. That's insane! If I go more than a week without eating cheese, I start feeling like I should move to Santa Cruz, start growing an "herb garden" in my basement, listen to Grateful Dead albums and change my name to something like "Moonbeam" or "Morning Dew." But alas, this has been a tradition that's been followed for centuries amongst Armenians. Or it was... until... Well, let me paint a clearer picture for you--if you were to come to Glendale, home of the largest Armenian population outside of the former Soviet Republics and you were to say, I don't know... go to ANY Armenian banquet hall during the 40 days preceding Easter, you would find that NO ONE follows the vegan ways of the Armenian ancients. What you will find is bands of chubby cherub like men with five o'clock shadows, drinking themselves silly with vodka (that's still vegan I guess) and stuffing their sweating jowls with barbecued pork or chicken or beef. AND JUST IN CASE anyone is even THINKING of getting on their high horse and blaming this on the most recent immigrants (this is a code word for our poor blame-them-for-everything Hayastantsis) then just go visit Raffi's Kebab (Glendale's own Iranian Armenian Social Club) or Carousel Restaurant (The Beirutsi, Hallebtsi, Western Armenian equivalent) and you will find the same problems. The reason I bring this lack of self discipline up is because I am noticing it more with the older generation of Armenians. This year--more than any previous year--I am noticing younger kids take on the daunting 40 day gauntlet known as "Lent" or "Bak" or "Bas" or whatever the heck people call it nowadays. Two years ago, if I asked someone why they weren't eating meat during the month of March or April--they would have responded to me that they haven't eaten meat in 2 years since that special on Oprah on beef or that they are on some sort of modified reverse Atkins diet. This year, I had at least seven people tell me that they were actively trying to adhere to the Armenian Christian traditions. And the response I've heard from most people hasn't been "Oh my God, are you insane? Why are you doing that to yourself?" but rather an inquisitive desire to find out more about these time honored centuries old traditions. That's good news. Let's just hope that our Church doesn't just take that to mean that there are more suckers willing to make large donations to the church coffers. We need to embrace all the strengths of our Christian faith if we're going to make it through another year of Turkish denial and fight for justice. So this weekend, when you're playing your egg games and having your Easter lunches or dinners and finally breaking your Lenten fast, remember that you've come out of this stronger and that leading by example is the best way to lead. Those are my thoughts for this week--from self-discipline to ice hockey and back--until next time, stay classy! Skeptik Sinikian is an aspiring couples ice-dancer who hopes to translate his grace on ice to the hockey rink and participate in next year's Ice Hockey tournament in Iceland. Plus, he's always really really wanted to go to Iceland. If you have any questions, you can email him at [email protected] or visit his blog at 15) Genocide Events Calendar Monday, April 17 Three free screenings of Andrew Goldberg's "The Armenian Genocide" documentary at the Egyptian Theatre. Get there early to make sure you get in. Most PBS stations around the country (excluding Los Angeles' KCET) will air the documentary at 10:00 PM the same night. 6:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 10:00 PM Egyptian Theatre 6712 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 Tuesday, April 18 Ara Sarafian, a British historian specializing in Ottoman and Armenian history, will speak at Abril Bookstore in Glendale about the campaign of the Turkish Grand National Assembly to discredit the 1916 British Parliamentary Blue Book. 8:00 PM Abril Bookstore 415 East Broadway, Suite 102 Glendale, CA 91205 Tuesday, April 18 The Burbank ANC has organized a commemoration march from McCambridge Park to Burbank City Council. There will be a candlelight vigil and a short program in front of the Burbank City Council after 07:00 PM. 06:00 9:00 PM McCambridge Park 1515 North Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504 Thursday, April 20 AYF Valley Chapter presents the play "9 Armenians" followed by a video collage at Ferrahian High School. 8:00 PM Ferrahian Armenian High School 5300 White Oak Ave. Encino, CA 91316 Thursday, April 20 Annual Candelight Vigil by the Armenian Student Association of California State University, Northridge. The program will include musical performances, guest speakers, a video presentation, etc. 7:00-9:30 PM CSUN's Bookstore Lawn 18111 Nordhoff St. Northridge, CA 91330 Friday, April 21 The Armenian Clubs from four of Glendale area high schools will hold the Annual Armenian Genocide Remembrance Assembly at the Glendale High School Auditorium. Each school will make a presentation at the assembly, ranging from poetry readings to video clips and folk songs. Doors open at 6:30 PM. 7:00 PM Glendale High School Auditorium 1440 East Broadway Glendale, CA 91205 Friday, April 21 A night to remember victims of the Armenian genocide with cultural events, songs and video clips, organized by the Armenian Center of the San Fernando Valley. 8:00-10:30 PM Avedissian Hall Ferrahian Armenian High School 5300 White Oak Ave. Encino, CA 91316 Saturday, April 22 "Rally against Denial" in commemoration of the Armenian genocide, featuring special speakers and presentations. 7:00-10:00 PM Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter 3347 North San Fernando Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90065 Sunday, April 23 Annual Commemoration of the Armenian genocide at the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument at Bicknell Park, Montebello. This year's remembrance event will take place on Sunday, April 23 at 4:00 PM. 4:00 PM Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument, Bicknell Park Montebello, CA Sunday, April 23 2nd Annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration Concert featuring Slow Motion Reign, Visa, Gor Mkhitarian, and Girair. The purpose of this event is to educate the public about the Armenian genocide and to show appreciation to the Armenian artist with music, paintings, and poetry. Admission is $10 with flyer and $15 without. 21 and over. 7:00 PM The Derby 4500 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027 Monday, April 24 Protest, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, demanding recognition of the Armenian genocide in front of the Turkish Consulate. 4:00 PM Turkish Consulate 6300 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048 Monday, April 24 Armenian genocide concert featuring Visa at Glendale's Revo Cafe. 5:00 PM Revo Cafe 1022 East Chevy Chase Dr., #A Glendale, CA 91205 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) 2006 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.