ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/15/2005
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1) Editorial: Say It Like You Mean It
2) Letter to the Editor from Armenian Assembly of America
3) Turkey Once Again Proposes Joint Commission on Genocide; Message to
Armenia,
However, Gets Lost in the Mix
4) California Marchers Cross 160-Mile Mark
5) Armenian National Committee of America Endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for
Los
Angeles Mayor
6) Belgian Senate Conference on Armenian Genocide to Address Issue of
Recognition
7) Panic and Confusion Consume Turkey’s Journey toward Europe
8) Houston Holocaust Museum Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Genocide with
Prof. Dadrian
9) Nine Decades of Denial: Glendale High School Students to Commemorate 90th
Anniversary
10) Crescenta Valley Center Celebrates Commitment to Community
11) UnPlucked: A one-woman show written and performed by Lory Tatoulian
12) Letter to Editor
13) Some Basic Questions
14) Lord Jeffery, Smallpox Blankets, and the TARC report
1) Editorial: Say It Like You Mean It
Last week, we published the Armenian Assembly’s response to our March 25
editorial (see letter to the editor below), in which we had asked “Why, on the
eve of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, is the Armenian Assembly
of America helping Turkey deny justice to the Armenian people?”
That question had arisen as a result of the Assembly’s continued use and
dissemination of a study commissioned by the dubious Turkish Armenian
Reconciliation Commission and supported by the Assembly and the pro-Turkish US
State Department. That study had confirmed, as countless others haveand as our
editorial, in fairness, quoted verbatimthat the Armenian Genocide was in fact
genocide; however, the study also concluded that “no legal, financial or
territorial claim arising out of the Events could successfully be made against
any individual or state under the Convention [on the Prevention and Punishment
of the Crime of Genocide].”
The Assembly’s response did not answer our question regarding the Assembly’s
role in facilitating a “resolution” to the Armenian Question that would
benefit
joint US/Turkish interests in that part of the world (to put our question in
less unpleasant terms). The Assembly’s response merely attempted, through
verbal gymnastics, to deflect that question. But in doing so, it provided a
glimpse into the Assembly’s actual, though unstated, position on the subject.
The first three of the four longish paragraphs of the Assembly’s response are
devoted to convincing readers that there was nothing wrong with using the
TARC-sponsored study, because, after all, it was done for the sake of getting
Congress to recognize the Genocide, and surely that can’t be “fairly portrayed
as ‘denying justice to the Armenian people’.”
That sure sounds like a good response; unfortunately, it doesn’t directly
deal
with the question we asked. We were talking about the consequences and
significance of using the TARC study as a means or tactic; we weren’t
questioning the Assembly’s stated purpose for using those meansin fact, we
called it “otherwise praiseworthy.”
In other words, we were saying the end doesn’t justify the means, especially
if those means undermine the ultimate purpose; moreover, we were highlighting
that the means you use says a lot about who you are, what you believe, and
what
you’re willing or capable of doing.
Let’s put it this way: The TARC study “gives” Armenians something of little
value, and it tries to take away from Armenians (and give to Turkey) something
of great value. What it gives (Genocide recognition), countless other studies
have already givenso it’s not worth that much. What it takes away from
Armenians (legal, financial, and territorial reparations), no other study has
given awayand it’s too high a price to pay. So, if the Assembly insists on
using and talking up a study that gives away something so valuablewhen it
doesn’t have towhy blame people for thinking that the Assembly too is willing
to give away legal, financial, and territorial reparations in return for
recognition? Otherwise, why use those means/that report? Why take the chance?
Why give ammunition to the enemy? Why undermine your own position? All of
which
add up to the big why”why, on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, is the Armenian Assembly of America helping Turkey deny justice to
the Armenian people?”
It’s pretty much that simple. All the Assembly’s assertions to the contrary
are mere words; but its persistent actionsamong others, the continued use and
hyping of that studysay and count more than any lip service about seeking
“official, full and irrevocable US reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,”
which the Assembly apparently equates with “justice to the Armenian people.”
For the ARF, justice for the Armenian people is precisely “legal, financial,
and territorial reparation.” Perhaps it’s time for the Assembly to state
unambiguously its position, for all Armeniansand all othersto know.
* * *
PS: The fourth, final paragraph of the Assembly’s response claims that the
TARC study’s findings don’t “let Turkey completely off the hook,” because the
study “does not purport to address the applicability of the Genocide
Convention
to the Events of, or the rights or responsibilities of concerned
individuals or
entities under, any other rubric of international law or the laws of any other
nation.”
Inevitably, we are left to conclude that the Assembly is admitting that the
TARC study at least partially lets Turkey off the hook. (So, even then, why
use
that study?)
Or one might conclude that the Assembly’s invocation of such legalese cant is
the equivalent of a self-appointed middleman’s attempt to convince a murder
victim’s family that a plea bargain may not be such a bad idea: “They’ve
concluded that the murderer can’t be charged for first degree murderbut maybe
he can be charged for manslaughter or criminal trespass, or maybe you can
initiate a civil suit, or see if a court in a nearby county might be able to
exercise jurisdiction…” Talk about low.
2) Letter to the Editor from Armenian Assembly of America
RE: “The Big Why On the Eve of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide”
Your March 25th commentary on the above subject constitutes a new low on
misrepresentation of the facts and on the position of the Armenian Assembly.
Just in case some of your readers missed your irresponsible core charge
against
our organization, you opined that the Assembly is “helping Turkey deny justice
to the Armenian people”. How is the Assembly doing this? By urging
Members of
Congress to invoke a study published by the International Center for
Transitional Justice (ICTJ) that affirmed the fact of the Armenian Genocide.
The ICTJ study declared that “the Events, viewed collectively, can thus be
said
to include all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the
Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians, journalists
and other people would be justified in continuing to so describe them.”
As the Assembly has done over the decades of our support for congressional
reaffirmation of the truth, our organization references third party judgments
on the fact of the Armenian Genocide. In this particular communication to
Congress, we relied on four factors: President Reagan’s 1981 Proclamation
that
affirmed the Armenian Genocide, President Bush’s April 24 statements that
employ the textbook definition of genocide without using the word, the
statement of 126 Holocaust and Genocide scholars declaring that the Armenian
Genocide is an “incontestable fact” and the ICTJ statement quoted above.
Neither the separate nor the combined effect of these citations in the
Assembly’s request to Congress to properly characterize this crime against
humanity as genocide can be fairly portrayed as “denying justice to the
Armenian people”. There can be no question that the Assembly will continue to
seek official, full and irrevocable U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide
– and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation knows this as our organizations
work side by side on the 90th commemorative planning committees across the
United States and as the Assembly works collaboratively with the ANCA on the
Armenian-American community’s next effort in support of a congressional
resolution.
As to the Asbarez charge that the ICTJ findings “let Turkey completely off
the
hook for Genocide,” the commentary fails to use the following quotation
regarding redress that contradicts the charge. According to the ICTJ study,
“It does not purport to address the applicability of the Genocide
Convention to
the Events of, or the rights or responsibilities of concerned individuals or
entities under, any other rubric of international law or the laws of any other
nation.” The Turkish government is not “off the hook” – not for its global
denial campaign, not for its intimidation of other governments and its own
citizens, not for its recent passage of a law criminalizing public discussion
of the Armenian Genocide and certainly not for dealing with the
consequences of
its inevitable acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.
Sincerely,
Ross Vartian
Executive Director
Armenian Assembly of America
3) Turkey Once Again Proposes Joint Commission on Genocide; Message to
Armenia,
However, Gets Lost in the Mix
YEREVAN–According to the Turkish press, a letter that Turkey’s Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed to have written and sent to President Robert
Kocharian recently, has been resent via the Armenian embassy in Georgia. The
letter, which Kocharian said he had not initially received, proposes the
creation of a Turkish-Armenian commission of historians that would determine
whether the 1915 massacres and systematic deportations of the
Ottoman-Armenians
constituted a genocide.
Having seen the letter for the first time late Thursday night, Armenian
officials refused to comment on the proposal, stating only that the “Genocide
did occur. Under no condition will we enter a debate about the topic.”
The letter has received much attention from both sides, prompting even
Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to discuss it during a recent appearance within
the Turkish Parliament.
Erdogan first publicly called for such a study on March 9, highlighting
Turkish unease over renewed international publicity attracted by the issue
amid
the unfolding commemorations of the 90th anniversary of the start of the
genocide. Yerevan rejected the offer at the time, saying it that casts
doubt on
the very fact of the genocide.
“I can’t say what the Armenian authorities will decide after receiving such a
letter,” the spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Hamlet Gasparian
said. “I would just say that there have been such calls in the past and that
Armenia said the fact of genocide can not be a subject of debate.”
The Armenians can only agree to “discussions on eliminating consequences of
the genocide,” Gasparian added.
This position enjoys the backing of Armenia’s leading political groups,
including those bitterly opposed to Kocharian. “If they want to discuss
whether
or not there was a genocide, then that is a non-starter,” said Tigran
Torosian,
a senior member of the governing Republican Party. “It is time for Turkey to
accept that fact and try to improve its relations with Armenia instead of
resorting to petty tricks.”
Torosian said an unconditional reopening of the Turkish-Armenian border by
Ankara would be the first meaningful step toward improving the extremely
strained bilateral relations.
A spokesman for the Armenian Revolutionary Federation similarly argued that
acceptance of the Turkish proposal would amount to questioning the genocide.
“That is not a step toward dialogue,” said Spartak Seyranian.
According to Shavarsh Kocharian of the opposition Artarutyun alliance, the
genocide study offer is aimed at easing the European Union’s growing pressure
on Turkey to face it troubled past. He also said no Turkish historian selected
for the proposed panel would dare question the official Turkish version of the
1915 events which denies a systematic effort to exterminate the Armenian
population of the Ottoman Empire.
“The work of historians would be effective only if there is no political
attitude that rejects realities obvious to everyone,” the opposition leader
said.
Meanwhile, Turkey announced on Wednesday that it will formally ask the
British
parliament to reject the so-called Blue Book, published by the British
government in 1916, which uses eyewitness accounts to conclude that Armenians
were being systematically exterminated. Gul was quoted by Reuters news agency
as telling the Turkish parliament that London will be asked to “recognize the
Blue Book as invalid and baseless as a historic document.”
The 700-page book is a major source of reference for the Armenians in their
campaign for international recognition of the genocide. The Armenian Genocide
Museum in Yerevan has a special plaque dedicated to its main author, Lord
James
Bryce.
The United Kingdom has never officially referred to the slaughter of some 1.5
million Ottoman Armenians as genocide. Its ambassador in Yerevan, Thorda
Abbott-Watt, provoked a storm of condemnation in Armenia and its Diaspora last
year after publicly stating that the mass killings were not a genocide.
The British government faced domestic criticism in January 2001 when it
attempted to exclude Armenians from official ceremonies marking Britain’s
Holocaust Memorial Day. It eventually yielded to pressure from prominent
public
figures and media.
4) California Marchers Cross 160-Mile Mark
STOCKTON–As the March For Humanity makes its way from Fresno, to Sacramento,
churches have warmly welcomed the group of 16 young walkers with open arms.
“One of our main concerns when we began planning the march was where we would
sleep each of the 19 nights,” said Serouj Aprahamian, coordinator of the
march.
“However, many churches throughout our route sympathized with our efforts and
became our second homes. Their kindness and generosity will not be forgotten.”
The group has developed a tradition of expressing their appreciation to the
church administrators by presenting them a copy of Peter Balakian’s Black Dog
of Fate and a pomegranate ornament, the Armenian traditional symbol for life.
As the marchers make their way from one city to another, public awareness
about their undertaking continuously grows as residents of the areas they
march
through encourage and support their efforts by offering food, water, and even
donations.
“All churches we stayed at provided their facilities to us with no questions
asked and no strings attached,” said Aprahamian. “This shows that in the
battle
to secure justice for the victims of the Armenian genocide, we have the
support
of the masses, and that the masses have the understanding and knowledge to
stand behind the righteous.”
Defying sore muscles and aching joints, the group has already marched
close to
160 miles in 14 consecutive days. Determined to inform the world about the
Armenian genocide and the 1.5 million innocent lives that were lost as a
result
of the crime against humanity, the marchers will continue walking until they
arrive at the State Capitol.
The brave youth will join a large rally, organized to thank the state of
California and the legislatures of 36 others for properly recognizing the
Armenian genocide.
“Alongside shelter, nutritious food is crucial for the marchers. We are
grateful to the Armenian Relief Society for sponsoring all food expenses by
allocated a full time staff to travel with the marchers and prepare meals for
them,” said Vicken Sosikian, director of the March For Humanity. “Other than
great food, the staff has also been a source of guidance and inspiration,
often
taking the role of parents on their shoulders.”
5) Armenian National Committee of America Endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for
Los
Angeles Mayor
LOS ANGELES–The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) announced on
Friday that it has endorsed Los Angeles City Council Member Antonio
Villaraigosa for Mayor of Los Angeles.
The ANCA conducted a vigorous evaluation process in which it met with both
Los
Angeles Council Member Antonio Villaraigosa and incumbent Mayor James Hahn on
multiple occasions in order to make an informed decision.
“We have met with the candidates and, after careful consideration, have
decided that the City of Los Angeles needs the kind of energetic and visionary
leadership Antonio Villaraigosa offers to the hundreds of thousands of
Armenian
Americans who call Los Angeles home,” stated ANCA board member Steven J.
Dadaian.
“Having worked closely with Antonio over the past decade on the city, state
and national levels, it is clear that he possesses both a keen
understanding of
the unique diversity of Los Angeles and has a deep appreciation for the
Armenian community. He has the skills and energy necessary to unite and lead
Los Angeles toward a brighter future,” Dadaian said.
Villaraigosa has worked closely with the Armenian American community and the
ANCA throughout his years as a Los Angeles City Council Member and Speaker of
the California State Assembly. As Speaker, he led the effort to include the
Armenian genocide in the state’s mandatory curriculum for public education as
well as outlawing foreign governments like Turkey from endowing chairs in
state
universities with the intent of conducting work to deny the Armenian genocide.
“I am thrilled to receive this endorsement and upon election as mayor
pledge to
continue working closely with the ANCA to make sure the Armenian American
community has a seat at the table in the life and future direction of the
city,” said Villaraigosa.
The ANCA encourages Armenian Americans to vote for Antonio Villaraigosa for
Mayor of Los Angeles during the run-off election on Tuesday, May 17.
6) Belgian Senate Conference on Armenian Genocide to Address Issue of
Recognition
BRUSSELS–As a part of the 90th anniversary commemorations, the Belgian Senate
will hold a conference titled “Recognition: Paving the Way for the Future,”
dedicated to the Armenian genocide, announced the European Armenian Federation
for Justice And Democracy (EAFJD).
On the initiative of Senator Lionel Vandenberghe, 11 Belgian organizations,
including the EAFJD, have played a role in organizing the conference, to take
place in Belgium’s Houses of Parliament on April 18.
Speakers will include Belgian government officials, representatives of
political organizations, experts, Turkish intellectuals, and political
figures.
Details of the conference will be posted on
7) Panic and Confusion Consume Turkey’s Journey toward Europe
PARIS (EAFJD)–As various European bodies pressure Turkey to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide as a prerequisite to its EU accession, the European Armenian
Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) characterized Turkey’s latest
initiatives as “panic and confusion.”
“Ankara’s aims are perfectly clear–they try to remove the genocide
recognition issue from the political field, especially because it is one the
obstacles Turkey faces in its application to EU membership,” stated Hilda
Tchoboian, chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.
Earlier this week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed to
have
sent a letter to President Robert Kocharian, proposing the creation of a joint
commission to “investigate the Armenians massacres of 1915.”
To garner support for such a commission, members of the Turkish Parliament
have sent a letter to European Parliament claiming that “until now, the facts
have been one-sided and produced only by Armenians,” and that “the unbiased
truth will come from works on archives performed by a committee of historians
representing both points of view of Armenia and Turkey, under the watch of an
institutional arbitration board.”
“Their method consists of reducing this international crime to a bilateral
issue between Turkey and Armenia in order to avoid addressing the demands of
the international community, especially those of Europe,” Tchoboian said.
Recalling studies of independent experts who examined the Armenian genocide
utilizing western diplomatic archives, those of the allies of Turkey, and
through the great deal of documentation that the Turkish government neglected
to provide–the EAFJD recapped that all three came to the same conclusion:
what
occurred in 1915 was a genocide in its international and juridical sense.
Those
experts were Jacques Vandemeulebroucke, MEP in charge of the report on the
Armenian genocide (1987), Benjamin Whitaker, special Rapporteur of the United
Kingdom in charge of the UN report on genocides (1985), and the prominent
members of the Permanent People’s Tribunal.
“All this gives the impression of panic and confusion. Turkey has only one
simple thing to do: recognize and redress the Armenian genocide,” Tchoboian
stressed.
8) Houston Holocaust Museum Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Genocide with
Prof. Dadrian
HOUSTON–Zoryan Institute scholar Professor Vahakn N. Dadrian was invited by
ANC Texas to the opening reception of the Armenian Genocide Exhibit at the
Holocaust Museum Houston on March 29. The exhibit featured artifacts made
available by the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA), as well as
pictures by Ara Oshagan and his work on the Forgotten Genocide.
Dadrian’s lecture was delivered before a packed audience of some 200 people,
marking the beginning of the 90th commemoration of the Armenian genocide in
Texas, which also includes a march on the steps of the State Capitol in Austin
and a dedication of a `Khatchkar’ on the grounds of Houston’s only Armenian
Church, St. Kevork.
Houston Holocaust Museum Director Dick Grisham sponsored an opening
presentation emphasizing the atrocity of genocides and the brutality of
denial,
followed by Professor Dadrian’s “scientific” and methodical analysis of the
Armenian genocide. The audience, fascinated by the presentations, traced their
own roots to either events of the Genocide or the Holocaust as described by
Dadrian, confirming that their lives have been directly or indirectly affected
by the horrific events.
Dadrian explained key points of Turkey’s denial and the need of an
appropriate
methodology suited to counter and overwhelm the culture of persistent denial.
Dadrian called it the methodology of “compelling evidence,” which revolves
around the principles of reliability, explicitness, incontestability, and
verifiability.
He reconstructed the Armenian genocide in terms of its four major components:
premeditation, genocidal intention, the organization of the genocide, and the
implementation of the genocide. His hour-long presentation was greeted with a
standing ovation.
Using a scholarly outline of events and a description of the historical
context during which the genocide occurred, he eloquently described the events
and people of the period leading up to and through the Armenian genocide.
Dadrian explained his risky effort to find irrefutable evidence, corroborate
dates, people and places, find eyewitness reports from among the Ottoman
hierarchy and archives, German sources and others, and scoured for
documentation that provided first hand accounts of the first Genocide of the
20th century.
The Museum Exhibit, which will be on display until the end of May 2005, has
been possible through the dedication and efforts of the Armenian National
Committee of Texas.
9) Nine Decades of Denial: Glendale High School Students to Commemorate 90th
Anniversary
Armenian high school students from throughout Glendale will present “Nine
Decades of Denial,” on Thursday, April 21, in commemoration of the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
The student-driven event, organized by members of Armenian clubs from Hoover
High, Glendale High, Clark Magnet, and Crescenta Valley High, will feature
guest singers and speakers, traditional dances and music, skits, poetry, and
video presentations.
“What these students are doing is conveying their values and their views
about
the Armenian genocide. It’s an expression of their pain, anger, and ultimately
hope,” says GUSD Board of Education member Greg Krikorian. Highlighting the
importance of community support for the event, Krikorian stresses that we have
to listen to this generation and provide whatever necessary support for the
actualization of their vision for justice, and their desire for proper
recognition of the Armenian genocide.
A member of the organizing committee and Clark Magnet Alumni Patrick Der
Ohanian explains that vision: “I hope that in the future, we gain
recognition–along with reparations. Then our job will have been complete.”
Der
Ohanian also commended the unified effort by high school students who have
organized similar events four years in a row now.
The event will take place at Glendale High School auditorium on this Thursday
at 7 p.m. sharp. Admission is free.
10) Crescenta Valley Center Celebrates Commitment to Community
LA CRESCENTA–About 250 members, friends, and supporters of the Crescenta
Valley ARF “Zavarian” committee and the Armenian Relief Society’s “Taline”
chapter attended the 15th anniversary Gala of both organizations on March
18.
Several representatives of both organizations addressed the guests to
emphasize the important role the Crescenta Valley (CV) Armenian Center
plays in
the daily lives of inhabitants of La Crescenta, La Canada, Sunland, Montrose,
Tujunga, and North Glendale.
The center, located at 2633 Honolulu Avenue in Glendale, was purchased
shortly
after the establishment of the ARF Zavarian Chapter, through the efforts of
its
founding members, the ARS “Taline” chapter, and the help of benefactors from
the community. As the years went by, the center became home to various other
organizations including the Homenetmen “Shant” chapter, the Hamazkayin
Armenian
Educational and Cultural Association, the ARF “Karekin Njteh” Badanegan
Chapter, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) “Zartonk” chapter, as well as to
the Armenian Elderly Society. These non-profit organizations offer numerous
services to the community.
The ARF Zavarian chapter’s “Hai Tad” committee, otherwise known as the CV
Armenian National Committee (ANC), has been instrumental in relaying the
concerns of the Armenian community to area educational institutions and
political representatives in the area. By hosting various community forums,
the
ANCCV has allowed political, as well as public officials, to clearly state
their positions on various issues concerning the Armenian community, such as
problems arising in public schools and Armenian genocide recognition.
The ARS “Taline” chapter has been instrumental in keeping the youth in touch
with their roots. Today, more than 60 children enrolled in the ARS Saturday
school have the opportunity to learn Armenian, Armenian history and culture.
For information on how to enroll in this school, interested parties may call
(818) 248-4680. Aside from its countless benevolent deeds, the chapter has
also
offered many scholarships to deserving Armenian students.
The Homenetmen “Shant” chapter, founded in 1993, is open for membership to
boys, girls, men and women of all ages. It currently has 545 members, 85 of
whom are scouts, 300 of whom are athletes and 160 of whom serve as
auxiliaries.
The chapter’s executive committee can be reached for further details at (818)
248-4680.
The Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association has organized
various cultural events throughout the years, such as art exhibits, concerts,
lectures. Children ranging from 4 to 14 have the unique opportunity to attend
dance classes under the supervision of skilled instructors in the field. The
Hamazkayin office can be reached at (818) 248-1100.
The ARF “Karekin Njdeh” chapter is open for membership to adolescents ranging
from 9 to 16 years old. It aims to educate the youth about the Armenian Cause
and history, and to instill leadership skills. To enroll their children in
this
organization, parents may call (818) 248-1100.
The Armenian Youth Federation “Zartonk” chapter, open to members from 16 to
26, strives to serve the Armenian American Community through education,
athletics, political activism and cultural activities. For further information
about this organization, you may visit its website at
<;
The La Crescenta Valley center is truly open to all members of the community,
regardless of their age, and is a wonderful resource to meet their needs and
interests. It is the current organizations’ hope that more and more Armenians
in the area will utilize these resources and make the center their own “home.”
This past year, the Community Outreach program, In an effort to help
community
members in need provided the following services. A tax specialist offered help
in Federal and State tax filing. An architect knowledgeable with the city’s
planning department’s requirements offered his services free of charge.
Students had the opportunity to receive guidance in their college applications
and selections thanks to the counseling offered by the members of the Armenian
Youth Federation. Finally, a family therapist was made available to help deal
with difficult parenting issues.
The Center renovation committee spent much time and effort in greatly
improving the physical appearance of the center. The “Sarkis Aposhian” hall is
available for rent to host events. The swimming pool is regularly used in the
summer by many children for a nominal fee.
11) UnPlucked: A one-woman show written and performed by Lory Tatoulian
LOS ANGELES–Hip & Heen Productions presents UnPlucked, a one-woman show
written and performed by Lory Tatoulian on Friday, April 29th at 8:00pm at the
Assistance League Playhouse Hollywood.
Tatoulian is an actress/playwright who explores issues of cultural identity,
gender, and ethnic community dynamics, and whose comedic character-studies
define the core of her style. Her explorations take root in theatrical
monologues that meld the comedic and absurd experiences of several ethnic
groups.
Her intelligible character portraits range from an Avon Lady who wants to
help
democratize the world, to a housewife jazz singer from Beirut, to a car addict
who contemplates her free-will on the freeway in the award-winning piece
“Autosapiens,” a comedic realization of Californians intricate relationship
with their automobiles.
The San Diego Union Tribune writes, “the boldly physical writer-performer
Lory
Tatoulian sent up SoCals car mania in her explosive satiric solo. Tatoulian is
a find. In “Autosapiens” she creates a freeway-crazed gal who decided to spend
her life in her car. As she eats, observes, makes love, and fights other
drivers on the highway of life, she devolves into another species altogether,
the Autosapien.”
UnPlucked, Tatoulian’s third one-woman show, is a collection of stories and
musical vignettes. She collaborates with talented musician and composer Ara
Dabandjian as well as percussionist Mher Vahakn. Together they bring jazz to
Armenian children’s songs, and sheer humor to the stylings of Glendale.
Tatoulian, who has a BA in Theatre Arts from San Diego State University, has
also trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
This one night only performance is followed by a food and wine reception,
live
music and an art show.
Tickets are $25 and are available at the door or by contacting
[email protected]
UnPlucked
Friday, April 29th
8:00pm Assistance League Playhouse Hollywood
12) Letter to Editor
By Zareh Mouradkhanian
The following is in response to Raffi Arzouhaldjian’s article “On the Eve of
the 90th, Anti-Turkism should not Equal Patriotic Armenianism” (Asbarez, April
9, 2005).
Had Raffi Arzouhaldjian read Nairi Mekerdithcian’s article “Oh The Star
Became
Meteor,” (Asbarez Armenian languageApril 6, 2005), he would have known that
Armenian youth organizations, including the Nigol Aghbalian Youth Union,
protested against inviting Filip Kirkorov to perform in Yerevan because of his
tasteless songs and uncivilized conduct with a women reporter a few years ago,
which was widely criticized in Russia. Since then, his popularity has sunk in
Russia, Ukraine, and other Slovic countries.
The students of Armenia did not protest against Kirkorov just because he
sings
Turkish songs. There are some beautiful Turkish songs sung by quality singers
in Armenia. Kirkorov’s concert didn’t materialize, however, because of his
lack
of moral character.
Arzouhaldjian writes, “This Turkophobic phenomenon exhibited by Armenian
youth
in Yerevan today is very similar to the worrisome anti-Armenian intolerance
that is being practiced in both Turkey and Azerbaijan.” This comparison is way
out of proportion. A few examples of intolerance: Some fifteen years ago,
30,000 Armenians were massacred in the northern refinery town of Sumgait,
north
of Baku, and some 400,000 Armenians fled for their life. During Azerbaijan’s
imposed war on Karabagh, some 50,000 Azeris, mostly living in Shushi, were
helped to leave the province by the Armenians. During a NATO sponsored program
in Budapest, an Azeri officer beheaded a fellow Armenian classmate with axe
while he slept. The Azeri murderer was declared a hero in Baku.
There are logical reasons for Armenians, in general, to be anti-Turkish. Some
400,000 Armenians were killed in 1894 by Sultan Hamid. Then in 1915, the young
Turks planned a systematic massacre of Armenians in our homelands. The Turks
and Azeris have no such logical reasons to be anti-Armenian.
The only fault of Armenians was wanting to preserve their culture and youth.
Finally, some clarifications regarding Filip Kirkorov’s character: He doesn’t
just deny being Armenian, rather, says he is ashamed of being Armenian.
Cursing and being impolite in daily life, as reported in Russian
newspapers is
not behavior that should be promoted in Armenian society. It is simply
unacceptable that someone who void of character and taste–and is ashamed of
being Armenian–to make money in Yerevan.
13) Some Basic Questions
By Leonard Manoukian,
ANCA-WR Board
In my short, happy, life, I’ve learned that questioning people’s motive is a
useless exercise. Inevitably, civil discourse turns to name calling; feelings
are hurt and dialogue ceases. So why bother? Instead, I’ve found that
decisions
and the actions that follow are better topics of discussion and more objective
means of deliberation.
In the recent past, two Armenian advocacy organizations, the ANC and the
Armenian Assembly, have taken their not-so-private disagreements to the
public.
Those who know me also know my affiliations, so I will not feign objectivity.
For the sake of fairness, I will limit myself to asking some questions and
allowing the reader to answer them.
To clarify, the disagreement centers on the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission (TARC), which has the active support of the Armenia Assembly.
From my perspective, here are some general questions regarding TARC. First,
how can two individuals, nations or states “reconcile” when one has made it
clear that it will not accept the “truth”? How can these two have a dialogue
when one does not even acknowledge what the other has been living with for
nearly a century?
Second, if a nation is being represented in such a situation, what criteria
should be used in deciding the appropriate representative? Should the sole
consideration be politics or should deeply held national aspirations be the
measure?
Finally, when the entire process comes crashing down when one’s “partner in
dialogue” simply decides to stand away from the negotiation table, is it
perhaps time to admit the abject failure of the exercise, accept
responsibility
for compromising a near-sacred national matter and move on?
In a more specific vein, there are questions to be asked regarding the
nominal
accomplishment of TARC, and a study prepared for International Center for
Transitional Justice (ICTJ) at TARC’s request–the authors of which remain
anonymous.
Using the Genocide Convention as its analytical basis, this report concludes
that:
–Under the rubric of the Genocide Convention, the process that began on
April
24, 1915, was genocide.
–Under the same framework, no reparations are due to Armenians.
Taking a step back, one wonders why anyone would allow the most vital issue
that has ever faced his nation be decided by a third party, especially when
there is already universal unanimity regarding that issue? Here’s another
matter to consider, did anyone think that Turkey was going to change its
decades’ long position simply because of the report’s findings?
Several nations, many organizations and scores of scholars have already
concluded that the Ottoman government was guilty of genocide against
Armenians.
What possible utility would one more report have? The facile answer, of
course,
is that the acknowledgment of the genocide from every quarter will have the
cumulative effect of shaming Turkey into admission of responsibility.
The problem, however, should be obvious; whenever anyone points to the ITCJ
report as support for the Armenian Cause, they will necessarily, be
pointing to
the conclusion that no reparations are due. The Assembly overlooks all this
and
tells us that no one would ever accept acknowledgment without reparations.
Fine
sentiment, but it can’t have it both ways. It must either disavow TARC and its
product–the ITCJ report, or it must adopt both the report’s conclusions.
The last point, and admittedly the most personal, is the constant reminder
that on the eve of the 90th commemoration of the genocide, we have better
things to do than to discuss these matters. Really? This sentimentalizes the
genocide. We do not remember the genocide only on April 24, we, all of us,
live
with the genocide and its effects every day of the year. In a manner of
speaking, April 24 is the first day of a new year, a new year of diligence and
work for the Armenian cause. We do not do this work simply for ourselves;
there
are one and a half million other reasons for it. Real leaders never forget
that.
14) Lord Jeffery, Smallpox Blankets, and the TARC report
By Ani Shahinian
Anyone who has read their high school history knows that during the French
and
Indian War, Lord Jeffery Amherst distributed smallpox-infected blankets to
local Indians.
The Indians, not knowing the implications of accepting this “gift,” may have
very well thanked Amherst for these blankets, unaware of the terrible
suffering
and widespread death they would cause amongst a population defenseless against
this new disease. With the benefit of hindsight, however, we can all see
Amherst’s gift for what it was–a deliberate attempt, in his own words, to
“extirpate this execrable race.” Very simply, Amherst, using the pretense of
providing warmth to the Indians, actually sought their destruction.
Today, we face an analogous situation.
In the same “generous” spirit as Lord Jeffery, the Turkish Armenian
Reconciliation Commission (TARC) has given its “gift” to the Armenian nation.
They have produced a study–whose authors strangely remain anonymous–that
confirms the obvious fact that the Armenians were victims of genocide. But
before you wrap yourself up in this blanket, consider the consequences. Just
like the smallpox hidden in the Amherst’s gift, TARC has infected its offering
with its own brand of poison, in the form of the conclusion that the Armenians
don’t have any right to justice under the Genocide Convention. Nothing
could be
more damaging to the Armenian Cause.
Sadly, we still have modern day Lord Jeffery types–now in the form of
TARC–and they are still peddling poison in the brightly colored packages.
Thankfully, we have the common sense to not accept such “gifts” at face value.
Except for a small handful of naïve Armenians, we know our history well enough
to protect our interests, to safeguard our rights, and to turn away the
wolves–even when they come in sheep’s clothing.
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