The reasons why I’m convinced that I must persist with full awareness of the Armenian Genocide are rooted in my education, upbringing, and convictions. I would like to share some of them with you.
1- Reason one is because Prof. Vahakn Dadrian says so. The proofs of premeditation, intent to destroy, organization and execution of the Genocide are in his books, all based on archival documents. Turks are yet to produce a single evidence to prove their own twisted version of Ottoman deeds. Sadly, the fifth element to any crime in the cover-up, and more proofs are in documents hidden in storages by the Turkish government to this day. No one would love to get his hands on them more than Dadrian himself.
2- Turkey is reason number two. The more they lie, the more the world is determined to keep on asking them “the” question over and over again. (Note CNN’s last interview with Turkish PM Erdogan, where the question of Genocide came up persistently during a brief 10 minute-long interview).
Turkish illusions of grandeur and regional superiority is a dangerous thing, and nothing serves them better that to face their own past, and be reminded by each line of questioning that they are not so great after all. The world will be a better place if Turkey was to calm down, look back, settle the affairs of the past, negotiate its place in the region, and only then venture out with the resemblance of founded claims to power.
3- Erdogan, Gul and Davutoglu are reason number three- they are gung-ho to explain to the civilized world, that what happened in Turkey between 1915-1921 was a massacre, and not a genocide (“we do not agree to this G word”, they keep saying). They leave me no choice but to explain to them a comparative study on mass killings: A massacre is actually what happened in America during depression-era Chicago in 1929, when the notorious mobster Al Capone gunned down mere six (6) goons of an opposing gang in what became to be known as the St. Valentine’s Day …Massacre. That was a massacre! Also note that in 2004 the President of the United States referred to the killings in Darfur as… genocide, right when the deaths from that conflict had reached not the 1.5 million mark, but rather a much lower three hundred thousand mark. Now you make the connections.
4- Countries around the world are researching the history of man’s cruelty towards man and… finding it, in the Armenian Genocide. Many others will permit the same questions, and come to answers where the truth is. As in Switzerland, other countries too will join the ranks of civilized societies that will set into law the denial of the Armenian Genocide as a crime, and deniers as criminals.
5- The Genocide is part of the Armenian identity. We didn’t ask for it, it fell upon us. Identity is the basis upon which people design their own self-preservation. In our case, the Genocide is in the center of it.
We had to live with the Genocide for 95 years, we had no choice. And frankly the call to “Move on with it” is not for politicians, businessmen or journalists to make. Those who promote that line of thinking are claiming for themselves a piece of luxury that they do not own. Individuals may make personal choices; nation on the other hand, can act only upon the collective experience, at least democratic ones do.
6- It’s the neighborhood dude. The leaders of Turkey are acting as if their country appeared on the world stage one day where there was no Armenia, and no Armenians or stories of Armenians in their eastern provinces. Not so. The story of Armenians and Turkey is not over yet. Our thousand-years-old dealings with each other have been disrupted and adulterated, but not eliminated. Armenians will feature in many vital Turkish issues and dealings in years to come, and Armenian demands will constantly be raised, sometimes by multitudes, other times by mere solitary voices. Turkey will choose to neglect, reject or abandon, and we already know that. We will be back another time to continue where we left off. We have the long view of history, after all we survived 600 years of Ottoman misery, and we learned a thing or two about enduring them.
7- As long as Turkey pursues a policy of denial, Genocide recognition remains Armenia’s primary case for security vis-a-vis Turkey. The day Armenia relinquishes calls for human rights and Genocide recognition is the day Armenia will cease to value itself as a full nation. All legitimate nations with their unique place in the present arrangement of things, and a view of their future learn and grown from their own past. That’s the enduring trait of all ancient civilizations, and ours is not different.
The Genocide as a human rights issue is Turkey’s burden, and Armenia’s salvation. Without it neither country will possess the future that they aspire to, independently of each other or together.
8- The youth inspire me, and give me hope. Attend any current events function, and you will see them and meet them. Educated, savvy and eloquent, with no inhibitions to challenge the establishment, to ask questions, rally a crowd, or carry the message. These are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the survivor generation, and the pursuit of “the cause” is theirs. I have full confidence in them. Their determination is contagious, and in time more will join them from an emerging young educated class of Armenia. It is a matter of time.
9- For a significant part of the last 95 years V. Dadrian, as well as R. Hovannisian, P. Balakian and others have done immensely valuable work in documenting the Genocide, yet historians have barely entered the realm of the 2 most extensive archives not yet exposed: Turkish and German. There’s work to be done.
10- It’s personal. You bet it is!
I am intermittently reminded of my place in the world and a responsibility that comes to a descendant of the Genocide generation- by my grandfather Mesrob Chinchinian of Marash and my grandmother Mari Manoushagian of Aintab; and my paternal grandparents Artin Gulvartian, who died on the evacuation route from Hajin to Adana, and his young wife Teshgouhi Saghdasarian who lamented his untimely death for the rest of her life.
I rest my case!
April 24, 2010
April 9, 2010
Start Talking!
We, Armenians in Los Angeles, have been basking in an illusionary image of ourselves for quite some time. We have been acting carelessly as happy-go-lucky chums at the expense of a mirage of economic prosperity without paying attention to the responsibilities that inevitably came with it. We can do something about it- not as much as to solve problems, but to devise a “wish list” or a “must do list”- things that will improve our value and significance as a community.
It is time to change course, and to start talking. This task is entrusted to the pillar institutions of our society: Traditionally, the goosagtsutunes (politicos), the church, newspapers, schools, and the intellectual elite.
Fifteen years of a laissez-faire attitude, has blurred the role of these pillar institutions. As a result, unexpected outsiders have moved into traditional roles expected of others to address and perform, thus confusing the outcome, and weakening our aim to grab one voice from a position of cooperation.
While things seem to be okay from the outset, in reality we face serious problems: Loss of vibrant intellectual discourse, diminishing spirituality in the religious context, schools in crisis, the disappearance of Armenian-language literary expression and output, and a forgetfulness about what to do for the youth, especially for those between the ages of 22 and 32 (I call them, “the forgotten”).
It will be difficult to find solutions, but it would be wise to at least start talking. Talk about the problems; talk with the people who have assumed the role to provide solutions. They are the men and women in charge of the pillar institutions that past generations have laboriously created, organized or financed for the purpose of our preservation and survival.
If left to a discussion, many people can come up with as many pillar institutions that they each deem more important in the larger agenda. I will take up only four of them for the purpose of this column.
Political parties have proven their ability to organize large number of people around projects, programs and activities, Genocide remembrance and recognition as one of the most important of them. But it takes leaders (especially the ones at the top of the pyramid) with special character to rally a wide consensus, by sharing the responsibilities and the rewards for real victory. Collective effort can exponentially magnify the results if activists sat down to talk about a plan which, I’m sure, does not differ from the other's: How to get the message to the US Congress; how to gear Armenia’s foreign and domestic policies towards Armenocentric aims; how to address problems afflicting the youth; and of course, the Genocide and how to check on a Turkey-gone-wild with denial.
Alas our political entities are stuck in rhetoric rooted in old cold war suspicions, some of which are directed against each other. The cold war ended twenty years ago, and it’s time for change. Meet with each other regularly, and talk incessantly, to draw out new action plans for success. Act, and claim the legitimacy as “the” voice of all the people.
The Church remains stuck in an artificial “one-ship-two-captain” situation (The ship is very small, mind you, and very fragile), since the days of caustic cold war era divisions which the world has since resolved and forgotten… except for us Armenians (When we fight, we fight real goooood!). Territorialism is exhausting and devouring the communities and it’s sad to even imagine what we should be doing instead.
I celebrate the success of the Armenian Church, not by the physical number of churches across the American landscape, but rather by the declining number of Armenians in prisons, or simply by the number of American-born young men who choose the church as their career path. The business of religion is not a zero sum game; the loss of one is not gain to another. Faith and prayer is not a matter of competition, and they are not commodities sold out of shops. It is a matter of laborious teaching, role-modeling and a sense of mission. It’s hard and serious work.
I hope that the clergy of all persuasions will always gather to talk about what is worthy of discussion: An agreement to teach faith, spirituality, good citizenship, and Armenianess in its various forms and shapes- marriage and family, language, customs and traditions, church history, saints, and the sublime art of praying and paying attention to the badarak.
Armenian Schools are in difficulty, and they are losing supporters and numbers. The cause that worries me most is not financial or related to the economy. We are facing a loss of faith in Armenian schools brought about by a combination of changing popular priorities during a period of financial prosperity, and new unchallenged perceptions as to what is necessary to bring up a child as an Armenian.
While families are making drastic decisions about the place of organized Armenian education in their children’s lives, the schools themselves are still debating who is the ideal (dibar) graduate of an Armenian school. What is the new message from the schools? Is it loud enough? Is it clear enough?
The time for principals of Armenian schools to meet, and to talk is now! It is absolutely essential that a common plan be devised immediately. Come up with a revised mission statement and then deliver. The failure of even one school is the failure of Armenian education as the last remaining potent experiment of the self-preservation process of our times.
Academics is a term in reference to the collective work done by historians, researchers and intellectuals to document the story of the Armenian people, Genocide historiography being the most contemporary and important. While too much emphasis is placed on politicians to “teach the Turks a lesson in history”, in reality the fight for Genocide recognition is won by the work of the intellectual elite.
Academicians are the least accessible segment of the pillar institutions. They are men and women whose work is above and beyond the reach of the general population, and for good reason. But, that doesn’t mean that they can be insulated from the needs of the Armenian community and people. Therefore, I can only hope that they meet regularly, and talk about their work and the work of all other researchers; to advance the career of young scholars- to promote them in institutions of higher learning with access to a forum for discussions and publications. I hope that a new generation will soon replace those who must pave the path for the young to continue the most important work of our (and the next) generation.
I feel that there is a slimmer of hope these days. Lately groups have been forming across LA, to meet and discuss all issues that pertain to our interests in the world at this particular time in history- There is now talk where there was none before, and I am hopeful. The purpose, I think, is to eventually draw out a list of what the people want, need and demand. But for the time being the message is very simple: Start talking!
In time, I expect more will join the discussions in many more small (formal, organized of otherwise) groups across all communities. I hope everyone- journalists, artists, politicos, the clergy, educators entrepreneurs and academicians alike- will join… and start talking!
It is time to change course, and to start talking. This task is entrusted to the pillar institutions of our society: Traditionally, the goosagtsutunes (politicos), the church, newspapers, schools, and the intellectual elite.
Fifteen years of a laissez-faire attitude, has blurred the role of these pillar institutions. As a result, unexpected outsiders have moved into traditional roles expected of others to address and perform, thus confusing the outcome, and weakening our aim to grab one voice from a position of cooperation.
While things seem to be okay from the outset, in reality we face serious problems: Loss of vibrant intellectual discourse, diminishing spirituality in the religious context, schools in crisis, the disappearance of Armenian-language literary expression and output, and a forgetfulness about what to do for the youth, especially for those between the ages of 22 and 32 (I call them, “the forgotten”).
It will be difficult to find solutions, but it would be wise to at least start talking. Talk about the problems; talk with the people who have assumed the role to provide solutions. They are the men and women in charge of the pillar institutions that past generations have laboriously created, organized or financed for the purpose of our preservation and survival.
If left to a discussion, many people can come up with as many pillar institutions that they each deem more important in the larger agenda. I will take up only four of them for the purpose of this column.
Political parties have proven their ability to organize large number of people around projects, programs and activities, Genocide remembrance and recognition as one of the most important of them. But it takes leaders (especially the ones at the top of the pyramid) with special character to rally a wide consensus, by sharing the responsibilities and the rewards for real victory. Collective effort can exponentially magnify the results if activists sat down to talk about a plan which, I’m sure, does not differ from the other's: How to get the message to the US Congress; how to gear Armenia’s foreign and domestic policies towards Armenocentric aims; how to address problems afflicting the youth; and of course, the Genocide and how to check on a Turkey-gone-wild with denial.
Alas our political entities are stuck in rhetoric rooted in old cold war suspicions, some of which are directed against each other. The cold war ended twenty years ago, and it’s time for change. Meet with each other regularly, and talk incessantly, to draw out new action plans for success. Act, and claim the legitimacy as “the” voice of all the people.
The Church remains stuck in an artificial “one-ship-two-captain” situation (The ship is very small, mind you, and very fragile), since the days of caustic cold war era divisions which the world has since resolved and forgotten… except for us Armenians (When we fight, we fight real goooood!). Territorialism is exhausting and devouring the communities and it’s sad to even imagine what we should be doing instead.
I celebrate the success of the Armenian Church, not by the physical number of churches across the American landscape, but rather by the declining number of Armenians in prisons, or simply by the number of American-born young men who choose the church as their career path. The business of religion is not a zero sum game; the loss of one is not gain to another. Faith and prayer is not a matter of competition, and they are not commodities sold out of shops. It is a matter of laborious teaching, role-modeling and a sense of mission. It’s hard and serious work.
I hope that the clergy of all persuasions will always gather to talk about what is worthy of discussion: An agreement to teach faith, spirituality, good citizenship, and Armenianess in its various forms and shapes- marriage and family, language, customs and traditions, church history, saints, and the sublime art of praying and paying attention to the badarak.
Armenian Schools are in difficulty, and they are losing supporters and numbers. The cause that worries me most is not financial or related to the economy. We are facing a loss of faith in Armenian schools brought about by a combination of changing popular priorities during a period of financial prosperity, and new unchallenged perceptions as to what is necessary to bring up a child as an Armenian.
While families are making drastic decisions about the place of organized Armenian education in their children’s lives, the schools themselves are still debating who is the ideal (dibar) graduate of an Armenian school. What is the new message from the schools? Is it loud enough? Is it clear enough?
The time for principals of Armenian schools to meet, and to talk is now! It is absolutely essential that a common plan be devised immediately. Come up with a revised mission statement and then deliver. The failure of even one school is the failure of Armenian education as the last remaining potent experiment of the self-preservation process of our times.
Academics is a term in reference to the collective work done by historians, researchers and intellectuals to document the story of the Armenian people, Genocide historiography being the most contemporary and important. While too much emphasis is placed on politicians to “teach the Turks a lesson in history”, in reality the fight for Genocide recognition is won by the work of the intellectual elite.
Academicians are the least accessible segment of the pillar institutions. They are men and women whose work is above and beyond the reach of the general population, and for good reason. But, that doesn’t mean that they can be insulated from the needs of the Armenian community and people. Therefore, I can only hope that they meet regularly, and talk about their work and the work of all other researchers; to advance the career of young scholars- to promote them in institutions of higher learning with access to a forum for discussions and publications. I hope that a new generation will soon replace those who must pave the path for the young to continue the most important work of our (and the next) generation.
I feel that there is a slimmer of hope these days. Lately groups have been forming across LA, to meet and discuss all issues that pertain to our interests in the world at this particular time in history- There is now talk where there was none before, and I am hopeful. The purpose, I think, is to eventually draw out a list of what the people want, need and demand. But for the time being the message is very simple: Start talking!
In time, I expect more will join the discussions in many more small (formal, organized of otherwise) groups across all communities. I hope everyone- journalists, artists, politicos, the clergy, educators entrepreneurs and academicians alike- will join… and start talking!
