The Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation launched the Be Heard prize in April 2020. This unique initiative – the first of its kind – gave Armenian speakers around the world the chance to think and express themselves on a range of critical issues facing humanity. Speakers of the Armenian language were invited to submit contemporary and innovative audiovisual and literary productions of various kinds that brought forth much-needed discussions tackling contemporary global issues.
We received 165 applications in total, from 18 countries and in various media, from song to animation, from caricature to poetry, and from essay to mixed-media productions. The youngest applicant was eight years-old and the oldest 83. An internal jury of seven people evaluated all the submissions with great interest and 60 prizes were awarded. Due to the high number of excellent submissions, the number of awards was increased from the 50 that were initially announced to 60! There were 25 winners from Armenia and 35 winners from the Diaspora. These numbers are in proportion with the number of applications received.
One of the main purposes of this prize was to get people of all ages and backgrounds to think in the Armenian language and to use it as a mode of expression – and especially to use it creatively and differently. This, combined with the potential of the works submitted, and the contemporary nature of the ideas expressed, were the jury’s main selection criteria.
We are especially pleased to see that many young people applied to the Be Heard prize with their creative work, in which Armenian was the main medium of expression. We are also delighted to note that this prize fostered a culture of innovation in the Armenian language and has created a sense of need to reach out to and be in touch with other Armenian creative minds wherever they are.
Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.
The Pan Armenian Council of the Western United States of America has been monitoring the recent alarming outbreak of anti-Armenian hate crimes in the United States, Russia and Europe, the most recent being the shocking vandalism of the Krouzian-Zakarian Armenian Elementary School in San Francisco, the St. Paul Armenian Church in Fresno and the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Colorado.
The organizations of the Pan Armenian Council vehemently condemn these acts of violence and terror.
It is clear that these crimes are a perpetuation of the xenophobic anti-Armenian official state policy of Azerbaijan with tacit support by Turkey.
The Armenian community will not be intimidated by such deplorable acts. The Pan Armenian Council stands in solidarity with the Armenian community in denouncing these crimes.
We call on all law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these crimes.
Pan Armenian Council of Western United States of America and its member organizations.
Armenian Assembly of America Armenian Bar Association Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg of North America Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Western District Armenian General Benevolent Union, Western District Armenian Evangelical Union of North America Armenian Missionary Association of America Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region Armenian Relief Society of Western USA Armenian Revolutionary Federation of Western USA Armenian Society of Los Angeles – Iranahay Miutyun Armenian Youth Association of California – Irakahay Miutyun Armenian Youth Federation of Western USA Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of the Western USA Homenetmen Western USA Iraqi Armenian Family Association of Los Angeles Kessab Educational Association Organization of Istanbul Armenians Service Employees International Union – Armenian Caucus Southern California Armenian Democrats Tekeyan Cultural Association Unified Young Armenians Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
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Guest Contributor
Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.
The Armenian Relief Society Eastern Region (ARS-ER) “took a leap into the virtual world this year,” began regional chairperson Ani Attar. On Saturday, July 25, instead of holding their 100th convention during the 110th anniversary year of the organization, with both celebrations being postponed until next year, almost 100 dedicated members joined a general meeting hosted on Zoom by the regional board. In a pleasant and surprise turn of events, Cambridge “Shushi” chapter chairperson Ani Zargarian sang the ARS anthem live to begin the meeting.
With a focus on the successes and difficulties of the past year during extraordinary circumstances, Attar opened the meeting with a reminder that “the ARS is no stranger to disasters and crisis. Since its founding in 1910, the ARS has helped the most vulnerable in the world thanks to the ARS members who continue to devote themselves to our mission.” In addition to always supporting Armenia, Artsakh and Armenian communities worldwide, Attar outlined the many ways the ARS-ER has offered assistance to medical professionals, frontline workers and those in need during the coronavirus crisis, including providing lifesaving masks, necessary supplies and food whenever the need arises.
During the meeting, Attar presented the region’s annual report which offered a clear picture demonstrating the devotion of members, benefactors and supporters helping to continue the work of the organization. As the world has adjusted to the necessary changes to protect everyone’s health and safety, so have the ARS region and chapters by turning to technology to maintain connections and check on the needs within their communities. Zoom meetings are commonplace, as are continuing phone calls and cards. Sometimes, socially distant visits with masks have also been in order.
Looking forward to the coming year, the board invited the chapter representatives to share ideas on maintaining engagement with members, increasing membership and fundraising options in the absence of major events. In keeping with the spirit of the ARS, online attendees willingly offered chapter successes and challenges in the hopes of helping each other as the new fiscal year begins.
Since the ARS necessarily postponed the 110th anniversary celebration, Attar shared the region’s campaign for a virtual celebration, encouraging supporters to donate $110 for 110 years in honor of or in memory of a loved one. At the conclusion of the meeting, the list of donors was unveiled to everyone’s delight and gratitude. Donations continue to be accepted and also may be viewed on the ARS Eastern Region’s newly-designed website.
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Pauline Getzoyan
Pauline Getzoyan is an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. A longtime member of the Providence ARF, she is also a 15-year member of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) having previously served on the Central Executive Board. Pauline has been a long-time advocate for genocide education through her work with the ANC of RI. She is co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project, as well as a member of the RI Holocaust and Genocide Education Coalition. Pauline holds a BA in Communications from Rhode Island College and an MA in Education from Roger Williams University. She has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern Region assembled a panel of three experts to discuss the continuing COVID-19 pandemic during a live discussion on Facebook on Sunday, July 26. The primary topics of discussion were how to navigate re-opening and becoming comfortable with the “new normal.”
Dr. Kim Hekimian, assistant professor of nutrition at Columbia University, served as facilitator of the discussion, beginning with a presentation of statistics to set the stage for re-opening. In order to stress the importance of continuing the discussion and research around COVID-19 since it is still with us, Dr. Hekimian opened with a quote on the screen, “Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok, it’s not the end.”
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Tsoline Kojaoghlanian and ophthalmologist Dr. Lawrence Najarian joined Dr. Hekimian in the presentation of scientific data and relevant studies. All three panelists provided guidance in accordance with public health experts and infectious disease agencies and offered viewers advice during the live question and answer session.
“The panel discussion presented a wonderful opportunity to listen to three professionals in an intimate setting where we heard from experts as we might on TV, the internet or social media, but were actually able to engage with them as well,” said Ken Sarajian. “To be able to hear from the likes of Dr. Najarian, the president of AAHPO and a professor at NYU, Dr. Hekimian, a public health expert at Columbia University and infectious disease expert Dr. Kojaoghlanian, was incredible. Where can any member of any community get the kind of information, advice and interaction that was provided to us?”
Dr. Hekimian presented the current status of COVID-19 in the US including testing, contract tracing and data surveillance. She also offered updates on ways of combating the virus, including wearing masks and face coverings among other topics. Dr. Hekimian also addressed the fluidity of information and evolving data about this novel coronavirus.
Many of the updates that Dr. Kojaoghlanian covered included navigating the “new normal.” She included an assessment of activities that can be categorized as high, medium and low risk and when to wear masks/face coverings. Her presentation also included an overview of avoiding the three Cs – closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings – all of which she explained are impacting the spread of the virus.
Other topics covered included air travel and summer vacation, as well as an update on how the virus impacts children, a particular area of expertise for Dr. Kojaoghlanian, a pediatrician specializing in infectious disease at Maimonides Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. Notably, she also reminded viewers that all communities are different and will likely navigate reopening based on their respective numbers of cases and data. The key, she mentioned, is knowing that even during re-opening, it may be necessary to “pause,” especially as communities navigate resuming the school year. Prior to ending her presentation, Dr. Kojaoghlanian reminded viewers of the importance of making sure that they and their children are up-to-date on vaccinations, well visits and visits with specialists, should they be necessary.
Building upon the information that both Dr. Hekimian and Dr. Kojaoghlanian presented, Dr. Najarian discussed the implications of the interruption of care during the pandemic. He reviewed studies which depicted a general decline in US citizens’ health during quarantine. While caring for patients with COVID-19 is important, he reminded viewers of the importance of caring for their health conditions as well.
He urged viewers to “know before you go” with regard to participating in public activities, going to the dentist, eye doctor, etc., encouraging viewers to call ahead and ask questions. He also included an overview of protocols and procedures that physicians, dental and optical offices, for example, are taking to ensure that their patients still receive the care they need to stay healthy during the pandemic.
Following their formal presentations, the panelists answered viewer-submitted questions which ranged from the safety of overseas travel, use of hand sanitizer, whether children should be signed up to participate in fall sports and coping mechanisms to reduce anxiety and depression that could result from isolation.
“Not only did they provide us with a wealth of information, but they also answered our specific questions,” said Sarajian. “Personally, they provided me, a senior citizen, with guidance I need as I prepare to go back to teaching in a public high school in New Jersey.”
“The ARF-ER COVID-19 town hall was packed with extremely helpful information about not only the spread of COVID, but it offered helpful measures on how to navigate decision-making going about our daily lives in a safe way. Dr. Kojaoghlanian provided detailed and easy to understand explanations about the level of risk involved in everyday activities, and Dr. Najarian’s insight on what to ask our care providers when we go to see doctors and dentists put my mind at ease and helped me feel like I can have more control over this virus than I thought before the town hall. I look forward to more town halls on this and other topics organized by the ARF-ER. The level of professionalism and expertise brought forth by the ARF ER is unmatched and very much appreciated,” enthused Tsoghig Hekimian.
In their closing remarks, Dr. Hekimian, Dr. Kojaoghlanian and Dr. Najarian touched on the importance of maintaining overall health and shared resources for viewers to find up-to-date information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Tamar Meguerditchian Gregorian
Tamar Meguerditchian Gregorian, PhD, APR, is the executive director for the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region and a former ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern (class of 2005). With over 15 years of experience in creating strategic communication campaigns for a variety of non-profit and for profit organizations, Gregorian’s work and service has been recognized on local and regional levels. A native New Orleanian, she graduated from Loyola University New Orleans (B.A.) in 2004, Louisiana State University (MMC) in 2007 and The University of Southern Mississippi (PhD) in 2018. Gregorian has taught public relations and communications course at Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans The University of Southern Mississippi and at the University of Southern California for more than 12 years.
NAASR will present an online panel discussion on Thursday, July 30, at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern U.S. time) entitled “Cultural Destruction, Cultural Memory: The Heritage of the Khachkars of Jugha (Old Julfa).” This event will be held live on Zoom (registration required) and streaming on NAASR’s YouTube channel. This program is made possible through the generous support of the Dadourian Foundation.
The erasure of Armenian cultural history in Nakhichevan is one of the most underreported acts of cultural destruction in the 21st century. The year 2020 marks the 15-year commemoration of the final phase of this systematic destruction, when in 2005, the Azerbaijani army destroyed with sledgehammers thousands of remaining khachkars in Jugha (Old Julfa) in Nakhichevan, effectively eliminating the last remains of Armenian cultural presence in the region. UNESCO had designated these monuments as Cultural Identity but took no action to protect them.
This program will be the first of a series to raise awareness throughout the world about this act of cultural destruction, as well as the artistic, cultural, and religious significance of khachkars through the ages, ongoing efforts at preserving ancient ones still standing, and the art of the khachkar today.
The program will feature the following panelists: Ani Babaian, an independent researcher and artist and art conservator and serves as the Library Curator at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR); Simon Maghakyan, a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Colorado Denver and independent investigator of the cultural genocide of Nakhichevan’s Armenian past; and Christina Maranci, Arthur H. Dadian and Ara Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art and Architecture and Chair of the Department of History of Art and Architecture at Tufts University.
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NAASR
The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research was launched in March 1955 with a vision to promote Armenian Studies by establishing endowed chairs at some of the foremost universities in the United States.
Much has already been said and written about the increasing tensions along Armenia’s international border with Azerbaijan since deadly assaults on the region of Tavush began just over two weeks ago. In an attempt to lend to the discourse surrounding the regional implications of the deadly flare-up, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues hosted an online forum to examine the motivating factors behind the escalation of aggression, the significance of democratization in Armenia, domestic and global media coverage of the events and the geopolitical roles played by Turkey and Russia.
Last Thursday’s discussion was moderated by Anna Ohanyan, Richard B. Finnegan Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Stonehill College. Panelists included former Weekly editor Antranig Kasbarian (Director of Development at Tufenkian Foundation), Arsen Kharatyan (Founder and Editor-in-Chief at AliQ Media) and Maria Titizian (Editor-in-Chief of EVN Report).
The panelists agreed that the recent attacks represent both a continuation and departure from past practice on behalf of Azerbaijan, noting the novelty of the incursion into internationally recognized territory of Armenia.
“More than ever, in all countries, wars are being fought simultaneously for domestic consumption and for international gain,” stated Kasbarian, referring to the Aliyev administration’s interests in diverting attention from domestic strife and the increasing promotion of anti-Armenian racism and hate speech.
In the immediate aftermath of the assault that was instigated by Azeri forces, mass pro-war demonstrations broke out in Baku, which Kharatyan believes were orchestrated by the state to turn the attention of the public to the conflict, a strategy that backfired when people took advantage of the temporary easing of pandemic restrictions on free assembly and free speech to assert their discontent with the Aliyev regime and demand domestic changes.
“That reflected the general environment in Azerbaijan, and that is not prioritizing Karabakh as much as it is prioritizing their own freedoms, prioritizing their problems with democracy, the kleptocratic regime that Aliyev has there and the fatigue of not bringing about a change,” argued Kharatyan.
The panelists agreed about the significance of democratization for Armenia’s national security, yet disagreed about its exact function.
Kharatyan stated that while Armenia does not have a lot of oil and gas to export, it could effectively export its Velvet Revolution. “This is not just a territorial or ethnic war. This is a war against democracy. This is a war against human rights,” he said. “This is a war against our aspiration to build a strong democratic country, which some countries in the neighborhood do not like, because if we are successful, that means the same thing can happen in their own case.”
Yet Kasbarian warned about the quixotism of going too far with this line of thinking. “It sounds nice rhetorically, but it worries me in practice,” he contended. “I don’t know how our large neighbor to the north would take to an Armenia with ambitions of exporting its democratic revolution elsewhere,” said Kasbarian, referring to Russian influence.
Nonetheless, the panelists recognized the multitudinous benefits of promoting democracy in all domestic realms, including supporting the media, human rights groups, local non-governmental organizations and civil society groups at large.
“Deepening Armenia’s democracy, consolidating it, has an enormous strategic value for the country, particularly in regards to addressing the conflict,” Ohanyan stressed.
Titizian, who has been leading EVN Report’s relentless coverage of the ongoing developments to the minute, attested to the necessity of investing in the media in Armenia by elevating the quality of journalism, particularly in terms of conflict-sensitive reporting. “Not always believing what the Defense Ministry says…does not make you a traitor. It makes you an honest journalist,” she upheld. “When you try to do that, you are framed as a traitor to the nation. When you say, ‘escalation of clashes,’ well, no, you need to be hung out in Republic Square, because you have to say ‘attacked by the enemy.’
Titizian partially attributed the international media’s incomplete and uninformed coverage of the recent flare-up to the failure of Armenian news outlets to develop good relations with global media outlets and “present their side of the story.”
All of the panelists agreed that the false equivalence established between Armenia and Azerbaijan by the international media is unacceptable and detrimental to conflict resolution.
“This false parity is a disservice to the peace process,” said Titizian. “Because when you’re not calling out the aggressor, when you’re not calling out the person who instigates the escalation, then you’re just compounding the problem even further.”
The panelists also deliberated the respective responses by Turkey and Russia to the escalation of aggression by Azerbaijan, contrasting Turkey’s immediate declaration of support of Azerbaijan and incendiary rhetoric with Russia’s explicit neutrality and backdoor diplomacy.
Ohanyan explained that Russia behaved characteristically as an imperial power in selecting not to take sides in a conflict among its peripheral states. “I think the signature move really shows how far-sighted Russia as an imperial power is, relative to Turkey, which has narrowed its foreign policy to nationalism and to working purely with the Azerbaijani side,” she upheld.
“For Turkey to come out and talk about how they’re willing to support, whether militarily or otherwise, is just showing how disingenuous it is to talk about Turkey’s possible involvement as a mediator in this process,” Kharatyan assented. “I see Turkey as a patron of Azerbaijan that can be viewed as an equal party.”
“I sense that Turkey is still in a long process of realigning itself, and it’s testing out all directions to see where it can maximally leverage its influence,” Kasbarian argued, speaking to the future of the conflict. “I think not only our preparedness, that is the Armenia side’s preparedness, but also Russia’s preparedness to defend its southern flank, will ultimately be the deciding factor in how far Turkey can go.”
All of the panelists agreed that the recent violence indicates the supreme importance of calling for ceasefire monitoring at the border and the line of contact.
The panelists ended the discussion by encouraging viewers to develop a sense of media literacy and rely on dependable sources of information on the conflict, suggesting Civilnet, EVN Report, the Armenian Weekly and Hetq as resources to continue to stay engaged.
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Lillian Avedian
Lillian Avedian is a journalist based in Los Angeles, California. She has written for the Daily Californian, Hetq and the Armenian Weekly, covering topics ranging from the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Armenia to the Armenian feminist movement on Instagram. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Armenian Studies, and applies her human rights expertise to uncover silenced narratives. When she is not on the hunt for a story, Lillian enjoys writing poetry and attending quarantine "Zoom-ba" classes.
In a letter to the Librarian of Congress, Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders called for the change of the Armenian Massacres subject heading to Armenian Genocide, noting, “the Congress, at long last, has made clear we will not be party to genocide denial, and the Library must do the same.”
WASHINGTON, DC – The bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Armenian Caucus has called on the Librarian of Congress to explain the “bizarre” refusal of this agency of the US Legislative Branch to correct its “Armenian Massacres” subject heading to “Armenian Genocide,” even in the wake of last year’s Congressional resolutions unequivocally recognizing this crime and explicitly rejecting its denial, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The Armenian Caucus letter comes in the wake of an exchange of correspondence between the Library of Congress and the ANCA, during which Associate Librarian for Library Services, Robin L. Dale, declined the ANCA’s request for this change. She explained that the “The Library of Congress … defers to the president and the State Department on the terminology and refrains from using the word genocide in the official subject heading.”
In a July 30, 2020 letter addressed to the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders Adam Schiff (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and replied: “With respect, we find this justification a bizarre misunderstanding of both the Library of Congress’s role in supporting research and scholarship, as well as its status as an Article I institution.” They added: “The Library of Congress’s role is not to conduct foreign policy or diplomacy. It is to serve as a center of research and knowledge for Congress, America, and the world. And in that capacity, the Library must be guided by principles of scholarship and truth, not by the haphazard application of geopolitical concerns.”
The four legislators closed their letter by asking Dr. Hayden to reconsider the Library’s unfortunate and unjustifiable position, and requesting a discussion with her on this subject.
“We want to thank Congressman Schiff and his Armenian Caucus colleagues – Gus Bilirakis, Jackie Speier, and Frank Pallone – for following up on the ANCA’s request that the Library of Congress correct its Armenian Genocide subject heading and standardize the use of this proper terminology across all of the Library’s products, exhibits, and reports,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We share their principled view that this change should not have required passage of House and Senate resolutions, but – in the wake of the overwhelming adoption of these bipartisan measures – it’s clear to all that no justification remains for the Library’s current policy.”
Congressional Armenian Caucus Letter to the Library of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden
July 30, 2020
The Honorable Dr. Carla Hayden
Librarian of Congress
The Library of Congress
Dear Dr. Hayden:
As the leadership of the Armenian Caucus, we are writing in reference to the June 19, 2020 letter from the Associate Librarian for Library Services to the Armenian National Committee on the subject of the nomenclature used by the Library of Congress to describe the Armenian Genocide. The letter declines the request to change the Library of Congress’s subject heading from “Armenian massacres, 1915-1923″ to “Armenian Genocide, 1915-1923” and to standardize the use of the term, “Armenian Genocide” across other Library products and exhibits, including Congressional Research Service reports.
In declining the request, the Associate Librarian writes:
“Deciding whether to declare the atrocities a genocide is an enormous foreign policy and diplomatic issue and is the purview of the president and the State Department, not the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress therefore defers to the president and the State Department on the terminology and refrains from using the word genocide in the official subject heading.”
With respect, we find this justification a bizarre misunderstanding of both the Library of Congress’s role in supporting research and scholarship, as well as its status as an Article I institution.
The Library of Congress’s role is not to conduct foreign policy or diplomacy. It is to serve as a center of research and knowledge for Congress, America, and the world. And in that capacity, the Library must be guided by principles of scholarship and truth, not by the haphazard application of geopolitical concerns.
On that account, there is no serious historical debate about whether the extermination of the Armenians by the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915 meets the criteria for genocide. The scholarly consensus around the Armenian Genocide is clear. In 1997, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, an organization of the world’s foremost experts on genocide, unanimously passed a formal resolution affirming the Armenian Genocide. Rafael Lemkin explicitly had the attempted destruction of the Armenian people in mind when he coined the term in 1944. And holdings of the Library of Congress itself are a clear testament to the overwhelming evidence of genocide, including many scholarly works on the subject as well as collections of contemporaneous witness and survivor accounts.
Given that, it should not have taken the overwhelming, bipartisan passage by both the House and Senate of resolutions clearly recognizing the genocide for the Library to use the correct term. Yet with the passage of H.Res. 296 and S. Res. 150, what little justification there could be for the current policy has been removed. In those resolutions, the House and Senate state the sense of Congress that it is the policy of the United States to:
(1) to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance;
(2) to reject efforts to enlist, engage, or otherwise associate the United States Government with denial of the Armenian Genocide or any other genocide; and
(3) to encourage education and public understanding of the facts of the Armenian Genocide, including the role of the United States in humanitarian relief efforts, and the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity.
The resolutions leave no doubt about Congress’s intention and views about the fact of the genocide. There is no possible basis for the Library of Congress, as an institution that exists within the legislative branch, not to follow suit. It is both the proper thing to do and, more importantly, the historically and morally right thing to do. The Congress, at long last, has made clear we will not be party to genocide denial, and the Library must do the same.
We respectfully request a discussion with you on this topic in the near future which our staff will follow up to schedule. We sincerely hope that in the meantime you will reconsider the Library’s unfortunate and unjustifiable position.
Sincerely,
Adam B. Schiff
Member of Congress
Gus Bilirakis
Member of Congress
Jackie Speier
Member of Congress
Frank Pallone Jr.
Member of Congress
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ANCA
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots 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. To learn more, visit www.anca.org.
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father, brother, uncle, relative and friend Ohanes Petrossian, who passed away on Monday July 27, 2020, after a long illness. He was born on September 12, 1933 in Tabriz, Iran.
Funeral service will take place on Tuesday, August 11, at 11 a.m. at St. Kevork Armenian Church, 1434 W. Kenneth Road, Glendale, CA 91201. Interment will follow at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Mortuary Park.
He is survived by his:
Daughter, Suzy Petrossian and Raul Fundora
Son, Victor Petrossian
Brother, Martik and Ellik Petrossian and family
Brother, Raffi and Anahid Petrossian and family
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nazik Petrossian in 1996; his eldest son, Armen in 2003; his sister, Mano Devletian in 2014 and her husband Noubar Devletian in 2009.
And the entire Petrossian, Devletian, Papazian, Nazarian and Avakian families, relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, MD 20816; the ANCA; or Armenia Fund (proceeds will go toward the Stepanakert Rehabilitation Center. Checks should be made out to Armenia Fund. In memo section, please indicate “Stepanakert Rehab Center.” Please mail your checks to: Suzy Petrossian, 8547 Glencrest Dr., Sun Valley, CA 91352).
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Guest Contributor
Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.
House Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) includes a measure in the FY2021 Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R.7856) which calls for greater accountability on the use of force on the Azerbaijan-Artsakh-Armenia border.
WASHINGTON, DC –In a pro-accountability move that will help check Azerbaijani aggression and contribute to the stabilization of the 1994 cease-fire, the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence – chaired by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) – has included a provision in the Intelligence Authorization Act calling upon the US intelligence community to provide Congress with a written assessment regarding which side is initiating the use of force in and around Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) and the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“We welcome this provision of the Intelligence Authorization Act as a pro-active measure to ensure that Congress has reliable intelligence on Azerbaijan’s cease-fire violations against Artsakh and cross-border aggression into Armenia,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “This constructive initiative, in the spirit of the bipartisan Royce-Engel Peace Proposal, will help Congress hold Baku accountable, fact-check its denials, and contribute to a more stable cease-fire.”
“Greater intelligence community scrutiny, more Congressional oversight, and additional accountability – in the form of gun-fire locators and OSCE observers – are all needed to help break Baku’s reckless pattern of attack, deny, and repeat – a one-sided cycle of violence needlessly perpetuated by uninformed calls upon all parties to refrain from violence,” continued Hamparian, who explained the provision on an ANCA Facebook Live video.
The provision, Section 822 of H.R.7856, reads as follows:
SEC. 822. ASSESSMENT REGARDING TENSIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN.
(a) Assessment Required.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a written assessment regarding tensions between the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan, including with respect to the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Such assessment shall include each of the following:
(1) An identification of the strategic interests of the United States and its partners in the Armenia-Azerbaijan region.
(2) A description of all significant uses of force in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan during calendar year 2020, including a description of each significant use of force and an assessment of who initiated the use of such force.
(3) An assessment of the effect of United States military assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia on the regional balance of power and the likelihood of further use of military force.
(4) An assessment of the likelihood of any further uses of force or potentially destabilizing activities in the region in the near- to medium-term.
(b) Form Of Assessment. – The assessment required under this section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.
The House Select Committee on Intelligence marked up the Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R.7856) on Friday, July 31st. The Senate panel had already approved its version of the measure in June. Upon full House consideration of H.R.7856, the Senate and House Intelligence leaders will iron out differences prior to final approval of the measure.
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ANCA
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots 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. To learn more, visit www.anca.org.
The late George Kamajian and Alice (nee Deradoorian) Kamajian
George Krikor Kamajian of Thousand Oaks, California (formerly of Havertown, Pennsylvania) passed away peacefully on July 30, 2020. Husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, he was born in Troy, New York to Nerses and Amelia Kamajian (Aintab, Turkey). He was four weeks shy from celebrating his 99th birthday. He was predeceased by his wife, Alice Deradoorian (Pawtucket, Rhode Island) and is survived by two sons, Dr. Steven Kamajian (Margaret Mooradian) of Glendale, California, and Dr. George Kamajian and his wife Debra of Clearwater, Florida. George was a loving grandfather to George, Lily (Joe Lamagna), Natalie, Derek, Ani, Janae and Jacqueline. He was also blessed with three great-grandchildren: Elle, Joseph and Leonardo. Loving nieces and nephews mourn his loss as well.
George was one of the last of the ‘greatest generation’ having served his country in two wars (WWII and Korea) in the Army Air Corps, later named the Air Force. A member of the 418th Night Fighter Squadron, he served as a radar operator aboard a P-61 Black Widow flying missions over the Pacific Theater in WWII. Combat wounded and in recognition of his service to his country, George was awarded a number of combat service medals. At the time of Honorable Discharge, he had earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
He met the love of his life (“my Alice,” he’d say) at an Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) dance in Boston; they got married on Christmas Day. He graduated from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He retired as a senior agent for New York Life Insurance Company, a CLU (Certified Life Underwriter) and was a member of their Million Dollar Round Table. He was a tireless servant of the church, serving on the Board of Trustees for St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in Philadelphia, that Church’s national representative, and editor and founder of the Illuminator, St Gregory’s newsletter.
George was active in community life on both the east and west coasts of the United States and quietly supported Armenian causes and especially Armenians in need wherever he found them. He was an avid reader, collector of stamps and coins, master carpenter and woodworker; he also loved to draw. His musical taste ranged widely from Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey to big band and opera. Every weekend the house radio was tuned to the Metropolitan Opera broadcast performance. He woke up at 5 am every day (“we had to get up that time for the army so don’t complain”), put on the radio and listen to music. He would fan coals for hours to make the best shish kebab in the world and never ever used a fire starter. He would never eat fish or hot dogs (“I worked in a processing plant. You have no idea how they’re made”). He bought a new car every two years and lived modestly. (“There’s only two ways to have money: Earn it and don’t spend it and earning it is the hard way”). He loved to travel the world. It was common for him to come home early from work with a trailer hitched to the family car and take a spontaneous 3500-mile road trip or jaunt to the Jersey beaches before there was an Atlantic City Expressway. He smoked cigars and drank Rock and Rye with his war buddies only. He loved fixing anything that was broken. He believed in hard work and education. He was a generous host and loved to entertain family and friends.
He was loved by many and will be deeply and genuinely missed by all who had the good fortune of knowing him.
Graveside services at Swan Point cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island are postponed because of the pandemic. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, 8701 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19128
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.
PARAMUS, NJ – The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) awarded $221,300 in direct scholarship grants to 85 worthy students for the academic year 2020-2021 attending colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In addition, $32,000 more was assigned for qualified university students in Armenia.
For over 50 years, the AMAA has helped thousands of college students with scholarships, thus helping them prepare for the future and relieving the financial burden that makes it harder to focus on their work. Moreover, since its founding, AMAA has supported the education of tens of thousands of Armenian students at all levels, in the Near East, Europe, Continental US and Armenia. The AMAA also provides generous and abundant financial aid to schools and institutions of higher education in the Near East, including Haigazian University and the Near East School of Theology in Beirut.
The scholarships granted this year were provided from several AMAA scholarship funds established over the years to help students in need. Students may request applications from AMAA headquarters in Paramus, NJ beginning in January of each year. The deadline to submit applications for the 2021-2022 academic year is May 1, 2021.
Established in 1918 in Worcester, MA, the AMAA serves the spiritual, educational and social needs of Armenian communities in 24 countries around the world including Armenia and Artsakh. For additional information, please visit www.amaa.org.
The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) was founded in 1918, in Worcester, MA, and incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization in 1920 in the State of New York. We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Our purpose is to serve the physical and spiritual needs of people everywhere, both at home and overseas. To fulfill this worldwide mission, we maintain a range of educational, evangelistic, relief, social service, church and child care ministries in 24 countries around the world.
The Armenian Relief Society extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the calamity in Lebanon on Aug 4, 2020. We express our support to the Lebanese people and our compatriots who are once again in an unbearable situation. We wish a speedy recovery to all those who were wounded.
The ARS stands with Lebanon and the Armenian community.
Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation. It mobilizes communities to advance the goals of all sectors of humanity. For well over a century, it has pioneered solutions to address the challenges that impact our society.
By Kristine Martirosyan-Olshansky and Emily Uyeda Kantrim
On August 1, 2020, the field of Armenian archaeology lost one of its most dedicated scholars, Dr. Gregory E. Areshian. He was a member of the UCLA community since 2001 serving as the inaugural Director of the UCLA Research Program in Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography, Assistant Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, editor of Backdirt, a visiting scholar and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures.
Areshian’s archaeological career started at an extraordinarily early age with his first archaeological site visit to Teishebiani (Karmir Blur) when he was five years old. Due to his close familial connection with archaeologist Boris Piotrovsky, Areshian began to “work” in archaeological excavations every summer at the age of 11 and directed excavations in his own trench at the age of 14. The enthusiasm of his youth carried into his studies as he became the youngest person to graduate with a PhD from the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of the USSR in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) at the age of 26 in 1975.
During his long and distinguished career Areshian published more than 150 scholarly works in five different languages with his first peer-reviewed paper published at the age of 20. His work, spanning the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages, was mostly devoted to topics in the social sciences and the humanities, including the archaeology of the Near East, Eastern Mediterranean, southeastern Europe and Central Asia from the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages. Other publications focus on interdisciplinary linguistic-archaeological-folkloric and art-historical reconstructions of ancient Near Eastern and Indo-European mythologies, interdisciplinary studies of social contexts of the development of ancient technologies, applications of natural sciences in archaeology, as well as theory and methodology in archaeology and human adaptive responses to changes in the natural environment. Areshian also wrote on the interactions between nomads and sedentary civilizations of Eurasia, long-term trends in history and trajectories of social complexity, visual arts and architecture of Ancient Near East, Armenian history and the ancient and medieval empires of the Near East and Eurasia. His last edited volume focusing on multidisciplinary study of empires was published by the Cotsen Press in 2013.
Areshian directed and participated in a number of archaeological field projects in Armenia, Georgia, Syria, Egypt and Central Asia. The UCLA-IAEY excavations of the Neolithic settlement of Masis Blur was his most recent undertaking, but he is best known for his work at the world-renowned Areni-1 cave complex which produced the oldest known examples of wine making (6100 BCE) and intact leather shoe (3600 BCE).
Gregory pouring libations to Arkhaiologia on the first day of excavations at the Masis Blur Neolithic settlement in 2012
Areshian distinguished himself as a successful institution-builder and administrator at different levels, establishing and directing the Center for Archaeological Research at Yerevan State University, serving as Deputy Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, the First Vice Director General of the Directorate of Antiquities of the Republic of Armenia, and Minister of State/Deputy Prime Minister in the government of the independent Republic of Armenia. It was his passion for Armenian archaeology, his dedication to educating future generations of scholars and his ability to engage with people outside of academia that resulted in the establishment of the Research Program for Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography at UCLA.
He taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in history, archaeology and anthropology at the University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin, University of California at Los Angeles, University of California, Irvine and Yerevan State University.
Since his 2016 return to living full time in Yerevan, Armenia, Areshian became a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia and regularly taught and held salons with students of the American University of Armenia where he serves as professor of history and archaeology in the College of the Humanities and Social Sciences.
His personal archive has made permanent contributions to the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago at the Gregory E. Areshian Reading Room, as the Founding Director of the UCLA Research Program in Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography (Research Center for Armenian Archaeology) and as a co-founder of ARAMAZD, the Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies.
Gregory will be sorely missed by his friends, colleagues, students, and most of all, of course, by his family. He is survived by his sons Alex and Tigran.
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles written and submitted by members of the community, which make up our community bulletin board.
The most beautiful sunset I’d seen over the Beirut horizon was only yesterday. It was a magnificent fusion of smooth, peachy orange; pink cotton candy; with a bright blue backdrop—all full of toxic nitrates released from the traumatic explosion in Beirut. I write these sentences out of rage—a dominant feeling—with a pinch of numbness. Numbness that pushed me awake through the night, writing this piece.
It was almost power-cut o’clock in Lebanon, which is almost every hour, on a calm Tuesday afternoon. When I say calm, it’s very relative. It’s calm because no company or institution made hundreds of employee layoffs today; it’s calm because the internet still worked until 6:00 p.m.; it’s calm because I haven’t heard of a suicide attempt today; it’s calm because the exchange rate has stabilized, albeit at unimaginable heights. It was calm but at a cost.
A short shake startles me on the hilltop of my home in Mezher. Easy, earthquake. We’ve been over this Jumanji stage before. And then, a tiny boom. Something nearby blew up, I think. And then, a proper shake, which takes me stumbling over to my room door, in confusion. This has become a dangerous earthquake; we need to take cover. I look out my window to see the Homenetmen Stadium’s large window panes blow into pieces, and then, a deafening boom.
For a moment, I was sure we were getting bombed. For a moment, I was confident that all I was hearing were airstrikes approaching us from afar, and in the next few milliseconds, we would be next. I froze. I didn’t run. You can’t run from an airstrike. I stood there and accepted death.
Spoiler alert: it never came. I had to shuffle passports and paperwork and laptops into a backpack in case the third strike gave me a chance to run to the building basement. But the third strike never came, because it was never a strike. It was an explosion, and mom knew, because the Civil War still lingers in the daily memory of my parents’ generation. They can differentiate between airstrikes, missiles, mortars and bombs.
Whatever was left of Beirut vanished within minutes. The bars that squeezed their last pennies out in Mar Mkhayel, the almost-empty stores in Gemmayze, and the rest of already-suffering Beirut were all heavily hit. You forget about your fresh trauma and start calling around to check if your loved ones are fine, and hopefully alive, begging the “calling” screen to turn into “00:01.”
Over the next few hours, you see it all, and then some. You see the movie scenes of the exploding mushroom cloud, perishing all in its way. You see the Instagram page set up for the 200+ souls who haven’t been found yet and wonder how their families’ sleeplessness is so different from yours. You see underfunded Red Cross volunteers, scrambling to pull dead-or-alive bodies out of burning debris. You see homes, shelters and buildings—unlivable. You see doctors performing surgeries with smartphone flashlights, open-air, because our hospitals are underfunded and at full capacity. You see videos of children screaming that they don’t want to die.
And you count your blessings.
You read all about Lebanese resilience, everywhere. We party through pain; we’re happy through hardships; we conquer calamities and catastrophes. But not anymore.
The phoenix can only rise from the ashes so many times.
You’re asked to close your windows to limit toxin inhalation, but my window is in pieces on the floor. You’re expected to rebuild what is broken, but my money has been confiscated by the bank.
It kicks in. You realize, this is it. This isn’t the Lebanon I grew up in anymore. This Lebanon hosts poverty, disease, anger, frustration, hunger, anxiety and depression. This Lebanon spits in the faces of the underprivileged, of the foreign worker, of minorities. You decide you want nothing to do with this Lebanon anymore. The Lebanon I know can only be reconstructed in dreams and memories. The Lebanon I know no longer wants to be reconstructed because it is unable to. The phoenix can only rise from the ashes so many times.
And in those ashes, there is another Lebanon:
The Lebanon I know stands in line to donate blood, less than half an hour after the shambles.
The Lebanon I know creates donation links and shares tweets and Instagram stories and Facebook posts, asking the diaspora—and the world—for assistance.
The Lebanon I know always finds its way out of the dust and rubble.
But the people of Lebanon can only handle so much.
I write these sentences in rage, but in them too is love for this nation and for her people. Eventually, the rage will subside, making way for total numbness. The Lebanon I know is at a tipping point, and the Paris of the Middle East is a tale of bygones.
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Shahen Araboghlian
Shahen Araboghlian is an alumnus from the Lebanese American University, BA in Political Science/International Affairs, with an Exchange Degree from Sciences Po - Paris. He’s currently a management assistant and social media strategist at h-pem.com. His interests revolve around labor rights, social movements, development studies and IOs.
The ANCA national action campaign – anca.org/lebanon – calls for a robust relief, rebuilding, and development aid package for the people of Lebanon.
WASHINGTON, DC – In the aftermath of a powerful August 4th explosion in Beirut, which has left at least 100 dead, 5,000 injured, and Armenian businesses, homes and community institutions devastated, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is working with the White House and Congress to provide a robust relief, rebuilding and development aid package for the people of Lebanon.
In a nationwide action campaign launched less than 24-hours after the blast, the ANCA is calling for immediate emergency relief. “As an American with connections to Armenians in Lebanon and who cares deeply about all the diverse communities that make up this great nation, I encourage you to work with your Congressional colleagues to ensure that U.S. and international assistance reaches all at-risk population, including Armenians and other Christians,” notes the grassroots letter to Congressional leaders. The message reminds elected officials that “Lebanon warmly welcomed survivors of Ottoman Turkey’s WWI-era genocide of millions of Christians, including Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and Armenians. To this day, these communities and many others – of all faiths and backgrounds – call Lebanon home. In a Middle East that is – sadly – becoming less and less diverse, Lebanon stands out as a model of pluralism, tolerance, and co-existence.”
Armenian populated areas in the city and suburbs surrounding Beirut, including the Bourj-Hammoud district, have been hit hard, with churches, community centers, schools, and homes badly damaged and requiring significant reconstruction before they can serve the population. Lebanese Armenian community leaders have confirmed that at least 11 Armenians have been killed and over 250 injured as a result of the blast which, according to initial news accounts, was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse near the Lebanon port since 2013. Lebanon relief organizations, including the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Lebanon, have been working non-stop to help the injured, with hospitals overloaded with victims.
The disaster comes amid Lebanon’s efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and dire economic developments in the country.
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ANCA
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots 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. To learn more, visit www.anca.org.
PARAMUS, NJ – In 2019, the “One Village” Consortium, which was initiated by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), chose to assist the border village of Navur in the Region of Tavush. The Consortium, consisting of 11 prestigious local and international organizations, was formed in 2014, on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide centennial. Its first mission was to join forces to help the Martuni village of Kegharkunik Region and has been active since its inception.
In May 2020, as a member of the “One-Village” Consortium, the AMAA donated a physics laboratory worth 1.3 million drams to Navur School, which was received with great enthusiasm and excitement from the teachers and students. The laboratory is now equipped with devices and instructions that can be used for experiments in the physics, electrodynamics and magnetism departments.
The Navur School administration, teachers, students and parents express their deep gratitude to the AMAA for this initiative.
To date, the “One-Village” Consortium has implemented several educational, development and relief projects in Navur, including the installation of water pipes, the construction of a soccer field and the provision of furniture to the school.
Responding to the Call to Action by the President of the Republic of Armenia; President of Hayastan all Armenian Fund’s Board of Trustees, Armen Sarkissian, AMAA also supported the ‘Hayastan’ All Armenian Fund campaign to “Empower the Remote Border Communities” with an emergency assistance of $25,000.
Established in 1918 in Worcester, MA, the AMAA serves the spiritual, educational and social needs of Armenian communities in 24 countries around the world including Armenia and Artsakh. For additional information, please visit www.amaa.org.
The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) was founded in 1918, in Worcester, MA, and incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization in 1920 in the State of New York. We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Our purpose is to serve the physical and spiritual needs of people everywhere, both at home and overseas. To fulfill this worldwide mission, we maintain a range of educational, evangelistic, relief, social service, church and child care ministries in 24 countries around the world.
Melankton and Haig Arslanian Djemaran, Class of 1998, principal Hratch Dasnabedian pictured in the center (Photo provided by author)
Glued to my phone, scrolling through feeds, trying to hold back my tears, and feeling so numb.
My birthplace is in ruins, and I am flooded with memories, emotions, anger and guilt all mixed together in this super emotion that I cannot handle.
The agonizing moments when I was trying to reach my relatives in Lebanon, making sure that my grandmother who lives in Bourj Hammoud and my uncle who works close to the Port of Beirut are okay, still lingering today. The terrorized voice of my aunt saying that they are okay physically, but she is not sure if they can go on any longer is still in my ears.
In the midst of all this, my memory takes me back to the street of Bourj Hammoud where I grew up. I try to shake it off, but it stubbornly takes me to the walks I used to take from the entrance of Bourj Hammoud, where the bus would drop me off coming back from Haigazian University, to my dad’s shoe factory on Kilikia Street. I used to look forward to that 15-minute walk every day, passing through that mesmerizing Armenian neighborhood. I distinctly remember the smells of the Armenian food and how the aroma used to fill the streets. I remember the store owners having conversations in Armenian at the corner of the streets. I remember how every Friday the whole neighborhood’s fresh laundry would hang from the balconies; you could have been splashed with water flowing down from every building because Fridays were cleaning day, and the Armenian women not only cleaned their houses but made sure to wash the stairs and the entrance to the buildings. I remember avoiding visits to my grandmother in the mornings, because her neighbors would come over for their daily “therapy session” over sourj. Walking into that crowd was very challenging if you could not handle all the questions coming from left and right. I particularly loved Easter time when everywhere smelled like Armenian Easter cookies. There was also apricot jam season. The list goes on and on…
I left that country more than 20 years ago, but I dearly love Lebanon. It has always been that special place for me that gave me the best education at Djemaran, the best classmates and the best teachers. It gave me a sense of community that I have not been able to find anywhere else since. It gave me the best neighbors that were like family. It gave me Aztag Oratert, which my brother and I fought over every morning to read first. It gave me the best bookstore, Vosgetar, where I used to visit every week, spent all my allowance on books and talked for hours with Baron Djermagian, who always knew what I needed to read next. It gave me the sense of duty to visit the cemetery holding my dad’s hand every merelotz (memorial day) to put flowers on the ARF and Lisbon 5 gravestones. It gave me my deeply rooted dedication to everything Armenian. And again, the list goes on and on…
I always regret that my children will never have that sense of security I felt walking down the streets of Bourj Hammoud, surrounded by that zealous Armenian community. But I also know that things are not as they used to be when I was growing up there. Even if I grew up during the war, I guess I was still lucky to experience all that.
The Armenian community in Lebanon made me the person that I am today, and I will be forever thankful for that. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I am so grateful that my village was in Beirut.
We cannot abandon that village now. We have to stand by that community who was always one of the pillars in the Diaspora, who gave us giants whose words and wisdom lead our communities today all around the world, and who was always ready to sacrifice everything for the Armenian people. We simply cannot abandon them now…
Melankton and Haig Arslanian Djemaran, Class of 1998 (Photo provided by author)
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Dzovinar Hatsakordzian
Dzovinar Hatsakordzian is a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and ANC of Michigan. She holds a master's degree in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) from American University of Armenia. She is a teacher and a mother of three.
This week in our empowerment series we meet three phenomenal women – U.S. Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA-18), U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA-14), and Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Sara Gideon.
Together they exemplify what it means to be a strong leader blazing trails, empowering women, all while supporting the Armenian American community.
Rep. Anna Eshoo
Rep. Anna Eshoo
First, we meet Representative Anna Eshoo. Born in New Britain, Connecticut, Rep. Eshoo is both Assyrian and Armenian and has represented California’s 18th congressional district since 1993.
The first woman elected to serve as Chair of the Health Subcommittee, Rep. Eshoo also serves as the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, as well as the House Energy and Commerce Committee. During her time in office, she has fought for consumers, access to health care for families, advocated for the development of clean energy technology and protected the environment. In order to provide citizens with affordable health insurance, she has drafted parts of the Affordable Care Act and continues to strengthen this law.
Rep. Eshoo has left an indelible mark on US policy – from her work on the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996 to her work in helping fund “Next Generation” 911 technology following the tragic events of September 11. Recognized as one of the 10 most powerful women in Silicon Valley, she has also been awarded the Statesmanship Award for her commitment to improving the lives of others.
As the only Armenian-Assyrian in Congress, Rep. Eshoo who has served as a co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution since 1993, took pride in leading the bipartisan effort to move the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.296, to the House floor for a vote in 2019. The bipartisan resolution which passed with an overwhelming vote of 405 to 11 fights denial of the Armenian Genocide and encourages truth and justice.
In response to the passage of the resolution, Rep. Eshoo stated, “Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million Armenians, and hundreds of thousands of Assyrians, Greeks, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians were systematically slaughtered at the hands of the Ottoman Empire… There is an historic parallel today as Turkey is once again engaging in ethnic cleansing, this time against the Kurds in Syria. This resolution not only honors and commemorates my ancestors and all those who perished in the first genocide of the 20th century but serves as a timely reminder that we must remain vigilant to prevent similar atrocities today.”
A proud mother of two children, Rep. Eshoo received her degree from Canada College and the CORO Foundation. In 1982, she was voted to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors where she went on to serve the County Board for 10 years before she became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rep. Jackie Speier
Rep. Jackie Speier
Another powerhouse in the halls of Congress is Rep. Jackie Speier – an Armenian American politician who has served as a US Representative for California’s 14th congressional district since 2008.
A staunch supporter for women’s equality, LGBTQ rights and cleaning up government corruption, she was named in Newsweek’s top 150 “Fearless Women” in the world, as well as one of the most influential people in American politics in “Politico’s 50.”
She serves on the Subcommittees on Environment and Government Operations and is also Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, Congressional Armenian Caucus, Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, and the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.
A staunch advocate against sexual assault in the military as well as on college campuses, she had over 300 bi-partisan bills signed into law that have helped achieve justice for women and children. Rep. Speier introduced the “Me Too” movement in the halls of Congress in October 2017, later becoming the basis of the bipartisan “Congressional Accountability Act” and “Reform Act” that was signed into law in December 2018.
Although she’s had several wins, she’s also faced her fair share of challenges. For instance, when Rep. Speier started working on implementing sexual harassment training in Congress in 2014, she was told that anti-harassment training would never take place. However, the CAA Reform Act made sure that anti-harassment training was mandatory.
She tells the story of one of her most tragic and challenging encounters in her book, Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back. In it, she shares her traumatic experience in Jonestown, Guyana, where she joined the late Congressman Leo Ryan’s delegation in rescuing defectors from Jim Jones’s Peoples Temple. Congressman Ryan was murdered, and Rep. Speier was shot five times.
Recovering from this traumatizing experience, she decided that she wanted to show her strength rather than her weakness and fight against inequality and injustice in the U.S. Congress. Her experience highlights her strong leadership and character as she fought her hardest to stay alive and use her voice to help others.
She brings that same passion to the Armenian cause. As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and one of three Armenian American members of Congress, she was a relentless advocate for passage of H.Res.296, the Armenian Genocide resolution.
On the heels of the passage of the resolution, she said, “The House’s resounding 405-11 vote to recognize the Armenian Genocide is a great victory for millions of Armenians around the world. Congress has failed to affirm the truth for far too long and I’m heartened that we have joined our allies around the globe, and 49 U.S. states, in acknowledging that the Ottoman Empire perpetrated a genocide upon the Armenian people.” She went on to say, “This vote also sent a critically important message to the world in light of Turkey’s modern-day ethnic cleansing campaign of the Kurds in Syria. Today, we sent a message that history can’t be rewritten, that America will no longer abandon Armenians with feeble excuses for a so-called ally, and that we will never forget the atrocities of the past and present. Today we affirmed the Armenian Genocide was real and we stand against it and those who seek to perpetuate such evil again.” Speier received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Davis and her J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law. A proud wife and mother, Gideon focuses on making the lives of working families easier, particularly in the current economy.
Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon
Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon
Lastly, we meet Sara Gideon, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. Speaker Gideon, who is of Indian and Armenian descent, is running for US Senate in Maine with a focus on public interest. Speaker Gideon recently won the Democratic primary for the US Senate seat in Maine challenging the seat held by Senator Susan Collins.
During her time in the Maine House of Representatives, she passed a landmark bill in order to provide tax refunds to homeowners in Maine and has focused on opening up more educational opportunities for the people of Maine to have a chance at financial independence.
Additionally, she has addressed delivering resources to battle Maine’s opioid epidemic. Former Governor Paul Lepage went against Sara’s opioid legislation, however, that did not result in her giving up. Instead, she brought both political parties together to overturn the veto.
She’s exhibited passion and dedication in her work for the people of Maine, and she brings that same conviction to the campaign trail.
She’s had opportunities to connect with Armenian Americans throughout the region. This past April 24, 2020, she stood by the Armenian American community of Maine in commemorating the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. “… As the granddaughter of Armenian refugees, I hold this day as a solemn reminder that we must continue our work to protect human rights,” Gideon said.
Outside of her advocacy work, she also helped secure recognition of Artsakh’s independence for the state of Maine.
A wife, mother and graduate from George Washington University in International Affairs, Speaker Gideon is poised for a seat in the US Senate.
Whether they are in the halls of Congress, on a trip to Armenia or a stop on the campaign trail, these women have made incredible strides in advancing issues that are paramount to the marginalized. They have used their platforms to advance matters that are not only central to their beliefs and the broader communities they serve, but they have also continuously advocated for the Armenian American communities they represent and the Armenian cause.
We look forward to a day in which the next generation of leaders ascends into the ranks that these women have achieved. They are truly making a difference on the inside – in the halls of Congress even – and that helps us advance the cause.
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Tvene Baronian
Tvene Baronian is a rising sophomore attending Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. She plans to graduate with a double major in Environmental Studies and English. On campus, Tvene is a member of the Environmental Club, Campus Green Club, Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN), Outdoor Recreation Adventure Program (ORAP), Sustainability Club, Koshare Dance Collective, and the Lacrosse Club. In addition to her involvement on campus, her passion for her Armenian heritage drives her participation in various volunteer organizations including Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Hamazkayin Nayiri Dance Ensemble, HMEM Scouts and the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). During her free time, she loves to sing, dance, write and draw. She has a passion for music and has performed at Carnegie Hall, where she showcased her love of Armenian opera.
The whole world is shocked by the horrific explosion that struck the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 4. This dreadful disaster also hit the Lebanese-Armenian community, where many compatriots were killed and injured, numerous organizations, cultural, educational and church institutions were destroyed, and the homes and businesses of thousands of Armenians were damaged. This catastrophe has exacerbated the many difficulties the Lebanese-Armenian community already faces.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern United States Central Committee extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, offers wishes for a rapid recovery of the injured, and appeals to all compatriots, organizations and institutions in our community to immediately reach out to assist the devastated Lebanese Armenian community through their donations.
We look forward to continuing our work in the region that began months ago, with more impetus and the support of each and every one of you, through your donations to the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of the Eastern Region and the Armenian Cultural Association of America. All collected funds will go through the same appropriate and trusted channel and serve to help heal the wounds of our Armenian compatriots in Lebanon.
ARF Eastern Region Central Committee Watertown, Massachusetts
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ARF Eastern US Central Committee
The ARF Eastern Region Central Committee’s headquarters is the Hairenik Building in Watertown, Mass. The ARF Eastern Region’s media and bookstore are also housed in this building, as are various other important Armenian community organizations. The ARF Eastern Region holds a convention annually and calls various consultative meetings and conferences throughout the year.
I remember the day unger Michael first walked into my office at the Hairenik headquarters in Watertown, Mass.
“So, you’re the new guy in town? From Canada, right? We’re going to breakfast. Let’s go,” he said in his soft but stern voice.
I had arrived from Toronto only a couple of weeks earlier to serve as the assistant editor of the Armenian Weekly. It’s safe to say that I didn’t have many friends in the area. A few of us from the office piled into unger Michael’s Jeep, and we were off to his beloved (and now-shuttered) Watertown Diner. That day, I met a man I knew previously only through his byline in the Weekly.
Our biweekly Thursday outings soon became a much-revered tradition. Sometimes we would have breakfast in a group, but very often, it would just be me and Michael.
On more than one occasion, fellow patrons at Watertown Diner (and later the nearby Uncommon Grounds and Newton’s Village Café) assumed that Michael was my grandfather considering the several decades between us.
A collection of images captured over the years of Dr. Mensoian at breakfast (Collage created by the author)
During our breakfasts, I learned about a man who had about a million stories—from his days serving aboard the USS Lyman K. Swenson in WWII to his adventures across South America—but preferred to listen to others; an esteemed and celebrated professor who was never afraid to say “I don’t know” and always wanted to learn something new; a dedicated community member who didn’t shy away from constructively criticizing the missteps of his beloved Armenian organizations; and a devoted family man who cherished his children and late wife more than anything in the world.
Michael was kind and honest. He was a staunch supporter of the rights of the people of Artsakh and would rather be in Armenia most days. Armenia and Artsakh were special—even sacred—for him. His several insightful, thought-provoking and timeless op-eds about the future of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as about often-ignored topics such as domestic violence and violence against women in the homeland, continue to inspire and challenge his readers.
But from the countless articles of his I would have the pleasure of publishing during my days at the Weekly, his proud musings about becoming an Armenian citizen at the age of 89 would perhaps stick with me the most. Aside from the sentimental reasons he lists for deciding to apply for citizenship, his sober, pragmatic approach is one that has influenced me greatly and helped shape my perspective. “The more ways each of us is connected to our country, the more valuable in the aggregate we become,” he wrote in that piece. “In turn, a dynamic and secure Armenia is the source that nourishes our far-flung communities in the Diaspora and their incoming generations from morphing into an unidentifiable mélange of humanity.”
Michael would often say that he had very few regrets in life. “The thing I probably feel sorry for the most is the fact that I’m not fluent in Armenian,” he confessed one October morning, with a genuine melancholy in his eyes. Like always, he had told his favorite waiter to come back for our order after our second cup of coffee, just enough time to catch up on the past two weeks. That day, however, it was clear that he would rather reminisce. We spoke about his father, a topic Michael had averted for the most part. Michael Sr. had passed away when unger Michael was only eight.
During that conversation, the question of his family name came up; I asked when and why his family name came to be spelled Mensoian in English, since the name was Մենծոյեան in Armenian, which should be spelled “Mentzoian” in English. Was it meant to simplify the spelling? Was it intentional? He wasn’t completely sure.
This was the first time I saw him weep—softly, discreetly, and only for a few, quick seconds. I wasn’t sure how to react. I didn’t know how I could possibly console someone more than 60 years my senior. Scrambling, I promised I would see if I could dig up any information on his family name when I got back to the office. My impatience got the best of me, and I had to Google it on my phone right then and there. We were both surprised when we found an advertisement that his father, Michael Sr., had taken out in the April 1932 issue of «Հայ վաստակ» (“Hai Vasdag” – An Armenian Commercial Review), published in Boston, Mass. Michael hadn’t seen that ad before.
The Armenian ad read: “CARPENTER – I have many years of experience. Call me for your home, shop, home furniture, and ice box. I build new, repair the old, change surfaces, and finish. I guarantee clean work, a low price, and complete satisfaction. Michael Mentzoian, 28 Alexander Avenue, Medford, Mass. Tel. MYStic 6371-M,” which I translated aloud.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said, with a smile on his face, and we went on with our meal.
The following week, unger Michael showed up to the Hairenik right on time. He called, like he always would, and told me he was waiting in his Jeep in the parking lot and that I shouldn’t rush. When I got to his car, he said that we would be taking a detour that day. A short drive later, we arrived at his beautiful home where he had lived for several years. After touring me around and showing off trinkets and keepsakes along the way, we arrived at a beautiful wooden dining table. Michael dug his knuckles into the solid wood, gave it two knocks and asked me to pop my head underneath.
“It says Մ. Մենծոեան, ծնած Խարբերդ, ՔԷսրիկ,” (M. Mentzoian, born in Kharpert, Kesrig) he proclaimed proudly in Armenian. “It might not be much, but at least I can read that; I can read my father’s writing,” he said. That was the second and last time I saw him cry, just as softly and discreetly as the first. This time, though, he couldn’t hold back the tears. And neither did I.
After my move to Boston, Michael became the grandfather I had lost just two years earlier; he became the father from whom I was several hundred miles apart; he, the older brother I always wanted and never had; and a true friend and comrade—an unger—with whom I could share anything.
The last I spoke to unger Michael was on Father’s Day, a couple of weeks before his passing. I called him from Toronto to ask how he was doing considering all that was going on in the world. He declared he was “just great” without hesitation. “As long as you young people are well, I’m just great,” he said.
There may have been several decades between us, but I never felt it for a second. He was a true and sincere friend. I am forever grateful for meeting Michael, and I am certain that his memory will live on in his daughter and son, Martha and Chris, his friends and family, his countless students, his fellow community members, and in all the hearts that he touched throughout the years through his contagious smile, his thoughtful words, his insightful articles, and kind, goodhearted presence.
The two friends sharing a meal at Michael’s favorite diner, the now shuttered Watertown Diner, Nov. 2017
Author information
Rupen Janbazian
Rupen Janbazian is the former editor of The Armenian Weekly. His writings primarily focus on politics, human rights, community, literature, and Armenian culture. He has reported from Armenia, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh), Turkey, Canada, the United States, and Western Armenia. He has served on the local and national executives of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) of Canada and Hamazkayin Toronto, and served as the administrator of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Toronto. Janbazian also taught Armenian History and Creative Writing at the ARS Armenian Private School of Toronto, and has worked on several translations.
The Pan Armenian Council of the Western United States of America has been monitoring the recent alarming outbreak of anti-Armenian hate crimes in the United States, Russia and Europe, the most recent being the shocking vandalism of the Krouzian-Zakarian Armenian Elementary School in San Francisco, the St. Paul Armenian Church in Fresno and the A
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern Region assembled a panel of three experts to discuss the continuing COVID-19 pandemic during a live discussion on Facebook on Sunday, July 26. The primary topics of discussion were how to navigate re-opening and becoming comfortable with the “new normal.”
PARAMUS, NJ – 
The Armenian Relief Society extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the calamity in Lebanon on Aug 4, 2020. We express our support to the Lebanese people and our compatriots who are once again in an unbearable situation. We wish a speedy recovery to all those who were wounded.
Dear Compatriots,
