phantom22

I think that it is becoming increasingly clear to some of the American top brass that in order to adhere Armenia to the West (we are talking about Turkey here) the Turkey-Armenia divide must be settled. This is part of a greater regional strategy, to pull Armenia closer to the West and loosen some of its glue-like ties to Russia and Iran. Turkey is blind to this greater strategy because it is so tied to its myths that it can not see the bigger picture. We are dealing with Turkish xenophobia.

Who were the 11 who voted NO?

Lantos supporting it! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!This is a real breakthrough. It looks like all the positive dialogue with American Jews is working. It didn't hurt either that Spelling's daughter fell in love with and married an Armenian.

OK Gams, You say money? I have deeds to thousand of acres of land in what is now Turkey. These lands were never sold off by my family. When are you Armenian attorneys going to take our cases? I would be willing to give a % of anything recouped to an attorney who would be willing to take such a case to a world court.

Turks play a sly game. They know what the stakes are. Don't forget that the REAL power structure in Turkey is not Erdogan but the military. If they wish they can depose him at a moment's notice. Jews are looking out for #1, their Israel. Armenian Genocide is not central to their continued existance, but the Turkish alliance is. Also tracing of the money trail of confiscated Armenian bank funds and properties will reveal much.

The key here is the American Jews. All the prominent American Jews and minor Jewish organizations who support the Genocide Resolution should be placed on a TV mini-program and condemn the actions of the major Jewish organizations that are lobbying against this bill.

Ara, Thank you. I have FINALLY realized why I am so uncomfortable in this forum. I was raised in an odar culture. My parents, traumatized by their experiences during the Genocide, pushed their children into the odar world. So we learned that dialogue, "give-and-take" so to speak, is part of any normal discusssion. It is obvious that this flexibility is not part of the psyche of some here. Therefore, I am no longer an Armenian.

I KNEW that the delay was a political tactic by Karl Rove. We will see the Louisiana governor and US Senate offices in the Republican column next election. This President and his crew call themselves Christians (with the exception of the Jewish Neo-cons). Since when is delaying disaster assistance Christian? It is time to give the President a pink slip. Katrina might affect Louisiana politics Texas could see influx of Democrats, analysts say Sunday, September 11, 2005; Posted: 2:27 p.m. EDT (18:27 GMT) Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, will run for re-election in 2008. Louisiana Texas Democratic Party Mary L. Landrieu WASHINGTON (AP) -- Population shifts caused by the exodus of hurricane victims from the Gulf Coast could have ripple effects for years to come in Louisiana political races and perhaps beyond. How big depends on how many people stay away, which ones stay away and where they end up putting down roots. The early thinking is that the evacuees least likely to return to their homes in Louisiana may be the poorest -- and thus, Democrats for the most part. That would hurt the party in a state where Republicans already were making inroads. If the lion's share of those leaving settle in Texas, that could work to the advantage of Democrats in President Bush's home state. "I'm believing that the greatest displacement occurs among those who are traditionally Democratic voters," said Elliott Stonecipher, an independent political consultant from Shreveport, Louisiana. "Based on sheer demographics, those who are Republican voters have the wherewithal and, we believe, the will to go home and rebuild," he said. Stonecipher sees the New Orleans area losing Democratic voters and a political network that was of great benefit to Sen. Mary Landrieu and other Democrats. "On Election Day there is a well-oiled machine that knows how to turn those votes out from specific neighborhoods and in specific ways," Stonecipher said. Landrieu was elected in a 2002 runoff by just 42,000 votes (52 percent to 48 percent). New Orleans was the base of her support. "If that's compromised, that could be a problem for her," said John Maginnis, who publishes a political newsletter in Louisiana. Landrieu is not up for re-election until 2008. Kathleen Blanco, the Democratic governor, who also won by four percentage points (52-48), faces re-election in 2007. Ray Nagin, the Democratic mayor of New Orleans, is up for re-election in February. No one knows if the city could even hold an election by then. Overall, said Maginnis, Republicans have made gains in Louisiana in recent years and "the effects of the storm aftermath probably will help them." President Bush carried the state in 2000 and 2004; Democrat Bill Clinton did so in the previous two presidential elections. Still, demographic shifts within the state could work to the Democrats' advantage in some cases, Maginnis said. For example, if the sizable evacuee population now in Baton Rouge, the capital, decides to settle in, that could make the 6th Congressional District, a politically competitive one held by GOP Rep. Richard Baker, more Democratic. In Texas, which stands to gain the largest number of evacuees, analysts do not expect much impact on statewide races. But local races -- for everything from school boards to legislative seats and perhaps even congressional districts -- could be affected. The place to watch is Houston, which has taken in the most evacuees, at least temporarily. Richard Murray, director of the Center for Public Policy at the University of Houston, said Republicans hold every elective office in Harris County, which takes in most of Houston, but did not win by much. "This could accelerate the tipping of the county, which was expected to happen in the next four to six years," he said. While politics is taking a back seat for now to the urgent needs of the hurricane victims, "my Democratic friends are smiling," Murray said. Bob Stein, professor of political science at Rice University in Houston, said the political impact on Texas depends in large part on how concentrated or widely dispersed the evacuees are. He noted that sprawling Houston is one of the nation's least segregated big cities because it has no zoning laws, so hurricane victims could well be broadly scattered, diluting their impact in any particular race. In any event, though, with Texas' Hispanic population surging and its black population growing faster than the white population, demographic shifts already are pushing the state toward the Democrats. Relocation of evacuees could help hasten the trend. "Our politics may be Republican," Stein said, "but that's just a temporary condition." The thought is echoed by David Bositis, a senior political analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a think tank focused on black issues. He said adding a substantial number of blacks to the state could "potentially make Texas more competitive in the not-too-distant future." As for Louisiana, Bositis said, "If proportionally more whites come back than blacks, it'll make Louisiana somewhat whiter, which would statewide be to the advantage of the Republicans." But he, like other political analysts, said it will take time to see where evacuees end up settling and how many ultimately return home. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Turkey has to "bite the bullet" and resolve the Genocide issue so as to clear the way for its European integration. Turkey has to go back to the way it was before the Genocide, a nation where other-cultures and-religions can flourish. She is obviously unwilling to do any of this. Therefore she will permanently remain outside of Europe.

This is an OLD game learned from the Anatolian Turks. First they would kill Armenians in a brutal uncivilized manner. Then they would dress the dead Armenians in Turkish garments to make it appear that the dead had been killed by Armenians. It is done to stir up the emotions of the ignorant peasants.

Ata Donme, You are posting the rabid writings of the ENEMIES of the Paulicians, Tondrakians, Cathars, Albigensians. None of that is true. In reality it was the accusers who had fallen into corruption. We have the same situation today. While the Pope condemns certain behaviors, his bishops work feverishly to cover-up worse behaviors commited by the priests under his supervision. Ata Donme, please read more balanced texts about the beliefs of those groups that have been slandered.

Anahid, With all the boistressness of the public in your area, there is an undercurrent of community and civility. Armenians out West assume the cowboy culture of the Americans they associate with every day, therefore even Armenian priests assume the law of the jungle.

Ata Donme, Where do you come from stating that Paulicians were Satanists. As for pagan roots, were not many of the Christians formerly pagan? The Tondrakians, an offshoot of the Paulicians, with different beliefs similar to later-day Protestants, were also persecuted. Both these groups were Armenians. How foolish that they were labelled and their demise led to the lessening of Armenians in our ancestral lands. Little has changed today. How many times a Gregorian priest has told me that I am not welcome at social activities at his church because I was a Protestant.

We have every right to live there as citizens as do the Hyastancis. The only reason that we Ottoman Armenians are scattered around the world is the Genocide. The Parskahyes didn't voluntarily go to Iran either. It was Shah Abbas who forceably moved them to Nor Julfa. The Hyastancis could learn a thing or two from the diasporans, like a little respect for their young women. Young girls sent to work as prostitutes for old Arab men who I am sure do not appear 35 like I do. What a disgrace!

When I casually met a Turk at work, upon finding out that I was Armenian he immediately pulled back in fear, and asked "Are you going to shoot me?" I laughed, it was comical. My good Kermanatzi friend then told him no, no his great-grandfather's brother was a servant of the Turkish Ottoman state-a Governmental Minister, at which point he turned almost white. These Turks have undergone such intensive brain-washing by their government. What they know about Armenians is a total fantasy. The view of Armenians that they have been taught is so immoral.

By the age of 19, I had risen to the highest echelons that a youngster could rise in the Democratic Party of my state, only to have my political throat cut by a fellow young Armenian, who has risen to the highest echelons of his party. That is how Republicans operate, from the gutter.

Former Armenian Congresspersons: Adam Benjamin (Democratic Congressman from Indiana): Armenian mother, Assyrian father, member of Assyrian Church of the East. Stephen Boghos Derounian (Republican Congressman from New York): Armenian, belongs to a Protestant denomination. Charles *****yan (Republican Congressman from California): Armenian, Congregational.

Thanks for clarifying this with your addition of a notation.

Yes, the Armenian representation is minimal. But again Arpa has his/her blinders on. Among the Catholics are two with known Armenian heritage. Anna Georges Eshoo (Democratic Congresswoman from California) was born to an Armenian mother and an Assyrian father. Eshoo is her married name to another Assyrian. She is a Catholic. John E. Sweeney (Republican Congressman of New York) had an Armenian maternal grandfather, Oscar Chaderjian. He is a Catholic. None of the handful of former Armenian members of the US Congress were members of the Armenian Gregorian Church. Arpa, do you really believe that there can be no Armenian outside the confines of the Armenian Church?

In the face of rampant industrialization, hopefully Armenia will try to strike a balance.

I can assure you that in the event of a natural disaster where they would be required to evacuate, the residents of the upscale Black neighborhood of Baldwin Hills, LA would pack a few necessities in their Mercedes or BMW and peacefully drive to some Hilton Hotel in a safe zone. Being in poverty for generations creates a mind warp.

Viken is a fine fellow. Glad he is off the hook. 90 years and the Turkish government is still playing the same old games.

Perhaps this guy is an Azeri trying to fish for trouble between Armenians and Kurds. You see, a free Kurdistan is a real possibility now. With the now free Armenia, this is a new state of circumstances that the two Turkish nations have not had to deal with before.

In discussion about which Armenian claimed to have killed Enver in a battle in Central Asia. Here is Armen's comment.

As many of my family are intermarried with Jews, these comments bother me. I am well aware of the history and current geo-politics. I think that soon the Israeli establishment and their supporters are going to be increasingly uncomfortable with their approach to the Armenians. Why the impending joint scientific conference later this month? Given world public opinion, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to support the Turkish "myth." Pamuk is also descended from doenmeh. All this blather about ALL doenmeh Jews, when Pamuk is also from doenmeh Jews.