phantom22

Dadrian's works are so well documented that they are referenced by Genocide scholars around the world in comparitive studies. The time he spent at my alma mater greatly increases the prestige of that institution.

Ara, We are not alone. There are hundreds of thousands of Armenians who have "dropped out." These person's energies should be harnessed. This can occur by creating NGOs in Armenia and community organizations around the world that engender a more progressive approach. One recent success was the relocation of a road that was to be built through one of Armenia's most sacred national forests. Too many Armenians solely associate with other Armenians, or never really get close with odars. This creates a community that only looks inward. Broadening one's associations brings to light new revelations. The Armenian nation and community can be preserved even if new approaches are considered. The "mind control" must cease. In fact, unless this broadening occurs, the community will not flourish.

"A crack in the door." Are the Turkish authorites slowly inoculating the public to what they realize will soon be universally understood. 80 years of indoctrination can not be erased overnight without shocking the Turkish nation.

Do you folks realize that every recent American President who was re-elected to a second term was re-elected by a sizeable margin, save one-George W. Bush. Ronald Reagan gained the respect and adoration of many more Americans than just the Republican base. Ditto the elder Bush. This Bush, however, has not broadened his support at all. He won the second time by a squeaker, against a rival with a serious achilles heel. He is beholden to a narrow segment of the US citizenry, Fundamentalist Christians and neo-con Jewish likudniks. Those of us who are non-violent, despise him no less than those who throw grenades. We pray every day that "The Rove Affair" brings him down. Armenia will be better off with a US President with a more balanced outlook. Oil politics and the wishes of the Christian Fundamentalist/Likudnik cabal should not be the only considerations considered.

People with full stomachs, adequate housing, a few of life's luxuries and personal freedoms do not foment revolutions-velvet or otherwise. But when many highly educated people can not make an adequate living, while those connected with the government are building luxury villas and driving Mercedes-Benzes, revolution will be in the air. When scientists are bumped out of their historic structure and it is condemned to be razed to build a new in-town residence for the Catholicos, this foments revolution, hopefully a velvet one and not a bloody one. Jesus lived a simple life, it was one of the precepts of his teachings. The Pope and our Catholicos live in splendor. It is no wonder why these sects are forming.

Just like the big coverup a few months ago when a prominent Armenian was found dead. The Georgians are "in bed" with the Turks.

What a shock it must have been for them to lose their only child at age 55 to cancer. They wanted to do something for Armenian young persons here and for others also. Do you think that after what happened to those doctors from Rhode Island that any American Armenian would trust their $$ in the ROA? Kerkorian has so much that he can gamble a few million. They wanted their 7.3 million to do some long range good here.

Ara, There are numerous Armenians who do not wish to be recognized as such. This is because to be considered Armenian in the community one must adhere to a narrow set of principles. This leads non-Armenians to consider all Armenians as having one "world view." The others drop-out. The first step toward a better tomorrow is an honest appraisal of the community's shortcomings. When any attempt to honestly analyze our cultural underpinings is viewed as the ultimate treason, there can be no progress. When will the worldwide Armenian leadership come into the present age? It is not only the Armenian church that is a "fossil" but the approach of the leaders of the community. Without positive change, nations die. The response I usually get to this type of statment is that our stubborness has kept the Armenians around while the Phrygians, Lydians, Cappadocians, etc. are in the dustbin of history. We are in an age of globalization. The rules are changing fast. Either we adapt or we die.

When I first told Armenians that Princess Diana had a small amount of Armenian blood they "rolled their eyes" and told me that I was a "khent." Why are so many coffeehouses being built on public land in Yerevan? Why did the US enter a war to combat Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction that clearly did not exist? What we have here is two instances of powerful government officials using their positions to increase their personal wealth.

"A Domino Effect." Turkey is losing the argument because its premise does not "hold water." They have been presenting a false argument to themselves for so long that they actually believe that their version is the truth. Few other nations actually believe their argument. They sometimes prevail through threats to other governments, but the truth will ultimately prevail.

Peter Balakian is the best thing we have...and to think that MJ and others were criticizing him in this forum. When I met with the late Iris Chang after one of her packed lectures, she told me that her friend Peter was her inspiration to write her books.

More coffeehouses, more luxury hotels, which in of themselves are good, but not when they are built in public parks. As it is, many of the trees in Yerevan have been felled to be used as firewood to heat homes in winter. When it is decided to replace the lost parkland, will residential areas be razed to create parks? Meanwhile, many Armenians in the ROA live in utter poverty. This is rampant capitalism at its worst. Armenian and the USA are experiencing the same phenomenon. Government officials are "feathering their own nests." How many more secret government deals have to surface in the ROA before the people rise up......and when are the Americans going to face up to the fact that the Iraq war was fought mainly to recoup the oil interests that Bush's buddies lost when Saddam nationalized the Iraqi oil fields on July 1, 1972?

Mosjan, You threw us a "curve ball." Boston bred Ken Hachikian, Chairman of ANCA, has a BA degree in economics and a masters of Business Education from Harvard. He has been CEO of a few companies, but has never been a Nixon insider. Ken Khachigian, California bred, who holds a law degree from Columbia University, was a Nixon speechwriter, working under Pat Buchanan and has a long history in Republican politics.

Gosh, if I knew that Hachikian was a Nixon operative I would have not sent all that money to ANCA. Jamian of the AAA, Hachikian of ANCA. These are both conservative Republican operatives. Who are the Armenian progressives other than Half-Assori Congresswoman Eshoo?

Take that one step further. To survive many Armenians have to leave the Armenian nest, and I don't mean the ROA. If one does not follow the "narrow road" in the diaspora, they can not survive in the community. And I am not speaking here of Armenian national interests or the veracity of the Genocide. Why do we all have to be socially cut out of the same cloth? I was vilified by some in the community for working in Robert Kennedy's campaign. Thank God that we have ANCA today reaching out across the US political spectrum. Enough of the harousts and the Church running the Armenian show.

The publication of Edward Boghosian, who occasionally publish short portions of your writings.

Ara, The odar press will pay you. You are a good writer who sees things as they are. The Armenian community is so traumatized by the Genocide that they see any true discussion as treason. This serves those who run things very well, as they can silence critics on the spot. I learned years ago that unless you toe the traditional line, the Armenian elders will starve you. You would do better to rely on odars to recognize your talents. 60 some years old is still young. You have at least another 20 years left. Make the best of it. Stop wasting your time with the Armenian press. It is similar to the American press at present. It is controlled by the interests of the wealthy and powerful. There is really only one North American Armenian written media operator that shows any impartiality.

Machines will do it for you. Do you think that any Armenians "look the part?" Checking for terrorists by their looks is very surreal! http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/0...0180555554.html

Z'areh, A recent AP news story, showcased the Iraqi Christians who had been converted by American Fundamentalist ministers. The article explained that a few Moslems had been converted, but that the majority of converts were from the various Christian sects in Iraq. There is no doubt that the American troops are being proselytized, but these folks did not stop there. As for your statement that the American ayatollas are mirror images of the Iranian aytollahs, I could not agree with you more. What seperates them is that the American ayatollas are avidly pro-Israel while the Iranian aytollas are anti-Israel. Bush has the affluent conservative Jews on his side to pursue the evangelization of the world. That is why the majority of the American press has been mute on a lot of critical issues.

What is the logic of taking American Christian Fundamentalist preachers along with US troops to Iraq? They are not there to minister to American Christian Fundamentalist troops but to convert Iraqis. They have made very few Moslem converts. Where they have been more successful is by converting Chaldean, Assyrian and Armenian Christians. Even as an American born Armenian from an Armenian Catholic heritage (raised as a Methodist), I find the approach to Christianity of the Fundamentalist Southern Christians reprehensible. The Christians of Iraq have a long history. Why does the US government use my tax dollars to indoctrinate my people in Iraq (Armenians, Assyrians and Chaldeans) with this type of Christianity?

A Happy Birthday to Domino, a man who is the tops in disseminating the truth about the Genocide. A man born on my brother's birthday.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." It is a sign that the Turkish establishment realize that to join the EU they must come to terms with their past.

Willie did not only abuse his wife but his children as well. His daughter died of alcoholism at a young age, which broke her mother's heart-she died soon after. Only his son was able to ward off the the evils of his father. Willie gave us a bad name in some circles. He may have been a great writer, but he created numerous difficulties for the Armenian cause.

Armenian numbers are usually undercounted. Not all Armenians are Loosavorchagan. Armenian Protestant and Armenian Catholic churches are rarely considered. Many Armenians go to non-Armenian churches and many others are the product of Armenian-odar marriages.

No reason that we can't put together a scholarly DVD with Dadrian and a lot of prominent Herya Holocaust scholars and distribute it for free. We have some major Armenian philanthropists who support numerous Armenian charities with their billions of assets.