karakash

In protest of the Assassination of Hrant Dink Candle Light Vigil will be held at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (East 47th Street and First Avenue, New York City) Tuesday, January 23rd - from 6pm to 8pm Buses to Leave From St. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ at 4pm St. Thomas Church, Tenafly, NJ at 4pm Hovnanian School, New Milford, NJ at 4pm Armenian Hye Doun – Palisades Park, NJ at 4pm For further bus information please Call Pauline at 201-803-4640 Organized by Armenian National Committee of New York & New Jersey With the participation of Greater NY/NJ Armenian Organizations

This is the same Armenian Assembly that supports the confirmation of Hoagland, a genocide denier, as the next US Ambassador to Armenia...

New York Times - Saturday, January 20, 2007 -- Armenian Editor Is Slain in Turkey By SEBNEM ARSU Published: January 20, 2007 ISTANBUL, Jan. 19 —A prominent newspaper editor, columnist and voice for Turkey’s ethnic Armenians who was prosecuted for challenging the official Turkish version of the 1915 Armenian genocide, was shot dead as he left his office on a busy street in central Istanbul on Friday. Colleagues of Hrant Dink, the editor of a weekly newspaper in Istanbul, looked down from the paper’s offices to where his body lay. Protesters rallied in Istanbul, some holding up signs of Hrant Dink, a newspaper editor and ethnic Armenian who was shot dead outside his office earlier in the day. Officials said they detained three suspects. Television images showed the editor, Hrant Dink, lying on the crowded sidewalk covered with a white sheet outside the office of his bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly, Agos. Officials said they detained three suspects. Investigators were monitoring surveillance tapes from nearby shops. Mr. Dink, 53, a Turk of Armenian descent, often provoked widespread anger in Turkey for his comments on the genocide — which Turkey denies, saying the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians resulted from hunger and other suffering in World War I. He also angered some ethnic Armenians for opposing their demand that Turkey recognize the genocide as a condition of entry to the European Union. He viewed entry into the Union as the clearest route to strengthening democracy in Turkey. In recent articles, Mr. Dink (pronounced deenk) described increasing death threats against him. “I do not know how real these threats are,” he wrote, “but what’s really unbearable is the psychological torture that I’m living in, like a pigeon, turning my head up and down, left and right, my head quickly rotating.” Reaction to the daylight shooting, both here and abroad, was swift and deep. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the shooting as a direct attack on Turkey’s peace and stability. “A bullet was fired at freedom of thought and democratic life in Turkey,” he said in a nationally broadcast news conference. “Once again, dark hands have chosen our country and spilled blood in Istanbul to achieve their dark goals.” In an unusual show of anger and regret, the prime minister’s remarks were echoed by the head of the armed forces, the president and other officials. The Armenian patriarch in Istanbul, Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan, declared 15 days of mourning for the small Armenian, Christian population of Turkey. Several thousand people marched from Mr. Dink’s office to Taksim Square on Friday evening to protest the killing. People held pictures of Mr. Dink, decorated his office door with flowers, waved black flags and chanted, “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism,” and, “We are all Hrant; we are all Armenians.” European officials and human rights groups also expressed horror and called on Turkey to do more to protect free expression. Mr. Dink was one of a number of intellectuals convicted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which penalizes remarks against the state or the Turkish identity. It been harshly criticized by the European Union as a violation of freedom of expression, as Turkey moves toward membership. Turkey has been changing some laws to try to meet the European Union’s membership criteria, but faced a setback last month when ministers in Brussels decided to freeze talks on 8 of 35 areas of discussion because of Turkey’s refusal to open its airports and seaports to Cyprus, a member of the Union. Among the crowd that gathered Friday night, the common fear was that this assassination would be added to the list of unsolved murders. “This is an attack against our democracy,” said Ayhan Aydin, an international financial consultant, who worked on the same street on which Mr. Dink was shot. “We’re here to show that sensible people wish this assassination to be clarified and want the perpetrators to be brought to justice,” Mr. Aydin said, standing in the crowd. “We all fear that this insane attack might be swept under the carpet once it gets too complicated to resolve, like other murders did.” Turkey’s ambition to become a European Union member requires further democratization and a better functioning legal system. The group has been particularly critical of Article 301. Derya Sazak of the Milliyet newspaper said of the law, “This legal system brings forward the culture of hatred and lynching, in which Hrant became an open target. The murderers always go after the moderate voices, which Turkey needs the most.” Mr. Dink, a father of three, founded Agos in 1996. The bilingual community newspaper has a weekly circulation of 5,000. Haluk Sahin, a columnist for the Radikal newspaper, a strong supporter of Mr. Dink’s legal struggles, said Turkey had been hit in the heart. “Those who wanted to harm Turkey couldn’t have chosen a better target,” Mr. Sahin said. “As opposed to other killings in the past, Turkish public reaction against this murder will show us where Turkey stands in the world.” Susanne Fowler contributed reporting from Paris.

I wouldn't believe Obama's pro-Armenian position. He doesn't have an established history like a Kerry or Menendez or others and more importantly, he voted FOR the confirmation of Dick Hoagland as ambassador to Armenia. First he spoke against him yet then still voted for him. The only five that stood by their principles were Kerry, Sarbanes, Dodd, Coleman and Boxer. Others who spoke against the nomination yet still voted for Hoagland were Biden, Obama and Feingold... All three are "friends" of the Armenian community... I'm hoping that Kerry runs again. Not a big fan of Hillary or Obama... Kerry-Menendez sounds nice.

If the House votes on the Genocide resolution, it would muster at least 300 votes. On the Senate side, I'm not quite sure how many we would get. It would be much closer.

Armenian National Committee of New Jersey 461 Bergen Blvd, Ridgefield, NJ 07657 PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release ~ 2007-01-09 Contact: Ani Tchaghlasian ~ (917) 691-5636 ANC-NJ TAKES PART IN MENENDEZ SWEARING-IN CEREMONY Thanks New Jersey Senator for Blocking Hoagland Nomination; Meets with Members of the Garden State's Congressional Delegation RIDGEFIELD, NJ - Activists from the Armenian National Committee of New Jersey (ANC-NJ) traveled to Washington, DC on January 4th to participate in the swearing-in ceremonies of Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and other key members of the Garden State's Congressional delegation. In addition to taking part in these oath-taking ceremonies marking the beginning of the 110th Congress, the New Jersey activists canvassed throughout the House office buildings to meet with staffers from the offices of all thirteen New Jersey U.S. Representatives: Robert Andrews (NJ-1); Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2); James Saxton (NJ-3); Christopher Smith (NJ-4); Scott Garrett (NJ-5); Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6); Michael Ferguson (NJ-7); William Pascrell (NJ-8); Steven Rothman (NJ-9); Donald Payne (NJ-10); Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11); Rush Holt (NJ-12); and Albio Sires (NJ-13). All thirteen representatives were thanked for their support of Armenian American issues and encouraged to agree to become early co-sponsors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution soon to be introduced in the U.S. House. A similar measure in the last Congress was cosponsored by 160 Representatives and was overwhelmingly approved in the House International Relations Committee by a vote of 40 to 7. Senator Menendez was personally thanked for his leadership in blocking the confirmation of Richard Hoagland to serve as the United States Ambassador to Armenia. "We wanted to, once again, thank Senator Menendez for his hold on Hoagland, as well as for his insistence, along with the new Majority Leader, Harry Reid, that President Bush withdraw this deeply flawed nomination," said ANC-NJ activist Raffi N. Karakashian, Esq. ANC-NJ chair Ani Tchaghlasian and ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian, Esq. were among those who met with Senator Menendez and the other Members from New Jersey. In announcing his September 12th decision to block the Hoagland nomination, Senator Menendez highlighted the principled stand taken by former U.S. Ambassador John Evans, who was fired for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. The New Jersey legislator stated that he has "great concerns that Mr. Hoagland's confirmation would be a step backward." In a December 1st letter, Senator Menendez joined with incoming Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), in calling on President Bush to withdraw the Hoagland nomination and propose a new candidate to serve in this important diplomatic post. During the reception for Sen. Menedez, the ANC-NJ team also met with 2008 presidential candidates Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Sen. Barak Obama (D-IL), and thanked long time supporters of the Armenian-American community Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). Following the gathering for Sen. Menendez, the ANC-NJ activists attended the reception of another presumptive 2008 presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), where they met with the Senator and her husband, former president Bill Clinton. The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots political 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.

Your posts are always full of passion and pleasure to read. So do you say Gomidas or Komitas? Karekin or Garekin? Everyone outside of Armenia writes it as Karekin.

Why do I get the impression that your Prelate in LA is a player... ha He doesn't seem to carry himself well like other Primates-Prelates. I have talked to him a few times and he knows several of our friends and relatives who live in LA and Orange County. The Western Diocese always does a nice job with their calendar. I don't know how we got on their mailing list, but being in NJ, we get a calendar from them every year. The Eastern Prelacy does a pocket calendar which has Khirimian Hayrig on its cover this year along with a message they they will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of their affiliation with the Great House of Cilicia in 1958. Someone, I think it was Michael Haroutunian, wrote an editorial about that and it was published in the Armenian Reporter a few weeks ago - about why there should be a celebration relating to the schism in the church...

I think he served for one term as Primate for the Western Diocese in the 1960s. He then served for 6 terms between 1966 and 1990 in the Eastern Diocese. He did a pretty good job. There are some who loved him and others who couldn't stand him. Then of course came the questionable land deals made in Israel several years back...

That will never happen. Karekin II and Aram I are both around the same age. It's highly unlike that (1) Karekin II will die young and (2) Aram I will jump from Antelias to Etchmiadzin. The only reason Karekin Sarkissian won in 1995 was because Levon Ter-Petrosyan lobbied heavily on his behalf. Before the final round of voting, the current Catholicos, Karekin Nercissian, was ahead in the vote count. The next election will be for Patriarch in Jerusalem. Torkom Manoogian is going to be 88 in February and is not in good health. I would bet that Archbishop Noorhan Manoogian becomes the next Patriarch in Jerusalem.

Aram I was the Moderator of the WCC for two terms - a total of 14 years - from what I remember. His term ended in 2005 or 2006. I and about six or seven others sat with him for dinner at the Detroit Youth Conference on Dec 2. He actually was a very engaging speaker and he answered all of our questions. A national church vs. a nationalistic church, unity, good vs. evil, light and darkness, the language of the liturgy - all were great topics that were brought up. He gave thorough answers in impecable English.

Unification should be under Etchmiadzin. I don't think anyone would make the argument that we should be unified under Cilicia.

A FEW PERSPECTIVES FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH (Dialogue with the youth- Number 7) 2-3 December 2006 were marked in my pontifical ministry with my encounter and open dialogue with the Armenian youth. This Youth Gathering took place in Detroit and was organized on the occasion of my short visit to the USA. I want to express my deep appreciation to His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of Easter Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of Canada and His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of Western Diocese, for taking this initiative as an essential part of their pastoral responsibility. My special appreciation is due to those young adults who came from different parts of North America to attend the youth event. The renewal of the Armenian Church was the core of this gathering. In my dialogue with the youth I touched on a number of issues and identified challenges pertaining to this pertinent theme. By carefully listening to them, I became more aware of their expectations as well as of their unwavering dedication to our Church and its values and traditions. Upon my return to Antelias, I would like to share succinctly with the Armenian youth of other communities some of the major perspectives that I conveyed to the youth in Detroit. 1) The renewal of the Armenian Church is an urgent necessity. In order to carry on its God-given mission efficiently, our Church is called to keep pace with the changing conditions of modern societies. Therefore, the question is not why renewal, but rather how renewal? (In my book, Beyond the 1700th Anniversary (2001), I have already addressed basic issues concerning the renewal of the Armenian Church). The renewal of our Church will not be accomplished simply by shortening the liturgy and introducing certain adjustments within the church structures. This perception must be changed. Renewal is not easy; it is a long, critical and all-embracing process. The Church's total life in its institutional and spiritual, theological and liturgical dimensions and manifestation must be included in any serious renewal process. 2) The Armenian Church must become more responsive to the new realities, concerns and challenges of its specific environment. This is, indeed, a vital feature of renewal. We are living in a new world. Tremendous changes are taking place in our immediate milieu. The Church must be neither indifferent nor reactive. In order to be relevant and reliable, the Church must respond proactively to the imperatives of changing times and circumstances, remaining firmly attached to its own identity and vocation. It is vitally important that in the Church's response, the global and the contextual be interwoven in a way that the unity and integrity of the Armenian Church are preserved intact and solid. 3) Being in dialogue with its environment implies meeting the expectations and needs of the people and seeking solutions to their problems. The world today is marked by growing anxieties and despair. People are caught in turmoil; they are in search of meaning and direction. They are facing in their daily life ethical, moral and social questions and dilemmas related to sexual orientation, family, marriage, spiritual life, etc., which require clear guidance. Our Church cannot remain silent. Globalization has made the inter-dependence of humanity even more acute and existential. Others' concerns are our concerns and the other way round. The Armenian Church must deal with socio-ethical issues with utmost care and sensitivity. 4) The Church must give priority to the promotion of spiritual values. These values come to us from the Bible and the Apostolic tradition, from our church fathers, from our liturgy and traditions. Those who say that the Armenian Church has no spirituality or gives no attention to it are mistaken and misguided. Every church has its own ways and forms of expressing spirituality. We must beware of 'cheap' and 'false' spiritualities that surround us, often with 'attractive' forms and expressions. We must stick to our own spirituality which is so rich and profound. We must renew our own spirituality by making it more compatible with new conditions. 5) Christian education must occupy a central place in the renewal of the Church. By Christian education I do not understand only formal education but basically Christian formation that must start in the family. By Christian education I also mean re-Christianization of our people. In a world dominated by secularism and materialism, the Christian values are often pushed to the periphery of our life. We have become nominal Christians. Our Church must take the re-evangelism of its people seriously. Our missionary outreach must be perceived and practiced essentially as an inreach. True renewal is re-evangielization and transformation of the community of faith. 6) The reformation of liturgy is an area of particular and immediate concern. Any attempt to introduce changes in the liturgy - shortening the text, changing the language, introducing new prayers, editing the texts, etc. - must be made on the basis of well-established criteria and clear guidelines. Arbitrary, superficial and one-sided approach to the liturgy may become counter-productive. The inner unity, integrity and particularity of the Armenian liturgy must be preserved. 7) Clergy has a crucial part to play in the renewal of the Armenian Church. In order to renew our Church our clergy must be renewed. We need a clergy who are well versed in Armenian Church history and theology as well as in contemporary theology; who have a comprehensive knowledge of the context in which they are called to exercise their pastoral ministry; who, driven by ecumenical vision, are engaged in dialogue and collaboration with other churches; who are courageous enough to take the Gospel to our people in response to the new challenges of modern societies and in faithfulness to the values and spiritual and theological heritage of the Armenian Church. Our Church in the 21st Century needs a clergy for the 21st Century. 8) We must embark on a kind of renewal process which takes our Church beyond its institutional confines and makes it a dynamic reality in the life of our people. The Armenian Church must become a missionary church through Christian education, pastoral work, social service and living spirituality. This is only an outline of some major issues, concerns and challenges that must be considered in the renewal of our Church. Renewal must be carried on carefully and in an organized manner. Holistic and contextual, realistic and pragmatic approaches, in their coherent interconnectedness, must become the driving force and the guiding principle of a credible renewal. A committee representing the Hierarchical Sees of the Armenian Church is already in formation to lead the renewal process. The youth are called to play an important role in this respect. With their perspectives and experiences they can significantly contribute to all efforts aimed at making the Armenian Church a church for the 21st century. We must give space to the youth in our Church. They are integral and vital part of the Church's life and witness. I have strong confidence in our youth. ARAM I CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA 15 December 2006 Antelias-Lebanon

I am going to reiterate what Aram I said in Detroit during the weekend of Dec 2-3 at the youth conference. He repeated what we have often heard - the church is one, we are talking about administrative unity. We all know this already. Not much else new was said during the Q&A period in Detroit. He did call it "abnormal" that we have two separate administrative units. But the Great House of Cilicia was not created in 1933, nor was it created in 1956. I am certain that there are still think-headed and stubborn Armenians who know nothing about history and believe that Antelias was created in thin air by the Tashnags to take control of churches in the 1950s in the US. It has been around for hundreds of years. There should definitely be unity in the USA and Canada. Antelias should only have jurisdiction over Lebanon, Syria and a few other places. Everyone else belongs under Etchmiadzin. The people who control the Prelacy affiliated churches still will control them. They can still send financial support to Antelias as well. Antelias can still provide clergy to the US, just like Jerusalem does. I remember in 1994-1995 Mesrob Ashjian made a speech about achieving unity in 1998 for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Church in America. Both sides would have their respective assemblies in the same city in 1997 and then in 1998 there would only be one assembly with elections for Primate. This past year, the assemblies were both in NJ - Prelacy at St. Vartanantz and Diocese at St. Leon's. Some time after that, the sides broke off talks and the next thing I read was that the Diocese Unity Committee which had been around for decades suddently disbanded...

Good reading.

The summaries of what happened at Holy Cross Church that day are pretty accurate. There was a woman at my church in NJ who was in the church when the assassination took place. She was pregnant at the time and the hysteria and shock caused her to lose her baby. She a German woman and was married to an Armenian police officer who later became an officer down in Asbury Park where the Armenians used to vacation through the 1960s and 1970s. She passed away a few years ago. For those of you who want to learn more, I suggest a short book written by the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian about the history of the Armenian Church in America. See link: http://www.armenianprelacy.org/bookstore/booksrelig.htm The contains the most thorough description of what happened at the Assembly at St. Illuminator's and the Hotel Martinique. An argument can be made that the Prelacy is the true holder of the seat and the people siding with Tourian were the group that splintered off. Having grown up in the AYF and having attended a Diocese affiliated church, I don't like to take sides. I believe both sides are to blame for the current situation. The Prelacy people don't want to lose control and the Diocese people don't want to show any respect. I remember very well in 1996 at a dinner in honor of Karekin I in NYC. The Primates of Canada, the Western Diocese, and the Eastern Diocese were all introduced with their titles and positions. His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, Primate of the Western Diocese, etc. Yet when it came time for the MC to introduce the Prelate, he was introduced as "Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian of New York." No mention of the Prelacy, no mention of his title as the Prelate. Ashjian received more applause than any of the others... The leadership of the Diocese cannot pretend that the Prelacy does not exist. Without cooperation there cannot be unity. Thankfully, the sides cooperate for genocide commemorations in Times Square every April. In April of 2006, the venue was changed to the Kavookjian Hall at the Diocese. The Primate was out of town but the Prelate was present. Daniel Decker sang Giligia and the representative of the Ramgavars gave the most rousing speech about justice. It was an incredible sight. In 2007, the Knights of Vartan plans to place huge screens all over Times Square to broadcast the gathering.

He was preaching to the choir. Everyone there is already involved. It should have been more for people who are not that involved with the Armenian Church.

I went to the conference in Detroit during the weekend of Dec 2 and 3, 2006. The conference was organized by the Eastern, Western and Canadian Prelacies and was entitled: Your Church. Your Future. Engage. Aram Vehapar was the key note speaker and had requested this meeting with the youth.

I think it's Pierre Shamassian and then Krikor Satamian.

I think he is a District Court judge, not on the Court of Appeals. If you check the Armenian Bar Association website or google his name, it will be easy to find his biography.

Bush Sr. did not recognize the Genocide. Reagan said the word Genocide, but never Bush. Reagan did it back in 1982 or so. Since then, no other president has used that word. Bush 43 used it in a letter to a few Armenians back in February 2000.

In 2000, the ANCA remained neutral and didn't endorse Bush or Gore. Gore did not respond to questions about the Genocide, while Bush wrote a letter to two republican Armenians promising that he would recognize the Genocide. Given the Bush family history and Cheney's record, I don't think any Armenian bought Bush' nonsense. As for 2004, there was a very clear choice. Bush had a terrible track record (worse than Clinton and his relations with Armenians). Kerry, on the other hand, had a 20 year record of support for Armenian issues. It would have been very hard for Kerry not to be sympathetic to Armenians - whether he would have used the G word is a different issue. But even recently, Kerry put up a big fight in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in attempting to block Bush's appointment of Richard Hoagland as the next ambassador to Armenia. Kerry came to the 2005 ANCA Capitol Hill Genocide Commemoration and spoke there. I have never seen an Armenian group welcome someone as enthusiastically as they welcomed Kerry to that reception. I don't think in recent presidential elections was there a starker choice than in 2004. Perhaps 1996 is second with Dole and Clinton. As for 2006, these endorsements are guidelines by the ANCA. ARMENPAC also posted endorsements on their website - www.armenpac.org. They are based on each individuals support for Armenian issues - it's not just the genocide issue. In NJ we are lucky to have such strong supporters as Senator Bob Menendez and Congressmen Pallone, Garrett, Holt, Andrews, Rothman and others. NJ is one of the few states where nearly everyone running was endorsed and received high marks from the ANCA. To say that helping politicians who help the Armenian Cause is a waste of time is to a disservice to the efforts of the ANCA and the Armenian Assembly. The Armenian Caucus is one of the largest in the House of Representatives. When Nancy Pelosi becomes Speaker of the House in a few days, you can bet that the ANCA is going to be working hard to ensure a proper vote on a Genocide resolution in the next Congress. See the ANCA website for a press release relating to that very issue. For everyone who lives in the USA please vote on Tuesday and remember our friends in Congress.

ANCA ANNOUNCES CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS Throws Community's Support Behind 16 U.S. Senate and 196 House Pro-Armenian American Candidates WASHINGTON, DC - With just two weeks to go before the most hotly contested Congressional election in more than a decade, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) today released its 2006 endorsements, throwing the political and electoral strength of the Armenian American community behind supportive candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives from forty U.S. States. "We are pleased to offer our Congressional endorsements as a resource to help Armenian American voters make informed decisions at the ballot box on November 7th," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "With so many races being closely contested, we encourage all Armenian Americans to go to the polls and support each of our friends, starting in New Jersey with Senator Bob Menendez - ANCA's top electoral priority for 2006." To the acclaim of Armenian Americans from the Garden State and throughout the nation, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), last month, placed a hold on the confirmation of Richard Hoagland, the President’s highly controversial nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, due to his statements denying the Armenian Genocide. The ANC of New Jersey has mobilized volunteers, donors, and voters across the state to support the Senator’s campaign. The ANCA endorsements are based primarily on the ANCA Congressional Report Card, a detailed review of each incumbent's record across a broad range of Armenian American issues. These Report Cards, prepared in consultation with local ANCA chapters across the country, cover issues ranging from securing a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide and the strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations to defending Nagorno Karabagh's independence and increasing U.S. aid and trade levels. Among the specific criteria measured were membership in the Armenian Caucus and willingness to advance pro-Armenian American legislation, including the Armenian Genocide resolutions, the Railroad bill, measures against Turkey and Azerbaijan's illegal blockades, as well as legislative initiatives to end the genocide that is taking place today in Darfur. Also considered was the level of support for Congressional initiatives demanding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, calling for increased aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, supporting the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh's independence, protesting PBS's decision to provide a platform for Armenian Genocide deniers, and standing up against the unjustified firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, and protesting the President's unacceptable nominee to replace him in Yerevan. Complete information about grading criteria as well as individual ANCA Report Cards are posted on the ANCA website - www.anca.org. A complete list of ANCA Congressional endorsements is provided below. ##### ANCA 2006 Congressional Endorsements Arizona: District #4: Ed Pastor (D) District #7: Raul Grijalva (D) Arkansas: District #1: Marion Berry (D) District #4: Mike Ross (D) California: Senate: Dianne Feinstein (D) District #1: Mike Thompson (D) District #3: Dan Lungren ® District #4: John Doolittle ® District #5: Doris Matsui (D) District #6: Lynn Woolsey (D) District #7: George Miller (D) District #8: Nancy Pelosi (D) District #9: Barbara Lee (D) District #10: Ellen Tauscher (D) District #11: Richard Pombo ® District #13: Pete Stark (D) District #14: Anna Eshoo (D) District #15: Michael Honda (D) District #16: Zoe Lofgren (D) District #17: Sam Farr (D) District #18: Dennis Cardoza (D) District #19: George Radanovich ® District #20: Jim Costa (D) District #21: Devin Nunes ® District #23: Lois Capps (D) District #24: Elton Gallegly ® District #25: Buck McKeon ® District #27: Brad Sherman (D) District #28: Howard Berman (D) District #29: Adam Schiff (D) District #30: Henry Waxman (D) District #31: Xavier Becerra (D) District #32: Hilda Solis (D) District #33: Diane Watson (D) District #34: Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) District #35: Maxine Waters (D) District #37: Juanita Millender-McDonald (D) District #38: Grace Napolitano (D) District #39: Linda Sanchez (D) District #40: Edward Royce ® District #43: Joe Baca (D) District #44: Ken Calvert ® District #45: Mary Bono ® District #46: Dana Rohrabacher ® District #47: Loretta Sanchez (D) District #48: John Campbell ® District #49: Darrell Issa ® District #51: Bob Filner (D) District #53: Susan Davis (D) Colorado: District #1: Diana DeGette (D) District #2: Mark Udall (D) District #4: Marilyn Musgrave ® Connecticut: Senate: Joe Lieberman (D) District #1: John Larson (D) District #2: Rob Simmons ® District #3: Rosa DeLauro (D) District #4: Christopher Shays ® District #5: Nancy Johnson ® District of Columbia: At Large: Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) Florida: District #14: Connie Mack ® District #17: Kendrick Meek (D) District #18: Illeana Ros-Lehtinen ® District #21: Lincoln Diaz-Balart ® District #22: E. Clay Shaw ® Georgia: District #3: James Marshall (D) District #5: John Lewis (D) District #12: John Barrow (D) District #13: David Scott (D) Hawaii: Senate: Daniel Akaka (D) District #1: Neil Abercrombie (D) Illinois: District #1: Bobby Rush (D) District #2: Jesse Jackson (D) District #3: Daniel Lipinski (D) District #4: Luis Gutierrez (D) District #7: Danny Davis (D) District #8: Melissa Bean (D) District #9: Janice Schakowsky (D) District #10: Mark Kirk ® District #11: Gerald Weller ® District #12: Jerry Costello (D) District #19: John Shimkus ® Indiana: District #1: Peter Visclosky (D) District #3: Mark Souder ® District #6: Mike Pence ® Iowa: District #2: Jim Leach ® Kansas District #1: Jerry Moran ® District #3: Dennis Moore (D) Kentucky: District #6: Ben Chandler (D) Louisiana: District #3: Charlie Melancon (D) Maine: Senate: Olympia Snowe ® District #1: Tom Allen (D) District #2: Michael Michaud (D) Maryland: Senate: Ben Cardin (D) - OPEN SEAT District #4: Albert Wynn (D) District #5: Steny Hoyer (D) District #8: Christopher Van Hollen (D) Massachusetts: Senate: Edward Kennedy (D) District #1: John Olver (D) District #2: Richard Neal (D) District #3: James McGovern (D) District #4: Barney Frank (D) District #5: Martin Meehan (D) District #6: John Tierney (D) District #7: Edward Markey (D) District #8: Michael Capuano (D) District #9: Stephen Lynch (D) District #10: William Delahunt (D) Michigan: Senate: Debbie Stabenow (D) District #4: Dave Camp ® District #5: Dale Kildee (D) District #8: Mike Rogers ® District #9: Joe Knollenberg ® District #10: Candice Miller ® District #11: Thaddeus McCotter ® District #12: Sander Levin (D) District #13: Carolyn Kilpatrick (D) District #14: John Conyers (D) District #15: John Dingell (D) Minnesota: District #4: Betty McCollum (D) District #7: Collin Peterson (D) Mississippi: District #2: Bennie Thompson (D) Missouri: District #1: William Clay (D) District #3: Russ Carnahan (D) District #5: Emanuel Cleaver (D) Nevada: Senate: John Ensign ® District #1: Shelley Berkley (D) District #3: Jon Porter ® New Hampshire: District #1: Jeb Bradley ® District #2: Charles Bass ® New Jersey: Senate: Robert Menendez (D) District #1: Robert Andrews (D) District #2: Frank LoBiondo ® District #3: H. James Saxton ® District #4: Christopher Smith ® District #5: Scott Garrett ® District #6: Frank Pallone (D) District #7: Mike Ferguson ® District #9: Steven Rothman (D) District #10: Donald Payne (D) District #11: Rodney Frelinghuysen ® District #12: Rush Holt (D) New York: Senate: Hillary Clinton (D) District #1: Tim Bishop (D) District #2: Steve Israel (D) District #4: Carolyn McCarthy (D) District #5: Gary Ackerman (D) District #6: Gregory Meeks (D) District #7: Joseph Crowley (D) District #8: Jerrold Nadler (D) District #9: Anthony Weiner (D) District #10: Edolphus Towns (D) District #12: Nydia Velazquez (D) District #14: Carolyn Maloney (D) District #15: Charles Rangel (D) District #17: Eliot Engel (D) District #18: Nita Lowey (D) District #19: Sue Kelly ® District #20: John Sweeney ® District #21: Michael McNulty (D) District #22: Maurice Hinchey (D) District #23: John McHugh ® District #29: John Randy Kuhl ® North Carolina: District #7: Mike McIntyre (D) Ohio: Senate: Sherrod Brown (D) - CHALLENGER District #1: Steve Chabot ® District #2: Victoria Wulisin (D) - CHALLENGER District #9: Marcy Kaptur (D) District #10: Dennis Kucinich (D) District #11: Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D) District #17: Tim Ryan (D) Oklahoma: District #2: Dan Boren (D) Oregon: District #3: Earl Blumenauer (D) District #4: Peter DeFazio (D) Pennsylvania: Senate: Richard Santorum ® District #2: Chaka Fattah (D) District #3: Phil English ® District #6: Jim Gerlach ® District #7: Curt Weldon ® District #8: Mike Fitzpatrick ® District #13: Allyson Schwartz (D) District #14: Mike Doyle (D) District #15: Charles Dent ® District #17: Tim Holden (D) Rhode Island: District #1: Patrick Kennedy (D) District #2: James Langevin (D) South Carolina: District #2: Joe Wilson ® South Dakota: At Large#: Stephanie Herseth (D) Tennessee: District #3: Zach Wamp ® District #4: Lincoln Davis (D) Texas: District #9: Al Green (D) District #18: Sheila Jackson Lee (D) District #20: Charlie Gonzalez (D) District #22: Nick Lampson (D) - OPEN SEAT District #25: Lloyd Doggett (D) District #29: Gene Green (D) Utah: District #2: Jim Matheson (D) Vermont: Senate: Bernie Sanders (I) - OPEN SEAT Virginia: Senate: George Allen ® District #1: Jo Ann Davis ® District #7: Eric Cantor ® District #8: James Moran (D) District #10: Frank Wolf ® Washington: Senate: Maria Cantwell (D) District #3: Brian Baird (D) District #5: Cathy McMorris ® District #7: Jim McDermott (D) Wisconsin: Senate: Herb Kohl (D) District #1: Paul Ryan ® District #2: Tammy Baldwin (D) District #3: Ron Kind (D) District #4: Gwen Moore (D) District #5: F. James Sensenbrenner ®

He even said that he drafted the prenup... I don't know anyone who drafts their own prenup. That's what lawyers are for... I don't know any woman who would sign a prenup granting sole custody to the man.

That is odd. I do divorce law. The mother usually gets to decide what happens with the kids. Are you sure she signed that document?