as i see it (cont.) - Pt. II

[Hyeflyer]

The dualityHighflyer's

I judge those that I see doing what I could do myself if backed into a corner,Arraft,Sharon.

Then I say that they should be found away off my planet and not allowed tto breath my air.The differance is I do not use violence against my fellow man unless forced to do so and i realize there is a civillized law of justifiable force.

[Twilight Bark]

True to form, Mr. Baliozian's essays lack depth, human compassion, and logical self-consistency whenever he tries to incorporate something of his own, rather than parroting the thoughts of better men (though apparently without fully grasping what they mean). In other words, both the "left-brain" and the "right-brain" aspects are irreperably flawed. The only significant value in Mr. Baliozian's "essays" is the fraction of his quotations that happen to come from worthwhile thinkers.

 

As for his earth-shattering recommendation that we should learn from the "winners", and we cannot learn anything from the "losers", not surprisingly, it is wrong. Both in personal and collective contexts, the success is more a result of avoiding the mistakes that the much more numerous "losers" made, and the specific circumstances (otherwise called "luck"). If you interview successful individuals, you do not get some precious secret that will open the gates of success to anyone that "learned" them. Almost invariably, you get some platitudes that the "losers" already knew of. And the adoption of "innovations" leading to success is very much dependent on the environment and circumstances of the "losers". The reason for the astonishing difference in "civilization" between a western european scientist and a Tasmanian hunter-gatherer with stone-age tools has nothing to do with the inherent character of their groups, but their environment and its history.

 

Jews have a lot to be admired for. In general they are hard-working, intellectually oriented, and driven by a desire for success (not money, or even power per se). But these are only the "proximate", superficial reasons. One has to ask what led to the adoption of these values.

 

Arabs have a lot of problems, which we do not need to enumerate. Is that because of something inherently wrong in their genetics or culture? That is very unlikely, given their cultural supremacy in the Midle Ages. One has to ask what caused it to fall behind, and learn both the circumstances and the possible mistakes made.

 

Mr. Baliozian observes the world as it is today, and pontificates trivialities. The trivialities could still be forgiven had they contained an ounce of compassion; but they don't. And I loathe such nasty superficiality. Yes, Mr. Baliozian, I don't hate it; I simply loathe it.

[Guest Fadi]

quote:

---

True to form, Mr. Baliozian's essays lack depth, human compassion, and logical self-consistency whenever he tries to incorporate something of his own, rather than parroting the thoughts of better men (though apparently without fully grasping what they mean). In other words, both the "left-brain" and the "right-brain" aspects are irreperably flawed. The only significant value in Mr. Baliozian's "essays" is the fraction of his quotations that happen to come from worthwhile thinkers.

---

Ehe..hehe... I stll think you are to much hard with him, but still there is something interesting in the last ligns of your post I quoted, is that when I see Ara posts, the first thing I read is the title, and the second thing I do, is to use my eyes as radars to try to find a quotations he made from another author.

 

TB, there is many artists that do not believe what they write, they forge a style for their own... what prove you have that Ara is not doing just that ? That he is not just writing to shock, and in fact he even don't believe the majority of what he write ? I find his writings like satires, and they are fun to read, sometimes I agree with what he say, sometimes not, I can not say I agree with what he thinks or not, because I can't say if what he write is what he thinks.

[Twilight Bark]

Then perhaps you should give me as much benefit of the doubt as you do to Mr. Baliozian below.

I do not; I cannot; and I scarcely care. As a public writer, he is judged by what he writes.

 

If satire is his intention, he fails miserably for this "reader".

[Guest Fadi]

TB, yes in fact, but when I say artist I am talking about Artist be profession, make money with it... an artist that do not attract attention do not make money.

 

As for the rest, criticise him, if you want to criticise a monologue radio, go ahead. But you should be ready to never have an answer back from the person you criticise.

[THOTH]

TB/Domino - I think that you both make good points. I can see why one could become easily frustrated by Ara's posts. But I think a very many of them contain wisdom and insight (and even if one says it is not his own - certainly he is the one applying it). At the same time there is also often a disconnect in much of his work - a detachment from reality - a generalisation to the point of uselessness (and in doing so - he misses his target - sometimes greatly - IMO). Still, like Domino says - there is an artistry in his approach - and there are certainly things to ponder - agree or not. And many in the Armenian community could benefit by taking to heart much of what he says (even if it is said only as a critique without any true hope of influencing change). Even if the posts are only to stimulate discussion or debate or disagreement I think they serve a purpose.

 

And TB - your critiques have been most excellent - I am much impressed. I would only question the degree of venom in your response. Obviously his posts irritate you greatly (and you do explain why). I would only ask to concentrate on the facts presented and give the (old) man a little slack as Domino has said. Or do you really think he is harmful? (In some real way - as some do - for pointing out "our" alleged failings - giving ammo to our "enemies" and such)? I don't - I find the debate itself worthwhile and educational - whether or not I agree...

[ara baliozian]

Thursday, April 18, 2002

**********************************

#

Nothing comes easier to an Armenian than to assume

Armenians are smart except the fools

who refuse to be taken in by his brand of recycled crap.

#

Recycled crap is recycled crap

and when coupled with intense emotion

is a symptom of a single-digit IQ.

#

Sooner or later all Armenians must admit that

they have many enemies and

most of them happen to be Armenians.

#

It is easy to lie with words

but the body never lies

and words too have a body.

#

The only thing we have learned from our Genocide

it seems is publishing books about it.

#

Recycled crap is not conducive to dialogue

and recycled Armenian crap is no exception.

#

To say "My recycled crap is pure gold but your is just crap,"

is another symptom of advanced cretinism.

[Hyeflyer]

I often think of what my father taught me about people.There are to kinds.

#1 The good neighbor, He will give you a hand and is geniunally interested in you and your fammily and their wellfare.

# 2 The pain in the ass,He sees what you have or how you live and he will do everything in thje world to bring you to his level.

Whaen I was a kid i was a pain in the assw until my father taught me better.

Now I will offer help to my neighbor evan if he doesnt ask.That way if he refuses he will turn his attention to the other neighbor and you then offer them help.

[Hyeflyer]

I must have too much time to think of things when I work in my green houses or I wouldnt post in this thread.

[Guest Fadi]

TB, I give less benefit of dough to you, because I find your posts more rational... so since you are not an artist(I do not believe you are one), and that your posts are rational... on the other way, Ara is an artist, and should be considered as such... when I read him I do not read him for the same reason that I read your post... I give the right to answer you back, when I take Ara as a radio or television, a monologue media, you open it when you want to hear etc... then close(ignore) when you don't want etc... this is how I see Ara.

[Guest Fadi]

quote:

---

I do not; I cannot; and I scarcely care. As a public writer, he is judged by what he writes.

 

If satire is his intention, he fails miserably for this "reader".

---

You are right, still he achieve what he wants, that is attention, like him or hate him, this is what an artist want, what ever you think of him, just give him attention, indifference is the worst enemy of an artist.

 

About failure... I have to give you that, if it is satire he fail in fact miserably...

 

[ April 18, 2002, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: Domino ]

[Twilight Bark]

He is not a novelist. He is not a satirist. He is not a painter. He is not a poet. He is a self-styled "pundit". That hardly qualifies as an artist. He does crave attention, particularly of those that agree with everything he says, and those that disagree with him but don't know exactly why and lack the wherewithal to properly dissect his nonsense (so he can proceed to prove his "righteousness" by trampling on the poor slob that insulted him). A young child craves attention, and has every right to. But for an artist, the attention is usually secondary. An artist does her art because she feels compelled to, and not because she is after the attention of strangers. In any case, Mr. Baliozian qualifies as an artist as much as any of us does.

 

Enough attention for today.

[ara baliozian]

The victim is right to hate his victimizer.

The victimizer is wrong to hate his victim.

Why are there victims and victimizers?

That's like asking: Why is there injustice and evil in this world?

The answer is: I don't know. No one does.

[ara baliozian]

Friday, April 19, 2002

*********************************

#

Confronted with the choice

between changing the world and changing themselves,

members of the lunatic fringe will invariably choose

to re-creating the world in their own image.

#

When they ask for positive or constructive criticism

or solutions, what they mean is for you to join them

and mouth their favorite slogans:

"Death to America!"

"Death to the Jews!""

#

"Death to the Jews?"

What’s next?

Heil Hitler?

#

They want me to apologize

for refusing to be the useful idiot of an alien ideology

that has been consigned to the garbage dump of history.

#

I have known many charlatans

but I have never heard any one of them admit to being one.

Charlatanism and confession are mutually exclusive concepts.

Murderers may confess; charlatans, never!

#

People who are incapable of hurting a single human being

don't mind repeating such slogans as

"Death to the Jews!" and

"Death to America!"

What a book one could write ]

on the contradictions of the lunatic fringe.

[Twilight Bark]

Dear Thoth,

As you know, I have done my share of our collective and public self-critique. It is not the self-assessment and self-critique I dislike. Quite the contrary, it is one my favorite pastimes . However, I do think that self-critique must be done with the proper introspection and compassion. In a way it is like surgery. If it not going to be done carefully and competently, it may be better not done. Thus, the bliss of ignorance may be preferable to a misdirected self-flagellation done for the wrong reasons and with no therapeutic value. For each Thoth or Domino there are dozens of individuals out there, who know that there are some problems in the Armenian culture, that things are far from perfect, but have just started their intellectual journey. The two loudest messages they get on the internet is the chauvinist nonsense that they would probably be repelled by (being the ones that sense that things are not nearly so perfect and black-and-white), and Mr. Baliozian's megaphone. There are enough poison pills and misdirected road signs in his writings to throw them off-course and force them to a long detour on their trek to intellectual maturity, if they ever finish the lengthened journey. Or if they ever finish the trip as Armenians, and not ex-Armenians grateful to be rid of such disease. In short, sloppy thinking and persistent superficiality are the main "intellectual" reasons behind my irritation. At a more emotional level (which is never completely divorced from reason), I sense in Mr. Baliozian a repugnant lack of compassion of a bitter old man. A bitter old man, to whom I would otherwise give all the compassion, sympathy, and respect. Despite my irritation, I still see in Mr. Baliozian an intelligent young boy, aware of his gift, ready to face the world and make a difference. A boy asking "when will my time come?". A boy that "knows" that he is special, and that he has something to give to the world. A boy that craves being flattered by his elders. And it breaks my heart to see that promising young boy turned into a bitter old man pouring his venom daily on his extended family.

Twilight Bark

[ara baliozian]

SLOGANS

***********************

Arab children today grow up mouthing such slogans as

"Death to the Jews!" and

"Death to America!" and they are brainwashed to believe

to kill the enemy is the shortest way to paradise.

In a few years there will be…maybe there already are…

several million fanatical teenagers

who will do their utmost to reach New York, London,

or some other population center in the West

and kill as many infidels as they can.

Most of them will never make it, of course,

but some will and the very same people

who now feel sorry for the poor,

defenseless, underdog Palestinians

will change their minds and before anyone can say

Jack S. Avanakian, they will not just loathe Arabs

but hate them unto death,

especially if a member of their family is maimed or killed.

#

"Death to the Jews!"

"Death to America!"

These slogans must be music to the ears of

anti-Zionists, anti-Semites, crypto-Stalinists,

neo-Nazis, fascists, skinheads, racists

and useful idiots in general,

because every political movement

has its share of useful idiots,

in the same way that every community, society and nation

has its lunatic fringe –

and who is to say if those I have listed above

are not exactly that -- the lunatic fringe of the West?

[Twilight Bark]

[THOTH]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boghos:

Dear TOTH,

 

my deep appreciation for your...humble (in the best of senses) attitude always..

LOL - why thank you Boghos sir (and TB)...of course, I have much to be humble about... :-)>

 

[ April 19, 2002, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: THOTH ]

[Guest Fadi]

There is a difference between being rational and being intelligent. Intelligence is something relative, rationality is supposed to be the opposite. I know that I may shock many, but I think that Ara is more intelligent then the average people, this do not mean that he is a rational person. Why TB hate him so much is simply because, TB seem to understand Ara with a cartesian way... Ara may be a genious in what he is doing, this do not mean that he has to be a rational person. This is why I try to not judge him anymore. Trying to judge Ara work and him as a fake artist or a fake genious is trying to tell if Vangog, Picasso etc... were fools or genious, here I am not comparing them with Ara, but just to tell that Ara works are not totally worthless, the proof is that even if many don't like him, they still read him.

 

The only thing that I may criticise Ara about is his unsuccesfull satire, I think TB point this out, his satires are very badly executed, and it takes tallents à la Voltaire, to performe great satirique works, its maybe one of the most difficult writing art. As for the rest, I have no knowledge of what Ara is trying to accomplish, have no knowledge is as an artist if he is a fake etc...

 

Boghos, everytime someone tell me that he will deal with me after, it is or because he has nothing to write. Or because like Piggeti that each time he said me he will answer me after, answer with long essays of thousands of words.

 

I wonder what kind of answer it will be.

[Twilight Bark]

I don't hate him.

That is not true. I am being as "wholistic" about understanding him as is reasonable.

 

Have a nice weekend everyone!

[Guest Fadi]

Oups, yes you may be right, I was better to tell hate his art.

 

As "reasonable" Yes this is why I am telling you, that you try to judge him by analysing what he write with a cartesian way.

 

quote:

---

Have a nice weekend everyone!

---

You too.

 

[ April 19, 2002, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: Domino ]

[ara baliozian]

SLOGANS / 2

***************************

#

Some of my readers are so eager to prove me wrong

that they think by doing so

they will have solved the problems of the world,

including the Middle East.

#

We all agree that peace is better than war

if only because in time of war

bad things happen to good people.

We also agree that coexistence is better than endless conflict

if only because in endless conflict

the innocent and the unborn are also victimized.

Let us also agree that slogans like

"Death to the Jews!" and "Death to the USA!"

are not conducive to coexistence and peace.

And if you were to say,

Jews and Americans too teach their children

to parrot anti-Arab slogans ("Death to the Arabs!"),

I say, if true – and I repeat, if true! --

what makes you think any sane man would say

the Jews and Americans are right but the Arabs wrong?

#

Scenario:

Suppose after ten or a hundred years

the Arabs see the light, unite and are successful

in driving the Jews into the sea.

Does anyone in his right mind think

that the Jews are so different from the Arabs

that they will not generate their own lunatic fringe

with predictable results?

#

If familiarity breeds contempt,

how does one explain the popularity of slogans?

#

Nothing bad ever dies.

Hitler and Stalin live.

But their followers are not stupid enough

to identify themselves as Nazis and Stalinists,

or, for that matter, as anti-Semites and Communists.

They prefer harmless labels,

even noble-sounding labels like environmentalists.

But regardless of their cunning disguises,

sooner or later they cannot help exposing themselves

by supporting anyone who shares their agenda –

"Death to the Jews!" and "Death to the USA!"

#

Environmentalists believe in protecting the environment,

including the spotted owl and the polar bear.

They also believe they will have

a much better chance of doing so

if they first get rid of Jews and Americans because,

you see, Americans and Jews

teach their children to repeat such dangerous slogans as

"Death to the spotted owl!"

and "Death to the polar bear!"

[Boghos]

Dear TB,

 

I agree with most of what you write on Baliozian. However I have the exact opposite point of view when it comes to his pretense influence on young minds and their eventual departure from the Armenian bossom .

 

I don´t think he has much of a role in directing or misdirecting people. Actually I think that is a bit of an understimation of the reader and an overestimation of Baliozian´s influence.

 

I have once called Ara the "chronicler of death".

We have here a small book, that has similar versions all over the world, it is called "Minutes of Wisdom". That´s what Ara writes, nothing special about it, unusual or creative. It is just applied to the Armenian case, or actually to a sub-division, the weakest of all: the intellectual diaspora middle class, that will disappear the quickest, by virtue of its own openmindedness (at least in relative terms, ie mixed marriages, etc).

 

I read Baliozian mostly as a satyrist, a genre in which he should perhaps invest (or have invested) more. He has the ability and the knowledge for that.

 

As to the old man - boy parody, I think it is a very good one.

 

Dear TOTH,

 

I have meant to say that a long while ago: my deep appreciation for your always polite and balanced intervetions, but more than anything for your humble (in the best of senses) attitude always.

 

Dear le Sage,

 

I will deal with you later .

[ara baliozian]

Saturday, April 20, 2002

*******************************

#

Some of my critics remind me of the fact

that in medieval times

Armenian mercenaries were the most ferocious fighters

money could buy.

#

Subservience does not mean saying yes

when you mean no,

but being grateful to those who deceive,

exploit, degrade, and dehumanize you.

In American legal parlance, it means

not only dropping your pants but also bending over.

#

Don't talk to me about dedicated partisans with ethics.

Power does not corrupt;

rather, it is the corrupt who lust for power.

Trying to reason with them

is like trying to cross a Brazilian river

teeming with ravenous piranhas.

If you reach the other shore weighing half as much,

you should thank God and count your blessings.

[ara baliozian]

SOMEDAY…

******************

There will come a time

when Arabs and Jews will coexist in relative peace

the way Armenians and Turks now coexist in Istanbul.

But in the meantime

the haters will have their "15 minutes" of popularity,

and their "pound of flesh" –

the haters, the fanatics, the butchers,

the hyenas and crocodiles,

the talaats, hitlers, stalins and their dupes

who believe the only good enemy is a dead enemy…

in short: the lunatic fringe of mankind

whose destiny is the garbage dump of history.

I am not saying hatred, terror and war will disappear.

No, of course not.

To think or hope so is utopian.

Because man will always find a new target for his hatred.

And when it comes to such targets,

history tells us man can be very resourceful and prolific

and there will always be those who preach hatred

in the name of compassion

and war in the name of peace.

"Praise be to Allah, the compassionate, the merciful,

and the owner of the day of judgment."

"Death to the Jews!’

"Death to the USA!"