The California
Courier Online, May 3, 2018
1- Commentary
Statements
on the Armenian Genocide
By US,
French and Turkish Presidents
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Nikol Pashinyan Poised to Become Interim
Prime Minister
3- Trump Fails to Recognize Armenian Genocide
4- Fresno
Community Commemorates Armenian Genocide 103rd Anniversary
5- Abp. Barsamian Says He Will Not Seek
Another Term as Primate
6- Letters to the Editor
7- Toronto rampage suspect
referenced extremist male ‘incel’ movement
8- Man says he was shot at because of
Armenian flag on his car
9-
Clare Gregorian dies at 80
10- The Armenian Genocide: A Chronology of
Events
11- Aleppo Catholic priest Fr. Yeghiche Janji
dies in car accident
12- ‘Under the Light of the Moon’ to Receive
Wine Blessing
13- AGBU to Hold
Children’s Book Club Writing Contest with Laura Michael
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1 – Commentary
Statements
on the Armenian Genocide
By US,
French and Turkish Presidents
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
The Presidents of the United
States, France,
and Turkey
issued statements on April 24, the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Of the three, only the French President Emmanuel Macron had the honesty and
courage to call the tragic events by their proper name—Genocide. Pres. Trump
avoided using the term genocide, while Pres. Erdogan, not surprisingly, issued
a denialist statement.
Pres. Macron stated in his April 24 letter to Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian: “With you,
we remember April 24, 1915 and the murder of 600 Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople that marked the start of the first genocide
of the 20th century. We will never forget those murdered men, women and
children who perished on the road to exile, from hunger, cold and emaciation….
Together with Great Britain
and Russia, France, as
early as May 25, 1915, described those massacres as a crime against humanity
and civilization. In September 1915, the French fleet, under fire, managed to
save over 4,000 refugees from Musa Dagh.” In his compassionate letter, the
French President accurately defined the mass killings of Armenians as Genocide—several
times.
Pres. Donald Trump, on the other hand, repeated his last
year’s statement avoiding the term genocide and using the Armenian words ‘Meds
Yeghern’ which is meaningless to most Americans. ‘Meds Yeghern’ (Great Crime),
among other terms, was used by Armenians, before the word genocide was coined
by Jewish-Polish jurist Raphael Lemkin in the 1940’s. While ‘Meds Yeghern’ is
simply a description of the Turkish atrocities against Armenians, genocide is a
terminology of international law, according to the Convention on the Prevention
and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide adopted by the United Nations on
December 9, 1948. Pres. Trump used the words ‘Meds Yeghern’ simply to avoid the
term genocide in order to appease the Turkish government. It is shameful that
Pres. Trump, a non-traditional leader who prides himself on taking unorthodox
stands on many national and international issues, would follow the evasive
tradition of his predecessors and go along with the denialists in Ankara!
On April 24, the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders,
in response to a journalist’s question, confirmed that Pres. Trump had simply
copied the language of his predecessors. Sanders stated: “The resolution that
the President signed was consistent with past administrations as well.”
Using verbal gymnastics, Pres. Trump referred to the
Armenian Genocide as “one of the worst mass atrocities,” “the horrific events
of 1915,” and “painful elements of the past.” Pres. Trump’s advisers are
providing a poor service by urging him to replace the term genocide with ‘Meds
Yeghern.’ Rather than winning over Armenian-American citizens, this terminology
is antagonizing them. If Pres. Trump does not have the courage to use the right
word, he should not issue any statement at all on April 24. Previously, Pres.
Ronald Reagan had issued a Presidential Proclamation on April 22, 1981
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. In addition, the U.S. House of
Representatives had adopted two resolutions in 1975 and 1984 recognizing the
Armenian Genocide, and the U.S.
government had filed a report with the World Court in 1951 mentioning the
Armenian Genocide. Consequently, the Armenian Genocide has been repeatedly
recognized by the United
States government. All Pres. Trump has to do
is to reaffirm the U.S.
historical record on the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian National Committee of America denounced Pres.
Trump’s “failure to lead an honest remembrance of the Armenian Genocide…. Pres.
Trump’s ‘Turkey First’ approach tightens Erdogan’s grip over U.S. policy on
the genocide of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and other Christians.”
Furthermore, the Armenian Assembly of America described Pres. Trump’s April 24
statement as “a missed opportunity to unequivocally reaffirm the Armenian
Genocide.”
Not surprisingly, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a
press release on April 25, 2018 to counter Pres. Trump’s April 24 statement:
“We reject the inaccurate expressions and the subjective interpretation of
history in the written statement by Mr. Donald Trump, President of the USA, released
on 24 April 2018 regarding the events of 1915. Our expectation from the US
Administration is a fair assessment of a period during which all the peoples of
the Ottoman Empire suffered tremendously.”
The Turkish Foreign
Ministry’s statement, as expected, contains several major factual errors:
1) It equates the deaths of “500,000 Muslims” during World
War I to the murder of 1.5 million innocent Armenian men, women, and children.
Genocide victims and war casualties are not the same thing.
2) It repeats the same lie that the Turkish government has
opened its archives to researchers and offered to establish a ‘Joint Historical
Commission.’ In fact, Turkish authorities have cleansed the Ottoman archives of
incriminating documents, and the Joint Historical Commission is simply a ruse
to delay the Turkish admission of guilt.
3) It boasts about Turkish President Erdogan’s statement
sent to the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul on April 24, 2018 to commemorate
the “Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives in the conditions of World War I.”
We need to remember that the Armenian Genocide is unrelated to World War I,
just like the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust were not casualties
of World War II.
We hope that
Presidents Erdogan and Trump will have the courage to call the Armenian mass
killings by their proper name—Genocide. French President Macron has done it, so
should Erdogan and Trump!
**************************************************************************************************
2- Nikol
Pashinyan Poised to Become Interim Prime Minister
(Combined Sources)—At the time The California Courier went
to print on April 30, it was highly anticipated that Nikol Pashinyan would be
selected on May 1 as Interim Prime Minister by Armenia’s National Assembly under
the new constitution. Our coverage of this story will continue next week.
Opposition Member of Parliament Nikol Pashinyan, who has led
the protest movement so far, has alluded several times to the idea that he is
the “people’s candidate,” without specifying exactly what that means. What is
clear is his intention to—at least temporarily—lead the country. An explanation
from Yerevan-based news site EVN Report indicated that while Pashinyan has not
ruled out the possibility of parliamentary elections (which may, at this point,
turn in his favor), he has ruled out the candidacy of acting PM Karen
Karapetyan or any other member of the Republican Party.
Pashinyan stated that once elected, he intends to form an
“interim government,” which will allow him to make reforms in the country’s
Electoral Code and once it is confirmed that elections are “free and fair,”
they will hold snap elections to vote for the next acting prime minister.
On April 26, members of the ruling RPA met with Serzh
Sargsyan and Armenia’s
acting PM Karen Karapetyan. After the meeting, the party announced that it is
finally ready to negotiate with Nikol Pashinyan without preconditions. On April
30, Pashinyan met with the ruling Republican Party of Armenia.
During the meeting, the RPA directed a number of questions
to Pashinyan, according to an article by EVN Report. First, RPA leaders asked
Pashinyan how he would approach Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) negotiations. “I
want to underscore that the continuity of the negotiations should be within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. I’ll try to become acquainted in
the shortest time possible and the methodology of the approach should be
institutional. I think to establish peace there should be an atmosphere of
peace in the country,” said Pashinyan.
The RPA reminded Pashinyan that he had criticized the RPA
for joining the Eurasian Economic Union, calling it “one of the biggest
mistakes of Armenian foreign policy,” and asked why Pashinyan recently said
Armenia would not leave the EEU. “It is not a secret that I voted against
joining the EEU, but Armenia is a EEU member state now and as politicians we
should take facts into consideration…this should be the approach of anyone who
is considering the best interests of Armenia. I think drastic changes in
foreign policy would be dangerous for Armenia,” said Pashinyan.
The RPA asked Pashinyan whether he has new ideas to get Armenia out of
the blockade and its repercussions. “Processes going on in our neighboring
countries do now allow us to be hopeful that we will be able to change the
situation in the foreseeable future. That is why we should primarily
concentrate on developing our economy locally,” said Pashinyan. "Armenia has
always said that it is ready to open borders without preconditions. Turkey has
cited the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to keep them closed. The new component in
what I’m saying is that we should create a free economy and more possibility
for investment in Armenia
to solve our issues. When we have no alternative geographically, we should
create alternatives in services.”
The RPA asked who in Pashinyan’s cabinet would implement the
promises of good governance. “This is a force majeur situation and the
formation of the new cabinet should be a tool to resolve the political crisis.
The cabinet will be formed according to what the political landscape looks like
tomorrow. We should strive to form a unity government. The law stipulates that
the newly elected prime minister has 15 days to form a new government; our laws
do not say that we first name the cabinet members and then we elect the PM. We
have our own human resources but we are not here to do a cleanup,” said
Pashinyan.
Asserting that every day of the protest movement “has pushed
the country back by at least two months,” the RPA asked Pashinyan about
creating jobs and industries.
“I think the movement has created tremendous energy for a
leap forward and when we create free and fair conditions, every day that has
been lost will very quickly be recovered,” said Pashinyan.
The RPA suggested that Pashinyan’s plan may impact the
Armenian people adversely for another 8 years.
“We have had many businessmen join our movement and if your
estimations were right, I doubt they would have joined. I don’t doubt that we
will soon see big improvements. The people’s decision to live and work in Armenia should
not be underestimated and will yield quick results.”
The RPA asked Pashinyan about the protest movement and his
premiership aspirations. “You are basically asking us for votes to become PM,
otherwise you won’t be elected. You have also thrown a lot of mud at this
majority, but if you come to be PM you will be in a government that has no
opposition. When you started this movement, had you already decided that you
wanted to become the PM?” asked the RPA.
“I’m not here to ask anything from anyone. I’m here so that
we can find solutions. When I stated the movement I knew I had to carry the
responsibility of the outcome, be it in the form of a conviction or the post of
the PM,” said Pashinyan.
On April 26, President Armen Sarkissian released an official
statement expressing approval over the increased civic engagement the recent
protests have evoked. “I am proud to see today’s Armenia,”
he wrote, “and I am happy that I am going to live in tomorrow’s strong, united,
fair and flourishing Armenia.”
The statement from the President was likely in response to
the confusion over the question of who will become the country’s next prime
minister, and perhaps more importantly, how they will enter into that role. So
far, the only definite is that parliament will meet May 1 for the first round
of elections. The deadline for nominating candidates for the PM role was April
30.
In the speech he gave at an April 26 rally, Pashinyan
attempted to quell fears about his aspirations for PM: “I want us to understand
very clearly that the goal is not for me to become the Prime Minister, but to
restore the corrupt, fragmented system of the government of Armenia [to
fairness].”
As in his meeting with former President and now former PM
Serzh Sargsyan, he insisted journalists must be present to observe
negotiations. “I will take the post of prime minister in a way that lets every
citizen feel that they are the prime minister of Armenia,” he said, as the crowd
chanted “Nikol Varchapet” (“Prime Minister Nikol”). Pashinyan is himself a
former journalist, and was for a time head editor at a local daily newspaper,
Haykakan Zhamanak.
Following the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF)
departure from its coalition with the Republican Party, the ARF announced on
April 28 its support for Pashinyan as prime minister of Armenia “should
he be nominated” during the May 1 special session of parliament. On April 27,
the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia called on parliamentary factions to
“cooperatively form a common agenda and to agree on a single candidate for
prime minister, who is trusted by the people, and who will form a government
and present a program of solidarity,”
The ARF announced on April 26 that three of its appointed ministers,
Davit Lokyan (Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development), Levon
Mkrtchyan (Ministry of Education and Science), and Artsvik Minasyan (Ministry
of Nature Protection) would resign.
The three ministers were appointed May 31, 2017. Also stepping
down were the Governors of Shirak and Aragatsotn provinces, Artur Khachatryan
and Ashot Simonyan.
The RPA, which holds 58 seats in the 105-member parliament
announced Saturday that it will not nominate a candidate for the post of prime
minister, with its spokesperson, Eduard Shamazanov saying: “Who will we vote
for? That depends on who will be nominated and what programs they will
propose.”
Tsarukyan’s faction holds 31 seats in parliament, while
Pashinyan’s Yelk alliance and the ARF have nine and seven seats respectively.
Meanwhile, the RPA on April 28 offered an uncharacteristic
mea culpa for "mistakes” the party has made in underestimating the
opposition.
“The main issue from our party was not realizing the danger
of the political monopolization by our party, the Republican party,” said
acting Justice Minister Davit Harutunyan.
He explained that within the context of developing a country
that is in a complex geopolitical situation, monopolization by a single party
allows definitive advances, “however, that cannot continue for a long time.”
Such monopolization, according to Harutuynyan “means that
the Republican party did not understand the imperative for strengthening the
role of the opposition and that a strong opposition means having a strong country
and a strong government. By accepting our mistakes we must not fall in the
water well for a second time. We must not trade one dictator with another.”
***************************************************************************************************
3 – Trump Fails
to Recognize Armenian Genocide
President Trump carefully avoided the word “genocide” in his
official statement marking the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. “Today we
commemorate the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th
century, when one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred, or
marched to their deaths in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. We recall the
horrific events of 1915 and grieve for the lives lost and the many who
suffered,” said Trump.
“We also take this moment to recognize the courage of those
individuals who sought to end the violence, and those who contributed to aiding
survivors and rebuilding communities, including the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, who sought to end the
violence and later raised funds through the Near East Relief to help the
Armenian people. We note with deep respect the resilience of the Armenian
people, so many of whom built new lives in the United States and have made
countless contributions to our country,” said Trump.
“As we honor the memory of those who suffered, we also
reflect on our commitment to ensure that such atrocities are not repeated. We
underscore the importance of acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements
of the past as a necessary step towards creating a more tolerant future,” said
Trump.
“On this solemn day, we stand with the Armenian people
throughout the world in honoring the memory of those lost and commit to work
together to build a better future,” said Trump.
Trump continued a practice of recent U.S. presidents
to condemn the massacres, but not to use the word genocide in describing the
deaths of Armenians. President Ronald Reagan called it a genocide in a 1981
speech about the Holocaust; no U.S.
president since has called it genocide.
The Turkish government vehemently opposes the use of the
word genocide to describe the Armenian deaths, saying instead they occurred in
the chaos of World War I. Turkey holds strategic importance to the U.S.
military, which operates out of bases in that nation.
“It is a sad day when an American President cannot speak the
truth about a proud chapter in American history, where, thanks to America’s
unprecedented humanitarian relief effort, thousands and thousands of survivors
of the Armenian Genocide were saved in what Ambassador Henry Morgenthau
described as a ‘campaign of race extermination,’” said Armenian Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “U.S. credibility on human rights
and genocide prevention will be better served when we unequivocally affirm the
Armenian Genocide. A genocide denied is an injustice to all.”
President Trump’s April 24th statement comes at a time when Turkey has escalated its disregard for American
democratic values, acting more like an adversary than a U.S. ally. Less
than a year ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s bodyguards attacked
peaceful protesters in our nation’s capital. In an effort to further muzzle
legislators, such as Parliamentarian Garo Paylan, the Turkish Parliament banned
anyone from mentioning the Armenian Genocide in Parliament. Ankara also continues to interfere with the
Armenian Patriarchal elections and discriminates against Christians and other
minorities on a daily basis.
“In his annual April 24th statement, the President once
again enforced Ankara’s
gag-rule against honest American condemnation and commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide. In outsourcing U.S. leadership on genocide prevention to Erdogan—who
openly undermines U.S. interests, attacks U.S. allies, threatens U.S. troops,
imprisons American clergy, and even orders the beating of American
citizens—President Trump is emboldening a foreign dictator who revels in the
public spectacle of having bullied successive American presidents into silence
on Turkey’s still unpunished murder of millions Christians,” said Armenian
National Committee of America executive director Aram Hamparian. “We will press
ahead with our work to end U.S. complicity in Ankara’s obstruction of justice,
in order to put in place a U.S. policy that actively pressures Ankara to
abandon its denials, reckon with its responsibilities, and engage directly with
Armenian stakeholders toward a truthful, just, and comprehensive international
resolution of this crime against humanity.”
*********************************************************************************************
4 – Fresno
Community Commemorates Armenian Genocide 103rd Anniversary
FRESNO, Calif. (Combined Sources)—The victims and survivors
of the Armenian Genocide were remembered Saturday, April 21 as The San Joaquin
Valley community gathered on the steps of Fresno
City Hall to raise the flags of the United States and Armenia.
The keynote speaker was Harut Sassounian, publisher of The
California Courier. For over a generation, Sassounian’s weekly editorial has
been a staple in Armenian journalism, blending diligent research,
thought-provoking commentary, and practical political advocacy. He is also an
author, award-winning documentary producer, lecturer, and UN delegate on human
rights.
The acknowledgment of what transpired and apology “would not
heal the wounds and undo the consequences of the genocide. Armenians are still
waiting for justice to be served, restoring their historic rights and returning
their confiscated lands and properties,” said Sassounian. “The countries that
side with the denialist regime of Turkey, are not doing so due to
lack of evidence or conviction, but, sadly, because of political expediency,
with the intent of appeasing the denier. One would hope that these governments would
join most of the enlightened world in acknowledging the historical facts as
they are, and not as the Turkish government wishes them to be.”
Congressional Representative Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Fresno
Mayor Lee Brand, and Fresno County Supervisor Andreas Borgeas also spoke at the
commemoration. Debbie Poochigian, former Fresno County Supervisor, served as
master of ceremonies.
The invocation was given by the local clergy, including: Fr.
Dajad Ashekian of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church; Fr. Yessai Bedros of
St. Paul Armenian Church; Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian of St. Gregory Armenian
Apostolic Church; Rev. Greg Haroutunian of First Armenian Presbyterian Church;
and Nerses Balabanian of Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church. Students of
the Armenian Saturday School of the St. Paul Church performed musical
selections, and members of the Sassoon Chapter of the Homenetmen Scouts and the
Fresno High School JROTC served as the color guard, accompanied by the
Association Of The United States Army “Sounds Of Freedom” Military Concert
Band.
Outside of the commemoration, Rep. Devin Nunes took time to
mark the occasion and use that word to describe the massacre of more than 1
million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks.
“It’s been more than a century since the Ottoman
Empire began the Armenian Genocide. At a time when Turkey is falling into anti-democratic darkness,
including the brutal beating of President Erdogan’s critics on U.S. soil by
Erdogan’s security detail, Erdogan’s continuing denial of the Armenian Genocide
is an absurdity and a disgrace. In light of current developments in Turkey, it’s now more important than ever that
the U.S. administration
commemorate the tragic genocide of the Armenian people,” said Nunes, who
represents the 22nd Congressional District of the San
Joaquin Valley, which
includes most of western Tulare County and much of eastern Fresno County.
Nunes is chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
***************************************************************************************************
5 – Abp. Barsamian Says He Will Not Seek Another
Term as Primate
By
Christopher H. Zakian
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian announced this week
that he would not seek an 8th term of office as Primate of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
His decision to withdraw from the upcoming election brings
to a close a tenure as Primate that lasted 28 years and seven terms of office.
Archbishop Barsamian has served as the 11th Primate of the
Diocese, and the second to occupy New
York’s St. Vartan Cathedral as the seat of his
episcopal office. He is the longest serving primate, having occupied the
position for a greater period than predecessors like Archbishop Torkom
Manoogian (24 years: 1966-90) and Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan (10 years:
1944-54).
His period of office coincided with such milestones as the
centennial of the Armenian Diocese in America (1998), the 1,700th anniversary
of Armenia’s Christian conversion (2001), the 9/11 memorial (2001), and the
100th year of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide (2015).
Having declined to seek re-election, Archbishop Barsamian’s
primacy will effectively end in early May. With his departure, however, the
path to choosing a successor is as yet unclear. It is possible that an election
could go forward as scheduled. Alternatively, the election for primate could be
postponed, whereupon a locum tenens would be elected (or appointed) to
administer the Diocese for a limited duration, while a suitable slate of candidates
would be assembled.
The path to be taken will be clarified in the course of the
116th Diocesan Assembly, which will meet in Westchester County, N.Y.,
from May 3 to 5.
Archbishop Barsamian issued a statement addressed to the
Diocesan Assembly Delegates, and the faithful. “I have decided that I will not
be running for the office of Diocesan Primate during the upcoming election at
the Diocesan Assembly. As the election has neared, I have found myself feeling
increasingly anxious, even though I recognize that there is support for my
candidacy,” said Barsamian. “But the thought that keeps returning to my mind
and heart is that the time has come for me to make space for someone else to
lead this great Diocese. This feeling has been with me for a while; but until
recently I also felt an obligation to run, to help create a smooth transition
to new leadership.”
Barsamian said that he meditated, thought and prayed deeply
on the matter, and felt in his heart that it was time to move on. Barsamian
said that consulted with Catholicos Karekin II, who gave the archbishop his
blessing. “I regret the sudden nature and timing of this news. And I want to
say that it has been a pleasure working with each one of you, for the good of
the Armenian Church and our Diocese. Shortly, the chairman of the Diocesan
Council will communicate with you, to inform you of the next steps,” said
Barsamian. “Today, in this moment of transition, I find sustenance in the words
of Scripture: To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose
under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). I continue praying for each of you, and ask
that you remember me in your prayers.”
*****************************************************************************************************
Dear Editor:
I am referring to the article in The California Courier,
April 12, 2018, on page 2, Israeli Minister Calls For Armenian Genocide
Recognition.
According to the book Lawrence In Arabia: War, Deceit,
Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East, written by Scott
Anderson, 103 years ago the younger sister of noted agronomist Aaron Aaronsohn
saw with her own eyes what was happening to the Armenians.
What follows is a quotation from the book (159). “In
mid-November, with her husband away on an extended business trip…on November
26, the twenty-five year-old Sarah boarded a train at Haidar Pasha station and
set off on the long journey home.
Dark rumors had abounded for months of what was happening to
the Armenians in the Anatolian countryside, but the combination of poor
communications and rigorous censorship had enabled the Ottoman regime to
conceal the extent of the brutality from the general population to a fairly
remarkable degree. This didn’t apply, of course, to anyone whose travels took
them through the killing fields. By the time Sarah Aaronsohn was reunited with
her brother in Palestine
on December 16, she was in a state of shock over what she had witnessed during
her journey. The agronomist would later recount that “she saw bodies of
hundreds of Armenian men, women, and children lying on both sides of the
railway. Sometimes Turkish women were seen searching the corpses for anything
that might be of value; at other times dogs are observed feeding on the bodies.
There were hundreds of bleached skeletons. In the grisliest incident, Sarah
claimed she had watched as her train was besieged by thousands of starving
Armenians at one remote station; in the stampede dozens fell beneath the wheels
of the train, much to the delight of its conductor. Sarah fainted away at the
spectacle, only to be remonstrated by two Turkish officers when she came to for
her evident lack of patriotism.”
It’s only because Erdogan spoke of the Israeli prime
minister as a terrorist, that the Israeli minister mentioned in the article now
wants to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Jewish people in the Middle East and
in Turkey
itself were very cognizant of what was going on with the Armenians.
Ellen Sarkisian Chesnut
*************************************************************************************************
7- Toronto
rampage suspect referenced extremist male ‘incel’ movement
By John
Bowden
The suspect in the April 23 Toronto van attack referenced in a Facebook
post an extremist “men’s rights” movement and praised a mass shooter before the
attack.
The post from Alek Minassian, 22, has since been deleted. He
has been charged with 10 counts in the van attack, which killed 10 people and
injured 15 others.
“Private (Recruit) Minassian Infantry 00010, wishing to speak
to Sgt 4chan please,” Minassian wrote. “C23249161. The Incel Rebellion has
already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail the Supreme
Gentleman Elliot Rodger!”
Minassian’s message praises Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old
who killed six people in a California
rampage in 2014 and left behind a manifesto detailing his anger toward women.
Rodger’s social alienation and violence have made him a hero in certain
extremist, misogynist sections of the internet.
Minassian’s reference to an “incel rebellion” refers to the
internet’s self-described movement of the “involuntarily celibate”—men who are
angry, often at women, because they’ve failed to find sexual partners.
Minassian’s post mentions 4Chan, an anonymous online message
and image board popular with members of the far-right. Minassian also
references “Chads and Stacys”—an internet meme referring to stereotypically
“popular” men and women who are reviled by self-identified incels. Incel forums, including one on 4Chan, often
feature hate speech about women. Reddit shuttered its own incel forum in 2017
over concerns about its extremist content.
“I can confirm on background that the post screenshotted in
this tweet was real and has been removed from Facebook along with Minassian’s
account,” a Facebook representative told The Hill.
"On behalf of all Canadians I offered my deepest,
heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of all those who were killed and we
wish a full recovery to the injured and stand with the families and friends of
the victims,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a statement after
the attack.
************************************************************************************************
8- Man says he
was shot at because of Armenian flag on his car
(Los Angeles
Daily News)—A young man who was wounded in a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting on the
14 Freeway in the Newhall area said Wednesday he believes he was targeted
because his truck was decorated with an Armenian flag.
The 19-year-old motorist suffered a grazing gunshot wound to
his left shoulder and glass fragmentation wounds to his face in the shooting
that was reported about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, on the southbound 14
Freeway between Crown Valley Road
in the Acton
area and Sand Canyon Road
in the Santa Clarita area:
Harry Nalbandyan told NBC4 that he and his 17-year-old
sister had participated earlier in the day in a march commemorating the 103rd
anniversary of the Armenian genocide and were driving home from a family
birthday and barbecue in Palmdale when a silver Honda CR-V pulled alongside his
truck.
“He puts his window down, and with his right hand he takes
out the gun and he shoots — he’s shooting me while he’s driving and while I’m
driving,” Nalbandyan said. “And I managed to hit the brakes really hard and
save our lives.”
Following the shooting, Nalbandyan drove home, and his
mother drove him and his sister to a hospital. She also suffered glass
fragmentation injuries to her face, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The suspect was described a black man in his 20s or 30s,
with short hair and a thin build.
“No weapon description was given, and it is unknown how many
shots were fired at the victims,” according to a CHP statement. “Upon
inspection, the victim’s vehicle was seized as evidence, having sustained
multiple rounds during the incident.”
Anyone with information on the shooting was urged to call
the CHP Newhall Area office at (661) 294-5540.
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9- Clare Gregorian
dies at 80
By G. Wayne Miller
NEW YORK—Clare Russell Gregorian, longtime community and
volunteer leader in several states and cities and a driving force behind the
establishment of Rhode Island Public Radio, died Saturday, April 28, at her
home here after a lengthy illness related to chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease. She was 80, and her passing prompted tributes.
“Clare was an extraordinary woman whose special authenticity
ensured that she was well-respected and well-loved by all who knew her. She was
charming, humorous, kind, wise, and intelligent, very intelligent,” said Janet
L. Robinson, former president and CEO of The New York Times Company. “Having
the opportunity to know Clare Gregorian has been considered a special gift by
those she touched during her lifetime.”
“All of us who were fortunate to be the recipients of
Clare’s friendship were touched by her warmth, humor and intellect,” said Marie
J. Langlois, chair of The Rhode Island Foundation. “Clare arrived in Rhode Island and
immediately challenged us to establish a public radio station and became one of
the amazing group of Rhode Islanders who birthed Rhode Island Public Radio,
having a permanent impact on our state.”
Gregorian is survived by her husband, Vartan Gregorian,
president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York
since 1997, and president of Brown University for the nine years before relocating back
to Manhattan,
where he had been president of the New York Public Library.
Educated at the Dwight
School for Girls in Englewood,
N.J., and Stanford University,
Gregorian took pride in raising her family and sharing the workload of her
husband during his leadership positions at The University of Pennsylvania, The
New York Public Library, Brown and, most recently, at the Carnegie Corporation.
But she hardly dwelled in her husband’s shadow. Her
independent efforts with such diverse interests as women’s rights, literacy and
the arts brought her wide recognition and awards, including an honorary degree
in 1997 from Brown.
“I have had the special pleasure of knowing Clare due to the
fact that I am a director of The Carnegie Corporation of New
York,” said Robinson, who is also chairwoman of Salve Regina
University’s board of
trustees.
“During her tenure in Providence,”
Robinson told The Journal, “Clare was well known as a gifted community leader.
Her unwavering support of organizations such as Rhode Island Public Radio,
Providence Public Library and Planned Parenthood proved to be a critical factor
in the success of these organizations. Clare’s commitment to education for all,
to an informed citizenry and to her supreme love of family, was beyond
admirable. She will be missed greatly and remembered fondly.”
Also surviving her are Gregorian’s three sons with Vartan
and three daughters-in-law: Vahé Gregorian and wife, Cindy Billhartz; Raffi
Gregorian and wife, Olga Palinkasev; and Dareh Gregorian and wife, Maggie
Haberman. Also, a brother, Isaac Dow Russell, and sisters Gillian Russell
Gilhool and Felicity Russell; and five grandchildren: Juan, Maximus, Sophie,
Miri, and Dashiell. She was predeceased by her sister, Dorsa Jane Russell.
A private funeral was held on Martha’s Vineyard on
Wednesday, May 2, with a memorial service in New York City at a date to be determined. In
lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the branch libraries of The New
York Public Library, Planned Parenthood, Rhode Island Public Radio, the
Children of Armenia Fund, Brown
University’s
International Scholars Program, the New Victory Theater, Literacy Partners or
the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity.
************************************************************************************************
10- The Armenian
Genocide: A Chronology of Events
By Krikor Erzingatsian
In April 2015, Armenians world-wide commemorated the
centenary of the Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians by the Young Turks (Deonmes)
in what is now Turkey.
Successive governments in Turkey
have denied the existence of the Armenian Genocide; which included practices
such as decapitation, crucifixion of young girls, burial alive in wells,
burning alive in churches, public hangings and the expulsion of the remaining
population of Asia Minor to the deserts of Mesopotamia, now known as the Middle East. Ironically subsequent governments have
claimed that it was the Armenians who committed the crime of Genocide against
the Turks and have erected a monument to that effect in Eastern Anatolia—the
historical homeland of Armenians(Armenia Minor, Carta Marina, year 1516,
Waldseemuller M.). Such claims cannot stand scrutiny when one considers that
the population numbers in Turkey
in 1914 was 21 million of which 2-3 million were Armenians (US Library of
Congress & Dadrian). In contrast, in a 2003 census the number of local
Armenians had dropped to 70,000 whereas the population of Turkey,
consisting of Turks and “Mountain Turks” (Kurds) was over 70 million. This
raises the question, what happened to all these Armenians? Furthermore,
according to the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul,
in 1914 there were 2,170 churches; in 2013 the number was 45.
Herewith is a synopsis of an unending sequence of
anti-Armenian activities and ethnic cleansing:
Congress of Berlin 1878 and the role of Disraeli and his
anti Armenian stand was a precursor to the Hamidian massacres of 1894-1896;
massacres of Adana 1909; Genocide 1915, invasion of fledgling Caucasian Armenia
by Kemalists (Sardarabad) 1918; destruction of Armenians (and Greeks) in Smyrna
1922; expulsion of Armenians from Anatolia 1934; and bombing and massacres in
Dersim 1936-38 (Armenians and Kurds). The events of Istanbul in September 1955.
The powers that be in Turkey—in
league with their Pan-Turkic brothers in Baku—have
changed the demographics of Nakhichevan by depopulation and subsequent cultural
genocide (Khachkars) of recent times. This Turkification had started in the
1920s when the Turks Khalil and Nouri Pasha burned Shoushi to the ground.
Another example of these like-minded activities is the Sumgait slaughter of Armenians in 1988 and
the war that followed against Karabakh by Azeri Turks.
Armenians cannot forget or forgive the Armenian Genocide. We
expect the Turkish government to recognize the Armenian Genocide and offer
compensation. Armenians need to remain united; speak with one voice; continue
placing the Armenian Genocide as an agenda item at international fora and
pursue legal means(Pan-Armenian Declaration) of redressing centuries of
injustice.
************************************************************************************************
11- Aleppo
Catholic priest Fr. Yeghiche Janji dies in car accident
Father Yeghiche Elias Janji through his music breathed life
into a devastated church.
Catholics in the Syrian city of Aleppo are mourning the death of their
beloved priest and musician who died in an automobile accident. He was 33.
The funeral was held at Holy
Cross Church
in Aleppo on
April 25.
His passing leaves a gaping emptiness in this city—“his”
city that he loved so much. The priest died in an automobile accident near Homs.
He was passionate about music and chaplain of several
Catholic movements (in particular, the Teams of Our Lady – les Équipes
Notre-Dame—of which his parents were members). He was also teacher at the
Aleppo Institute of Theological Studies, enthusiastic and generous.
Father Yeghiche had one urgent goal: to give hope to the
people of Aleppo,
who suffered so much in the bloody conflict that has beset their country since
2011.
He considered his mission as a priest in the time of war as
both “cultural” and spiritual.
“It is not enough to give food or medical supplies to people
to make them want to stay,” he said.
“Singing costs nothing and is something everyone can do and
share, and it conveys a message,” he said.
Under his direction, the Naregatsi Choir (named after St.
Gregory of Narek), a former Armenian choir that he took over and re-founded in
an ecumenical form, has become nationally famous.
The choir has continued to perform in Syria, even
during the worst bombardments.
Nothing—violence, lack of water, lack of electricity, the
increasing emigration of Christian families from Aleppo—could stop the choir’s
director … even though, during seven years of war, most of his parishioners,
who lived in a wealthy suburb of the city, all his friends and even a large
number of his choristers, left the country.
One of the singers was killed in a bombardment, and two
others left the country after being wounded by shrapnel.
However, others joined up, some of whom didn’t know how to
read music. Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant—together, they became “one big
family.”
“Music helps me not only to cope psychologically, it helps
me above all to understand divine providence,” said Father Yeghiche in December
2017, while he was rehearsing Beethoven’s 19th Symphony with his choir in the
unheated and poorly lit basement of the Holy Cross Church.
“It is a work,” he went on, “that speaks of equality and
freedom … values that we can share, thanks to music.”
Born in Aleppo
in 1985 into a practicing Armenian Catholic family, he felt the calling to
priesthood at an early age.
In 1996, he began to attend Saint-Vartan Seminary and
attained his secondary school certificate in 2002. He then studied philosophy
at the Monastery of Notre-Dame of Bismar, and then theology at the Saint Paul
Institute in Harissa, Lebanon.
At the Gregorian University in Rome,
he attained a Master’s Degree in Theology. In 2010, at the age of 25, he was
ordained by Archbishop Boutros Mrayati for the Eparchy of the Armenian Church
of Aleppo.
The late priest, from the age of seven onwards, studied
music: at first, the piano and the cello, and then musicology in Lebanon, and finally orchestra conducting in Rome. While he was still
a student, he performed in front of Pope Benedict XVI.
One of the most
moving concerts was performed on July 11, 2017 in Saint Elias Maronite
Cathedral, left roofless by the bombardments that devastated the historic
quarter of Al-Jdayde. The Mass in C Minor by Mozart attracted an audience of
thousands, so that huge screens had to be set up outside the cathedral.
Maronite Archbishop Joseph Tobji praised the concert as a
powerful sign of hope. “In a devastated church, where all seems to have been
destroyed, life returned. An orchestra composed of Christians and Muslims
played the music of one of humankind’s greatest geniuses.”
The performance that the Naregatsi Choir is scheduled to
give in France
in the fall will still take place. Vincent Gelot, the Syrian delegate for the
Œuvre d’Orient, believes that it will be “the most fitting and beautiful homage
that can be given to an orchestra conductor.”
************************************************************************************************
12- ‘Under the
Light of the Moon’ to Receive Wine Blessing
GLENDALE, Calif.—The ANCA–Western Region and the Glendale
Central Library, Arts & Culture Department will be hosting a Blessing of
the Wine (Kinetson) on May 6, at noon, at the Downtown Central Library on 222
East Harvard Street, to celebrate the publication of Under the Light of the
Moon by Laura Michael. The Kinetson will be followed by a chapter reading and
book signing by Laura Michael and illustrator, Aram Gaboudian.
“The ANCA-WR Education Committee has long been looking for
appropriate materials to use in introducing the story of the Genocide to
younger children. We have been asked for resources to help teach the Genocide
in Elementary grade levels from public schools, private schools and parents.
Laura and Aram
have created a resource that will address this need. We are grateful to them
and look forward to sharing the book across the state and nation,” said Alice
Petrossian, ANCA-WR Education Committee Chair.
"The celebration of this book’s release is a perfect
punctuation to the exhibit in ReflectSpace Gallery. We are thrilled to co-host
this exclusive pre-release reading and signing of Under the Light of the Moon as
part of the closing of Non-Linear Histories exhibit dealing with artists’
response to post genocide trauma,” said ANCA-WR Board member, Anahid Oshagan.
Under the Light of the Moon is a children’s chapter book
(appropriate for ages 7 and up), set in 1924, the end of the Armenian Genocide
in Turkey.
Ten-year-old Lucine finds herself in an orphanage in Athens. There are thousands of other children
like her, wondering when and if they’ll ever see their families again.
Meanwhile in America,
child actor Jackie Coogan is determined to help them.
Based on the real experiences of the orphans of the Armenian
Genocide, including the author’s great grandparents, and the heroic work of
Coogan and Near East Relief, Under the Light of the Moon is a story of hope and
survival during a dark time in world history. The true events of Coogan's
volunteer work remind us that anyone can make a difference in the world.
Currently available as an exclusive pre-release from
publisher Mascot Books, Under the Light of the Moon can be ordered at
lauramichael.net and also purchased at the May 6 Kinetson event. The official
release date is June 5, and it will then be available through Amazon, Barnes
and Noble and other retailers.
Laura Michael was born and raised in Rhode Island. She received a bachelor’s
degree in Spanish from the University
of Rhode Island and a master’s degree
in education from New York
University. Laura has
taught at the elementary, middle school, and university levels in Massachusetts and New York
and currently lives in Los Angeles
where she is an English Language Development Coordinator for a local school
district.
Illustrator Aram Gaboudian was born in Beirut,
and immigrated to the United
States with his family in 1972. He is a
graduate of Cal State Los Angeles and practices real estate in Los Angeles. Like the author, Gaboudian is a
descendant of Genocide survivors and is committed to creating Armenian Genocide
curricula for young students.
************************************************************************************************
13- AGBU to Hold
Children’s Book Club Writing Contest with Laura Michael
AGBU Western District has announced a Children’s Book Club
Writing Contest, featuring author Laura Michael’s new children’s book Under the
Light of the Moon (see item 12, above). The contest is intended to target early
education about the Genocide, encourage discussion among the younger population
regarding heroism, and assist parents who may have questions about how to start
the discussion with their own children about the Genocide.
In 2016, the California State Board of Education adopted a
new social studies curriculum, making it a requirement to teach high school
students about human rights violations and genocides, including the Armenian
Genocide.
This contest targets an even younger audience with
age-appropriate reading.
AGBU Western District is excited to partner with Laura
Michael to promote her new book and engage children in this thought-provoking
writing contest for all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. The contest is open to
all students regardless of ethnic background.
Contest winners will
be announced in September. One winner will be selected from each grade
category. Each winner will walk away with a grand prize.
Entrants should upload submissions at
www.agbuwd.org/bookcontest or send by postal mail to: AGBU Children’s Book Club
Writing Contest, 2495 East
Mountain St., Pasadena, CA 91104.
All entries must be received by 5 p.m. PST on Friday, August 24.
For more information, contact Contest Coordinator, Suzy
Sargsyan at contest@agbuca.org.
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