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The Armenian Weekly On-Line
80 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown MA 02472 USA
(617) 926-3974
[email protected]
http://www.a rmenianweekly.com
The Armenian Weekly; Volume 74, No. 6; Feb. 16, 2008
Community:
1. 'Screamers' Comes to DVD
By Andy Turpin
2. Armenian Genocide Curriculum Gains Impetus
By Tom Vartabedian
3. Shoghaken Ensemble Brings Armenian Melodies to Somerville
4. Dead Armenian Poet's Society Meets in NY
***
1. 'Screamers' Comes to DVD
By Andy Turpin
WATERTOWN, Mass (A.W.)-New to DVD this month is Carla Garapedian's 2006
documentary about genocide denial, "Screamers."
The film investigates the causes of the denial of the Armenian genocide and
other genocides, such as Rwanda and Darfur, by policymakers to further
dubious political agendas.
The story of the Armenian genocide and its present-day denial by the
Turkish, U.S. and British governments, along with the impact such denials
have on society and greater public politics is told though narration and
Garapedian's footage from the world tour of progressive rock metal band
System of a Down.
Alongside the outspoken anti-genocide advocacy of System's band members,
2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Samantha Power contributes to those
experts gathered to provide much insight and history on the United States'
role in 20th century genocide history-a role that includes not only denying
genocides such as those that occurred in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, but in
some cases (such as the killing of the Kurds by Saddam Hussein in the1980s)
even tacitly facilitating genocide to occur through brokered power
relations.
Speaking of then-Secretary Colin Powell's visit to the Iraqi-Kurdish
chemical death site in 2003, one former State Department diplomat says in
the film, "I think he was unaware of his own role 16 years ago. That he had
put a strategic partnership with Iraq above the gassing of [that] country's
own people."
For those that missed the release of this resounding and extremely powerful
documentary in theaters, the DVD also comes with some added footage in the
Special Features (though admittedly, for those rabid political junkies and
newshounds, the footage is primarily uncut tape from the same interviews
that are integrated into the film itself).
Yet, what stands out is interview footage with the late Armenian journalist
and Agos editor Hrant Dink, taken before his assassination by a young
Turkish ultra-nationalist in Istanbul last year. In the interview, Dink
speaks about Armenian genocide denial and press censorship in Turkey.
Other features include a backstage concert tour filmed with System of a Down
fan Evan Backer, the teenage grandson of one of the NY Life class action
suit plaintiffs that sued the insurance company in 2004 to claim money
previously filed for but never received by Armenian genocide survivors.
Also included is footage taken in present-day Turkey of the former
Armenian-dominated cultural center at Efkere, a city whose Armenian
monuments and vestiges have now been aggressively ruined, scorched and
culturally cleansed by the Turkish government to erase Armenian traces from
the pre-1915 era.
All and all, "Screamers" is a very important film and a more than worthwhile
addition to any personal or educational DVD library.
To reserve a copy through the Hairenik Bookstore, call (617) 926-3974.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
2. Armenian Genocide Curriculum Gains Impetus
By Tom Vartabedian
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.-Efforts to introduce an Armenian genocide curriculum
throughout high schools north of Boston took a giant step forward Feb. 6
with an inspiring program at North Andover.
Two classrooms featuring more than 100 students from various classes were
given a comprehensive look at Armenian history and, in particular, the
genocidal years of 1915-23.
Leading the program were members of an ad hoc committee led by chairman Dro
Kanayan and Albert S. Movsesian, community activist.
Movsesian opened his lecture with a glimpse of family and community history
before focusing on the genocide. "No words can describe the devastation
Armenians were faced to endure in 1915," he told the students. "History
forgotten tends to repeat itself. We must dedicate our efforts to global
peace and harmony among all nations, regardless of our differences."
Movsesian illustrated his presentation with books and photographs. He
presented a story about an orphan rug that was presented to President Calvin
Coolidge and continues to hold a prominent place in the White House. Among
those who worked on the rug was his late mother-in-law Vartouhi Gulezian
while living in an orphanage in Ghazir.
"Despite all these tragedies, we've progressed into a prominent place in
world civilization," he said. "Armenians are builders. They've learned to
become very self-sufficient. Give them a piece of land and they'll cultivate
wheat fields."
Movsesian paid particular homage to Near East Relief and the thousands of
orphaned children who were saved in 1920 through international appeal.
"One orphanage saved 30,000 children," he pointed out.
Kanayan spoke of his famous grandfather General Dro Kanayan, who led the
Battle of Bash Abaran, leading to Armenian independence at Sadarabat in
1918.
The younger Kanayan has remained a catalyst toward getting the genocide into
the classrooms by this fall.
"The Armenian genocide was a crime against humanity," Kanayan told the
students. "Similar tragedies were marked by the Jews, Cambodians and victims
of the Rwandan genocide. Headlines in the New York Times didn't lie. We have
a responsibility to tell the truth."
Other subjects covered included some of the contributions by Armenians to
world civilization, stories of local survivors including two of note:
112-year-old Krikor Derderian and 106-year-old Yeghsapert Giragosian.
The North Andover students were enraptured by the presentation as questions
followed. One student asked if there was any animosity toward Turkey today.
Another wondered about recognition toward the genocide. A third questioned
how the Armenians defended themselves.
Three other high schools have been approached to make genocide education
standardized to the curriculum: Haverhill, Andover and Lowell. Yet to be
approached are Lawrence and Westford.
The project's goals are to educate students about the Armenian genocide, to
help prevent future crimes against humanity; to provide resources and tools
for educators to teach this topic; to provide scholarships to teachers who
introduce this subject matter as part of their lesson plan; and to ensure
that an effective history and social science curriculum is developed that
recognizes each person as an individual and encourages respect for the human
and civil rights of all people.
A textbook has already been compiled by a highly reputable firm called
"Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation," which is based in
Brookline. The text contains 198 pages covering all aspects of the genocide
>From multiple identities and generations to the Ottoman-Armenians,
humanitarian intervention, deportations, other crimes against humanity and
migration to America and other parts of the world.
Facing History is a nonprofit educational organization with the mission of
engaging students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism,
prejudice and anti-Semitism in order to promote a more humane and informed
society.
"The response we've gotten from the outside community has been very
positive," said Kanayan. "We'll continue to push forward until all the
schools have been contacted."
According to an instructor, Armenian genocide education was covered only
superficially during chapters on World War 1. For several years, the
Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Merrimack Valley conducted its
April 24th observances at North Andover High School, which has been most
receptive to the Armenian community.
Students and faculty were invited to this year's commemoration on April 20,
which features Dr. Herand Markarian's musical "The Georgetown Boys." Due to
a conflict at the high school, it will be staged at North Andover Middle
School.
----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
3. Shoghaken Ensemble Brings Armenian Melodies to Somerville
SOMERVILLE, Mass. (A.W.)-On Feb. 1, Armenia's Shoghaken Ensemble presented a
concert of native and diasporan Armenian folk music and dancing at the
Somerville Theatre.
Founded in 1991 by Gevorg Dabaghyan, the Shoghaken Ensemble has become one
of the preeminent traditional music ensembles in Armenia. Dedicated to
rediscovering and continuing Armenia's extraordinary folk music history, the
group presents music from a broad geographical and historical span using
traditional instruments and song styles.
The ensemble has performed extensively in Europe, Armenia and throughout the
former Soviet Union. The group recently performed on the soundtrack of Atom
Egoyan's 2002 film "Ararat."
In the summer of 2002, Shoghaken performed at the Smithsonian Folk Festival
in Washington, D.C. In the spring of 2004, the group performed in a 20-city
concert tour across the U.S., including concerts at the Kennedy Center in
Washington, D.C., Symphony Space in New York and the Annenberg Center in
Philadelphia, as well as Harvard University, Cornell University, UC Berkeley
and Dartmouth College.
Their more recent performances were at the Theatre de la Ville in Paris,
France, the White Nights festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the
Rudolstadt Festival in Rudolstadt, Germany where they performed for an
audience of 60,000.
Highlights from the concert included renditions of "Aparani Par" (the
traditional harvesting dance from the Aparan region, north of Yerevan),
"Melodies of Karabakh" (whose playing included the instrumentals of the
blul, the duduk, kamancha, kanon, and dhol), "Butanya Krunk" (The Crane),
"Msho Geghen" (a traditional from Mush and the Mush plains) and "Lelum Le
Le- Yarkhooshta" (a male-oriented traditional dancing song symbolizing
spears and battle).
Deft musical skills, eloquent gestures, vested pride in their music and
artful dancing has made the Shoghaken Ensemble's performances a joy to see
for devotees of Armenian culture and world music alike.
------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
4. Dead Armenian Poet's Society Meets in NY
NEW YORK (A.W.)-On Feb. 2, during the quarterly gathering of the Dead
Armenian Poet's Society (DAPS)-a salon where members read poems by deceased
Armenian authors-the group used modern technology to create a trans-Atlantic
cultural bridge. A remote guest from Goteborg, Sweden, Per Wik, the grandson
of poet Harout Kostandyan, and his daughter Klara, connected via Skype to
hear the poems read live in their original language.
Lola Koundakjian created DAPS in the early 1990's when she was attending
Columbia University as a graduate student in Armenian studies. She revived
the group in 2005 and has since held the quarterly meetings in her home.
Through the encouragement of DAPS members, Koundakjian started the Armenian
Poetry Project, an audio and text blog that has attracted more than 29,000
hits since its debut in May 2006.
DAPS has readers from all walks of life and heritage who get together to
share their love of poetry and discover Armenian authors.
80 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown MA 02472 USA
(617) 926-3974
[email protected]
http://www.a rmenianweekly.com
The Armenian Weekly; Volume 74, No. 6; Feb. 16, 2008
Community:
1. 'Screamers' Comes to DVD
By Andy Turpin
2. Armenian Genocide Curriculum Gains Impetus
By Tom Vartabedian
3. Shoghaken Ensemble Brings Armenian Melodies to Somerville
4. Dead Armenian Poet's Society Meets in NY
***
1. 'Screamers' Comes to DVD
By Andy Turpin
WATERTOWN, Mass (A.W.)-New to DVD this month is Carla Garapedian's 2006
documentary about genocide denial, "Screamers."
The film investigates the causes of the denial of the Armenian genocide and
other genocides, such as Rwanda and Darfur, by policymakers to further
dubious political agendas.
The story of the Armenian genocide and its present-day denial by the
Turkish, U.S. and British governments, along with the impact such denials
have on society and greater public politics is told though narration and
Garapedian's footage from the world tour of progressive rock metal band
System of a Down.
Alongside the outspoken anti-genocide advocacy of System's band members,
2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Samantha Power contributes to those
experts gathered to provide much insight and history on the United States'
role in 20th century genocide history-a role that includes not only denying
genocides such as those that occurred in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, but in
some cases (such as the killing of the Kurds by Saddam Hussein in the1980s)
even tacitly facilitating genocide to occur through brokered power
relations.
Speaking of then-Secretary Colin Powell's visit to the Iraqi-Kurdish
chemical death site in 2003, one former State Department diplomat says in
the film, "I think he was unaware of his own role 16 years ago. That he had
put a strategic partnership with Iraq above the gassing of [that] country's
own people."
For those that missed the release of this resounding and extremely powerful
documentary in theaters, the DVD also comes with some added footage in the
Special Features (though admittedly, for those rabid political junkies and
newshounds, the footage is primarily uncut tape from the same interviews
that are integrated into the film itself).
Yet, what stands out is interview footage with the late Armenian journalist
and Agos editor Hrant Dink, taken before his assassination by a young
Turkish ultra-nationalist in Istanbul last year. In the interview, Dink
speaks about Armenian genocide denial and press censorship in Turkey.
Other features include a backstage concert tour filmed with System of a Down
fan Evan Backer, the teenage grandson of one of the NY Life class action
suit plaintiffs that sued the insurance company in 2004 to claim money
previously filed for but never received by Armenian genocide survivors.
Also included is footage taken in present-day Turkey of the former
Armenian-dominated cultural center at Efkere, a city whose Armenian
monuments and vestiges have now been aggressively ruined, scorched and
culturally cleansed by the Turkish government to erase Armenian traces from
the pre-1915 era.
All and all, "Screamers" is a very important film and a more than worthwhile
addition to any personal or educational DVD library.
To reserve a copy through the Hairenik Bookstore, call (617) 926-3974.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
2. Armenian Genocide Curriculum Gains Impetus
By Tom Vartabedian
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.-Efforts to introduce an Armenian genocide curriculum
throughout high schools north of Boston took a giant step forward Feb. 6
with an inspiring program at North Andover.
Two classrooms featuring more than 100 students from various classes were
given a comprehensive look at Armenian history and, in particular, the
genocidal years of 1915-23.
Leading the program were members of an ad hoc committee led by chairman Dro
Kanayan and Albert S. Movsesian, community activist.
Movsesian opened his lecture with a glimpse of family and community history
before focusing on the genocide. "No words can describe the devastation
Armenians were faced to endure in 1915," he told the students. "History
forgotten tends to repeat itself. We must dedicate our efforts to global
peace and harmony among all nations, regardless of our differences."
Movsesian illustrated his presentation with books and photographs. He
presented a story about an orphan rug that was presented to President Calvin
Coolidge and continues to hold a prominent place in the White House. Among
those who worked on the rug was his late mother-in-law Vartouhi Gulezian
while living in an orphanage in Ghazir.
"Despite all these tragedies, we've progressed into a prominent place in
world civilization," he said. "Armenians are builders. They've learned to
become very self-sufficient. Give them a piece of land and they'll cultivate
wheat fields."
Movsesian paid particular homage to Near East Relief and the thousands of
orphaned children who were saved in 1920 through international appeal.
"One orphanage saved 30,000 children," he pointed out.
Kanayan spoke of his famous grandfather General Dro Kanayan, who led the
Battle of Bash Abaran, leading to Armenian independence at Sadarabat in
1918.
The younger Kanayan has remained a catalyst toward getting the genocide into
the classrooms by this fall.
"The Armenian genocide was a crime against humanity," Kanayan told the
students. "Similar tragedies were marked by the Jews, Cambodians and victims
of the Rwandan genocide. Headlines in the New York Times didn't lie. We have
a responsibility to tell the truth."
Other subjects covered included some of the contributions by Armenians to
world civilization, stories of local survivors including two of note:
112-year-old Krikor Derderian and 106-year-old Yeghsapert Giragosian.
The North Andover students were enraptured by the presentation as questions
followed. One student asked if there was any animosity toward Turkey today.
Another wondered about recognition toward the genocide. A third questioned
how the Armenians defended themselves.
Three other high schools have been approached to make genocide education
standardized to the curriculum: Haverhill, Andover and Lowell. Yet to be
approached are Lawrence and Westford.
The project's goals are to educate students about the Armenian genocide, to
help prevent future crimes against humanity; to provide resources and tools
for educators to teach this topic; to provide scholarships to teachers who
introduce this subject matter as part of their lesson plan; and to ensure
that an effective history and social science curriculum is developed that
recognizes each person as an individual and encourages respect for the human
and civil rights of all people.
A textbook has already been compiled by a highly reputable firm called
"Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation," which is based in
Brookline. The text contains 198 pages covering all aspects of the genocide
>From multiple identities and generations to the Ottoman-Armenians,
humanitarian intervention, deportations, other crimes against humanity and
migration to America and other parts of the world.
Facing History is a nonprofit educational organization with the mission of
engaging students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism,
prejudice and anti-Semitism in order to promote a more humane and informed
society.
"The response we've gotten from the outside community has been very
positive," said Kanayan. "We'll continue to push forward until all the
schools have been contacted."
According to an instructor, Armenian genocide education was covered only
superficially during chapters on World War 1. For several years, the
Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Merrimack Valley conducted its
April 24th observances at North Andover High School, which has been most
receptive to the Armenian community.
Students and faculty were invited to this year's commemoration on April 20,
which features Dr. Herand Markarian's musical "The Georgetown Boys." Due to
a conflict at the high school, it will be staged at North Andover Middle
School.
----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
3. Shoghaken Ensemble Brings Armenian Melodies to Somerville
SOMERVILLE, Mass. (A.W.)-On Feb. 1, Armenia's Shoghaken Ensemble presented a
concert of native and diasporan Armenian folk music and dancing at the
Somerville Theatre.
Founded in 1991 by Gevorg Dabaghyan, the Shoghaken Ensemble has become one
of the preeminent traditional music ensembles in Armenia. Dedicated to
rediscovering and continuing Armenia's extraordinary folk music history, the
group presents music from a broad geographical and historical span using
traditional instruments and song styles.
The ensemble has performed extensively in Europe, Armenia and throughout the
former Soviet Union. The group recently performed on the soundtrack of Atom
Egoyan's 2002 film "Ararat."
In the summer of 2002, Shoghaken performed at the Smithsonian Folk Festival
in Washington, D.C. In the spring of 2004, the group performed in a 20-city
concert tour across the U.S., including concerts at the Kennedy Center in
Washington, D.C., Symphony Space in New York and the Annenberg Center in
Philadelphia, as well as Harvard University, Cornell University, UC Berkeley
and Dartmouth College.
Their more recent performances were at the Theatre de la Ville in Paris,
France, the White Nights festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the
Rudolstadt Festival in Rudolstadt, Germany where they performed for an
audience of 60,000.
Highlights from the concert included renditions of "Aparani Par" (the
traditional harvesting dance from the Aparan region, north of Yerevan),
"Melodies of Karabakh" (whose playing included the instrumentals of the
blul, the duduk, kamancha, kanon, and dhol), "Butanya Krunk" (The Crane),
"Msho Geghen" (a traditional from Mush and the Mush plains) and "Lelum Le
Le- Yarkhooshta" (a male-oriented traditional dancing song symbolizing
spears and battle).
Deft musical skills, eloquent gestures, vested pride in their music and
artful dancing has made the Shoghaken Ensemble's performances a joy to see
for devotees of Armenian culture and world music alike.
------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
4. Dead Armenian Poet's Society Meets in NY
NEW YORK (A.W.)-On Feb. 2, during the quarterly gathering of the Dead
Armenian Poet's Society (DAPS)-a salon where members read poems by deceased
Armenian authors-the group used modern technology to create a trans-Atlantic
cultural bridge. A remote guest from Goteborg, Sweden, Per Wik, the grandson
of poet Harout Kostandyan, and his daughter Klara, connected via Skype to
hear the poems read live in their original language.
Lola Koundakjian created DAPS in the early 1990's when she was attending
Columbia University as a graduate student in Armenian studies. She revived
the group in 2005 and has since held the quarterly meetings in her home.
Through the encouragement of DAPS members, Koundakjian started the Armenian
Poetry Project, an audio and text blog that has attracted more than 29,000
hits since its debut in May 2006.
DAPS has readers from all walks of life and heritage who get together to
share their love of poetry and discover Armenian authors.