Tweet
ARMENIANS AND PROGRESSIVE POLITICS CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
asbarez
Sunday, October 7th, 2012
Armenians and Progressive Politics Conference
LOS ANGELES-The Armenians and Progressive Politics Conference on
"Armenia at 21" proudly sponsored by the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, came to a close with its last leg held in Los Angeles,
California at the Hollywood Armenian Center on October 5th and 6th.
The L.A. segment of the Conference was the third and last portion of
a tour which took panelists to New York City, Berkeley and finally
Hollywood. The Conference was deemed as an overall success by
the organizers and attendees alike, as it achieved its objective
of introducing progressive thought to a diverse community of
participants. It comprised of four sessions with each of the
informative panels engaging attendees with issues dealing with the
social, civil and human rights challenges in the Republic of Armenia
after 21 years.
The first panel presented through a plenary session and entitled
"Human Rights in Armenia," offered a general overview of certain
challenges facing Armenia and how the latter ought to institutionalize
and develop itself as a state and be viewed in the context of human
rights issues facing the geographical region in which it is situated.
Consecutively, Saturday session panels covered the topics of "Rule
of Law/Corruption/Elections" and "21 Year Trajectory of Armenia's
Statehood, Economy & Society."
One of the highlights of the Conference was its keynote speaker,
Blase Bonpane, a renowned author, activist and KPFK radio host and
Director of the Office of the Americas. Bonpane's discussion centered
on "Consciousness and Moral Revolution."
The panelists included a diverse group of academics and activists from
Armenia and Diaspora, and offered the opportunity of a pluralistic
and progressive coverage of issues of interest to all those who were
interested in the progress of human rights in Armenia. The group
also included many activists who have been consistently critical of
the ARF and the organizers' policies, a fact which not only did not
deter the latter from extending the invitations, but was welcomed
based on the principles of free speech and appreciation of pluralism.
Due to an unfortunate security issue which could have threatened
the well-being of one of the panelists as well as the safety of
attending audience, led the organizing committee to cancel one of
the presentations, while offering the contents of the presentation
paper to be read by any one of the other panelists. This decision
and ensuing offer caused some of the other panelists to overreact
unequivocally and to refrain from making their own presentations,
denying the attendees from hearing much anticipated discussion.
Consistent with the ideology of the sponsoring party and the
commitment toward the cause of progressive politics, the organizers
remain committed not to be swayed by intrusions and intolerance on
either side of the political spectrum, and will continue to educate
the Armenian People and its youth in ways of promoting a free and
healthy exchange of ideas and progressive thought.
asbarez
Sunday, October 7th, 2012
Armenians and Progressive Politics Conference
LOS ANGELES-The Armenians and Progressive Politics Conference on
"Armenia at 21" proudly sponsored by the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, came to a close with its last leg held in Los Angeles,
California at the Hollywood Armenian Center on October 5th and 6th.
The L.A. segment of the Conference was the third and last portion of
a tour which took panelists to New York City, Berkeley and finally
Hollywood. The Conference was deemed as an overall success by
the organizers and attendees alike, as it achieved its objective
of introducing progressive thought to a diverse community of
participants. It comprised of four sessions with each of the
informative panels engaging attendees with issues dealing with the
social, civil and human rights challenges in the Republic of Armenia
after 21 years.
The first panel presented through a plenary session and entitled
"Human Rights in Armenia," offered a general overview of certain
challenges facing Armenia and how the latter ought to institutionalize
and develop itself as a state and be viewed in the context of human
rights issues facing the geographical region in which it is situated.
Consecutively, Saturday session panels covered the topics of "Rule
of Law/Corruption/Elections" and "21 Year Trajectory of Armenia's
Statehood, Economy & Society."
One of the highlights of the Conference was its keynote speaker,
Blase Bonpane, a renowned author, activist and KPFK radio host and
Director of the Office of the Americas. Bonpane's discussion centered
on "Consciousness and Moral Revolution."
The panelists included a diverse group of academics and activists from
Armenia and Diaspora, and offered the opportunity of a pluralistic
and progressive coverage of issues of interest to all those who were
interested in the progress of human rights in Armenia. The group
also included many activists who have been consistently critical of
the ARF and the organizers' policies, a fact which not only did not
deter the latter from extending the invitations, but was welcomed
based on the principles of free speech and appreciation of pluralism.
Due to an unfortunate security issue which could have threatened
the well-being of one of the panelists as well as the safety of
attending audience, led the organizing committee to cancel one of
the presentations, while offering the contents of the presentation
paper to be read by any one of the other panelists. This decision
and ensuing offer caused some of the other panelists to overreact
unequivocally and to refrain from making their own presentations,
denying the attendees from hearing much anticipated discussion.
Consistent with the ideology of the sponsoring party and the
commitment toward the cause of progressive politics, the organizers
remain committed not to be swayed by intrusions and intolerance on
either side of the political spectrum, and will continue to educate
the Armenian People and its youth in ways of promoting a free and
healthy exchange of ideas and progressive thought.