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BOB FILNER IS A TRUE FRIEND TO ARMENIANS
asbarez
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012
Tsoghig Hekimian, Bob Filner and Marilyn Melkonian
BY TSOGHIG HEKIMIAN
As a former employee of Congressman Bob Filner of San Diego and
an active member of the Armenian community of Washington DC (and
previously Los Angeles), I am writing this article today to urge
every Armenian in San Diego to vote for Bob Filner for Mayor in this
upcoming election.
September 12th, 2002, was my first day working in Washington DC for
Congressman Filner. It was so surreal because my previous job was
in my parent's jewelry booth in Downtown Los Angeles (for all of you
non-Angelinos, the Jewelry District in Downtown LA is an area where
there are hundreds of jewelry retailers, the majority of them being
Armenian). I went from selling jewelry to working for a Congressman in
his Washington office! Working in his office was a very enlightening
and exciting experience. (I highly recommend all young people who are
majoring in Political Science, History or Public Policy to spend time
working or interning for a politician; there is nothing like learning
on the job...but I digress.)
When I was preparing to interview for the job, I did a great deal of
research on Congressman Filner. He was one of 16 members of Congress
with a Ph.D., and he had served on the San Diego School Board as well
as the San Diego City Council before he ran for Congress. However,
the most interesting bit of his history was that he had been arrested
and jailed for two months in Mississippi during the Civil Rights
movement in the 1960's for being a Freedom Rider.
I worked for Congressman Filner for over a year, during which I
discovered the characteristics of an unapologetic, assertive, and
very vocal advocate for the underdog. The underdogs that got the
most attention in his office were Veterans. He served on the House of
Representatives Veterans' Affairs Committee for his entire career as
a Congressman, and he chaired the committee for four years when the
Democrats were a majority of the House from 2006-2010. Under his watch,
funding and support for Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
increased exponentially in the form of mental and physical health
services and more money for business and home loans. Most importantly,
he authored and helped to pass the GI Bill for the 21st Century,
enabling Veterans to earn a college degree without worrying about
how they are going to pay the bills.
Another underdog Congressman Filner is a supporter of is Armenia and
the Armenian-American community. Filner co-sponsored every Armenian
Genocide recognition bill for the last 17 years. He has also spoken
at numerous Genocide recognition events in Washington and San Diego
and has displayed unwavering support on issues regarding Armenians.
He has also supported Cypriot, Greek and Kurdish issues. On July 19,
2010 he submitted comments in the House of Representatives in support
of Cypriot independence and the return of stolen properties by Turks to
the rightful Cypriot owners. Congressman Filner introduced legislation
for a number of years calling for the immediate and unconditional
release from prison of Kurdish members of the Parliament of the
Republic of Turkey, in particular Leyla Zana. Zana was imprisoned
in Turkey for 10 years because, upon entering the Parliament, she
said the last sentence of her oath in Kurdish. She was released from
prison in 2004. Congressman Filner is a member of the Armenian Caucus
as well as the Hellenic Caucus and, unlike some of our other friends,
he is NOT a member of the Turkish Caucus.
Filner's advocacy of Genocide recognition is engrained in his genes.
His father, Joe Filner, joined the U.S. Army during WWII and was part
of a group of Yiddish speaking soldiers who liberated two concentration
camps. His father witnessed the atrocities that our grandparents
and some of our parents experienced and, from that day forward, he
vowed to stand against such crimes against humanity. Joe Filner's
commitment to justice was engrained in his son, Congressman Filner,
as he has been steadfast in his support for justice for the Armenians,
Greeks, Kurds and all other oppressed people around the world.
I am writing this to assure the Armenian community that we will
forever have a friend in Congressman Filner. As Mayor of San Diego,
Congressman Filner will have many opportunities to support Genocide
recognition events, pass and sign supportive proclamations, as well
as advocate from a high perch for Genocide recognition by the federal
government. Until we have viable Armenian candidates running, it is
vital that we support and promote our non-Armenian friends to higher
office. Congressman Filner has a long track record of friendship with
Armenian Americans, and our community should feel confident that they
are electing a strong advocate for Armenians as Mayor of San Diego
when they vote for Bob Filner.
I strongly urge Armenians in San Diego and Armenians who have friends
in San Diego to support Congressman Filner's run for Mayor!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
asbarez
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012
Tsoghig Hekimian, Bob Filner and Marilyn Melkonian
BY TSOGHIG HEKIMIAN
As a former employee of Congressman Bob Filner of San Diego and
an active member of the Armenian community of Washington DC (and
previously Los Angeles), I am writing this article today to urge
every Armenian in San Diego to vote for Bob Filner for Mayor in this
upcoming election.
September 12th, 2002, was my first day working in Washington DC for
Congressman Filner. It was so surreal because my previous job was
in my parent's jewelry booth in Downtown Los Angeles (for all of you
non-Angelinos, the Jewelry District in Downtown LA is an area where
there are hundreds of jewelry retailers, the majority of them being
Armenian). I went from selling jewelry to working for a Congressman in
his Washington office! Working in his office was a very enlightening
and exciting experience. (I highly recommend all young people who are
majoring in Political Science, History or Public Policy to spend time
working or interning for a politician; there is nothing like learning
on the job...but I digress.)
When I was preparing to interview for the job, I did a great deal of
research on Congressman Filner. He was one of 16 members of Congress
with a Ph.D., and he had served on the San Diego School Board as well
as the San Diego City Council before he ran for Congress. However,
the most interesting bit of his history was that he had been arrested
and jailed for two months in Mississippi during the Civil Rights
movement in the 1960's for being a Freedom Rider.
I worked for Congressman Filner for over a year, during which I
discovered the characteristics of an unapologetic, assertive, and
very vocal advocate for the underdog. The underdogs that got the
most attention in his office were Veterans. He served on the House of
Representatives Veterans' Affairs Committee for his entire career as
a Congressman, and he chaired the committee for four years when the
Democrats were a majority of the House from 2006-2010. Under his watch,
funding and support for Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
increased exponentially in the form of mental and physical health
services and more money for business and home loans. Most importantly,
he authored and helped to pass the GI Bill for the 21st Century,
enabling Veterans to earn a college degree without worrying about
how they are going to pay the bills.
Another underdog Congressman Filner is a supporter of is Armenia and
the Armenian-American community. Filner co-sponsored every Armenian
Genocide recognition bill for the last 17 years. He has also spoken
at numerous Genocide recognition events in Washington and San Diego
and has displayed unwavering support on issues regarding Armenians.
He has also supported Cypriot, Greek and Kurdish issues. On July 19,
2010 he submitted comments in the House of Representatives in support
of Cypriot independence and the return of stolen properties by Turks to
the rightful Cypriot owners. Congressman Filner introduced legislation
for a number of years calling for the immediate and unconditional
release from prison of Kurdish members of the Parliament of the
Republic of Turkey, in particular Leyla Zana. Zana was imprisoned
in Turkey for 10 years because, upon entering the Parliament, she
said the last sentence of her oath in Kurdish. She was released from
prison in 2004. Congressman Filner is a member of the Armenian Caucus
as well as the Hellenic Caucus and, unlike some of our other friends,
he is NOT a member of the Turkish Caucus.
Filner's advocacy of Genocide recognition is engrained in his genes.
His father, Joe Filner, joined the U.S. Army during WWII and was part
of a group of Yiddish speaking soldiers who liberated two concentration
camps. His father witnessed the atrocities that our grandparents
and some of our parents experienced and, from that day forward, he
vowed to stand against such crimes against humanity. Joe Filner's
commitment to justice was engrained in his son, Congressman Filner,
as he has been steadfast in his support for justice for the Armenians,
Greeks, Kurds and all other oppressed people around the world.
I am writing this to assure the Armenian community that we will
forever have a friend in Congressman Filner. As Mayor of San Diego,
Congressman Filner will have many opportunities to support Genocide
recognition events, pass and sign supportive proclamations, as well
as advocate from a high perch for Genocide recognition by the federal
government. Until we have viable Armenian candidates running, it is
vital that we support and promote our non-Armenian friends to higher
office. Congressman Filner has a long track record of friendship with
Armenian Americans, and our community should feel confident that they
are electing a strong advocate for Armenians as Mayor of San Diego
when they vote for Bob Filner.
I strongly urge Armenians in San Diego and Armenians who have friends
in San Diego to support Congressman Filner's run for Mayor!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress