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BLEAK & BRIGHT
Posted by Garen Yegparian on February 27, 2013 in Garen Yegparian
In Yerevan, we have the bleakness of a stolen election, politely and
preemptively, of course, but stolen nevertheless.
In Glendale, we have the bleakness of some Armenians running as
spoilers, and some political factions working to keep Armenians down.
In Burbank, we have the bleakness of overt hate fueled by ignorance;
see the accompanying transcript of a telephone message received by
Armond Aghakhanian's campaign for school board.
In the diaspora, we have the bleakness of a severe disconnectedness
with the civic/electoral/political reality of the Republic of Armenia.
I am just as guilty as anyone, in this respect. Can you think
of anything significant I've written over the course of the last
half-a-year during which the presidential campaign played out there?
All the vile people who are responsible for these sad states of
affairs should beware. Their time is short. Why?
In Yerevan, there are bright spots. People voted in very significant
numbers (if not a stolen majority) for Raffi Hovannisian to become
president. And, they're now making an issue of the rigged election
results by standing up, firmly, for their rights as citizens.
In Glendale, there are bright spots. Decent, thinking people,
Armenian or not, are coming together to work for the election of the
best candidates, regardless of the desires of some machinators with
outsized egos and a desire to control political life in the city.
In Burbank, there are bright spots. Armenian residents are voting
at above average rates in very difficult, competitive races for city
council, school board, and city clerk. To the best of my knowledge,
the candidates, whether supported by the Burbank ANCA or not, do
not harbor anti-Armenian sentiments. Those who have learned about
the message received by Armond's campaign were quite shocked. And,
there is progress in the Burbank police department where anti-Armenian
attitudes are being slowly eliminated.
In the diaspora, there are bright spots. People are speaking up about
the unacceptable electoral behavior of the power elites. There was
even a demonstration yesterday, in Glendale, in front of the Consulate
General of the Republic of Armenia. Ever so slowly, people are getting
over their fear of "airing our dirty laundry in public," and seeing
the value and effectiveness of letting the sun shine in on the dark
activities of those corrupting our fledgling republic.
Keep fighting the bleakness with the brightness of engagement and
action.
Text of telephone message
Yes, good day to you. I was trying to reach Lori Adams. Since she
sent me a letter in the mail endorsing (cough) Armond, Armond for
Burbank teachers (uhh) school board.
And (umm) I just wanted to say (umm) please don't forward me anymore
mail regarding such a candidate. Especially (umm) for someone here
in Burbank. And I, and I will tell you for the reason why.
Umm I don't understand why Armenians think they have the right to
run for government government positions.
They're not, they're not, indigenous and native to this country. And
also they're the freaking of America.
I mean they have refugee status. They get section 8 housing to pay for
their rent. They get small business loans to pay for their businesses.
They get grants to go to school so they can become dentists and
pharmacists. Then they get food stamps, they load them up with (umm)
300, 400 dollars of groceries. And then they schlepp themselves into
$80,000 Mercedes they didn't earn.
Are you kidding me?!
Are you kidding me?!
So please, please, a vote for you!?
Are you kidding me?!
You're not a part of America, you're not a part of the United States.
And if you don't know your history you should know it.
You were ousted out of Russia, the Armenians were, you went to
Turkey, the Turks almost eradicated you, then you went to the Middle
East...your...nobody likes you!
And so what makes you think that you even have the audacity to to
even be in the United States of America and have a vote?
When you're the freaking of America.
I am just so insulted!
I am so insulted by this letter!
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/27/bleak-bright/
From: A. Papazian
Posted by Garen Yegparian on February 27, 2013 in Garen Yegparian
In Yerevan, we have the bleakness of a stolen election, politely and
preemptively, of course, but stolen nevertheless.
In Glendale, we have the bleakness of some Armenians running as
spoilers, and some political factions working to keep Armenians down.
In Burbank, we have the bleakness of overt hate fueled by ignorance;
see the accompanying transcript of a telephone message received by
Armond Aghakhanian's campaign for school board.
In the diaspora, we have the bleakness of a severe disconnectedness
with the civic/electoral/political reality of the Republic of Armenia.
I am just as guilty as anyone, in this respect. Can you think
of anything significant I've written over the course of the last
half-a-year during which the presidential campaign played out there?
All the vile people who are responsible for these sad states of
affairs should beware. Their time is short. Why?
In Yerevan, there are bright spots. People voted in very significant
numbers (if not a stolen majority) for Raffi Hovannisian to become
president. And, they're now making an issue of the rigged election
results by standing up, firmly, for their rights as citizens.
In Glendale, there are bright spots. Decent, thinking people,
Armenian or not, are coming together to work for the election of the
best candidates, regardless of the desires of some machinators with
outsized egos and a desire to control political life in the city.
In Burbank, there are bright spots. Armenian residents are voting
at above average rates in very difficult, competitive races for city
council, school board, and city clerk. To the best of my knowledge,
the candidates, whether supported by the Burbank ANCA or not, do
not harbor anti-Armenian sentiments. Those who have learned about
the message received by Armond's campaign were quite shocked. And,
there is progress in the Burbank police department where anti-Armenian
attitudes are being slowly eliminated.
In the diaspora, there are bright spots. People are speaking up about
the unacceptable electoral behavior of the power elites. There was
even a demonstration yesterday, in Glendale, in front of the Consulate
General of the Republic of Armenia. Ever so slowly, people are getting
over their fear of "airing our dirty laundry in public," and seeing
the value and effectiveness of letting the sun shine in on the dark
activities of those corrupting our fledgling republic.
Keep fighting the bleakness with the brightness of engagement and
action.
Text of telephone message
Yes, good day to you. I was trying to reach Lori Adams. Since she
sent me a letter in the mail endorsing (cough) Armond, Armond for
Burbank teachers (uhh) school board.
And (umm) I just wanted to say (umm) please don't forward me anymore
mail regarding such a candidate. Especially (umm) for someone here
in Burbank. And I, and I will tell you for the reason why.
Umm I don't understand why Armenians think they have the right to
run for government government positions.
They're not, they're not, indigenous and native to this country. And
also they're the freaking of America.
I mean they have refugee status. They get section 8 housing to pay for
their rent. They get small business loans to pay for their businesses.
They get grants to go to school so they can become dentists and
pharmacists. Then they get food stamps, they load them up with (umm)
300, 400 dollars of groceries. And then they schlepp themselves into
$80,000 Mercedes they didn't earn.
Are you kidding me?!
Are you kidding me?!
So please, please, a vote for you!?
Are you kidding me?!
You're not a part of America, you're not a part of the United States.
And if you don't know your history you should know it.
You were ousted out of Russia, the Armenians were, you went to
Turkey, the Turks almost eradicated you, then you went to the Middle
East...your...nobody likes you!
And so what makes you think that you even have the audacity to to
even be in the United States of America and have a vote?
When you're the freaking of America.
I am just so insulted!
I am so insulted by this letter!
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/27/bleak-bright/
From: A. Papazian