I learned yesterday that Joe Lieberman passed away.I was sorry to hear. He was US Senator from Connecticut
the entire time we lived in the Nutmeg State. There are many reasons why I admired him.There was also one very special reason.
While a member of the Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension, I
took it on myself to our Senators and Congressmen to see if they would visit
our church on a Sunday and speak to the parishioners during our coffee hours
after church services.The first person
I wrote was Christopher Shays who was our congressman.He was more than happy to do visit our church
and it was a special Sunday for the Holy Ascension Community.
I decided, next, to reach out to Senator Lieberman’s office and
see if he might come and visit our church some Sunday.My expectation was lower only because
Senators have larger constituencies and are, presumably busier than
representatives.I was impressed that I got
a call from a fellow on Senator Lieberman’s staff in relatively short order.He informed me that the Senator would be
happy to visit our parish if we were amenable to having his wife, Haddasah, the
daughter of Holocaust survivors, address the congregation.Given that she would relate her familial
experiences to that of Armenian Genocide survivors, it was a more than
agreeable idea.We arranged a date and
Senator and Mrs. Lieberman joined us for our coffee hour.They both addressed the congregation.They were warm and engaging.It was a very wonderful and memorable time
for our church.Since then, I was a fan and
follower of Senator Lieberman.The more
I learned about him, the more I liked him.
Joseph Isadore Lieberman was born in Stamford, Connecticut on
February 24, 1942, to a Jewish family of Polish and Austrian descent. He
graduated from Yale University in 1964 and Yale Law School in 1967, after which
he began his career in public service.
Lieberman's political journey began in the Connecticut State
Senate, where he served from 1971 to 1981. He then became the Attorney General
of Connecticut, holding the position from 1983 to 1989. In 1988, he made a
successful bid for the United States Senate, becoming the first Orthodox Jew to
be elected to the Senate.
As a Senator, Lieberman gained prominence for his centrist views
and willingness to work across party lines. He was known for his positions on
national security, advocating for a strong defense and a proactive foreign
policy. He also played a key role in various legislative initiatives, including
environmental protection, healthcare reform, and campaign finance reform.He was a fiscal conservative and social
moderate to liberal.
In 2000, Lieberman was selected as the Democratic nominee for Vice
President, running alongside Al Gore in the presidential election. Although
they ultimately lost to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, Lieberman's candidacy
marked a significant moment in American politics as the first Jewish candidate
on a major party's presidential ticket.
Throughout his Senate career, Lieberman gained a reputation as a
pragmatic and independent-minded politician. He occasionally broke ranks with
his party on issues such as national security and social policy, earning both
praise and criticism from different quarters.
Lieberman retired from the Senate in 2013 after serving for 24
years. Following his Senate tenure, he remained active in public life, working
as a consultant, commentator, and advocate for various causes, including
national security, healthcare, and religious freedom.
Joe Lieberman's legacy is marked by his dedication to public
service, his efforts to bridge political divides, and his contributions to key
policy debates during his time in office.In the current political climate and polarization in this country, we
certainly could use more representatives and Senators with the sense, centrist
views, and leadership qualities of Joe Lieberman.
Besides his wonderful service to our county, I will never forget
his visit to our church.
TikTok, is the widely used app that was built around and actually popularized
the short video clip format of social media. Widely used?Popularized?These words aren’t
nearly grandiose enough to explain the popularity of the social media platform
that began in 2016 in China by ByteDance LTD.It expanded to the US in 2017. Today, it is the fifth most popular
social media app in the world behind Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram.Note that Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are
owned by Meta. YouTube is owned by Alphabet
(Google).
TikTok has been in the crosshairs of the US Government for a few
years now.From the executive office to the
Congress.Politicos, on both sides of
the aisle, have expressed concerns about this Chinese owned app.It is one of the few issues that is not part
of the polarization that has gripped this country for over a decade.What is the issue?Why is the government so concerned about this
foreign owned app?The United States has
expressed concerns about TikTok for several reasons:
Data
Privacy and Security: One of the primary concerns is related
to data privacy and security. TikTok, owned by the Chinese company
ByteDance, collects a vast amount of user data, including location
information, browsing history, and device information. There are worries
that this data could be accessed or misused by the Chinese government,
given China's strict control over its tech companies.The crucial point is the National
Intelligence Law enacted in 2017, which compels Chinese organizations to
cooperate with state intelligence work.If the Chinese government wants access to all of the information
TikTok has collected, ByteDance must comply.This is quite concerning to many of
elected, appointed, and career government officials.Many US companies have banned TikTok
from any company devices and even personal devices that have access to
company email.This concern is not
limited to the US.The European Union administration has all banned
TikTok on staff devices, citing cybersecurity concerns.
National
Security: The concern extends to national security
risks. The fear is that TikTok's data collection practices could be
exploited to gather intelligence on American citizens, influence public
opinion, or conduct other activities that could undermine U.S. national security
interests.
Censorship
and Content Control: There are also concerns about censorship
and content control. TikTok has faced criticism for allegedly censoring
content that is critical of the Chinese government or topics deemed
sensitive by Chinese authorities. This raises questions about freedom of
expression and the platform's potential role in shaping public discourse.It should be noted that China has banned
access to Meta and Alphabet products/apps since 2009.The do it for a combination of censorship,
national security, and to give their one social media apps the opportunity
to refine and grow before unleashing them internationally.
Regulatory
Compliance: Another issue is whether TikTok complies
with U.S. laws and regulations regarding data protection, cybersecurity,
and foreign influence. Regulatory compliance and transparency in how user
data is handled are essential aspects that authorities monitor closely.
Competition
and Market Influence: TikTok's rapid rise in popularity and
its dominance in the social media landscape have also raised concerns
about competition and market influence. Some argue that TikTok's success
could lead to unfair competition practices or give a foreign entity too much
control over the digital experiences of American users.
These concerns have led to various actions and discussions within
the U.S. government, including calls for investigations, potential bans, or
efforts to compel TikTok to address these issues through measures such as data
localization (storing user data within the U.S.) or ownership restructuring to
distance itself from Chinese control.The
House of Representatives passed a bill earlier this month saying that TikTok needs
to sold, presumably to a US based corporation, or face a ban here.There is at least one venture capital group
preparing to make an offer.It will be
interesting to see how this all plays out.
While our concerns about TikTok might bear merit, we are not as concerned
about the Alphabet and Meta apps that have many of the same privacy and
cybersecurity fallibilities.What is not
of concern is the impact on productivity and the impact on the sense and
sensibility of our people especially our young people.I imagine anyone that has looked at TikToks
and ‘reels’ on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube is aware of just how many hours
can be spent, or rather squandered, watching these entertaining and addictive little
videos.I am no psychologist, but I
imagine TikTok would fall into the same category of the negatives explored in
the sobering documentary, The Social Dilemma, which one can watch on
Netflix and other video streaming services.While National Security and Cybersecurity are critical issues to be
concerned about, we should also address the impact that ALL of these apps have
on all of us.
One of the rewards of teaching is the memorable and impressive
students I have had the pleasure knowing in the one or two classes they take
with me.One of the memorable graduate
students is Ben Grum.He was a student
in my SBNM 5411 Quantitative Decision Making course.He took the class July and August of 2020
which was during the worst of the COVID pandemic.So, we never met face-to-face.We did, however, interact quite a bit online
and have a few phone conversations.Ben
was among the best students I have had in that class.He was hardworking, curious, smart, and his papers
and Excel work were very well done.
I have the students, especially in online classes, introduce
themselves in discussion posts.Ben
noted that he was a detective in the Lake Forest Police Department where I
live.This was very cool for two
reasons.I never had a police officer in
a class and I live in Lake Forest.I
felt a bit safer knowing we had someone on our police force with Ben’s fine
qualities.
We get a free newsletter in the mail of local news and
events.It is the Lake Forests/Lake
Bluff edition of the Lake County Gazette.In early February there was article, Lake
Forest police commander Ben Grum takes on Lake County Board race.I was delighted, and not really surprised, to
see that Ben was running for political office and had risen to the rank of
commander in the Police Department.
Shortly thereafter, I got an email announcement that Ben was
having an event, I assume to kick-off his campaign.I bought a two tickets and we attended the “Grum
for Lake County Country Music Event at The Farm” in Lake Bluff.Remember that we met in an online class in the
depths of the pandemic and had never met in person.It was wonderful to finally meet Ben as well
as his lovely wife and mother.What a
great gathering.Good thing we went
early, as later it was almost impossible to find a parking spot at The
Farm.The Cowboy Co. Band rocked the
joint and it was a good time.People,
the friends and supporter of Ben, were all happy to be there.
Ben is running his campaign on a four-plank platform all of
which appeal to me as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate.
Public
Safety:
In a time when people question their safety and security, and the State of
Illinois is passing legislation that is consistently inhibiting law enforcement
Ben. will be dedicated to doing what is possible on a County level to ensure
the safety and security of all Lake County residents and visitors.
Taxes:
Taxes in Lake County are out of control and are negatively impacting our
lowest-income homeowners disproportionally. Ben vows to not vote for a property
tax increase and to repeal the gas tax. Instead, Ben will adamantly push for
third-party audits countywide much like we see in private business to ensure
the county operates efficiently.
Local
Control:
Ben Grum recognizes that decisions made closest to the community are often the
most informed and accountable. As a county board member, he champions leaving
local matters to local governments and, when feasible, to the voters
themselves. Ben opposes personal biases influencing decisions, exemplified in
recent instances like the attempted Lake Bluff Golf Course closure, advocating
for transparent, community-driven governance.
Economic Development: To foster a vibrant and thriving Lake County, collaboration
with business leaders and entrepreneurs is paramount. Ben Grum's approach
involves job creation and revenue generation through sales tax, avoiding
burdensome income or property taxes. Addressing the migration of businesses to
Wisconsin, Ben aims to eradicate anti-business policies that hinder growth
within our county.
Ben is a double degree holder from North Park University and
specifically the School of Business and Nonprofit Management in which I am a
faculty member.He got a BA in Business
in 2011 and his MBA with an HR Certificate in 2022.As stated on our website:
The mission of North Park University, as the
University of the Evangelical
Covenant Church, is to prepare students for lives of significance and
service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies,
and theology.
Ben is certainly has embraced this mission and is living a life of
significance and service.I am proud of
and happy for Ben.He most certainly has
my endorsement and vote.
It was the annual spring ritual to
move to daylight savings time to give us more daylight into later into the
evening.We will return to standard time
in the fall.
Ever since November 18, 1883, when
the US and Canadian railroads created time zones and standardized time within
the zones, there has been controversy.In 1908, the Canadians in Thunder Bay, Ontario implemented the bright
idea of daylight savings time (DST) to the longer daylight hours of the summer
to the evening hours.In 1966, Congress
passed the Uniform Time Act which allowed the states to decide if they wanted
to adopt daylight savings time or not.The only proviso was the decision had to be applied statewide and the
annual spring-ahead and fall-back dates were standardized across the
country.
From the first ‘standardization’
of time and the first notions of shifting to and from DST, people have had
issues with it.People on the edges of
the time zones are more vocal about the standardization.The number of those disgruntled with DST ebbs
and flows.It seems to have flared up in
the US as we seem to look for more things to be upset and polarized about.
Me?I am OK with it and the few days it takes to
adapt to it.Mostly, I like it because I
can post the same cartoons and memes twice a year as I have here.
It is just 9 am here in
Chicagoland.But for the ‘Spring
forward’ it would be 8 am.Honestly, I
can only tell the difference at the beginnings and ends of the days when it is
either lighter in the morning and darker earlier in the evening or vice-versa.The main reasons people complain are:
For 74% of respondents, the solution seems clear: they support the idea of
ending DST entirely. They believe it to be a waste of time and money, with
minimal energy savings and inconsistent sunrise times. Alarmingly, some
argue that it may even contribute to an increase in traffic incidents. ~ northjersey.com
Health. Experts in circadian rhythms and sleep have warned about the
negative health implications of DST. DST reduces sleep time and causes an
increased mismatch between the body clock and local time, a condition
called social jetlag. ~ wikipedia
In addition to sleep loss, people are at greater risk of mood disturbance,
suicide, and being involved in traffic accidents during both bi-annual
transition periods. However, experts suggest that long term, there is a
reduction of accidents as more people drive home from work in daylight. ~ sleepfoundation.org
Honestly, I am OK with daylight
savings time.Really, an hour change in
the spring and again in the fall is not hard to adjust to.I am a bit, only a bit mind you, amazed and mystified
about when others complain about it.
Should we abolish daylight saving
time? Modify it?I have a few ideas.
First, maybe the world adapts a
global time zone.Let’s all, the whole
world, move to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).It is historical.It is British
and hearkens back to the days of the British Empire (and I am not really an anglophile).Per the GMT website:
Greenwich Mean Time or GMT is the mean (average) solar time at the Greenwich
Meridian or Prime
Meridian, 0 degrees longitude.
The time displayed by the Shepherd Gate Clock at the Royal Observatory in
Greenwich, London, is always GMT. When the sun is at its highest point exactly
above the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory, it is 12:00 noon at
Greenwich.
I live in Chicago.I get up at 5 am which would 1000.I start class at 8 which would be 1300.If lunch was normally at noon… I would be having
lunch at high 1800.If someone in Bishkek
said he would call me at 1930, there would be no question as when that might
be.I would clarify if it was Bishkek
time or Chicago time, I wouldn’t have to add or subtract hours.Time miscalculations would not be the cause
of missing the call.Time is relative anyway.We would get used to it after a decade or
two.If the world were to move to such a
universal time, the US would probably not join in.After all, the whole world moved to the
metric system, and we still haven’t.
The other idea is we can all have
our own personal time.This might appeal
to our uniquely American obsession with individualism.We are after all, each and every one of us,
unique valued and special snowflakes.So,
here is the idea.Since almost every
clock or watch that matters internet capable, everyone can set their own time
standard.Me?I want dawn to 6 am wherever I am… because…
well, there is a very small vestige of a farming heritage in my psyche.My time management app would simply adjust
all my clocks (phone, watch, laptops, car, etc) to that dawn is 6 am standard
based on longitude and latitude.Every
day 6 am would vary by a few seconds as days get longer or shorter.Like the speedometer in my car that displays
mph and kmph, every watch would display my personal time whatever the local
time is.This would certainly be ridiculously
confusing.If I wake up at 5 am on
school days and sunrise was at 7:12 (which would be the new 6 am on that day),
my alarm clock would wake me at 3:48 am.See?It is pretty simple.Well actually not.I am sure I would be early or late or just
plain miss altogether classes and other appointments.It is a small price to pay for GMT to mean
Gavoor Mean Time for me.
Or… we could just leave things
alone and either complain about it or have a little fun with it twice a year.
Western Armenian Music: From Asia Minor to the United States By Hachig Kazarian Published by The Press at Fresno State University Publication date: 2023
Hachig Kazarian has penned a wonderful book, Western Armenian Music: From Asia Minor to the United States. It is the 18th
book in Fresno State’s Armenian Series, first edited by Dikran
Kouymjian (1986-2008) and then by Barlow Der Mugrdechian since
Kouymjian’s retirement.
Most of us know of Hachig Kazarian.
How could we not? He is known for his masterful clarinet playing at
Armenian gatherings all around the United States since the 1960s. He is
arguably the best there ever was in this country – the GOAT in modern
parlance. We know him from the many albums he has recorded, from Passport East
with the Hye Tone band in Detroit to the series of Kef Time albums with
Buddy Sarkisian and Richard Hagopian. His iconic album, in my view, is The Exciting Sounds of Hachig Kazarian,
featuring “Govand.” This one track inspired countless numbers of young
Armenians of my generation to take up the clarinet. Some have gotten
pretty darn good themselves, but Hachig is still in a class by himself.
This is Hachig’s first book. The
500-page book is in part a scholarly treatment of Western Armenian music
and in part a memoir of his years performing.
The book is divided into six
sections: The Quandary of Western Armenian Music (chapters 1-4), The
Understanding of Western Armenian Music and Dance (chapters 5-9), The
Plight of Western Armenian Music (chapters 10-11), Traditional Western
Armenian Bands in the United States (chapter 12), Armenian Village Folk
Dance Melodies (chapter 13) and Musicological Developments in Armenian
Musical Notation and Understanding the Armenian Modal System (chapters
14-15).
Hachig stakes out a place for Western
Armenian music in a way that many of its musicians see it. It is its
own genre worthy of being celebrated and preserved. After the Genocide,
Beirut became a de facto center for Western Armenian culture. Its
intelligentsia led a movement to rid the language of Turkish words. In
their zeal to define what is purely Armenian, they also stripped folk
music of the modal tones that made the music sound “oriental” or
Turkish.
Gomidas Vartabed, thankfully,
captured and wrote down many of the melodies, songs and dances of
Western Armenia. As a people, we have deified Gomidas. Another prominent
Armenian ethnomusicologist once told me that Gomidas preserved the
modal elements in his work, but others have cleansed the modal elements.
“Kele-Kele” and “Groong” are often performed by operatic singers
accompanied by orchestras or pianists. It is the purification of what
villagers might have sung in the fields or after a hard day’s labor
around the hearth. Both are worthy, but the core should not be lost
forever, in favor of the concert hall.
The Beirut Armenians preserved and
cleansed the Western Armenian language and thought they were doing the
same for music. In reality, they faced the West, and that view defined
the evolution of Armenian music in Beirut. In the U.S., it was harder to
preserve the language, so music was another way of staying tethered to
our rich culture.
Armenians started coming to the U.S.
after the Hamidian massacres, and the bulk of Armenians came after 1915.
For the most part, Armenians migrated to the U.S. from villages. When
they gathered in getrons (centers),
clubs and churches, they brought their foods, dialects, customs, music
and dances with them. The dances, music and melodies of Van were
preserved in Detroit, where large numbers of Vanetsis lived. Hachig’s
grandfather, for whom he is named, was an expert in these dances and
melodies and made sure his grandson knew the music that they brought
from “the old country.” As Beirut turned westward, we in the U.S. turned
eastward, trying to capture, preserve and build upon the music and
dances that our parents or grandparents brought with them.
As Hachig notes in his chapter on
Gomidas: “Unfortunately, village folk music was already alien to the
wealthy elite Armenians who didn’t like, and looked down upon, village
music. Gomidas and his compositions were revered by the Armenians in
Constantinople who loved his art songs and choral arrangements as the
only true form of Armenian music. Without realizing it, Gomidas’ new
polyphonic selections seemed to debase the existing monophonic village
folk music that had survived for centuries.”
It may be uncomfortable for some to
read any criticism of Gomidas. But Hachig makes a case that all of us
should consider. In discussing the cultural appropriation of Western
Armenian music and dance, he argues that this music is ours, and we have
to embrace and preserve it. It is not just Armenian American, or deghatsi,
music, but Western Armenian village music. This music overlaps greatly
with kef music, which tends to include Turkish and other Middle Eastern
music. Yet Hachig is referring to the village songs and dances of
Western Armenia, occupied by Turkey.
Assuming we can all agree on
preserving and promoting the village music of Western Armenia, there is
still the question of the “oriental” sound. Should we purify it and
strip out those pesky microtones to make it more Western? Hachig argues
against this. The Armenian modal system is rooted in the sharagans of the Badarak.
As Hachig notes: “In the strictest
definition, the modal systems of Armenian folk and sacred music are
derived from melody types that are collectively referred to as
Octoechoes… The Ut Tsayn (meaning eight tone) system, also referred to
as Octoechoes when used by the Armenian church, was created by Stepanos
Siunetzi (685-735).”
This modal system is not uniquely
Armenian. It is regional and shared by Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Jews,
and yes, the Turks, who adopted it when they conquered the region. We
should embrace this modal system as well as the polyphonic that is so
often used in Armenian popular, sacred and classical music these days.
It makes no sense to exclude parts of our culture. It makes even less
sense when others are appropriating it and calling it their own.
Hachig also explores the musical notation system created by Armenians over the years. The khaz system
was established in the seventh century using letters and symbols. In
the early 1800s, Hampartsoum Limonjian developed an even better system.
His “Hampartsoun nota” became the standard until the 1920s, when Western
staff notation became dominant in both Armenian sacred and Turkish
classical music. Hampartsoum nota was important to “preserve and unify
the melodies and style of Armenian sacred and folk music. It was the
leading contributing factor to the preservation of Turkish classical and
folk music.” Before reading Hachig’s explanation of Hampartsoum nota,
it looked like a cross between Arabic script and Braille to me. After
reading his explanation, I felt I could actually learn
it.
Chapter 12 may be the most
interesting chapter in the book for fans of Western Armenian music.
Hachig writes about the bands started in the 1940s by the children of
first-generation Armenian immigrants. Hachig admired or performed with
these bands, and their members are his contemporaries. They include: The
Artie Barsamian Orchestra of Boston, The Nor-Ikes Band of New York
City, The Vosbikian Band of Philadelphia, The Aramite Band of Worcester,
The Arax Band of Detroit, The Hye-Tones Band of Detroit, The Kef Time
Band, The New Jersey Orientals, The El Jazaire “Night Club Band,” The
Arax Band of New Jersey/NYC and The All-Star Band.
In Chapter 13, Hachig provides
musical notation for 129 folk-dance melodies of the villages of Western
Armenia. We owe Hachig a thank you for doing this.
The book is full of photos of bands,
musicians, 78 rpm labels, album covers and both Western and Hampartsoum
musical notation. The importance of capturing the history of Western
Armenian music is evident in two photos of first-generation bands in
Detroit. In photos of the Dertad Toukhoian band in 1953 and the Yervant
Gerjekian band in 1949, the last names of some of the musicians are no
longer known.
Hachig Kazarian
Hachig was born and raised in
Detroit. He played a clarinet his father had come across in his first
workplace at an early age and began lessons in the fourth grade. His
grandfather’s friend, Haig Krikorian, was visiting one day, heard young
Hachig practicing and offered to teach him Armenian music.
Hachig
graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Julliard from
1960-66. In New York, he met and performed with many Armenian musicians.
He writes, “My goal was to be an orchestral clarinetist. However,
during my junior year of college, loving Armenian and Middle Eastern
music so much, I decided to be close to the Armenian community and have
an Armenian family.”
This book is encyclopedic. It covers a
vast array of topics, including the origins of the music of the
Armenian national anthem. It is an important resource for historians and
ethnomusicologists. It also has a wide appeal for anyone interested in
any and all things Armenian. It is a must read for anyone who loves
Western Armenian village music.
There are a few things I wish were
more extensive. First and foremost, I think the book needs a more
detailed index. Fresno State Press might have insisted and helped in
this regard. Secondly, in the preface a companion website is provided,westernarmenianmusic.com,
where “all musical examples may be heard.” I was excited and expected
to find all 129 of the pieces from Chapter 13 to be there. There are
only 10 songs on the website, including an old 78 recording of Mer Hairenik.
I am sure there are talented musicians in our community who would love
to help Hachig record tracks for this website or maybe for a companion
YouTube channel.
This is a very important book. It
belongs on the bookshelf of any Armenian with a library of Armenian
books. I hope it inspires more scholarship on Western Armenian village
music and how it has survived and evolved in the United States. We owe
Hachig a huge thank you for writing it.
Aerial view of Dilijan Armenia (Photo: So Much Film)
Armenia, My Home
is simply a wonderful documentary – another Armenian-themed documentary
by Andrew Goldberg. It is a beautiful testimony and tribute from an
American-Armenian point of view to what it means to be Armenian and what
Armenia means to all of us here in the diaspora.
Andrea Martin is the primary
narrator. She had lots of help from Ronald Suny, Chris Bohjalian, Eric
Bogosian, Herand and Yeraz Markarian, Salpi Ghazarian, Vahe Berberian,
Dottie Bengoian, Michael Aram and Peter Balakian, an august cast of
talking heads who offer their perspectives and heartfelt thoughts to
this very well-crafted film. I would love for all my non-Armenian
friends to see this film so they can better understand where my soul
and heart are tethered. The sentiments
of the narrators, for the most part, express what each and every
Armenian might say. Beyond the narration, the soundtrack includes
Armenian musicians Ara Dinkjian, Zulal (the trio that includes Yeraz
Markarian) and Ara Topouzian and beautiful duduk and church music from
Armenia.
There was a long and impressive
segment on Mount Ararat and how central it is to the very concept of
being Armenian. It is in our DNA. As noted in the film (and my previous
article, Chidem Inch: The mountain once known as…), this mountain, our mountain, the symbol of our nation, lies just outside the border of our country.
The film is visually stunning. The
camerawork shows the beauty of Armenian church architecture and the
magnificent countryside from Sevan to Aragats and Yerevan. It even shows
the humble homes of the countryside and poor neighborhoods of Yerevan.
The use of drone photography gives movement and panorama to this
beautiful film.
I
would love for all my non-Armenian friends to see this film so they can
better understand where my soul and heart are tethered.
Andrew Goldberg is a true friend of
the Armenian people. His company, Two Cats Production, is based in New
York. His documentaries are often aired on and sometimes in
collaboration with PBS. This is not his first Armenian documentary. His
previous films are: The Armenian Genocide (2000 and 2006),The Armenians, A Story of Survival (2001) and Images of The Armenian Spirit(2003). His other films include: A Yiddish World Remembered (2002), They Came to America (2003), Proud to Serve: The Men and Women of the U.S. Army (2004) and Jerusalem: Center of the World (2009).
When asked why he makes documentaries
on Armenian themes, Goldberg said, “I love telling stories that are
underreported and not being told…” He went on to note that the Armenians
are a people who have fought through many difficulties to survive and
have contributed to business, science and the arts.
The
film is very current and covers Artsakh, including the loss of Artsakh.
It includes footage of bombed-out homes and the caravan of cars leaving
their homes and a land now devoid of Armenians for the first time in
over 1,000 years.
I view this beautiful film, Armenia, My Home,
and Goldberg’s other Armenian-themed films as Armenian national
treasures. It is, somehow, more impressive when the auteur is not
Armenian. This is not to take away from Armenian artists, but there is
something special when we are honored and celebrated by a non-Armenian.
If it were up to me, I would bestow honorary Armenian citizenship on
Andrew Goldberg.
This documentary is a must see.
Andrew Goldberg
===
This piece was first published March 5, 2024 in the Armenian Weekly.
There are a lot of memes this past
week about experiencing all four seasons in one day.The weather around the Midwest and the Northeast
cannot decide if it is still Winter or Spring.On Friday evening February 23rd, the temperature hit a high
of 48 degrees.That evening, the weather
changed becoming cold, blustery, and it snowed.We had like 3 inches in short order.The next day, we did not get above freezing.The nest day it all melted.By Tuesday, we had a high of 61 degrees.On Wednesday, it was 70.We drove down to Lake Michigan in our summer
car with the top down and had dinner in the car overlooking the beautiful
lake.We really could not believe that driving
around in shirtsleeves on February 27.
On that very same Wednesday
evening, a cold front came through.Severe weather was predicted including hail and possible tornadoes.Tornadoes in February?Yes.We
were watching Armenia, My Home on Milwaukee’s PBS station.It was interrupted twice with both tornado
watches and warnings.In the middle of
the second interruption, the warning sirens went off at our local fire
station.We should have probably gone to
the basement… but we didn’t.
On Wednesday, the temperature
never broke 30 and it was downright cold especially in the morning when I drove
to school for my 8 am class.
Though it was a mere 55 degrees
today, Saturday, March 2nd, I decided to go for another drive.The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud
in the sky.I put on a jacket, took out
my summer car, put the top down, and set out.I grabbed a cup of coffee from Starbucks, lit up a cigar, put on some
Armenian music and cruised around town.It was perfect.I drove down to
the lake again, stopped by the gravesite of an old friend, and jumped on the
highway and drove up to Waukegan and back.I may have been over the speed limit… several times… by large margins.
I loved the weather today.What’s not to like?It was beautiful.Though none of the trees have budded, the
first flowers, daffodils, have already sprouted about two inches.No matter what the groundhog prognosticated,
it is clear that we are having an early spring.The Canadian geese are already back and honking up a storm at North Park.I even saw a few moths flying around our
porch light.
As much as I am enjoying this
early spring weather.I worry about these
wild swings in weather.It seems like
what us quality management types would refer to as a system out of control.It certainly is a system that can’t decide if
it is Winter or Spring.I haven’t done
any calculations, but I am certain these wild swings in temperatures would
qualify for what we call special cause variation.
Some scientists are concerned about
the planet being near a tipping point.By
that they mean, where the changes stop being gradual, abruptly leap to a new
state.The warning is that the new state
will not favor agriculture and hence mankind.I am not sure whether to buy into these ominous forecasts because the weather
is a very complex thing to model.But
the changes we have experienced in the past week and very mild winter make those
forecasts more plausible.
All this being said, I am still
sharing a few photos from my most pleasant excursion today on this lovely
Spring day.
Per the internet, the first Armenian language newspaper ever published was Azdarar.
It was first published on October 16, 1794 in Madras, India. The first
Armenian language newspaper in the United States was the Hairenik that began publication in 1899 in Watertown, Massachusetts. In 1932, the Hairenik included an English language column. It was so popular that an English language newspaper, Hairenik Weekly, began publication on March 1, 1934. In 1969, the Hairenik Weekly was renamed The Armenian Weekly.
Today, March 1, is the 90th
birthday of the paper that is a part of so many of our lives. In its
modern format, both print and online, it is a source of news of all
things Armenian that are simply not covered in the mainstream U.S.
press. The Weekly, over the years, has been led by dedicated editors and staff. Working at the Weekly is
a labor of love. The contributors and columnists are equally dedicated.
Great writers got their start in the Hairenik family of publications.
Some of William Saroyan’s early short stories were published in the Hairenik.
When I think of this wonderful paper,
I think of editors James Mandalian (35 years) and Jimmy Tashjian (36
years). I think of the shorter tenure editors who came after, many of
whom I knew and admired: Tom Vartabedian, Mimi Parseghian, Georgi
Bargamian, Antranig Kasbarian, Vahe Habeshian, Jason Sohigian, Khatchig
Mouradian, Nanore Barsoumian, Rupen Janbazian and now, Pauline Getzoyan.
The editors were mentors and friends to many. Tom Vartabedian was
certainly a friend and mentor of mine. I would not be writing for the Weekly as
much as I do if it wasn’t for Tom getting me involved and encouraging
me all along the way. Being a part of the AYF Olympics reporting and
photography crew is a true labor of love. The current editor, Pauline
Getzoyan, picked up where Tom left off. She is nurturing and encouraging
to everyone.
Beyond and behind the editors are the
hale and hearty, almost anonymous staff that edit articles, lay out the
paper, fact check, create graphics and process photos, and I am
probably only scratching the surface. I think of the contributors and
columnists like my great uncle Rouben Gavoor, Tom Vartabedian, C.K.
Garabed and now, my AYF contemporary, Stepan Piligian.
I have read pieces in the Weekly that
made me laugh, made me cry, made me angry at an injustice, made me
angry as only Armenians can be from an opinion we disagree with, and
kept me informed of the comings and goings, events and passings in our
community. Once I started subscribing, I never stopped, and I encourage everyone to do so…even more so since everything is presented online for free.
