1985_07 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper July 1985

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Hye Sharzhoom
July, 1985
Letters to the Editor
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A plea for justice — for all
Editor:
The RAMIG Collective welcomes the
republication of Hye Sharzhoom after so
many months. The entire editorial staff
needs to be commended for the work it is
doing and we hope that the paper progresses over time.
RAMIG would like the opportunity here
to comment on the February, 1985 issue
of the paper in general and one article in
particular. It is obvious that the paper
lacks any definitive political perspective
other than serving as a vehicle to "educate
all interested persons about Armenia and
to provide an atmosphere of Armenian
awareness within the community.(Staff
Editorial—February, 1985) Presumably,
the paper is to serve as a forum for diverse
opinions and views on a wide range of
topics, in addition to providing local
coverage, interviews with interesting and
controversial personalities, etc. Granted
that this is the case, RAMIG believes that
what is sorely lacking in the Armenian
community is valid critique and objective
analysis; whether it be of Armenian
institutions, Armenian-American personalities in positions of power or influence,
as well as of non-Armenians who express
views on matters of Armenian import.
That the Armenian-American media should
serve as a forum for such critique is
obvious. The reality is unfortunately
quite the opposite.
Throughout the diaspora, new and often
radical perspectives regarding a wide range
of issues are permeating the communal
fabric. The result has been the gradual
erosion of the traditional monopolization
of communal action and thought once
enjoyed by what can be conveniently
termed the status-quo. However, such
perspectives and the proponents often
create more unanswered questions than
realistic solutions. Armenian political
violence and radicalization have created
new divisions within the diaspora which
transcend former schisms according to
religious affiliation and hackneyed political squabbles. New generations of Armenians, armed with a developing political
consciousness and progressive perspectives, are examining themselves, the communities in which they reside and the
world in general.
There is no such thing as a homogeneous
Armenian people. Aside from geographical and cultural differences there also exist
basic divisions along class lines and political affinities. This holds true for the
Armenian-American community as well.
There are those who defend the Reagan
Administration and those who criticize it;
there are Armenian capitalists and Armenian workers; those who consider
themselves enemies of Soviet Armenia
and those who support it; those who seek
national and social liberation for the
Armenian people and those whose socioeconomic interests negate such a stance.
These and other related factors, which
have been all but ignored by our scholars
and academicians, must be given general
exposure. We would hope that in the
future Hye Sharzhoom sees fit to attempt
a partial redress of this matter. As a
heterogeneous body, the Armenian-American community deserves a much more
balanced picture of the socio-economic
and political environment in which they
live. We can no longer be satisfied with
being fed the the constant stream of
pronouncements and news reports representing the "establishment" and its ideological bent, whether it be Armenian or
American.
It is in this context then that we question
the logic of the publication of the article
"A New Kind of War" by District Attorney
David D. Minier that appeared in the
February, 1985 issue of Hye Sharzhoom.
While we defend the right of Mr. Minier
and others to hold and express their
particular views on the Armenian Question, it must be clearly stated that his
approach to the subject is shaped by his
official position as a representative of the
U.S. judicial system. In light of recent
statements by U.S. Defense Secretary
'Cap' Weinberger advising against any
passage in Congress of resolutions regarding official recognition of the Armenian
genocide, the positions expressed by Mr.
Minier should be exposed for what they
really are.
We are all too aware of the strategic
alliance between the U.S. and Turkey,
especially since the late 1940's, during
which successive regimes in Ankara have
been the recipients of massive amounts of
U.S. military and economic aid. While
the Reagan Administration has stepped-
up its propaganda war against the Sandi-
nista government in Nicaragua, charging
it as being "totalitarian" and guilty of
human rights violations, the same U.S.
administration sees fit to grant vastly
increased sums for military assistance to a
Turkish regime cited for a vast array of
human rights violations by a number of
international organizations such as Amnesty International. Recently, in Washington, D.C, President Reagan hosted
Turkey's Prime Minister Ozal and asked
the U.S. Congress to grant the staggering
sum of $900 million in military aid to
Turkey in 1986, a 30% increase over the
1985 figure.
This U.S. administration has been funding a bloody war against the duly-elected
and popular government in Nicaragua
and its people, and portrays the CIA-
backed contra forces, who kill and maim
defenseless Nicaraguan peasants, as "freedom fighters" in the spirit of George
Washington. Is it any wonder then that
the U.S. continues to support and defend
such reactionary and racist regimes such
as those in Turkey, South Africa, and
several Latin Armerican countries?
Minier's article does little else than to
serve as a vehicle in which the author
attempts to justify his actions as state
prosecutor during the Yanikian trial. But
then again, that was the only position he
could have taken, despite the sympathy he
confesses to have for the historic plight of
the Armenian people.
Given the RAMIG Collective's critical
position on the Minier article we were
pleased to note the article appearing on
page one of the paper dealing with the
1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the
role the U.S. played in that affair by
having provided the military in Turkey
with the weaponry and arms it employed.
Let's have more such balanced reporting
in future issues.
Let us set our collective sights even
higher. As a people who have experienced
genocide, eviction, and exile, Armenian-
Americans need to reach out to, and
align themselves with, other peoples and
movements with which we share a commonality of historical experience and
struggle. These include not only the
people of Cyprus, but other oppressed
and exploited peoples as well, such as the
Kurds, the Palestinians of the West Bank,
Blacks of South Africa and yes, even those
strata of Turkish society being oppressed
by their own regime. Such support, if it is
to have any relevance, must not be merely
tactical in nature. Armenians should not
support the rights of such groups if our
only expectation is to get something out of
it. Rather, our solidarity and support
must be based on the universal principles
of human dignity, peace, and justice for
all. Armenian demands for justice would
be hollow and insincere if we in turn
remain silent and indifferent-regarding the
plight of others who are struggling for the
same thing.
Sincerely,
RAMIG Collective
New York, NY
Hye Sharzhoom encourages
comments from its readers
Found her roots
Editor:
I am a recent subscriber to your newspaper. I find each issue fascinating and
cannot stop until I have read nearly all
articles. I am very interested in everything
I can possibly learn about the Armenian
people.
Being an adult adoptee given up at birth
for adoption, I grew up with no heritage of
my own except for the one imposed on me
by my adoptive family (who were English,
Scottish, and German). An adoptee in the
U.S. grows up with a silent identity;
statutory denial is sanctioned in all states,
except in six states which allow open
adoption records when the adoptee reaches
the age of majority. Although the act of
denying one's heritage and true identity,
not to mention health history and medical
records, is a brutal, cruel, unforgiveable
act committed by the state.
I am extremely fortunate to be able to
have conducted an extensive search of my
past and to have eventually uncovered my
heritage. I am, by birth, Armenian.
Recently, I have been trying to make up
for 39 years of complete ignorance about
my Armenian heritage by absorbing as
much knowledge as possible. That is the
only way I can learn about my "true
blood." I am ashamed to admit that I
knew nothing about Armenians. I can
recall nothing from high school or college
level history courses about Armenian
culture, people, history, etc. I applaud
your efforts in making the Armenian
cause known to the general population. I
doubt if very many people are as aware of
the Armenian Genocide by the Turks as
they are of the Jewish Holocaust. Keep
publishing your articles. Maybe someone
will care, other than Armenians.
I am very proud to be an Armenian. My
message: make more people aware of the
richness of the Armenian history and
culture. Do not allow Armenian issues to
be a concern of only Armenians. Also,
never take your heritage for granted. It is
truly a gift to be cherished and passed on
to future generations.
Yours truly,
Mary L. Foess
Vassar, Michigan
*,U.3 ettPd-HMr
Hye Sharzhoom is the official publication of the CSUF Armenian Students
Organization and Armenian Studies
Program and is funded by the Associated Students. Articles may be reprinted
provided Hye Sharzhoom is acknowledged.
Hye Sharzhoom welcomes prosf,
poetry, articles, manuscripts, and other
material from its readers. For further
information concerning the newspaper
or the Armenian Studies Program,
contact the Armenian Studies Office
(209)294-2669 or the Ethnic Studies
Office (209)294-2832.
Armenian Studies Program
CSUF
Fresno, CA 93740
Editor:
Vahe K. Messerlian
Assistant Editor:
Randy Baloian
Staff:
Karen A. DeOrian
Gary Kazanjian
Norayr Minassian
Beth Najarian
Yvonne Sahagian
Aram Messerlian
Bill Sahatjian
Contributors:
Stefanie Kisner
Robert Leri
John Nelson
Ad Manager:
Jim Malkasian
Advisors:
Mark Malkasian
Ralph Setian
Good work — keep it up!
Editor:
My husband and I really appreciate
receiving Hye Sharzhoom and look forward to it. The paper is very well planned
with enough variety for different age
groups and backgrounds.
Enclosed is a donation in appreciation
for your efforts and labor of love for our
people.
Sincerely,
Editor:
Knar Guekguezian
Fresno, CA
Enclosed please find a donation towards
the expenses of your newspaper.
Hye Sharzhoom is improving with each
issue. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Margaret Shamlian
San Francisco, CA
Editor:
I have in time received your April, 1985
issue of Hye Sharzhoom, somehow less
bulky, but just as interesting as the previous issue. Especially interesting was the
article entitled "Armenian American Contribution in America" by Vahe Oshagan. I
had read many of his articles in the
Haratch daily Armenian language newspaper of Paris—superb writing, indeed,
but I did not realize he was just as good in
English as well.
I wish you all the success in your
enterprises and trust you will soon turn
your publication into at least a regular
monthly, let us hope!
Sincerely,
Gaitztag Palandjian
Barcelona, Spain