Vernisage, Yerevan
Vernisage, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007
The sight of swastika graffiti daubed onto walls in central Yerevan is not new, and a few of us have spent time cleaning it off only for it to reappear later, but the number of racist slogans and emblems to be seen at the height of tourism season is now excessive to say the least. These photos, for example, were taken yesterday at just one part of Yerevan’s vernisage.
What is becoming more alarming, however, is the rise of ultra-nationalism in Armenia. It’s thankfully a pitifully small number of Armenians, but even so in a country that’s virtually mono-ethnic it’s staggering to see slogans such as “Armenia for Armenians” and “We don’t want Niggers” appear in very public locations for all to see. It’s astounding that the municipality isn’t alarmed either and doesn’t seem to care enough about the image of the city to clean them off, but anyway.
Even my recent photo story on the pagan Vardavar in Garni for EurasiaNet which was attended by Armen Avetisyan, the controversial leader of the Union of Armenian Aryans, drew a response from one reader who sent me the following email which just really has to raise more concerns about racism and anti-semetism not only in the Diaspora, but also here in Armenia.
Recently I have been reading some of your articles such as:
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav072707.shtml
There in the middle you have a link ” At the Garni Vardavar observances, one of the highest-profile attendees was Armen Avetisian, controversial leader of the ultra-nationalist Union of Armenian Aryans, who received a three-year suspended sentence in 2005 for inciting racial hatred against Jews. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. ”Do you think you could have the courage to speak the truth one day about the true originators of the armenian genocide as did a Mr.Christopher Jon Bjerknes in his book “THE JEWISH GENOCIDE OF ARMENIAN CHRSTIANS”
(http://jewishracism.com/JewishGenocide.htm)
Anyway, time for the Yerevan Mayor’s Office to take immediate action about this grafitti, I think, although I’m told that following our unsuccessful attempts to clean it off, a local group of young anarchists is instead trying to obliterate it with their own colored grafitti sprayed on top. Two wrongs don’t make a right, of course, but I know which I’d like to see. Actually, none, but I’m very glad to see the swastikas obliterated from sight one way or another.
Vernisage, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007
Oh, so after the Jews and the Arabs now they’re taking on the EU and Jewish democracy as well? (democracy must be some Jewish conspiracy thing. That’s a new one I hadn’t heard before.) The people who do this sure need a reality check!!! I just do not understand these people. Do they actually realize that this kind of groundless hate speech is the first step of a process that in worst case scenario ends in genocide?
The amount of hate graffiti has definitely increased, I keep noticing swastika’s in new places. And I haven’t even been around Vernissage for weeks, so I hadn’t even seen all this in your pictures.
I find it very telling that within weeks after the elections in May all the election posters had been cleaned off the walls, but that the municipality does nothing to clean this graffiti.
Comment by Myrthe — August 12, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
Tirami Su also noticed the swastikas and has posted some photos.
Comment by Onnik — August 12, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
Paradoxically, you may see more hate graffiti in democratic countries than others, so instead of fighting democracy, these bigots should be afraid of losing it. Cynical side of me can’t help but think that these people are probably afraid of real democracy because they are afraid of competition…
In any case, graffiti is just a consequence and cleaning off hate graffiti will not solve the problem, (although it is essential to do so!), they will keep reappearing in other places (or even the same place), as this example clearly shows. There is urgent need for mass campaign against rising intolerance and nationalism in Armenia. And it’s more important to start it now, when there are just handful of hate groups or individuals and the process is still in its ‘embryonic’ stage. Building up a society based on equality and diversity, a society intolerant to hate is the only effective way of dealing with bigots.
Comment by artmika — August 12, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
The Armenian ultra-nationalists should meet up with their counterparts in Russia (the ones who have been killing Armenians in Moscow). They would receive a reality check very quickly.
It’s amazing. This is the type of crap we Armenians have received in volumes in the past and continue to have thrown at us.
It might not be enough to clean up the graffiti, but such public display is a very good thing. The comments from the October 2006 entry mentioned the reactions from others in the street. It was good to hear.
Comment by Random ArmenIAN — August 13, 2007 @ 4:01 am
Artmika, I understand your comment about such graffiti in democratic countries, but they are also usually multi-ethnic ones as well. What strikes me so absurd about these guys here is that they’re living in a pretty much mono-ethnic country.
Comment by Onnik — August 13, 2007 @ 8:11 am
I know, Onnik. “No Niggers!”?? There hardly are any in Armenia in the first place and those that are here, are hardly a threat. (I can’t express it with my keyboard, but this is said with a humongous amount of irony!) I bet the people putting up the graffiti have never even seen a “nigger” in real life, let alone talked to one.
I agree with Random Armenian about getting a reality check by meeting up with their Russian counterparts.
On the other hand, maybe this hatred against a basically unknown other is something that happens more often especially in mono-ethnic countries. I am not a sociologist, so this is a guess in the wild and I might be completely off. Anyone knows more about this?
Comment by Myrthe — August 13, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Well, the fear of the unknown was common among Neanderthal man and one supposes that the intellectual ability of those putting up the graffiti is less than that, so it’s possible.
However, given the existence of the Union of Armenian Aryans in Armenia and the focus on Njdeh (who convinced the Nazis Armenia was the cradle of the Aryan nation as well as reportedly beign impressed with the rise of Hitler in Germany), perhaps there’s more to it than that.
I mean, Njdeh’s doctrine of race worship and the existence of Aryan groups in Armenia might mean that the closest movement in comparison was the Nazis and so much of the symbolism and focus for attack would be the same even if only by association.
Well, apart from hatred of the Jews. Armenians, especially in the Diaspora, have long been very anti-semetic and I’ve heard many of them deny the Holocaust took place. Kind of puts a new dimension on the issue of Genocide denial, doesn’t it?
Anyway, I can but hope that those doing the spraying of Nazi symbols and racist slogans are just some kids with no ties to any political group. Otherwise, yes, I agree, let them visit Moscow and try to make friends with their skin head neo-Nazi colleagues.
Man, they’ll be in for a surprise.
Comment by Onnik — August 13, 2007 @ 10:03 am
All you need is a power sander I would imagine to take the graffiti off the stone at least; white spray paint will do the trick on the metal sheds. Since this graffiti is undoubtedly offensive to tourists you would think City Hall would take care of this problem asap, even post police officers there at night to keep these punks away (better yet arrest them when they are caught in the act). But considering that we had to take matters into our own hands last year to make a difference, we shouldn’t expect much unfortunately.
Comment by Christian — August 13, 2007 @ 10:35 am
I suppose some might consider having the expense of police officers keeping an eye on things would be too much for poor City Hall. However, as the main government buildings surround the location we’re talking about, the following issues arise.
i) If there are police already there patrolling the area why aren’t they doing anything (and why does neither the government or the police appear to care about this grafitti so close to most of the main government buildings (and there’s also a bank).
ii) Why not? If there are no police there at night there should be given the close proximity of the government buildings and a bank. Perhaps we don’t need a constant police patrol, but these guys need to be caught nad reprimanded so they stop.
Personally, I think they should be sentenced to one year of community service i.e. cleaning off ALL the grafitti and old posters off everwhere in Yerevan.
Comment by Onnik Krikorian — August 13, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
At Vernissage a few weeks ago I came across a piece of swastika graffiti which had been crossed out and a message something along the lines of “go home nazis” written by it. It’s a shocking scene for tourists which needs to be cleared out. How frustrating that it’s the people’s mindset which needs to be changed, something some simple cleaning cannot accomplish, and something you can’t just erase.
I certainly hope Onnik’s plan is implemented if they are caught- and once all the graffiti is gone they can turn on the countless May election posters which litter Yerevan to the extreme.
Comment by Paul — August 14, 2007 @ 5:01 am
Paul, clever attempt at what I think is propagandizing for racist neo-Nazis in Armenia (although not that clever, actually, as inciting racial hatred and thus these slogans are illegal), but I’ve already said two wrongs don’t make a right, but the first culprits and the ones who prompted others to take action by defacing the swastikas were these retard Nazi idiots.
As I said, a lot of us spent hours cleaning these things off in lieu of the Mayor’s Office or local administration doing their job and a week later the same nationalist losers came along again to do more of the same. It’s very simple. No Nazi grafitti and there would be no additional graffiti on top, but if they started plastering anarchy symbols everywhere then yes, they would be a curse too, although politically nowhere near as alarming as these fascist emblems.
Racism is one of the most disgusting things I’ve come across anywhere, and it’s really disappointing to see it show itself like this here, especially given the number of Armenians who actually fought against the Nazis during WWII. Same goes for Russia, and even England for that matter.
Comment by Onnik — August 14, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
One wonders as to why these idiots are spray painting in English. I also do not like the threat that ‘they will find us when the time comes’.
There is a hive of Armenian nazis in the forums of zhesht.am - it’s apparently a heavy metal group that has attracted a bunch of neo-nazis.
I’ve seen their leader Armen Avetisian. He blames all the ills of the world on Jewish. It must really be comfortable to know all the answers - and he has a bunch of dumbasses who follow him.
Sad.
Comment by nazarian — August 14, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Since the topic is racism and anti-semitism a recent post by Ara Manoogian on his blog “Martuni or Bust” which Onnik links to on this site, represents a dangerous trend amongst some in blaming Jews for the Genocide. Specifically Ara Manoogian refers to a site called called Jewish Racism and a lengthy file “Jewish Genocide of the Armenians”
http://aramanoogian.blogspot.com/2007/08/time-to-come-to-terms-with-reality.html
Nothing could be more harmful to Genocide recognition than this type of “argumentation” and “scholarship”.
Comment by R — August 14, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
R, I have mentioned the existence of that document in this post and find it alarming to say the least. In fact, I am generally concerned by anti-semetism in the Diaspora and do not want to see it emerge here. Actually, I’m alarmed by any form of racism, ethnic hatred and ultra-nationalism wherever it is to be found be that in Armenia, the Diaspora, Turkey, Israel, the United States, anywhere…
Comment by Onnik — August 14, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
And just so it’s clear, by disturbing I of course meant the original Nazi propaganda. I was glad that it was at least crossed out and was not decrying that but the fact that they had to do that in the first place. The original sin is what I take issue with, as does everyone here.
Comment by Paul — August 15, 2007 @ 3:13 am
I have read about a third of the Bjerkins book, mostly the parts related to Armenians. His basic argument is that the Committee of Union and Progress were Donmeh, crypto-Jews, connected to Zionists, who wanted to destroy the Ottoman Empire in order to get Palestine, and they thought making a mess of Anatolia would do the job (it would pull Europe in) as would killing Armenians, the main competitors of anyone wanting to make money in Turkey.
I’ve confirmed the CUP’s having a largely Donmeh identity in Gershom Scholem (in Kabbalah); its a fact. The Donmeh were followers of the 17th c Shabbatei Tzevi. If you don’t know the history of Tzevi, you should look it up, its a fascinating story. The rest of Bjerkins thesis, there is no way to confirm, because the Rothschilds wouldn’t exactly leave a memo lying around saying, “CUP instructed to kill all Armenians for the purpose of gaining Palestine.”
The book is in my opinion anti-semitic, but not for the reasons that most people think it is. My evaluation is that Bjerkins has a chip on his shoulder about Jews through Einstein: Einstein’s theories were wrong, and continued support for his theories, according to Bjerkins, is inhibiting other people’s theories from gaining traction in the scientific community, of which, I feel certain though have no proof, he’s a member. Ergo, Bjerkins feels cheated.
What must be mentioned in relation to Bjerkins’s book in the interest of preventing it from poisoning Armenian-Jewish relations, which are good, as far as my experience in the “diaspora” (you should be careful with that word) is concerned, is that according to the–same–Bjerkins, the Jews responsible for the murder of one and a half million Armenians are the Jews responsible for the Jewish Holocaust, and for the same purpose: The Armenian genocide helped wrench Palestine out of Ottoman hands, and the Holocaust gave European Jews an incentive to populate it.
I don’t know if this is true, but looking at people like Perle, Wolfowitz, and Ledeen, et al., I’m not willing to close the book on the matter. As far as I’m concerned, these people are insane, and crazy people do crazy things. What I truly regret is these kinds of people and their insane fanaticism getting in the way of friendships between everyday Armenians and Jews who are just trying to make a living.
Comment by Armen Filadelfiatsi — August 16, 2007 @ 6:32 am
I have come across Armenians-both in Armenia and in the Diaspora- posting on white power websites like Vanguard News Network and American Renaissance. In the US and Canada, where Armenians are considered “white ethnics” there have been a tiny number of Armenians involved in the KKK and similar groups.
As for anti-Semitism, if it weren’t for Israel’s relationship with Turkey and consequent opposition to Armenian Genocide recognition by the Jewish lobby in the US, the theories about the Genocide as a Jewish conspiracy would have far less resonance. With the way that Israel and her supporters/agents in the US act when the Genocide is discussed, it is easy to see how theories like that could have so much currency.
Also, I am not surprised that the “black metal” and neo-pagan scenes are associated with neo-Nazis in Armenia. Those scenes are full of white nationalists and neo-Nazis in the US and Western Europe.
Comment by patrick — August 16, 2007 @ 10:42 am
It’s very sad to see that some think that facts around the Genocide and the Zionist Jew connection is anti-Semitic when written about. In such cases the term anti-Semitic is only a tool to hide or prevent reality from becoming public knowledge.
For those who comment only after they read the whole document found on http://www.jewishracism.com/, I’m ready to discuss this issue with you. If you have not read the 575 page document from cover to cover, and are already drawing conclusions, I’m not going to waste my time with you since you can’t be taken seriously.
I’m certainly not saying I agree with everything that Christopher has written, but will say that much of what is written corresponds with what I’ve been hearing my whole life from those I’ve encountered who have looked into Talaat and the Young Turks Jewish ties.
It’s very clear to me that Christopher is not going after all Jews. He is targeting Zionist, Doenmeh and crypto-Jews. He has publicly stated that most Jews are good law abiding citizens of the country they live in and just want to be productive members of society.
For those of you who have Jewish friends who know a little bit about religion you should ask them what they think of Zionist Jews? My friends openly state their distrust for what I’ve been told are the fanatics among the Jews. Most of them claim not to agree with Zionist beliefs.
BTW, I learned yesterday that Azg newspaper in Armenia has published an article about Talaat Pasha and his Jewish family history dating back to the 13th century. I have not seen or found the story, so if anyone who has that issue of Azg could post it somewhere, I would be interested in how the subject was covered. For those of you who don’t know which paper Azg is, you can find their on-line version here: http://www.azg.am/
Bottom line is I that I don’t see any harm to anyone when it comes to uncovering the truth of all sides of the Armenian Genocide, especially Jewish/Armenian relations. If Jews are going to put a condition on our relations based on forgetting this important part of our history, then the relations we think are good are in fact harmful.
And for those of you who don’t trust what Christopher has published, do research on your own and don’t be intimidated in publishing your findings because of fear of being called anti-Semitic or someone who is harming our relations with Jews.
The truth must be told.
Comment by Ara Manoogian — August 17, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Interestingly, I also photographed theses exact graffitis last week while I was in Yerevan (I guess this speaks to the fact that these are new). They are scary yet on the global scale they seem even funny.
I must disagree with Ara Manoogian on the content of jewishracism.com. That website is anti-Semitic and no, Ara, I don’t have to read 500 pages of garbage to make up my mind. Just the title of the website, jewishracism.com, is anti-Semitic just the same way a website called armenianracism.com would be anti-Armenian.
Talaat’s Jewish roots - that are not a secret - don’t mean the Genocide was done by the Jews. Another organizer of the Genocide had Assyrian roots, and you may know that they were Armenian calloborators in the Genocide too. And yes, I guess you might have heard that Abdul Hamid was partly pissed off at Armenians because he thought he was part Armenian just like the case for Hitler.
The only anti-Semite I met in Armenia during my visit this month had a Jewish grandfather himself. So Jews are not the homogenous collectivity that anti-Semites make of them to be.
Comment by Blogian — August 18, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Everyone has a right to their opinion, but technically and factually, Talaat was of Jewish decent, thus he being the architect of the Armenian Genocide would indicate that someone of Jewish decent ordered the Genocide, meaning the Armenian Genocide could be deemed “Jewish Genocide of Armenian Christians.” This to me does not make the title anti-Semitic.
It would be very naïve in my opinion to say that the reason for the Genocide was because Turks had it out for the Armenians. It’s very clear to me that Turks were pitted against the Armenians by Talaat and company before the 1895 massacres in a manipulative way to destabilize and weaken the Ottoman Empire. If it was not for Talaat the Jew to work towards the break-up of the Ottoman Empire so that when all the dust settled, the Jews could negotiate control of Palestine and the homeland they had been working at creating for hundreds of years, not only would there not have been an Armenian Genocide, but Armenians would not have a global population of around 10 million people.
I’m not going to debate this issue with Blogian since without reading the document he deems crap, it will make no sense to him what I’m talking about, and especially since he sees writes the whole thing off as anti-Semitic, what can I say to convince he otherwise?
And as for the Armenian traitors Blogian speaks of who were suckered into cooperating with Talaat and company in hopes of gaining something, if you recall, my Grandfather ordered out the death sentence for many such people, as he always believed that an Armenian who inflicts damage to another Armenia is worse than a Turk and must be dealt with appropriately so they will not be of danger to us.
Comment by Ara Manoogian — August 18, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
Actually, Talaat was a gypsy; the others were Donmeh. If you’d actually read the book, you would have known that. You would have also come across Bjerkins’s snake metaphor, taken straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, by his own admission. I’m sorry you’ve decided to swallow Bjerkins’s thesis wholesale and uncritically. Most Armenians, however, would prefer to talk and think about this issue first, and interpret it afterwards.
Comment by Armen Filadelfiatsi — August 19, 2007 @ 12:09 am
I don’t believe that I’ve stated anywhere that I buy into Bjerkins’s writings 100%. There are things that are very accurate and other things that should be further investigated. The bottom line is that the Young Turks were influenced and possibly guided by Zionists. One other thing that needs to be further looked into is what is a Zionist?
Comment by Ara Manoogian — August 19, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
As for your pointing out the reference to Robert Williams Seton-Watson’s writings in his book The rise of Nationality in the Balkans, “Talaat is a Islamised Bulgarian gypsy,” I have to also point out that in Christopher’s book there are numerous references to Talaat being a Doenmeh from Salonika. See page 52, 223 and 224. In addition to this, there are many references as to the leaders of the Committee of Union and Progress as being Jews.
Aside from this and since you understand that all the other major players were Doenmeh, you have to ask yourself if a Doenmeh would take their orders and follow the lead from a gypsy? I would think more that Talaat himself spread misinformation about his being a gypsy in order to further hide his identity as a crypto-Jew, especially since at that time, many Moslems were raising concerns that the Ottoman Empire had been taken over by Zionist Jews who wanted to take Palestine from the Arabs, and Jerusalem from Islam. This also created an incentive for Talaat to lie about his anscestry, which taking all that into consideration is probably why he became known as a gypsy.
Like I said before, if you don’t trust Christopher’s writings, do research on your own. There are many credible Armenian sources which I have been collecting on this subject that clearly state that Talaat was a Jew.
Comment by Ara Manoogian — August 20, 2007 @ 5:17 am
Even if some of the Young Turks/Ittihadists were of Jewish descent, it does not mean that they did the Genocide BECAUSE they were Jewish, or that the Turkish Jews were more involved in the Genocide than the Turkish Muslims. Bjerknes’s writings (jewishracism.com LOL- if that isn’t anti-Jewish then I don’t know what is) sound like neo-Nazi propaganda, and I believe they have been endorsed by David Duke, the former KKK leader.
But let me be frank… people like Abe Foxman and the neocons/Israel lobby do far more to promote anti-Semitism than any stupid neo-Nazi website (I think Ara is way off base about these Jewish conspiracy theories, but when I look at hypocrites like Foxman I can almost see why people believe them.)
Don’t forget that Armenians have Jewish friends today … I believe Rep. Adam Schiff (who represents Glendale and introduced the Genocide resolution) is Jewish, as is Barney Frank (who has also sponsored resolutions calling for the recognition of the Genocide). Remember Foxman and the “Israel lobby” don’t represent all Jews in America, Israel, or anywhere else.
Comment by patrick — August 21, 2007 @ 10:02 am
There are also many Turks who support and work towards Genocide recognition. Does this mean that we need not assert our right to see what responsibility the Turks had in the Genocide?
For one to call what Christopher wrote about as a “Jewish conspiracy” without investigation all possibilities is irresponsible towards future generations. You may be right and it may be nothing but a conspiracy, but without looking into it and digging as deep as we can is wrong.
I will say it again since Patrick’s comment implies that I’m buying into what Christopher wrote 100%. I believe that due to all that has gone on and the Jewish protection that Turkey has had since the Genocide, there could be merit to what is written and it would be wise to find out if in fact the Rothschild’s, Zionist and Freemasons were a part of carrying out the Genocide, or if it is as simple as a lone act of the Turkish government at the time.
Whatever is uncovered will not lessen Turkey’s responsibility for restitution and if there were others involved that knowingly profited from the Genocide, they too will have a share of paying damages to the victims and their descendents, as has recently some large German companies paid out to Holocaust victims.
Comment by Ara Manoogian — August 21, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
I think the increase of racist motivated graffiti is the result of the increase of Muslims in Armenia. The Muslims coming to Armenia are mainly Iranians, but also some arabs. This is for me of big concern; this Muslims will in the future contribute to instability in Armenia. First I start whit the Iranians, among the so called Iranians coming to Armenian are Azerbaijanis, more the 30 % of the populations in Iran consider them self as Azerbaijanis’. Arriving to Armenia they naturally consider Armenians as enemies and are hostile in their way towards Armenians and Armenian culture. The influx of Iranians ( People whit Arab religion) is for now of more of leisure type they come for vacation to Armenia escaping the totalitarian regime in Iran. But in the future they might start if not already happened buying houses and apartment in Armenia. And so starts slowly islamification of Armenia and in the future territorial dispute about land( Like Nagorno Karabag). Remember that the population of Iran I humongous Iran has a population which is about 80 million. So there is more rich people in Iran then there is people in Armenia. Iranians , Arabs ( People whit Arab religion) consider us Armenians and none Muslims as KAFUR which is a Arab word , which basically means filthy , dirty. As a person off Arab religion the most pressures thing is to have sex whit Christian women or rap them. Male Muslims are the dominating fractions in strip clubs in Armenia and they are also the biggest costumers of prostitutes in Armenia. The abuse, rap of Armenians women comes out among the generall population and so the rumors circulates in the population and you see the increase off hat torrword the natural enemy of Armenians. It is worrying that the tie between Armenia and Iran is increasing, which means increase islamification of Armenia and so increased internal instability. Whatever happens an Iranian will always support a fellow Muslim brother Azerbaijani in a dispute whit an Armenian.
Comment by Patrik the Tiger — August 22, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
I think the increase of racist motivated graffiti is the result of the increase of Muslims in Armenia. The Muslims coming to Armenia are mainly Iranians, but also some arabs. This is for me of big concern; this Muslims will in the future contribute to instability in Armenia. First I start whit the Iranians, among the so called Iranians coming to Armenian are Azerbaijanis, more the 30 % of the populations in Iran consider them self as Azerbaijanis’. Arriving to Armenia they naturally consider Armenians as enemies and are hostile in their way towards Armenians and Armenian culture. The influx of Iranians ( People whit Arab religion) is for now of more of leisure type they come for vacation to Armenia escaping the totalitarian regime in Iran. But in the future they might start if not already happened buying houses and apartment in Armenia. And so starts slowly islamification of Armenia and in the future territorial dispute about land( Like Nagorno Karabag). Remember that the population of Iran I humongous Iran has a population which is about 80 million. So there is more rich people in Iran then there is people in Armenia. Iranians , Arabs ( People whit Arab religion) consider us Armenians and none Muslims as KAFUR which is a Arab word , which basically means filthy , dirty. As a person off Arab religion the most pressures thing is to have sex whit Christian women or rap them. Male Muslims are the dominating fractions in strip clubs in Armenia and they are also the biggest costumers of prostitutes in Armenia. The abuse, rap of Armenians women comes out among the generall population and so the rumors circulates in the population and you see the increase off hat torrword the natural enemy of Armenians. It is worrying that the tie between Armenia and Iran is increasing, which means increase islamification of Armenia and so increased internal instability. Whatever happens an Iranian will always support a fellow Muslim brother Azerbaijani in a dispute whit an Armenian.
Comment by Patrik the Tiger — August 22, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
Patrik [sic] the Tiger wrote: Whatever happens an Iranian will always support a fellow Muslim brother Azerbaijani in a dispute whit an Armenian.
Right. A lot can be said to confirm that idea. Off the top of my head, that’s why Iran invaded Armenia during the Gharabagh war. That’s why the Sunnis and Shiis are regularly seen holding hands and singing, “Kumb-Allah, my lord, kumb-Allah,” especially in Iraq. That’s why Mariam isn’t a common girl’s name all over Muslim countries and why Shii’s don’t consider Jesus a prophet. That’s why all the racist jokes in Iran aren’t about Turks and why, for example, “Tork-e khar” isn’t an epithet. That’s why Armenians aren’t the most respected “minority” in Iran, why they historically haven’t had a hugely disproportionate influence on Iranian politics, and why they aren’t left to their own devices as well as vices, like drink. You see, they’re not represented by their non-existent member of the Iranian parliament.
That’s also why the Armenian community of Lebanon a couple of weeks ago didn’t vote for Awn, who is associated with hezbollah, and instead voted for the Christian Gemayel who, of course, didn’t call Armenians “parasites.” That’s why in these pan-Armenian games that we’ve been following there were not any Armenians from any Islamic countries, like say for example, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey. They’ve all been killed; in Syria, right after they came in from Deir al Zur. The Arabs just pounced on them, raping and killing. Same thing in Bourj Hammoud in Lebanon. It’s not like they gave Armenians food, shelter, and land to live in for generations. That’s also why the Kurds deny the Armenian genocide and why you’ll never see a Kurdish Armenian, because, given the intense Islamic-Christian hatred, Kurdish Armenian babies spontaneously explode upon conception.
That’s why Shah Abbas never went to Easter services in Esfahan, why the first Prime Minister of Egypt, Nubar Pasha, wasn’t an Armenian, and why people like Mirza Malcolm Khan, Yeprem Khan, and Sultanzadeh never existed. No, none of that happened, and none of those people existed. The only thing that exists for you is the occasional Iranian trucker getting his jollies after a long, scary drive through the mountains, bringing–you–trade. When he could just as easily, and–legally, too, mind you, through the practice of sigheh–get his jollies in Iran. Armenian relations with the Muslim world, for you, are exclusively limited to that one Iranian trucker you saw walking through your village, on his way to rape your sister. That’s what keeps you up at night. That’s the only thing that exists in your pea brain. Hell, you can’t even tell the fucking difference between Arabs and Persians. You deserve to live in the paranoid, rape fantasy prison that is your Armenoid, London-Peabody-Museum-measured skull.
Comment by Armen Filadelfiatsi — August 24, 2007 @ 3:35 am
It’s always easier to be politically correct then having a real opinion. Just because a handful Armenians are left in Muslim country and have been successful in the Muslim society doesn’t overweigh the 1000 years of Muslim genocide towards the Christian population. The existence of Armenians in Muslim country is because of Muslim genocide and oppression of Armenians. The existence of Armenians in Iran is because of mass deportation and the deliberate action to eradicate Armenians and assimilate them in to Muslims. After the deportation of Armenians to Iran during shah Abas the population in Yerevan was 80 % Muslim. Today the Christian population in the Middle East is almost none existence. Their should be about 200 million Christians in the Muslim countries wear are they? Christians are being exterminated in Iraq and as always the typical Muslim way is to do it in the shadow of war to kill Christians ( They learn from their fellow Turkish brothers). Armenians being killed in Iraq , Armenian Churches blow-up. During the liberation of Armenians territories from Azerbaijan, Iran supported both Armenia and Azerbaijan, Iranian volunteers came as muhajedins to fight against Armenians and so did Afghan Chechen, Arab and Turks. Even Russia supported both Armenia and Azerbaijan during the war. But in the geopolitical perspective Russia and Iran feared Pan-Turkism and so did the world that’s why the Shia Iranians fearing that Iranian controlled Azerbaijan would seek independence and started to have a little more positive feeling toward Armenia. Countries like Lebanon, Egypt and Syria have a secular based political system, if they would for a second have a more Islamic regime the Christians in Lebanon and Syria would be extinct. The Armenian population in Muslim Countries is shrinking fast , in Iran the Armenian population has shirked from 250.000 to 50.000 in 10 years fleeing the hatred the Iranians have for Armenians which they call dogs, which is their nickname for Armenians. They Iranians are rejoicing. Your comment which is long has obviously sparked a trigger in you otherwise you would not use condescending comment like you have done. Your argument is no different then when the Turks deny the The Armenian Genocide happened because there is Armenian living in Turkey? But every now and then the Genetic urge to kill Armenians comes out, just look and Hrant Dink. There is no peace and respect for KAFUR or Armenian Dogs , it is written in the Koran chapter 9 verse 124 kill or convert how ever is not a Muslim whit the help of the sward. Yes maybe some time Iranians dress and act Europeans or western but the GEN is always their itching and urging to come out to kill filthy Armenian DOGS.
Comment by Patrik the Tiger — August 24, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
Interestingly whoever made these statements–the graffitis–knew for who to post–the tourists who visit Vernisaj to shop around. Happily, you guys had cameras and took these photos. Have you tried to do photography near the airport? I think there too will be such statements.
Comment by kontorpik — August 25, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Patrik [sic] the Tiger wrote: “It’s always easier to be politically correct then having a real opinion.”
Did you get an impression of me as politically correct person when I said that you think Iranian truckers in yours village are there to [edited out by administrator]? Or was it when I said that you have pea brain? I don’t think anything that I said about you is “politically correct.” I think I made quite clear that I think that you’re a [edited out by administrator].
Let me tell you something, Patrik [sic]. I’m a diasporan but I can carry gun. You understand that?
Moving on, let’s look at your points.
Patrik [sic] says “Countries like Lebanon, Egypt and Syria have a secular based political system, if they would for a second have a more Islamic regime the Christians in Lebanon and Syria would be extinct.”
Iran is a NON-SECULAR MUSLIM NATION, bu there are Armenians in Iran.
That pretty much blows your thesis to hell.
Let me be politically correct and ask you: What are you talking about, you [edited out by administrator]?
Comment by Armen Filadelfiatsi — August 25, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
Try to be a little bit more civilized in the way you are leaving comment on this page? Otherwise its difficult reading your comments when everything you are writing is being edited because you are unable to argue in a civilized matter? Your way of rhetoric is childish and you have no other option then turning to insult. I see also that your basic concept of the situation in Armenia today is lacking. Your comment that I live in an Armenian village wear my sister is offering sex to Truckers show exactly that. Anybody that has been to Armenian know that the villages’ in Armenia lack basic things not to mention Internet? So I would be happy if I lived in an Armenian village wear their was internet connection! I would even make an escort homepage for my sister in Arabic Iranian language so the trucker would be able to book appointment online. Anybody that lives in Armenian has the right to have an opinion for what is god and bad for Armenia. The Armenians in the Diaspora should be active in their own community and the country they live in so the ties between that country and Armenia would become stronger. I’m guessing that the little angry boy that knows how to carry guns? Lives in USA, is below the age of 27 never been to Armenia. You passion for Arabs implies even that you are some form of half Armenian and half Muslim or that there is Muslim Arabs in you surrounding family. I’m guessing also that you are a so called Iranian Armenian, but probably born I USA or at a very young age moved to USA before the age of 7 or 8. You are a CowboyArmo, a sad story of the many many confused Armenians in USA having severe identity problems. Lessening to hip hop on your IPod. If you wish to have an argument whit me you are welcome but I see that you lack the intelligence to have a rhetorical argumentation. I welcome you to discuses facts and I have presented them to you and you have replied whit insult. I will again say the presence of Armenians in Muslims countries is the result of genocide and systematic persecution. Just because on good deed by a person whit an Arab religion doesn’t over way the 1000 and 1000 bad and horrendous mass murder of Armenians and the systematic persecution that happens every day in Muslim countries. We Armenians must be pragmatic I do not support graffiti and swastika on the streets of any capital in the world but racism is increasing in every country in the World. And there is reason for it. Muslim declaring war on the infidels’, West declaring war against terror and little Armenia stuck in between. It is just natural it will affect the population in the world. We Armenians should be on the lookout because in the end we can only relay on our self.
Kind regards
Patrik the Tiger
Comment by Patrik the Tiger — August 25, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
Ok, comments section is now closed and I’d like to request that everyone abides by normal etiquette for blogs and commenting i.e. no personal insults or attacks. I understand that it’s an easy trap to fall into, but we should try to avoid it all cost. Certainly, making reasoned arguments is what we really need and to revert to insults doesn’t really help anyone make their case.
BTW: On the subject of Iranian Armenians, I personally would love to know more about the community and should visit one day. Actually, I’d like to see Iran too. As Thomas Seropian makes clear in his posts on his recent visit to Iran, we have far too many stereotypes about the country and from what I’ve heard in many areas, although with obvious exceptions, the people there seem more progressive than in Armenia.
Iranians are also apparently very friendly and I really must visit some time soon. Anahit, who Thomas accompanied on the visit, has the same impressions. It’s also interesting to note that whereas all the teams I’ve encountered in the Pan-Armenian Games so far, Iranian Armenians are the only ones who are using Armenian to communicate with each other so that implies minority language rights are alive and well for the community.
Probably the Lebanese-Armenians are also comfortable enough with Armenian to use it as their first language, but American-Armenians, Turkish-Armenians, Greek-Armenians, and German-Armenians are all using the official language of the countries they originate from to communicate with each other. This isn’t about keeping conversations during matches secret from the other side or else Armenians here would be using Russian. It’s simply about what language players are naturally used to communicating in.
Actually, I have no problem with this, but it is an interesting point to note about the Iranian-Armenians. That and the fact that they’re allowed to drink alcohol at wedding parties if no Moslems are present and also, that women are allowed to participate in sporting activities and get rid of the hijab outside of the country as well as in their own community.
Comment by Onnik — August 25, 2007 @ 5:46 pm