Eat now, think later.

Feeling particularly lazy this past Sunday afternoon, I decided to watch a documentary so as not to feel entirely useless. Food Inc has been on my watch list since it came out and it was every bit as captivating as I expected it to be. While living in France, I became fascinated by the French culinary culture and the relative affordability of healthy food. Since my return, I’ve even delved into what some call the world of “foodies”. (I do, however, really resent that title.) I’ve made it a point to explore some of the Bay Area’s most delectable eateries, giving kudos to establishments that prepare local products. Watching the documentary simply forced the resurfacing of thoughts I often suppress on a day to day basis. I was immediately sickened by how obsessed the developed world is with constant indulging. What was once a need has become an industry that entirely runs people’s lives. But wait a minute. Aren’t these the words of a hypocrite? How can I, an open admirer of food, make such claims about the industry? And that is where the paradox kicks in. I wonder now if there exists a balance between a love of the culinary world and deep disdain for the system that feeds us. When I eat out, I'm angered by that tiny surge of self loathing that overcomes me. Why should I have to fear that the meat on my plate came from a hundred different animals? Whom can we trust in our efforts to avoid the ills of the U.S. food industry? In reading an endless stream of accusations against the FDA and the USDA, I question if these government agencies even partially fulfilling their roles. At the latest farmer’s market, ready as always to pay twice as much for what should be a good product, I found myself wondering how much integrity the avocado in my had really had? These frustrating thoughts make me think back on Armenia and what eating means there. In my lifetime, Armenia was a country without supermarkets and pesticides. Farmer’s markets were the only kind of markets. Now, illuminated and glistening 24 hour superstores are open for business across the nation. Without government intervention, pesticides are bringing farmers short term benefits with detrimental long term effects. On the other hand, I cannot begin to blame these people for wanting to enlarge their livestock with hormones. They harldy have the opportunity to earn enough to feed their families. Although my research is extremely limited, I have the inkling that Armenia is not the only country bearing witness to such changes in our globalizing world. Perhaps these “advancements” are the early symptoms of an eventually crippling disease. And when I think of this, I can’t help but ponder the following: When it comes to food, is development an ironic enemy?

Virtual Rennovation

It's been almost a year since I've picked up my pen - or put my fingers to the keyboard - to write for pleasure. I began this blog nearly two years ago to record musings from my time in Washington, DC. After coming back to California, I neglected the blog and mistakenly abandoned it altogether when I moved to France. Back in California and equipped with a new arsenal of thoughts and opinions, I have vowed to write again. I am going to transform this little virtual space I call my own into a collection of input on global culture, politics, and basic human relations. I hope to make the blog less about the writer and more about what I have to say. Earning an undergraduate degree in such a unique time (if you will) and travelling to Europe has opened my eyes to a few new things. For better or worse, I want to share these thoughts with the online community. This time, I'll do so with more rigor and regularity. Let's see how this turns out, shall we?

Goodbye Washington

Today is my last day in Washington, DC. The office is pretty relaxed today without a whole lot for me to do. I thought I'd take a small break and write two lists. One of things I will miss and one of things I am looking forward to back at home in California.


Things I will miss:
1. Young professionals everywhere I turn
2. The characters on the Public Transport
3. The small-town feel in a huge city
4. Attending hearings
5. The Gateway house, with all its residents and fun times
6. U Street
7. Calling the ANCA office "home" by mistake
8. Chop't
9. City sounds
10. Being surrounded by news and current events
11. Latakia jokes
12. Alex singing "Der Voghormia" in the shower
13. Being a secretary


Things I am looking forward to:
1. Not wearing work clothes every day.
2. Humidity < 90%
3. Every person I have missed
4. Seeing the stars at night
5. My car
6. A fridge with more than 1 sq. foot of space for me
7. Less rats
8. The beach
9. School
10. Better tasting food..namely sushi
11. Babies
12. Lounging
13. Pools deeper than 3 feet


That's a very small tidbit, they were really the first things to come to mind so I threw them out there :)

"Aghet" - the Great Calamity

It appears that the developed world has lately been fascinated with championing for human rights- for serving as the voice of justice in an unjust world. Young people everywhere are sporting t-shirts that read “Save Darfur”, internationally known celebrities are adopting from third world nations on a regular basis, and well to do businesspeople are opening charities for impoverished children. These efforts are commendable, but indirectly raise the question of what it takes for individual (or any given entity) to create a sustainable message for human rights. Crimes against humanity have been an issue constantly presented to politicians and governmental authority of modernity. And yet the primary combatants of human rights abuses are often non government forces relentlessly striving to speak out for justice. Creating a message with a global appeal and the ability to catalyze political change against inhumanity, however, is no easy task.

Knowing the obstacles that would inevitably hinder his efforts, a German filmmaker by the name of Eric Friedler took on such a task. Equipped with the funding of German Public Television (NDR) and an ensemble of 23 notable German actors bringing historical texts to life, Friedler created a documentary to depict the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire during the First World War.[1] Many historians believe that the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century, during which approximately 1.5 million Armenians perished as a result of death marches, deportation to nowhere, and starvation.[2] Yet, this interpretation of the Genocide is not globally accepted. Firstly, the Turkish government exercises an uncompromising policy of Genocide Denial and the U.S. government does not officially recognize these atrocities of WWI as genocide. Not to mention that ninety-five years after the fact, the story of the Armenian Genocide faces easily slipping away into forgotten antiquity. The factors contributing to Friedler’s opposition in this case are easy to understand.

Turkey’s role in the Western world makes international recognition of the Armenian Genocide a nearly taboo topic of discussion. A secular democracy in the Muslim world, Turkey serves as a desirable ally to many Western nations, including the United States and Germany. Many U.S. officials look to Turkey as a model for the Middle East- as an example for its neighbors to follow. The question of the Genocide and recognition can be answered simply. Turkey’s message to its allies is clear: recognition of the Genocide yields consequences. As mentioned earlier, the current Turkish government dictates policy that does not hold the Ottoman Empire, its predecessor, guilty of Genocide. In fact, Section 301 of the Turkish penal code makes it a federally punishable crime to “insult Turkishness”[3], which includes mention of the Armenian Genocide. In effect, any government or individual that finds otherwise ultimately undermines Turkish policy.

Regardless of the obvious difficulty ahead of him, Eric Friedler went forth with his film, which was first screened in Berlin on April 8^th, 2010. Friedler’s documentary is a unique effort at presenting history that many legislators and governments have been aware of for years. From its conception in Germany, “Aghet” has made its way to the United States, and into the heartland of American politics on Capitol Hill. The documentary, which is heavy, heart wrenching, yet beautifully executed, displays the Armenian Genocide through a new light. It is important to note that the point of the movie is not to appeal to any one group- Friedler himself claims that he had “no target audience” in mind when making the film. He is not playing to the emotional capacities of the Armenians, nor is he seeking to speak out Turks. He is merely attempting to portray, through raw and invigorating footage, history he believes to be “a fact that has already been proven”. In this way, the film’s appeal is universal. The viewer does not have to be associated with the history to be moved by Friedler’s message.

Perhaps because of this, “Aghet” is drawing both admiration and controversy. During the Capitol Hill Screening on July 23, 2010, host Representative Adam Schiff of California commented on the opposition from the Turkish side when he said, “Today I received a copy of a letter from the Turkish ambassador, decrying the fact that this film is being screened here the in Congress and claiming that Aghet attempts to simplify and worse to falsify the nature and force of this sad chapter in history.”[4] Ultimately, when it comes to foreign affairs, the Armenian Genocide remains a constant tug of war. With neither side willing to yield, reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey is unlikely to come in the near future. Today, the Turkey-Armenia border remains indefinitely closed, eliminating trade between the two nations. Not to mention that in 2007, Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian journalist who wrote about the Armenian Genocide, was gunned down outside his office in Istanbul, causing a worldwide reaction from the Armenian Diaspora.[5]

The House Foreign Affairs committee passed House Resolution 252 (aka The Armenian Genocide Resolution) in March of this year- recognizing the massacres of WW1 as genocide. House Resolution 252 calls for U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide- there is no mention of action on behalf of the Turkish government.[6] The resolution has yet to be voted upon by the full House of Representatives. At the July screening, Eric Friedler noted "I do not know if my film ‘Aghet’ will have any impact on the way the American Congress will deal with the issue of Armenian Genocide in future. It is more than amazing and absolutely unusual that a German documentary might be considered to have any meaning to a political decision-making process. I feel very honored to be invited to Washington and that ‘Aghet’ is seen by members of the Congress.”[7] It is yet too early to understand how what the political impact of Mr. Friedler’s film will be.

Nearly a century after the Genocide occurred, some beg the question as to why vehicles of information like “Aghet” as well as recognition are so important to Armenians, the Armenian Diaspora, and those who actively partake in their cause. Others fear the political repercussions of such a move and allude to the fragile U.S. alliance with Turkey. After all, no material benefit will come to a government for officially recognizing the massacres as genocide. If the issue were looked at in black and white terms in the United States, recognition may even be arbitrary to Washington. For those connected to the issue, however, the Armenian Genocide is not only a question of policy. It is a question of symbolism, closure, and progress. It is a ma­tter of illustrating to the world that the modern concept of human rights can be a powerful contender in a ruthlessly politically constructed global community. After all, gestures of symbolic recognition- such as Germany banning of the word “Nazi” from the country’s vocabulary and the Japanese Prime Minister’s recent apology to Korea for colonial rule and mistreatment -ultimately hold weight when it comes to reconciliation.

Although the world’s outlook on the Armenian Genocide issue has yet to reach a uniform conclusion, Eric Friedler’s “Aghet” ultimately shines light on an aging issue begging a modern question. With genocide continuing to plague the world, education and recognition bring out remote hope that the new perpetrators of genocide will rethink their course.­­­­­­­

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[1] Spiegel Online: http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,687449,00.html

[2]Taner Akçam A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility

[3] Today’s Zaman Online: http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=131118

[4] ANCA press release: http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=1912

[5] New York Times Online: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940CEEDA1539F931A35753C1A9619C8B63&ref=hrant_dink

[6] Open Congress: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-hr252/show#

[7] ANCA press release: http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=1912

A Small Bite out of the Big Apple

Although I haven't updated in probably over a week now, my post today isn't necessarily related to anything political or professional. I am, however, working on something about a genocide film that thoroughly and somewhat unexpectedly moved me, so that will be up in the future. (Just didn't want it to be haphazarly done)

In any case, I'm writing today to briefly recap an incredibly event filled weekend. My friends and I decided to explore the East Coast. Typical as it may seem, we took a weekend getaway to New York. We were lucky enough to be housed by my friend's parents in New Jersey, who in addition to helping us avoid the hassle of staying in the city, treated us with more hospitality than we could ask for. Without going on too much of a tangent, New Jersey has got to be the most media misrepresented state. Granted we were on the New York state line and far from the shore, but I certainly did not encounter any fistpumping. The greenery and overall atmosphere was more reminiscent of the Garden State film, if anything.

Anyway, we spent two nights in New Jersey and two full days in New York. Needless to say, we didn't see everything. New York seems like a world all by itself. If ever I forgot just how small I was, one upward glance at the skyscrapers put me right back in my place. I've never seen a place like it. There is no uniform description, feel, or ambiance in New York. Here is an example of why: An entirely glass high-rise is juxtaposed next to a Catholic church on the corner of Wall Street (surprisingly narrow) and Broadway. The variety was endless and the sights in New York were just mesmerizing. Walking up and down its streets is an ongoing adventure, with something entirely new everywhere you look.

Besides the fact that we were disguised as potential locals in my friend's cream colored Jetta, we were true tourists when it came to sight-seeing. Upon arrival Friday night, we rushed to Times Square, which was my only disappointment of the weekend. At the time, my mouth was probably open the entire 15 minutes as I stared at the flashing lights. In retrospect though, I don't think I gained very much. Times Square, in many ways, reminded me of the tackiness that Vegas plays host to. I'm certainly glad I visited it, but am I dying to go back? Not really.

The Statue of Liberty was an experience I enjoyed. Even though she is surprisingly small, Lady Liberty is a sigh to behold. On the island, I felt a certain serenity. For some reason, the statue seemed human to me, and I liked being around her.

I don't want this post to be too long, but I think the highlight of the weekend was when we, on a whim, went to dinner on the upper East Side. Since we were already there and famished, the girls and I decided we might as well spoil ourselves a little. After consulting Yelp, we decided on an Italian restaurant near Lexington Avenue. When we arrived, we discovered the place closed on Sundays. Briefly disappointed, we looked around, and finally picked a cozy Indian spot a few doors down. I found the name, Chola, a bit funny though. But the decor was lovely and the food was pretty darn delicious. Not to mention, I felt, ironically enough, uncomfortable at how good the service was.

In the end though, I'm not sure I could live in a place like New York. Maybe the reason I fell much in love with DC is because it's a big city with a small town feel. But to be frank, I think I'm being far too quick to judge. After all, what grounds do I have to voice an opinion after only 48 hours?

The Color Purple

I feel that we, as humans, have for the most part accepted that life simply is not fair. But every now and then, something so unjustified and so incomprehensible happens that even the most disconnected and cynical human beings have to stop and beg the question as to why. An already emotionally driven person, I am helplessly searching my mind today to understand why Kevin Gahndi's life depends on a machine- droning, clicking, humming, and providing him a heartbeat. This time tomorrow, that machine will have stopped working. When faced with a decision no mother or sister should ever have to make, his family chose to stop providing the life support.

For now, I have no need to pour out my thoughts through this virtual catharsis. You see, Kevin was always frustrated with his friends because he thought we were too emotional. He was the poster child of understanding hardships, and moving on. But I can't take a page out of Kevin's book today. Moving on is hard to do when the person lost is as beautiful as him. All I want to do, is show a small display of a person more loved than he could ever understand. I just want to post a few pictures that made me think of Kevin- for one reason or another- in the color that made him known as Purple Pants himself

If this is a Senate Committee, where are all the Senators?

When I made my way to Capitol Hill yesterday afternoon, I was expecting an exhilarating remainder of my workday. I was going to the Confirmation Hearing of 4 nominated and potential Ambassadors to be. Their prospective host nations would be Turkey, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon. No one could argue that these are boring or safe places for a Foreign Service worker. Instead, three of the four nations are oftentimes threatened by extremism and dreaded Iranian regional influence. Furthermore, Turkey, has, in recent times, certainly shown signs of leaning East and putting the West behind it. This is not a good sign for a U.S. ally to show. Additionally, Iraq is a vulnerable nation and its future is surely uncertain, to put it mildly. To sum it up without going into details about the fragility and potential of relations with these nations, I could not think of a more crucial time to have qualified and overly prepared Ambassadors acting as the messengers of the American interest in Ankara, Beirut, Baghdad, and Sanaa. With that being said, I was dismally disappointed to see that of 19 members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, no more that 4 were present at any given point. Throughout the 3.5 hour hearing, less than 8 were present altogether. How could this happen? This was supposed to be the opportunity for the Senators to ask crucial questions, determine the quality of these servicemen, understand their goals... the list goes on and on. But not one Senator truly turned up the heat. Perhaps Senator Menendez of New Jersey succeeded in making the Ambassador to Turkey nominee rather uncomfortable when he asked the nominee if he had been to a Turkish Genocide Celebration on his visits to Turkey. He did this to follow up a series of Genocide related questions to underline a very clear point: Turkey mocks the Genocide. Besides Menendez's pressing questions, the Senators spoonfed the nominees questions they tackled with no difficulty, most of which they had already addressed in their initial statements. Perhaps the Senators have so much faith in Barack Obama's nominations that they saw no need to question. Although, I doubt this theory holds true for the Republican Members. Where was the true American tradition of checks and balances? Perhaps I am being too cynical, perhaps these four nominees will do a marvelous job, and perhaps the Senators are simply far too busy to partake. In any case, I still can't help but wonder about possible apathy on their behalf.



Regarding the nominee to Turkey, he appeared to be a knowledgeable man, with an admirable reputation as a U.S Foreign Service agent. He addressed the Genocide when asked, referring to it as the massacre of 1.5 million, without blatanly calling it a genocide. I saw several prominent Turkish lobbyists, seated in front of me, scribble away fervently as he addressed the issue.

He gave an interesting response regarding Turkish mistreatment of the internationally honored Ecumenical Patriarch (recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal from the U.S. Congress). The nominee answered this question with the following:

"I will give it every effort and use the devices of diplomacy. Perhaps there are a couple of newer wrinkles to bear. When I would speak with the Turks on human rights issues, particularly religious freedom issues, one of the points that I found most salient, and that really hit home with the Turks is to appeal to their pride. And historic tolerance, they see it as part of a national branding of the Turkish character, if you will. And when Catholic Spain was burning Jews, and Muslims and heretics, only half a millennium ago, which in Middle Eastern time is less time than for us, Turkey welcome the Jews of Spain to come there and profited greatly from that. The Ottoman Empire also profited heavily from having Greek Christians, Armenian Christians in their highest offices of government as ministers until the end of the Ottoman Empire. Turks take pride in that, but don't always live up to it in the modern time. So I would certainly remind the Turks of that great tradition that they had. Beyond that, it's public diplomacy."

I wonder if he remembers that the reason those Armenian ministers no longer served was because they were all taken from their homes and beheaded one fateful night?