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Below are the 13 most recent journal entries recorded in the "dramaget" journal:
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04:54 pm
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Border Clash Aftermath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=d5kgH38G7tc
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01:04 pm
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armenian royalty
armenian royalty - dead? think again.
as I was finishing off the last warm weeks of winter on the west coast with some family friends, we started talking about the royal family of britain, and his little deployment stint, and with all the things going on in the world, thank GOD the news was filled with information about his deployment in all media outlets, and its uselesness, that the "inbred royalty" should be shot.
This lead us to a different venue, and we concluded that in Armenia too, we have royalty - the ruling elites, with their above the law treatments, unethical practices, and improper uses of public funds in monte carlo and so forth. yet, it struck me, though "royalty" they lack finesse and culture, and represent provincial chess pieces for western powers rather than independent and political leaders. the nakharars of the mongol invasions, with their petty feudal rivalries comes to mind - liparits, orbelians, zakareans and hasan jalalyan - all fighting for land, and yet serving a bigger master. can a comparison be made? and how will history come to treat this "royalty" and nation?
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12:58 pm
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ironies in everyday life
ironies in everyday life - we see them often enough, and they can be great conversation pieces. I would like to share two. It was perhaps last week that I was running from my dormitory to my theology class, yet I had the time to notice some girl, what appeared to be a freshman, walking in the opposite direction. She was not particularly attractive, and would look like the nerdy redhead with glasses from some movie, but what struck me were here shiny bright and straight teeth, as though braces just came off or so forth, and she was holding a cigarette in hand. Is it not ironic a parent paying thousands for dental care for the child to go and have a cancer stick to flush it right down? not saying it as an angel looking down, but a casual observer. the other case was my marketing professor, who has been blabbing about delighting the customer, finding customer needs and meeting them, as he bores the class of some 40 odd students with his tales and incoherent thoughts ... sigh - perhaps he should do as he preaches ....
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04:18 pm
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Armenian News - Western Media at it's finest unreliability
It is interesting how inconsistent western news stories are about the election thingy and the Artsakh shootout, the only thing consistent is their inconsistency! In this case, I see the blackout thing with the government, but it should instead aggressively disseminate information and sooner rather than black out. the worst is the bbc report of anonymous reports of the violence, which make it sound like Goyas 5th of may(or march) -fishy stories of little kids being killed that contradict themselves before they even end - the work of BP - the fine thomas de waal, or LTP and co.?
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12:44 am
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Armenian History as Reusable Construction Material for new History
Very interesting and true:
Ghipchaks in Anatolia constructing christian churches :)))
http://alikonline.com/files/2007/nov/18/18E01.htm
http://alikonline.com/files/2007/nov/19/19E01.htm
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06:19 pm
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Borat and The Armenian Genocide
Couldnt help but post one person's analysis of the good old denialist racism across the eworld. Oddly the truth is not far off, yet so absurd!
"my name a Aylin, but you can call me Borat-oglu, i come to you to speak dirty (I LIKE!). i learn much at the Ataturk University Supreme Truth Department. Genocide lies! Give me your gypsy tears, Armenians or you will be execute, like my friend who call premier Erdogan a man who does it with another man..."
"my hobby include deny genocides, shoot kurds, watch televison show "Ataturk's best week ever" and "Big Ottoman Brother" You can come to my house, use my wife and the archives to learn truth of genocide is dirty propoganda. in turkeystan we say, a man who accuse a man of make genocides has a small khram or is a woman. you stupid, i clever. you die, i urinate on your monuments. Güle güle, fuk with you later!"
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12:53 pm
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Another Armenian Douchebag tries to Change Armenian History
From
The Armenian Weekly On-Line
http://www.armenianweekly.com
The Armenian Weekly; Volume 73, No. 39; Sept. 29, 2007
'Armenian Dissidence'
Research Sets Preconceptions of Ancient Armenian Liberty on Fire
By Andy Turpin
BELMONT, Mass. (A.W.)-On Sept. 20, Dr. Seta Dadoyan, visiting professor at
the St. Nersess Seminary in New York, spoke at NAASR on "Armenian
Dissidence: Highlights of an Unwritten History."
Dadoyan opened her talk by quoting Charles Darwin, who described his seminal
work, The Origin of the Species, saying, "The whole thing is just one long
argument for a thesis. My entire work is an argument."
"In Armenian, there's only one word for dissidence, and it's not quite
dissidence," Dadoyan said. "Dissidence is the opposition of something
established... Women's rights, anti-slavery, labor movements-these
progressives were all defending human rights in their dissidence. Da Vinci,
Martin Luther, Picasso, Nietzsche-these were all nonconformists," she
explained.
"In the humanities, by which I mean the social sciences, we use the terms
'philosophical dissonance,' we don't say 'dissidence.'" Speaking of
Armenians, she said, "Critical thought has not become part of our culture.
This is very sad but true. We still haven't accepted critical views of our
culture."
Dadoyan cited the Copernican revolution of heliocentric science as proof of
effective dissident behavior by intellectuals. "Not that the universe had
changed, but man had a truer image of it," she said. "This is dissidence."
Calling for further delving into less studied epochs of Armenian history,
Dadoyan clarified, "By dissidence, I mean a sense of course and action that
are liberal in essence. I'm looking for a truer image of Armenians than I've
been given... The existing models, in my opinion, have ceased to conform to
contemporary scholarship of writing history. There's this lagging," she
added.
According to Dadoyan, "These models do not provide explanations for odd
phenomenon. We should look at these factors as integral and review our
accounts. Many cases did not find their way into the mainstream narratives
because Armenian histories served political parties-and they still do."
Speaking about the gaps and suppression of adequate information in old
Armenian sources, Dadoyan said, "If I want a piece of specific information,
I don't know really where to look. It's not in the Armenian historical
record."
She stated vehemently, "The Armenian scholar must really know everything.
You must know the cultures of the region. You will never know anything
Armenian if you don't know other cultures. We're much more cosmopolitan than
we think."
Dadoyan critiqued the nationalism that permeates Armenian history writing,
saying, "No nation is pure in essence. There is a lag and the idea is a pure
abstraction.
In contrast to zealots that cry generational assimilation and the collapse
of Armenian Christianity, Dadoyan suggested instead that "We are returning
to ancient times."
Dadoyan explained early Armenian-Christian thought that "Christ was born as
a man, but he was so good, he was adopted by God." She stated, "Armenian
'Lutheran' tendencies are as old as Armenian Christianity itself. But they've
been left out of the story."
Countering the synchronized claim that Armenia's populous accepted
Christianity in 301 A.D. full stop, Dadoyan explained, "It took 10 centuries
to be accepted by the people. It did not take place all at once and whoever
practiced their own interpretation of the faith was anathematized and made
heretics [by the Church]."
"The inferiority of women was rejected. So was slavery," she went on. "Do
you see the roots of Armenian feminism in dissidence?"
Dadoyan spoke to the high period of Armenian dissident groups, saying, "The
entire 10th century is a mystery, and it's an incredibly interesting period.
At this time the Armenian dissidence really became powerful."
She cited a 10th-century Armenian tribal lord who chronicled, after raiding
a dissident stronghold, "I destroyed their entire literature. I went to
every corner and made sure nothing survived." She then noted, "But the
Byzantine sources mention them."
Dadoyan culminated by discussing the damage caused by 19th and 20th-century
nationalist histories, stating, "I believe nationalism abstracted and
weakened the more radical ideas of the Enlightenment. As we come to the 20th
century, I'm afraid the genocide covered the century. There's no
self-reference. These are nothing but nationalists. They are not
dissidents."
She said of today's nationalist paradigm of Armenian history, "These are
modern words. We cannot implement them into the old stories. It was a
different world."
Dadoyan suggested, "Let's change the hypothesis and use other sources. This
thing is methodological. There are better paradigms. The older formulas are
out."
Asked by an audience member about how far she believed she could take her
research, at the St. Nersess seminary in particular, Dadoyan quipped, "I don't
know, how much can I ruin?"
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03:37 pm
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Թե՞ ինչ անեմ սրանց հետ ...
Արդեն մոտ չորս տարի է զբաղվում եմ Կիլիկյան Հայաստանի մետաղադրամներով։ Այս ընթացքում շատ բան եմ սովորել կիլիկյան մետաղադրամների մասին, նոր մարդկանց հանդիպել, և դրամագիտական կայքեր ու օգնական միջոցներ ստեղծել համացանցում։
Սակայն վերջերս ահագին նամակներ եմ ստանում տարբեր մարդկանցից, որոնք ուզում են, որ ես ստուգեմ իրենց կիլիկյան դրամները, տեղեկություններ գտնեմ դրանց մասին։ Ամենավատը այն է, որ երբեմն հետս շատ անշուք են վերաբերվում։
Ի՞նչ անեմ սրանց հետ ...
Շնորհակալ եմ, երբ ընկերներս ինձ ուղարկում են դրամագիտական հոդվածներ ու պատասխանում են իմ հարցերին եւ ես էլ նույն բանը իրենց համար եմ անում, բայց չգիտեմ ինչ ասել այսպիսի օտար մարդկանց...
Երեւի պետք է ասել կամ ինձ վճարեն, կամ ռադները քաշեն։ Եթե փող ունեն մետաղադրամներ գնելու եւ այդքան հետաքրքրվում են, ապա պետք է դրամագիտական գրքեր գնեն եւ ոչ թե իմ ժամանակը անվճար վատնեն։
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05:17 pm
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philosophy of dramagitutiun
After a discussion earlier in the day, I could not help asking myself some philosophical questions in regards to my numismatic hobby. Is it materialistic? life fulfilling? I realize, that sometimes when I buy a coin, a large part of the pleasure is in finding the coin that I want. I take pleasure from finding certain coins, whether that they are rare, or the fact that the silver has blackened over the ages. Most often, after it, I catalog it and let it rest with the other coins, taking it out at times to examine it, or perhaps if it is worthwhile, write about it in a numismatic publication.
Is it simply a type of drug addiction? Does everything fall apart after the fix of buying the coin? or do I get fulfillment from it. I think at this point in time, it is fulfilling as knowledge of them means more and more, and I see myself spending on (or receiving) books more and more than coins, and getting the knowledge and it's pleasures, rather than the material hunts.
But who knows, just some ideas :)
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04:18 pm
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Latinization of Armenian
Latinization of Armenian
I think this is a fairly obscure topic - but I was recently thinking of the latinization of Armenian. The regular Latin English often makes transliterating Armenian quite clumsy, and a revised romanization table exists for use in scientific or historical works - rather several versions of them exist. I wonder if in some future date the Armenian alphabet will become romanized for standard everyday usage. If it does, how can it affect Armenian culture? Will it lead to it's eventual assimilation as one of the first steps, or help it survive in an ever globalizing world?
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01:54 pm
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Face of denial is revealed
http://www.blogian.hayastan.com/
Apparently, the identity of the man responsible for the "premier" Armenian genocide denial site has been revealed. The man who goes by the internet alias "holdwater" appears to be in hot water as his identity is revealed. Murad Gumen, an American born man of Turkish immigrant parents has been behind the hate speech and denial of the Armenian genocide on the internet, and an illustrator for a day job :).
While he has claimed to be impartial, smart, and even good guy his website is shown to have violated numerous copyrights, created false quotes, and manipulate and alter history.
Perhaps the clearest evidence of his lies and their defeat is the Fadix analysis of the websites content, on a review of the Wikipedia article Armenian Genocide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Armenian_Genocide/Fadix_Analysis
Murad, who went by the nickname Torque, was brutally revealed for his racism and lies, and eventually decided to stop editing the Armenian Genocide article to suit is racism.
Perhaps the most amusing part of his website is how smart he claims to be, despite evidence to the contrary. While he published a copy of a letter he sent to the holocaust institute to his site, he altered the document to have his name removed. Meanwhile, despite his smarts, he forgot that the holocaust institute in DC is a public organization, and his real name, with his letter was there for the public to see.
Maybe this racist will finally stop his hate speech.
Tags: armenia, armenian genocide, denial, genocide
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02:21 pm
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You are not Calouste Gulbenkian ...
It's a pleasant summer evening, and you just got finished eating dinner. You just cracked open a fresh Heineken and got connected to the net. You are just relaxing and surfing, and feel like you are in an eBay, and feel like window shopping, or maybe you got that urge to buy something, so you decide to look under Armenian coins. You may be a one time buyer, amateur collector, or a full time collector.
Suddenly, you look at the first auction about to end; a couple seconds left. It is a common dram of King Levon I of Cilician Armenia, a little chewed up, at $122.20 with 10 bidders already in. Suddenly, you decide to get generous and throw down 200.00 as a max bid, aaaand find yourself to be the winner of the coin for a "MERE" $164.00.
What I am trying to say is, I hate seeing mindless bidders throw down hundreds on tasteless common coins without any absolute reason. You are not Calouste Gulbenkian! You have neither his taste nor money, no matter how wealthy you think you are.
Now, I am not saying this as a nice guy watching out for these bidders, but a collector/ amateur researcher who gets screwed on this in the long term. There is no shame in refusing to pay 164 dollars on a common coin that should go for no more than 15-25. Rather, it shows restraint and smarts.
By throwing down such extravagant bids on coins, these individuals encourage dealers and give them the nerve to throw up such absurd prices - for what? Meanwhile, long time collectors or specialist, who know a little about something, get screwed, and are forced to dig deeper into a well to find water. It has become so bad, that I am paying less for rare coins, than common ones off eBay. Some bozos don't even know what they bid on, searching a "hot" auction with many bids, they throw down their money. I cannot even buy common coins in bulk anymore at reasonable prices for study and research, it is rediculous.
There were of course days, several decades ago, when some of these coins were melted for mere silver melt value, and Armenians in Lebanon and elsewhere began to pay 4.00 a piece for silver to stop sending them to the melter. Today, I am lucky to find copper coins in this range. To ask for silver in bulk for 4.00 a piece, or merely find Cilician Armenian silver coins in bulk is absurd.
But, I suppose thats markets, economics and all that garbage for a poor collector. Beggars cant be choosers. :)
Tags: armenia, calouste gulbenkian, cilician armenia, coin collecting, dram, economics, numismatics, takvorin
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08:22 pm
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How to respond to genocide denial on the internet
One thing that bothers me is Armenian individuals constantly respond and debate with Turkish individuals about the Armenian genocide. Truth of the matter is, we should not respond to them. These arguments have no validity, and they do not deserve a response; by replying you give them validity, denying practice and ultimately screw yourselves over by promoting them by playing on their field. Of course there are times we must respond to some of what they say, but even then, we must respond selectively and we don't have to answer to everything.
Tags: armenia, armenian genocide, denial
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dramaget's journal