Uncle Garabed’s Notebook (June 13, 2015)

Armenian Proverb

Can one start a fast with katah in one’s hand?

Self-centeredness

We would rather run ourselves down than not talk about ourselves at all.

… La Rochefoucauld

From Churchill’s Famous Speech

… we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender…

Comment: Strange defensive talk when one considers that it was Britain that declared war on Germany, and not the other way around.

Vanishing Armenian Folklore

Dikranagerdtsis abide by the following cultural ritual: When someone who has just taken a bath enters a room, another occupant present says to the bather, “Eristi baknim” (I kiss your face). The bather responds, “Tserkit baknim” (I kiss your hand).

Easier Said than Done

Edo: I’m running for chairman of the Gomideh. Can I count on your vote?

Bedo: Afraid not. I’ve already promised my vote to Arshag.

Edo: (Winking) Well, in politics, promising and performing are two different matters.

Bedo: In that case, I’ll be glad to give you my promise.

What’s in a Name?

Minasian: Mainly Greek or Egyptian in derivation, although the form Mina can be found in other languages. In Greek, menas from mini can mean moon. As Minas, it could be defined as one who is bright in the darkness. In Egyptian, menas from menes can derive from the name of an Egyptian pharaoh, definition unknown.

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CK Garabed

Weekly Columnist

C.K. Garabed (a.k.a. Charles Kasbarian) has been active in the Armenian Church and Armenian community organizations all his life. As a writer and editor, he has been a keen observer of, and outspoken commentator on, political and social matters affecting Armenian Americans. He has been a regular contributor to the Armenian Reporter and the AGBU Literary Quarterly, “ARARAT.” For the last 30 years, Garabed has been a regular contributor to the Armenian Weekly. He produces a weekly column called “Uncle Garabed's Notebook,” in which he presents an assortment of tales, anecdotes, poems, riddles, and trivia; for the past 10 years, each column has contained a deconstruction of an Armenian surname. He believes his greatest accomplishment in life, and his contribution to the Armenian nation, has been the espousing of Aghavni, and the begetting of Antranig and Lucine.

Latest posts by CK Garabed (see all)

• A Reminiscence: John Najarian - February 19, 2020
• Uncle Garabed’s Notebook (Aug. 5, 2017) - August 7, 2017
• Uncle Garabed’s Notebook (July 22, 2017) - July 22, 2017