Op-Eds
Hey Armenia, We Need to Talk
Last week, I visited Armenia for the first time as an adult, to attend my nephew’s baptism. I decided to take the opportunity to write a travel article on tourism in Armenia. I want to […]
Op-Eds
Op-Eds
Tracing the Revolution
Over the last few days in Armenia, I’ve searched to find the new, that New Armenia which we all so enthusiastically proclaimed and welcomed barely two months ago. More importantly, and even more vital for […]
Op-Eds
But What About Levon?
Commenting on the virus that is corruption, Mahatma Ghandi once said: “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” Now to the title of this article: “But what about Levon?” […]
Op-Eds
A Restaurant-Owner in Yerevan Considers the Ban on Plastic
One evening, as I was walking through the streets of Cascade, I noticed a sudden shutdown of all service businesses at exactly 11:00 p.m. I asked the owner of a popular pub in the area […]
Armenia
Can Armenia Be the First to Ban Single-Use Plastic in a Throwaway Global Economy?
It has been a slate of good news from Armenia as of late. Topping off several weeks of corruption investigations, which have ousted numerous officials and relatives of the former president (bringing much-needed justice to […]
Op-Eds
Culture of Courage
Last week, I was honored to introduce Oscar-winner Terry George’s Armenian Genocide-era drama, “The Promise,” as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival “Armenia: Creating Home” program’s Cultures of Survival series. Just a few hours ago, I had the chance […]
Op-Eds
I Am Afraid of Armenia
It seems like every Sunday after church, I’m confronted by the same question: “How many times have you been to Armenia?” I never have a sufficient answer regardless of whether the question is posed by […]
Op-Eds
ARF Bureau Member Hagop Der Khatchadourian’s Remarks at Armen Garo Statue Unveiling in D.C.
WASHINGTON—The following are remarks delivered by Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Hagop Der Khatchadourian on June 28, during the Republic of Armenia Centennial celebration at the Armenian Embassy in Washington D.C. At the event, […]
Op-Eds
To Camp or Not to Camp—There Is No Question
School kid: “Hi! What’s your name?” Me: “Suh-vah-nuh Bag-duh-ser-yun.” School kid: “What’s that? What kind of name?” Me: “Armenian.” School kid: “What’s that? Are you Iranian? Do you pray to Ayatollah?” In the 1970s, I […]
Op-Eds
The Diaspora Could Use a Little More Velvet
I recently participated as a speaker for a forum in Toronto and Montreal, in which I was asked to speak about the 18 months I spent living and working in Armenia. The event offered […]