Wow....today was a LONG.. let me stress that.. L-O-N-G day! I just got home from school (9:30pm) and i was there a little over 12 hours! But I feel like I accomplished a lot....so that's what matters. Like, Raffi N. I also read articles about the "Ararat" issue. Actually when I first found out that such a movie had been made and would premiere in March, I was sooooooooo happy!!! I remembered when i was younger and Schindler's List came out...and I found out that the screenwriter was Armenian (Micheal Zeitlan I believe) I was kind of disappointed. How come he had chosen to write about the Holocaust rather than his own history? But to this day I remain uninformed about his life/background... my fault I guess. But when I learned that Egoyan had made this movie "Ararat" ....I was relieved!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!! But of course.... it never fails.... The Turkish government once again sticks their nose into the progess of the Armenian people - covering up their horrific deeds. Is it a coincidence that TARC is shut down??? I think not. If people don't know---here is some very vital info for you........ The Turkish government spends millions in America (imagine where else) on propaganda and such. Just one of the ways they get into the everyday lives of the American public is marketing products that are made in Turkey. If you've ever tried to buy a bathrobe...you know what I mean!!! Notice that EVERY bathrobe is made in Turkey??!! (I was FINALLY able to find ones that are made in the USA....even though they aren't the cutest ones out there :) That's nothing.... if you live in Southern California, and have gone grocery shopping at your local Armenian store, then you have for sure seen the numerous products shelved there, which are ALSO made in Turkey. And....Armenians buy them!!! Banana Republic has leather jackets made there, Victoria's Secrets has their robes made there, Macy's carries some clothing made there......and that's just the beginning. So what do we do about this?????
Well.....here's something that the youth has started... the "United Human Rights Coalition". Yup. This group is after "human rights violators" . Since their launch, the UHRC has been going around and passing out little fact cards to shoppers. Facts about human rights violations committeed in Turkey.....not a 100 yrs ago...TODAY!!! The point is to EDUCATE! Educate the public about the products they are buying...the products they are endorsing..... Educate the public about human rights. See, it's hard for Americans to even picture violations like that. Why? Well, look at us. Look at the way we live. We were devastated by Sept. 11.....when there are countries on the other side of the world that experience that on a weekly basis!! War is not something that happens here....human rights violations like the ones we teach don't happen here - and trying to imagine all of that while juggling work, school, family, and other responsibilities is just a big EXTRA. So here's something NEW that's being done to battle the propaganda......who knows, it might be the beginning of a new revolution! :)

So what do i say about the movie issue? "BAYKAR BAYKAR MINCHEV VERCH" - on that note...kisher paree :) TSUH!