Armenian Genocide

Fewer Armenian Americans are speaking the language of their native country, eroding the ability of the diaspora to preserve its culture, according to an expert at UCLA who addressed a conference organized at the Central Library on Saturday. Since 1970, the use of the Armenian language has decreased dramatically in all areas of diasporan life, including weddings, baptisms, schools and newspapers, said Hagop Gulludjian, a lecturer of Armenian studies at UCLA. Language is key to the survival of ethnic identity, particularly because the Armenian diaspora appears to be permanent, he added.

The entrance of 60 Armenian Relief Society honorees clad in tricolor ribbons into the Glendale Hilton Hotel's Grand Ballroom inspired a standing ovation by the more than 500 guests attending the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA's Gala 2012 on April 27. Honorees were selected by their respective chapters in the society's Western USA region to be recognized for their excellence in service in categories including longtime member, financially supportive...

Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian, who is challenging Mike Gatto for the 43rd Assembly District seat in November, ramped up his campaign at a recent anti-genocide rally by appealing to the Armenian American vote with a fiery speech that has since been posted online. In his address to the crowd, Krikorian spoke in terms that appeared to limit his appeal to Armenian voters - a strategy used many times by candidates before him with limited success - by saying it was time to elect someone who “speaks for us” and that “one of our own represents our community.” In his speech outside Glendale Community College, which was posted on YouTube , Krikorian also pledges “to be the voice of American Armenians and to be the voice of Glendale - to be in touch with you.” Krikorian said he tailored his comments - which at times became excited and touched on the international geo-political trials of Armenia - for his audience at the candlelight vigil commemorating the Armenian genocide of 1915.

It's a problem when the only news source that tells it like it is, with no holding back, is "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. " Watching the show is like a ritual of exposing the hypocrisy with the political leadership of our country. Republicans will claim that all the news on "The Daily Show" is pro-Democrat. But all you have to do is view Jon Stewart on a daily basis to see that he doesn't discriminate when it comes to exposing hypocrisy. Maybe that's why so many have come to be fans of the show.

The L.A. County Democratic Party recently passed a resolution to ask the California Democratic Party to endorse efforts to educate its members about the Armenian Genocide and reject efforts to deny the crime. The resolution was authored by the Southern California Armenian Democrats, which has many local members. It received widespread support on its way to the county party's executive committee. The vote came on the eve of the 97th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks.

A new film school in Glendale has pledged to issue more than $17,000 worth of scholarships at the city's Man's Inhumanity to Man event on Thursday. The International Academy of Film and Television will award scholarships for summer classes to 15 people who enter a drawing at the event Thursday, according to an announcement released today. Now in its 11th year, Man's Inhumanity to Man focuses on various acts of crimes against humanity throughout the world's history, part of a series of city-sponsored events that center on the April 24 commemoration of the Armenian genocide.

Thousands marched through Hollywood on Tuesday in observance of the 97th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide and to call on the Turkish government to recognize the  deaths of about 1.5 million people. The march was organized by the Unified Young Armenians. Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Lamont Garrett said about 4,500 demonstrators participated, with many carrying Armenian flags and banners as they marched down Sunset and Hollywood boulevards. At the end of the route, near Hobart and Sunset boulevards, speakers made remarks to the crowd before they moved on toward the Turkish consulate for another demonstration.

Armineh Aslanan spent Tuesday running from Montebello to Los Angeles and back to her hometown of Glendale as she tried to attend as many Armenian Genocide Commemoration events as she could. “I feel that it's something that every Armenian should do, they should at least attend one of the events,” Aslanan said. “To remember. To give respect.” Aslanan was one of nearly 1,400 people who packed the Alex Theatre Tuesday night at a city-sponsored event commemorating the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which began in 1915 when the Ottoman Empire massacred roughly 1.5 million Armenians.

A member of the Canadian parliament and a filmmaker whose latest feature focuses on a musician searching for a family heirloom lost during the Armenian Genocide are just two highlights of the upcoming Week of Remembrance. Each year, Glendale commemorates the Armenian Genocide of 1915 with a week of events in April. About 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire over the course of several years through massacres and death marches, which modern day Turkey has refused to acknowledge as genocide.

Kim Kardashian apparently wants more than just a regular table at the Carousel restaurant in Glendale. In an online clip for an upcoming episode for her sister's show, “Khloe & Lamar,” Kardashian revealed her newfound political ambitions: “I decided I'm going to run for the mayor of Glendale.” Representatives for the reality TV star did not immediately respond to requests for comment on her latest musings, published Tuesday by www.radaronline.com....