Soviet Union

The people of the United States once again can rest easy, now that that great patriot Mr. Ergun Kirlikovali (pronounced Paul Revere) has exposed the dastardly plot of the evil Armenians to destroy the USA -- or get their hands on taxpayer money, which is regarded the same by some. Oh, and by the way, as he was riding his horse from Santa Ana to rescue white folk in Glendale, did he forget that annual U.S. aid to Turkey makes the alleged $1.4 billion aid to Armenia look like peanuts?

GLENDALE ? Eighty-eight years ago, Armenians were fighting for their freedom ? a victory they won on May 28, 1918. In recognition of Armenian Independence Day on May 28, the Glendale-based Armenian Youth Federation-Western Region is collaborating with the Armenian Cultural Foundation to host an independence day festival on Sunday in Hollywood. "This is a key day in our history," said Caspar Jizalagian, one of the event organizers with the Armenian Youth Federation-Western Region.

Judy Seckler GLENDALE -- In Alvard Harutyunyan's world, there are few, if any, textbooks or school supplies for children. In post-Soviet Armenia, Harutyunyan's homeland, an educational system struggles under the weight of a deteriorating infrastructure where leaking roofs are the norm and gymnasium floors are buckled and splintered. Harutyunyan, a Catholic Relief Services education project manager, was in Glendale this week for three days of networking and fact finding.

Robert Chacon It doesn't matter where Sergo Keshishian paints his murals, because when he is creating them, he is in his own world. Three years ago, Keshishian decided to emigrate to the U.S. from his home in Yerevan, Armenia. The 36-year-old artist has traveled extensively through Armenia and the former Soviet Union, but his goal was to live in "the most powerful country in the world," he said through an interpreter. Since moving to Glendale with his wife, daughter and parents, Keshishian has been making a living giving private art lessons and painting murals in homes and businesses.

This is in response to those socialistic letters that Roberta Gutierrez keeps writing. Doesn't she see that America is a capitalistic society and that communism has failed? Reading her letters is like reading "A Communist Manifesto" by Lenin, the way she states the facts about what the economy is and what the economy needs and what the landlords are doing and what is needed is government controls. I read "A Communist Manifesto" about 25 years ago, and reading her last letter of Oct. 14 is very similar.

The cold war is over. Isn't it? And yet for many of the ethnics across America, the war continues to rage, even after the destruction of the Berlin Wall. Don't be alarmed. I don't mean to suggest there are many communist sympathizers living here in America waiting to setup a worker's dictatorship in Washington, D.C. No, absolutely not. One would be hard-pressed to even find outspoken liberals in today's political environment, let alone leftist radicals who still cling onto the notion that somehow the now-defunct Soviet system was actually better than the variety of systems offered in the Western hemisphere.

Hamlet Nalbandyan SOUTHEAST GLENDALE -- The only thing funnier than seeing some would-be tackler trying bring down Glendale's Vladimir Paniouchkine with an arm tackle is hearing the game announcer attempting to pronounce the junior fullback's name. "That's Glendale's No. 24 with the carry, Vlaaadimir Panniaoushhhh..." After a few seconds of silence, the poor announcer usually tries it again, before eventually stumbling and giving up altoghether.

Josh Kleinbaum Hobik Gabikian remembers hiding under tables and in basements, listening to the sound of devastation outside, hoping he would remain safe. Gabikian, one of 19 candidates for Glendale City Council, grew up in Rasht, Iran, during the heart of the Iran-Iraq war. He still remembers the first time his hometown was bombed. "We always felt we were immune, and they would not attack us," Gabikian said. "The sound of the explosions and what followed afterward, to me, that was a turning point, a life-changing experience."

About 75 miles north of Armenia's capital sits a quiet town near the closed Turkish border named Gyumri. Few travelers venture here, a city bursting with history, hospitality, humor and — as is common in the Armenian story that spans eons — tragedy. The 1988 earthquake did a number on Gyumri, killing upwards of 50,000 and leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. The city's magnificent and distinct style of architecture also suffered, with many of its buildings still in remnants, and thousands of its people still living in temporary metal containers called domiks.

About 75 miles north of Armenia's capital sits a quiet town near the closed Turkish border named Gyumri. Few travelers venture here, a city bursting with history, hospitality, humor and — as is common in the Armenian story that spans eons — tragedy. The 1988 earthquake did a number on Gyumri, killing upwards of 50,000 and leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. The city's magnificent and distinct style of architecture also suffered, with many of its buildings still in remnants, and thousands of its people still living in temporary metal containers called domiks.

Siran Kazanchyan and her two granddaughters laid out a plaid blanket Sunday on the lawn of Verdugo Park to celebrate a historical cultural milestone —the 17th anniversary of Armenian independence. “The event is a great way to teach my granddaughters about Armenian culture,” Kazanchyan said. “Even though they were born here, I always try to help them learn about our history. Every time they come over to my house, we only speak Armenian.” Kazanchyan was one of an expected 5,000 people who filled Verdugo Park to take part in the 10th Annual Armenian Independence Day Festival.

GLENDALE — Adult Recreation Center regular Betty Pinney couldn't help but tap her feet to some lively Armenian music Thursday morning, as she watched two dancers perform traditional Armenian folk dances. "It's very different," said Pinney, who is not very familiar with Armenian culture. "It's different from American culture. But the dancers are excellent, very light on their feet. I'm enjoying it very, very much." Though Pinney is not Armenian, she was one of more than 100 seniors who took part in an Armenian Independence Day ceremony at the center's senior café on Thursday — which marked the 15th anniversary of Armenia's independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991.

The cold war is over. Isn't it? And yet for many of the ethnics across America, the war continues to rage, even after the destruction of the Berlin Wall. Don't be alarmed. I don't mean to suggest there are many communist sympathizers living here in America waiting to setup a worker's dictatorship in Washington, D.C. No, absolutely not. One would be hard-pressed to even find outspoken liberals in today's political environment, let alone leftist radicals who still cling onto the notion that somehow the now-defunct Soviet system was actually better than the variety of systems offered in the Western hemisphere.

Councilman's comments insensitive to speakers Kudos to Arlene and Paul Meadows and Richard Counsil for their splendidly articulated commentaries regarding that ever-oppressive fence ordinance ("Ordinance, bad behavior, fence off fairness, " Monday; and "Not a place for a fence ordinance and closed minds," Wednesday). Although I appreciate very much the City Council addressing this at the May 31 council meeting and wisely suspending it, I echo the disappointment of others regarding the demeanor of Councilman Bob Yousefian.

Josh Kleinbaum Hobik Gabikian remembers hiding under tables and in basements, listening to the sound of devastation outside, hoping he would remain safe. Gabikian, one of 19 candidates for Glendale City Council, grew up in Rasht, Iran, during the heart of the Iran-Iraq war. He still remembers the first time his hometown was bombed. "We always felt we were immune, and they would not attack us," Gabikian said. "The sound of the explosions and what followed afterward, to me, that was a turning point, a life-changing experience."

Robert Chacon It doesn't matter where Sergo Keshishian paints his murals, because when he is creating them, he is in his own world. Three years ago, Keshishian decided to emigrate to the U.S. from his home in Yerevan, Armenia. The 36-year-old artist has traveled extensively through Armenia and the former Soviet Union, but his goal was to live in "the most powerful country in the world," he said through an interpreter. Since moving to Glendale with his wife, daughter and parents, Keshishian has been making a living giving private art lessons and painting murals in homes and businesses.

This is in response to those socialistic letters that Roberta Gutierrez keeps writing. Doesn't she see that America is a capitalistic society and that communism has failed? Reading her letters is like reading "A Communist Manifesto" by Lenin, the way she states the facts about what the economy is and what the economy needs and what the landlords are doing and what is needed is government controls. I read "A Communist Manifesto" about 25 years ago, and reading her last letter of Oct. 14 is very similar.

Hamlet Nalbandyan SOUTHEAST GLENDALE -- The only thing funnier than seeing some would-be tackler trying bring down Glendale's Vladimir Paniouchkine with an arm tackle is hearing the game announcer attempting to pronounce the junior fullback's name. "That's Glendale's No. 24 with the carry, Vlaaadimir Panniaoushhhh..." After a few seconds of silence, the poor announcer usually tries it again, before eventually stumbling and giving up altoghether.