I grew up, from what I recall, in a very strict, yet very loving, diverse household. \u00a0My parents and grandparents spoke different languages with different dialects.\u00a0 As a child I didn\u2019t know the difference, yet like any child who learns to mimic their parents, I learned to shift from one dialect to another.<\/p>\n
In a nutshell, my grandparents were born in Urfa where they were among those targeted in the first massacre against Armenians in August, 1915. More than thousands of families were killed and their children were taken by the Turkish soldiers.\u00a0 After slaughtering her family, my grandmother, then only five years old, and her mother, soon joined other women and children who were forced to march for days with little food and relentless beatings.\u00a0 Her mother could not withstand the brutal circumstances and eventually fell to the ground where she was kicked and left to die. My grandmother was then dragged over her mother\u2019s body and taken with the rest.<\/p>\n
After several Turkish homes\u00a0my grandmother was placed in an orphanage by an American organization, \u2018Near East Foundation<\/a>\u2018 \u00a0where, by the hundreds, they were sent to Beirut, and others to America, Canada or Europe. \u00a0My grandparents met in Beirut while she was being fostered in an American family\u2019s home. \u00a0As foster children they were told they would be good together eventually marrying at the ages of fifteen and eighteen. They had three children in Beirut<\/a>, decided to travel back home and were detoured to Iran, ending up in Tehran<\/a> where my mother was born.<\/p>\n Years later my mother married my father, born and raised in Iran.\u00a0\u00a0 As I grew up I heard Armenian dialect combined with Persian\/Farsi, which we call Persian-Armenian. A dialect from Beirut where my grandparents and uncles mostly spoke, and of course Farsi because of my father and uncles from his side of the family. Here is the tricky part; my grandmother spoke several languages fluently without any formal education, Armenian, Arabic, Turkish, French, Farsi, and English.\u00a0 My grandparents and father would shift and speak Turkish or Arabic when they wanted to converse in secrecy.\u00a0 It is common that people who are born in the Middle East or Europe speak at least two to three languages.<\/p>\n As an only child who was loved and adored by my parents and grandparents, there was no spoiling.\u00a0 We knew there is a lot of love, yet there was also strict discipline and, yes, spanking . I was more of a Tomboy vs. a delicate girl, but I always understood the core of our heritage and what my grandmother had to endure in her life was not always happy and joyous.\u00a0 She had a childlike tenderness about her, and with open-arms was always caring and helpful. Some of my most cherished memories of her are when she played the piano (self taught), sang and read as if she was a scholar.\u00a0 She read the entire Bible five times and knew more about world history than many educators. \u00a0She hired someone to teach her how to drive when we came to the US.\u00a0 She had no problem speaking her mind in a courtroom explaining to the judge why the err was with the police, and got away with her explanations and charm!\u00a0 She wrote a letter to Bill Clinton (The White House) congratulating him for his presidency, and on his second reelection, she wrote another letter congratulating him again, also to request that he as the leader of the free world, recognize the Armenian Genocide. To the families amazement, both times, she received a response from the White House!\u00a0 She did not delve in fear, but lived with courage.\u00a0 Our family and friends knew her as Mrs. Roza, a woman of substance.<\/p>\n She taught me discipline and endurance, perhaps that is why I am so tenacious.\u00a0 She emphasized the importance of having faith in God and spirituality, knowing my self-worth, learning to stand strong on my two feet, and making a difference in my world and of others.\u00a0 I know I am following and expanding her passion for helping, empowering, inspiring and leading, always remembering to live life with purpose, because we each matter.\u00a0 I am honored and proud to come from a blood line of strong women who survive, stand strong, have compassion and care about others. Yet they have always remained loving, never losing their femininity and their belief in the higher power and God. I was born in Tehran, to what I consider an Armenian family as Armenian was the predominant language spoken and at home. I was Christened Catholic, attended Catholic school until our family immigrated to the US in 1974, and been a\u00a0proud American since 1978.<\/p>\n The Armenian Genocide:<\/strong><\/p>\n This year, the 24th<\/sup> of April marks the hundred year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Millions of Armenians from all over the world will light a candle, pray, stand up or march in memory of those who perished during 1915-1918.\u00a0 I will also light a candle, pray and unit with my community at our local church honoring my grandparents and their parents and families.<\/p>\n After an entire century, Pope Francis has recognized the Armenian Genocide as the First Genocide of the Century.\u00a0 Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian<\/a> and Kanye West, have brought much attention as they recently traveled to Armenia.\u00a0 Humanitarian George Clooney<\/a> and his wife,Amal<\/a>, and many others are traveling to show solidarity and bring recognition to what Armenians around the world have been waiting for, to have this atrocity recognized as\u00a0genocide against the Armenians.<\/p>\n Just this week hundreds gathered in Pasadena for the unveiling of this significant monument\u00a0honoring our heritage, people, and culture and found the balance in living here as a proud Americans! \u00a0Today we remember, as of today, we begin Living Purposefully.<\/p>\n A drop of water falls every 21 seconds from the top of the memorial. In a year these \u201cteardrops\u201d represent the 1.5 million Armenians killed. \u00a0\u00a0Each drop into a basin adorned with the ancient Armenian symbol for \u2018eternity\u2019\u00a0\u2013 designed by Catherine Menard.<\/p>\n Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n During World War I, the Young Turks political reform movement moved to eliminate the Armenian people from the Ottoman Empire. https:\/\/www.history.com\/topics\/armenian-genocide<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.pasadenastarnews.com\/general-news\/20150418\/pasadena-armenian-genocide-memorial-a-powerful-tribute-to-victims<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/ref\/timestopics\/topics_armeniangenocide.html<\/p>\n https:\/\/hammer.ucla.edu\/i-am-armenian\/?gclid=CJWzrMjQ-8QCFdgZgQodxEwA-g<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/luna-atamian-\/president-obama-and-the-recognition-of-the-armenian-genocide_b_7066590.html<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nOf the 2 million total Armenians, 1.5 million were killed.
\nThe Armenian people were tortured, massacred, and starved. \u00a0Many were forcibly removed from Armenia and Anatolia to Syria and surrounding countries.
\nThe Armenian Genocide<\/a> took place from 1915 to 1918, with renewed instances of brutality occurring between 1920 and 1923.
\nBy 1923, the Armenian population had been completely eliminated from Asia Minor and historic West Armenia.
\nApril 24 is commemorated as the date of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide.
\nThe genocide started when 300 Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers, and professionals in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) were collected, deported, and killed. 5,000 of the poorest Armenians were also slaughtered in their homes and the streets.
\nThe United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted in 1948, 30 years after the Armenian Genocide.
\nMost Armenians in the US are children and grandchildren of survivors.
\nThe Young Turk government restricted the use of photography and reporting, but many American missionaries and diplomatic representatives witnessed the deportations and broke the news outside of the country.<\/p>\nMore links about the Armenian Genocide \u2013 and upcoming events.<\/h2>\n