Genocide
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Song | 'Where were you, God, when prayer froze on the lips of my nation?'
Hearts quiver with the questions posed in Arthur Meschian’s uniquely rebellious rock-prayer “Ur eir, Astvats” (“Ո՞ւր էիր, Աստուած” | “Where Were You, God?”), especially after a year of loss, heartache, and looming dangers in our homeland. While many Armenians struggle to come to terms with the catastrophic changes in Armenia and Artsakh, Sandra Arslanian, a Beirut-based Armenian singer, and C-rouge, a Yerevan-based musician, collaborate for a celestial rendition of the song. Why would it matter that a new version of an old favorite was premiered just before the end of the year? H-pem reflects on the origins of the song and the remarkably cathartic new single, with illuminating quotes from exclusive interviews.
analysis
From Western Armenia to New England: De-mythifying Indigenous stories of ‘Thanksgiving’
When you think of Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? The holy trinity of this holiday (food, football, and family) is as American as Mickey Mouse and the Apple logo. But underneath the sweet casserole scents and drowsy poultry meat belies a dark history. Read on to see why we, Armenian-Americans, should reconsider the way we approach this “holiday."
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On his short animated film, Aurora
The artist has many responsibilities to shed a light on injustices and bring to light the truth, but all of humanity has a responsibility to tell those stories.” Aurora, depicts the real-life story of Aurora Mardiganian, a Genocide survivor who later starred in a Hollywood film about the horrors she endured. During filming, she broke her leg but was forced by Hollywood bullies to not only keep going—but to tie the injury into the plot, making the culprits the ‘Turkish tyrants.’ “Aurora was a supersurvivor—first of the brutality of the Genocide, then of the brutality of Hollywood,” explains Eric. Aurora premiered at the inaugural Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity ceremony, which recognizes leading humanitarians from all over the world. Pictured is a still from the film.
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