Barack Obama Undrial Nakhakah‏

ARTICLE BY KRIKOR KEUSSEYAN

BOSTON, U.S.A.

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FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - Obama as JC‏

Rant Number 326 6 November 2008

Obama as JC

‘Jesus Christ is my favourite philosopher.’ Once, when President Bush said that, he drew ridicule. But now America has gone one better, stunning us all: she has chosen Jesus Christ as her President. Huh! O brave new world, that has such people in it! Verily, only in that happy land are such wonders possible.

OK, it’s banal but consider first Obama’s physical appearance. No one knows what JC looked like, alas. Jewish, some assume. But not all Jews are the same. The Messiah may have looked like Everyman. Certainly the pale, white-skinned Jesus of traditional Western iconography today would never do. Too ethnocentric, as they say. Even in the US people of white stock are now less than a quarter of the population. A Jesus for our time has to look suitably interracial. Hence Obama’s tall, slim, hybrid physique seems designed for the part. A dream messiah, indeed.

Then there is the ‘Husain’. This JC bears an Islamic middle-name. The same borne by the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Never mind that Husain, the third Imam of the Shia, perished at Karbala, slaughtered along with his followers – hardly a good omen. Never mind that Obama is actually a card-carrying, baptised Christian. Never mind that he promises to bomb plenty of Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan - the allusion is there for fantasists to revel in. A Jesus with an overt Islamic component! The dream expands, it intoxicates, it transforms into a heady vision of paradise - maybe with doe-eyed virgins in it, who knows?

Obama went to school in Indonesia, a Muslim country, they enthuse. So what? The priest went to school in Italy – he can’t stand Italians. Dig it?

Third, a messiah has to be of course awaited. Shia Muslims look forward to the return of the Hidden Imam any time but not a lot of Anglican Christians yearn for the Second Coming to eventuate the day after tomorrow. (The very thought must make the bishops shake in their boots: judgment! How fervently must they pray that JC never returns!) Conversely, the delirious crowds yelling ‘change!’ at Obama’s rallies evince both deep expectation and belief in the Awaited One. In Crowds and Power writer Elias Canetti makes some sobering observations about the psychology of crowds, their ‘oceanic’ feelings and their delusions of equality. Still, few read Canetti, whilst millions adore JC Obama.

He is a suitably secular JC, of course. Another pleasing feature of the President-elect is – ritual ‘God bless you’ apart – his distance from Bush-like religious rhetoric, or indeed substantial Christian positions or legislation reflecting any of that. That would never do in a postmodern, ‘successful’ Jesus. Instead, he has to be the embodiment of PC thought. For instance, Barack supports full LGBT rights (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender/Transsexual – phew! Bless the existence of acronyms!), the whole shoot. Nor does he care for – horribile dictu – pro-life views. Abortion is the great American moral divide and this JC has made very clear which side he is on. Quite a few of the unborn will have to stay that way. Mind you, not that this JC is wholly non-judgmental. When it comes to the environment, the message gets sterner, it almost acquires apocalyptic overtones. That figures, too.

Next, miracles. Jesus’ supernatural status was buttressed by his working miracles, as St Thomas Aquinas contends in the Summa Contra Gentiles. Look, Obama has already scored on that one. By becoming President-elect. Considering his relatively modest origins…marvellous indeed. Thing is, the multitudes that have exploded into ecstasy at his success will now demand more. Fixing the worldwide economic crisis? Solving the Israel-Palestine mess? Thrashing the Taleban? Killing Bin Laden? Persuading Ahmadinejad to love the Great Satan? Walking on water? Resurrecting Elvis? We shall see.

In fact, another minor but truly outstanding miracle Obama accomplished even before his victory. As reported in Esquire several US Nazi and Aryan, white-supremacist leaders actually prefer him to poor McCain. They even express admiration for Obama’s intelligence, excellent speaking and charisma. The only regret one gentleman had was that Obama ‘is not black enough’. Hmmm...I perceive the logic of that, I think. Anyway, getting Nazis to like a black President is a feat few would have imagined possible. All messianic expectations seem fulfilled in him. You’ve got to bow to Obama’s superior powers.

Please, do not get the poor priest wrong. He is no vulgar Obamaphobe. The man Barack seems a genuinely likeable bloke. (Too likeable, perhaps…) After 8 painful years of George Bush’s constipated use of the English language, it is a relief to listen to a leader who has a gift for Shakespeare’s idiom. In my book his election has positive aspects. It will put a few myths to rest. Take the vexed matter of the so-called, oxymoronic Christian Zionists. The right-wing lobby that was supposed to exert a huge influence on the Bush administration in favour of the state of Israel and against Palestinian aspirations. Whenever I expressed scepticism at the real influence of that lobby, I got shot down in flames by indignant adversaries. At last, the moment of truth. To the US Christian Right Obama and his lot are like the plague. They can aspire to as much influence on his policies as my Arkadash Network can over those of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Yet you can bet your bottom dollar Obama’s support for Israel will be as granite-like as ever. Like McCain before the elections, he stood before AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby, and pledged eternal support for the Zionist state. Unless Obama has a death wish, he will stick to that – my little vindication, folks.

I am less content about Afghanistan. President Obama has pledged pouring in more troops and bombs to defeat the Taleban. (Saudi Arabia is already at work dividing the resistance there – typical!) But no one has managed to subjugate the Pashtun warriors before, as the Brits themselves learnt in the days of the mighty Raj. More and more Afghans are treating NATO as a foreign, infidel occupying force. Even many Afghani women feel under the previous Taleban rule they had security and some kind of peace, I happen to know. The West should leave the people of Afghanistan alone.

‘For many will come in my name saying “I am the Christ” and will deceive many’ Jesus says in St Matthew’s Gospel (24:5). May good people take heed and be not deceived.

Revd Frank Julian Gelli

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Cy House President Garoyian to Armenia

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GIBRAHAYER e-magazine www dot gibrahayer dot com The largest circulation Armenian emagazine Circulates every Wednesday Established in 1999

CYPRUS PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MARIOS GAROYIAN, LEAVING FOR ARMENIA ON MONDAY, ON FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT

Nicosia - Gibrahayer - November 4, 2008 - The Armenian Cypriot President of the Cyprus House of Representatives - Marios Garoyian - will be leaving for Armenia for an official visit that begins on Monday. He will meet the President of Armenia, the President of the National Assembly and the Foreign Minister. He will also have meetings with Armenian Parliamentary groups and sub-committees. On Marios Garoyian's request, joining him is Armenian MP in the Cyprus Parliament Vartkes Mahdessian, as well as a Cyprus Parliament staff. The Cyprus delegation will visit Dzidzernagapert, the Madenataran and Sourp Etchmiadzin and meet Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. more on the visit in next week's issue

WITH NO SOLUTION TO CYPRUS AND ARMENIAN ISSUES, TURKEY'S EU PROSPECTS OUT OF QUESTION

Daniel Gros, director of the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy Studies, warned Turkey it would need to get things moving. `Turkey is losing time,' said Gros, adding that he has seen no progress in Turkey's reform process for EU membership. `The two big stumbling blocks, Cyprus and Armenia, sooner or later have to be resolved.' `The later Turkey takes steps on the Cyprus issue, the more difficult it will become as each year passes,' Gros said. `If there is no solution to the Cyprus and Armenian issues, we will not be able to speak about Turkey's EU prospects.' The Armenian issue is, `a secondary question,' because it is not a member of the EU, Gros added, placing the emphasis on Cyprus. He said he remained optimistic over the future of northern Cyprus. `As long as northern Cyprus develops nicely, which it seems to be doing now, over time it will become a de facto state and this reality will be recognised,' Gros said, the Turkish Daily News reports.

CYPRUS SOLUTION UPDATE

Omphalos tis Gis - Federal issues were discussed yesterday at the weekly meeting of the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus after which they again instructed their representatives, Nami and Iacovou, to continue their discussions in an effort to narrow remaining differences. They began their session with a one hour tête-à-tête and finished it off with a preliminary exchange of views on the legislature. They will continue these discussions next week when they will have two meetings on Tuesday 11 and Friday 14 November. Asked by the press afterwards if there was a narrowing of the gap, the UN Special Representative in Cyprus, Mr Tayé-Brook Zerihoun replied: "They are moving forward". Quizzed by reporters when he returned to the Presidential Palace yesterday, Mr Christofias called for patience adding that when progress was achieved, he would announce it. “Some people are in a hurry. I have said this before. A lot of patience is required and nerves of steel, which I believe I possess,” he said. He also said he would continue to have tête-à-tête meetings with Talat as he did yesterday for one hour before negotiations proper, because it was useful in helping relieve tension between the two sides. “Explanations are given on issues which have taken place and I think that this is useful,” he said.

PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS TO INAUGURATE NEWLY BUILT LIMASSOL NAREG SCHOOL

The newly built Limassol Nareg school will be inaugurated by President of the Republic Demetris Christofias today Wednesday 5 November at 5:00 pm. Images and story in next week's issue.

PLEDGE FOR PEACE

BARVIKHA, Russia (asbarez.com - combined sources) - The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Sunday called for a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after peace talks near Moscow. A joint declaration, signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, said the two sides would "continue their work... to agree on a political settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict." The declaration affirmed the importance of OSCE mediation and ordered the country's Foreign Ministers to "activate further steps in the negotiating process," foiling Turkey's efforts to skirt the OSCE Minsk Group with its own bid to mediate the Karabakh conflict. It also pledged the two countries to improving the situation in the South Caucasus. Sunday's talks were hosted by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, acting as Caucasus peacekeeper after Moscow's war with Georgia in August destabilised the volatile region. The meeting, which took place at Medvedev's residence, Meiendorf Castle, lasted less than three hours. The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met with Russian, French and American diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group in Moscow on Saturday, ahead of the Sunday summit. The talks between Foreign Ministers Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammedyarov were hurriedly scheduled late last week after Medvedev announced he would be hosting trilateral talks between his Armenian and Azeri counterparts. Medvedev launched the latest push to end the conflict during a visit to Armenia in October, just two months after sending tanks into nearby Georgia after Tbilisi moved to retake its secessionist region of South Ossetia. The US also proposed peace talks recently, promising to step-up its efforts to help secure a pact. Washington also echoed Moscow's hints that the region must avoid a recurring of the August war with Georgia over similar disputes. A resolution of the Karabakh dispute would be a boost to the whole South Caucasus region -- Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia -- said the declaration, read aloud by Medvedev at a signing ceremony at his residence outside Moscow. An agreement "would contribute to the improvement of the situation in the South Caucasus to restore stability and safety to the region... and create favourable conditions for economic development," it said. In October, Sargsyan said he was ready for talks on the basis of principles worked out at negotiations in Madrid last year that would give Nagorno-Karabakh the right to self-determination. The Kremlin would act as guarantor of a new accord, an administration official was quoted as saying ahead of Sunday's talks. Sunday's declaration said "the achievement of a peaceful settlement must be accompanied by legally binding international guarantees of all aspects and stages." In supporting the peace process, Moscow is bidding to boost its influence in the region, analysts said. Moscow is vying for influence in Azerbaijan, a key energy exporter that ships oil and gas through Western-backed pipelines through Georgia and Turkey, bypassing Russia. The Kremlin could strengthen its position in the region by pushing close ally Armenia toward compromise on the issue, Armenian political analyst Stepan Grigoryan said.

NEW GENOCIDE PHOTO UNCOVERED

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) recently revealed a rare photograph that documents the massacres of the Armenian population of Mush, one of the many historic Armenian provinces decimated during Ottoman Turkey's Genocide of the Armenians in 1915-1923. The photo, acquired by the AGMI recently, was taken by Russian soldiers on the Caucasus front in 1915. It portrays the remains of the Armenian villagers who were burned alive during the massacres of Mush. The one of a kind photo is well preserved and was found in a photo album of genocide refugees, published in Tbilisi in 1917. The album contains 62 unique photos that document the Armenian Genocide. Only a few of the original 62 have survived and most of them are in dire conditions, with the Mush photo being surprisingly well preserved. On the back of the picture is a quote in Russian that says: "Armenians burnt alive in Sheykhalan by Turkish soldiers." The photo is also marked with the number 74, which indicates the existence of a larger collection of photographs captured by Russian soldiers during World War I. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's 11:04pm . . . so what's next for Armenian Americans?‏

Parev Readers It's 11:04pm - and it's clear now that Obama has won. It was a hard-fought battle between two good men - but two men with very different views on Armenian issues. I'm very proud of our role in today's results. We endorsed Obama in January when he was fighting an uphill battle for his party's nomination and worked for him right through tonight. We simply couldn't afford another 4 years of the same, hostile anti-Armenian policies. No matter whom you supported, with the election over, we all want to see truth and justice prevail over Turkey's threats and blackmail. We're almost there: The new President-elect supported Armenian issues in the Senate, has pledged if elected to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and picked a running mate with a 35-year pro-Armenian track record. We're close to the day when an American President finally ends nearly a century of U.S. complicity in Turkey's denials. Starting tomorrow, the full force of the Turkish government will come down like a ton of bricks on Washington. Turkish leaders, their lobbyists, and the "usual suspects" in Washington bureaucracies are already out there, using every trick in the book to deliver for Turkey through deceit what they could not win for Ankara at the ballot box. It's wrong. And I know you won't tolerate it. That's why I am urgently asking for your financial support. Please, send a secure online donation now so we can fight back starting tomorrow morning against this tidal wave of Turkish attacks. Every dollar you send will help us break Turkey's ruthless campaign to delay, derail, and defeat U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Any donation, $10, $50, $100 or more will make a true difference. Our Cause needs you now more than ever. Sincerely, Ken Hachikian Chairman P.S. Please send your secure online donation tonight - large or small - to complete the honorable work of generations of Armenian Americans to finally end America's shameful silence on the Armenian Genocide.

1711 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 775-1918 ~ Fax: (202) 775-5648 ~ anca@anca.org ~ www.anca.org

Watch ANCA / HorizonTV Election Coverage Live on ANCA.org‏

You've watched the debates. . . followed the polls. . . seen the TV ads . . . & volunteered your time. . . Now Follow the Election Results LIVE with the Horizon & ANCA Team Tuesday, November 4th 5pm - 10pm PST (8:00pm - 1am EST) Live Webcast on www.anca.org Broadcast on Horizon Television Charter Digital Channel 285 in Glendale, Burbank & La Crescenta Horizon Satellite Frequency: Telstar 5, Transponder 23, 12115 vertical Featuring: ** The latest on the Presidential Race ** Analysis on Congressional races ** Live call-ins from elected officials, campaign staff ** Updates from ANCA activists from around the country Not Sure Where the Candidates Stand on Armenian American Issues? Read the ANCA Presidential Endorsement View the ANCA Congressional Report Cards And, most important of all: VOTE NOVEMBER 4TH! Click here to find your polling place ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Get Out the Vote - S.F. Bay Area ANC

Dear Friends,

Please vote on Tuesday! The more Armenian-American citizens vote, the stronger our collective voice in persuading elected officials of the value of our issues. With a crucial presidential election and so many Congressional races being closely contested, we encourage all Armenian Americans to go to the polls

Young Armenian-American eligible voters - Check out I Vote U Vote Hye Vote, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVRmsLAvVzQ, produced by Haig Hovsepian and Arman Margarian.

Following is a resource from the ANCA to help Bay Area Armenian-American voters make informed decisions at the ballot box this Tuesday. The ANCA endorsements are based primarily on the ANCA Congressional Report Card, a detailed review of each incumbent's record across a broad range of Armenian American issues. These Report Cards, prepared in consultation with local ANCA chapters across the country, cover issues ranging from securing a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide and the strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations

to defending Nagorno Karabagh's independence and increasing U.S. aid and trade levels. The ANCA Congressional Report Cards are posted on the ANCA website at: http://www.anca.org/legislative_center/election_reportcards.php

2008 ANCA CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA:

District #1: Mike Thompson (D)

District #3: Dan Lungren (R)

District #5: Doris Matsui (D)

District #6: Lynn Woolsey (D)

District #7: George Miller (D)

District #8: Nancy Pelosi (D)

District #9: Barbara Lee (D)

District #10: Ellen Tauscher (D)

District #11: Jerry McNerney (D)

District #12: Jackie Speier (D)

District #13: Pete Stark (D)

District #14: Anna Eshoo (D)

District #15: Michael Honda (D)

District #16: Zoe Lofgren (D)

District #17: Sam Farr (D)

California's Proposition 9 would change the existing procedures for granting parole to convicted individuals. If adopted, it will raise the waiting period for parole hearings up to fifteen years. This change will directly affect Hampig Sassounian's case. Hampig Sassounian has been in prison since 1982. His conviction was overturned by the United States Court of Appeal in 2001, based on major prosecutorial and jury misconduct. Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley planned to re-try the case in 2002, and Hampig took a plea bargain entitling him to parole. He is currently entitled to a parole hearing ever 2 years, but if Proposition 9 were to pass, Hampig would only be eligible for a hearing every 15 YEARS, essentially returning him to a life imprisonment sentence.

OBAMA REAFFIRMS PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Washington, DC, October 31, 2008 - With just days left to the crucial November 4th presidential elections, the Obama-Biden campaign reaffirmed its commitment to Armenian Genocide recognition and a strong U.S.-Armenia relationship, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

A statement titled "Barack Obama: Supporting U.S.-Armenia Relations," relayed to Armenians for Obama Chairman Areen Ibranossian earlier today as well as the ANCA, affirms that "The Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians, and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed. Barack Obama believes we must recognize this tragic reality and strongly supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy." The statement goes on to note "Barack Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize the Armenian Genocide."

"The ANCA welcomes further reaffirmation of Barack Obama's strong commitment to issues of concern to the Armenian American community, including proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide and fostering a strong U.S.-Armenia relationship," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "ANCA chapters and activists across the U.S. will continue, in these last days, to work hard for the Obama-Biden ticket and the candidacies of the large number of Senators and Representatives who have supported Armenian American concerns."

The Obama-Biden statement comes amid a flurry of reports in the Turkish press regarding a meeting that supposedly took place over the last several days between a senior Turkish official, Ahmet Davuto・lu, and a representative of the Obama-Biden Campaign, after which Davutoglu called into question Obama's commitment to this core human rights issue.

Full Obama Statement:

BARACK OBAMA: SUPPORTING U.S.-ARMENIA RELATIONS

The Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians, and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed. Barack Obama believes we must recognize this tragic reality and strongly supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy.

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide: Barack Obama shares with Armenian Americans a principled commitment to ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world history. As a senator, Obama has stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. He criticized the Secretary of State two years ago for the firing of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. Obama wrote that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence.

Barack Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Genocide Prevention: The U.S. and the entire global community must remember the past and learn from these crimes against humanity to make sure that they never happen again. Sadly, genocide persists today and threatens our common security and common humanity. In Sudan, we are witnessing many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against Armenians in 1915. Obama has been a leading voice urging the Bush administration to take stronger steps to end the genocide in Sudan. He traveled to the United Nations to meet with Sudanese officials, visited refugee camps on the Chad-Sudan border, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing business in Sudan.

Commitment to Armenian Americans: Barack Obama has a strong record on issues of concern to the 1.5 million Americans of Armenian heritage in the United States. As president, Obama will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. An Obama administration will help foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade and targeted aid. He will also strengthen the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments. Obama will continue his active engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community to build upon the enduring ties and shared values that have bound together the American and Armenian peoples for more than a century.

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Armenian National Committee
San Francisco - Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: 415-387-3433
Fax: 415-751-0617
mail@ancsf.org
www.ancsf.org

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Obama Issues New Statement Reaffirming Armenian Genocide

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October 31, 2008 Obama Reaffirms Pledge to Recognize Armenian Genocide ANCA Welcomes latest Obama-Biden Statement Calling for Strong U.S.-Armenia Relationship WASHINGTON, DC - With just days left to the crucial November 4th presidential elections, the Obama-Biden campaign reaffirmed its commitment to Armenian Genocide recognition and a strong U.S.-Armenia relationship, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Additional Information Read Senator Obama's Most Recent Statement "Supporting U.S.-Armenia Relations" Read Senator Obama's pledge on Armenian American Issues Read a 2-page summary of Sen. Obama and Biden's record of support for Armenian American issues Read a 2-page listing of Bush-Cheney's opposition to Armenian American issues View/print an Obama/McCain comparison one-pager View Samantha Power's YouTube video in support of Senator Obama Read "McCain's Armenia Problem" in The Atlantic Read Sen. John McCain's Letters to the Armenian Community Contact Armenians for Obama and learn more about how you can get involved. A statement titled "Barack Obama: Supporting U.S.-Armenia Relations," relayed to Armenians for Obama Chairman Areen Ibranossian earlier today as well as the ANCA, affirms that "The Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians, and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed. Barack Obama believes we must recognize this tragic reality and strongly supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy." The statement goes on to note "Barack Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize the Armenian Genocide." "The ANCA welcomes further reaffirmation of Barack Obama's strong commitment to issues of concern to the Armenian American community, including proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide and fostering a strong U.S.-Armenia relationship," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "ANCA chapters and activists across the U.S. will continue, in these last days, to work hard for the Obama-Biden ticket and the candidacies of the large number of Senators and Representatives who have supported Armenian American concerns." The Obama-Biden statement comes amid a flurry of reports in the Turkish press regarding a meeting that supposedly took place over the last several days between a senior Turkish official, Ahmet Davutoglu, and a representative of the Obama-Biden Campaign, after which Davutoglu called into question Obama's commitment to this core human rights issue. Last week, the ANCA formalized its longstanding support for Barack Obama with an official endorsement of the Obama-Biden campaign for the Presidency of the United States. The ANCA had first endorsed Sen. Obama in January, 2008, leading up to the critical super-Tuesday primary elections. Click here to read the ANCA Endorsement of Senator Obama. As always, the ANCA welcomes feedback on its service to the Armenian American community. Please forward your thoughts and suggestions about the 2008 Presidential election by email to anca@anca.org.

FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - Witchcraft

Rant Number 325 30 October 2008

Witchcraft

I would not wish to be in Fawza Falih’s shoes. The unfortunate woman on death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Sentenced for ‘witchcraft, consorting with jinns and slaughter of animals’. Being a witch is not, I believe, a crime in the Saudi penal code but it is under Sharia law. It is good that the UK Islamic Human Right Commission (IHRC) has urged campaigners to write to the Saudi authorities, so the lady may receive a fair trial. I do hope and pray that she will receive mercy.

Matters of Islamic law are for the ulama’, Islamic scholars, to debate. Ditto for jinns and animal slaughter. (Confession: I myself happen to have dabbled in jinns while in Qatar – guess that was a close shave…) Still, the belief in malevolent exercise of unspecified ‘powers’ to harm others, known as witchcraft, raises many questions for thoughtful Christians.

Those in favour of the existence of witches have invoked the witness of Holy Writ. The Old Testament relates of King Saul making use of the services of one at Endor, in order to raise the spirit of the prophet Samuel. Also, in his letter to the Galatians St Paul fulminates against ‘sorcerers’. Contrariwise, theologians as eminent as St John Chrysostom had no time for it. Emperor Charlemagne actually punished persecutors of witches and Pope Gregory VII also forbade the killing of women accused of magical misdeeds, such as turning into animals and casting evil spells. Unfortunately other pontiffs were less enlightened. A 15^th century manual for witch-hunters, the grotesque Malleus Maleficarum, testifies to increased fanaticism about the subject. Protestants joined in – witches hung in England under Cromwell. But soon history relegated the poor wretches to the realm of make-believe: the 1735 Witchcraft Act made it an offence to pretend to be a witch, rather than actually being one. Popular superstition did not abate, however. E.g. Halloween – does it ring a bell?

Over the top! Crazy cleric! Only kids’ harmless fun! Wot! The new Inquisition? I can hear the howls of protest. Maybe I am guilty. Yet yesterday morning I noticed a bizarre shop on a smart Kensington street. (Former parish of mine: yep, the priest feels the occasional call of the wild.) Here is a random list of what my eyes saw: cannibal’s meat; blood spattered walls; Jack the Ripper’s daggers; devil’s horns; cursing mouths; zombie doctor; torture chair; dark angel; monster bolts; vampire pimps; grisly hands; dead dread mask; love potions; witches’ hats; glittering devil’s tridents; spooks’ convention; skull chalices; scary skeletons and so on. ‘Cool! That’s sweet!’ I overheard a pair of young girls coo before some Dracula’s fangs. Huh!

Much ado about nothing? We have all been children. We remember enjoying being scared. The dark side and its lure. Weren’t vampire movies all the rage through the 50’s and 60’s? Nothing new there. Something’s odd, though. Our society rigorously enforces a strict system of repressive (and necessary) laws guarding minors from sexual contacts with adults. We rightly warn the young from weirdoes and strangers. But we completely drop our guard when it comes to kids playing around with the creepiest supernatural rubbish. Why?

The priest’s theory: we do because we officially no longer believe in it. The non-existent cannot hurt us. Witches et al. are a silly medieval superstition and that’s that. But, to paraphrase Horace’s tag, if you violently eject supernature from your consciousness, it will come back with a vengeance. The monsters of the unconscious are lurking near, waiting for a door to be left ajar. Given the chance, they will rush in. The consequences are never nice. Parents allow children to trifle with the dark side at their peril. Despite Harry Potter’s phenomenal, deplorable popularity, the stuff should be kept at arm’s length.

I wonder whether I might once have met a witch. A male one. A young man called Tarquin. From time to time he would come to church and tell me his of his condition. Amongst other things, he claimed to have the evil eye. Listening to him gave me gooseflesh. Maybe he was just mentally ill. However, one day I saw the young daughter of a parishioner in tears. ‘What’s wrong, Daisy?’ I asked. ‘That boy…’ and she pointed to Tarquin skulking nearby, whom she did not know, ‘his eyes…the way he looked at me. It was horrible!’ Mercifully, we saw Tarquin no more after that.

It seems practitioners of the black arts have one thing in common. They all crave power. Probably striving to compensate some form of inferiority complex. A thought-provoking view which Alfred Adler built into a system of psychoanalysis, in contrast to Freud and Jung. But when it comes to suckers for the occult, Satanism, witchcraft, the whole caboodle, we usually see the opposite happen. Their votaries soon lose any power and become very weak, enslaved to either rip-off gurus or their own mental delusions. Serves them right.

However, an interesting defence of magic from the point of view of cultural anthropology comes from Wittgenstein. In Reflections on Frazer’s Golden Bough the Austrian philosopher attacks the crude positivist notion that magic equals ignorance. Frazer had argued that ‘savage man’ is ignorant of causal relations. Someone who simply fails to comprehend that there is no causal connection between sticking a pin into a wax image and the human bearer of that image falling ill. Wittgenstein points out how ‘the savage’ whom Frazer patronised actually understands causality well enough to make sturdy huts and sharp arrows. In failing to grasp that, ‘Frazer is much more of a savage than his savage’, Wittgenstein mocks. But why then when a certain witch-doctor recites a magic formula and performs a particular ceremony another person may gets sick and die? Sensibly, we postulate no causal relation there. Magic isn’t the analogue of electrical or chemical actions, is it? Wittgenstein’s answer is subtle. (Read the book!) He reminds us of what happens when a lover loses his beloved. He may well want to lie down and die. It all has to do with forms of life…

Halloween? No, thanks. November the 2^nd, the Feast All Souls is what I like best. All about the glorious Christian assertion of immortality, of life beyond the grave. Now, that is something to live for.

Revd Frank Julian Gelli

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