The Patriotic Thread

[Steph]

What Sanberk pointed to may sound extraordinary, but bear in mind that an example validating his warning was recently set by Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, two countries with unresolved political issues, refused to welcome each for the the group games in the EURO 2008 qualifiers and ended up facing penalties by UEFA, European football's governing body. The games were not played and the two sides could not win any points from the fixtures.

I actually understood that the azeris were welcome to play in Yerevan but the Armenian team, staff and supporters were guaranteed no safety in baku,quite the opposite in fact. Armenia offered to play the "azeri" leg in Kiev but were denied. UEFA came down hard on both national associations when only azerbaijan should have been penalised.

[Joseph]

I actually understood that the azeris were welcome to play in Yerevan but the Armenian team, staff and supporters were guaranteed no safety in baku,quite the opposite in fact. Armenia offered to play the "azeri" leg in Kiev but were denied. UEFA came down hard on both national associations when only azerbaijan should have been penalised.

Very true. The Azeris scuttled the whole thing.

[Joseph]

Yousef Karsh

An honest portrait of Karsh
Ottawa photographer focused on history-makers

LOUISE ABBOTT
Freelance

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Years ago, a friend gave me a second-hand copy of Portraits of Greatness, a 1959 coffee-table book by renowned Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh. The portraits featured the likes of artist Georgia O'Keeffe, composer Igor Stravinsky, writer Ernest Hemingway, physicist Niels Bohr and Queen Elizabeth II.

The accompanying anecdotes described each sitting - how, for instance, Karsh had plucked a cigar out of Winston Churchill's mouth and thus caught the defiant expression that characterized the British prime minister during the Second World War.

I found much in Karsh's black-and-white photos to be admired, including his Rembrandtesque mastery of chiaroscuro. Nonetheless, I preferred more natural environmental portraits to the formally posed images that the Ottawa-based photographer produced with a large-format camera and dramatic artificial lighting.

In the intervening years, I have seen more of Karsh's work in print and in exhibition, and I have remained ambivalent about it. Reading Portrait in Light and Shadow: The Life of Yousuf Karsh did not change my opinion, but it did deepen my understanding of the man behind the camera and the era that shaped his photography - an era in which, author Maria Tippett notes, "the public was hungry for visual images of its heroes."

When Tippett proposed a biography in 1998, Karsh was uninterested in cooperating, "convinced that he had already told his story in his many autobiographical writings." After his death in 2002, however, the cultural historian was granted full access to his archives; interviews with family members, friends, and former employees; and permission to reproduce images by and of Karsh. She spent four years researching and writing her manuscript.

Of necessity, her narrative begins slowly. Karsh was born in Turkish Armenia in 1908, and to understand him means understanding his roots and the atrocities that befell Armenians during his childhood.

Members of Karsh's extended family became part of the Armenian Diaspora, and that was how Karsh ended up at 15 in Sherbrooke under the tutelage of his uncle, George Nakash, a portrait photographer.

Karsh had originally hoped to study medicine, but once he opted for photography, he pursued it single-mindedly. At 19, he began an apprenticeship with Boston portraitist John Garo, who taught him more about the art of photography and about "the necessity of being well attired and well educated in order to win the respect and inspire the complicity of his subject." Karsh "came to share the belief that the face could express the soul (and) ... that it was the achievers in society who, more than anyone else, possessed an innate goodness, which the photographer could expose by illuminating the soul."

Karsh read voraciously, improved his spoken English, and socialized with Garo's artist friends. In 1931, he moved to Ottawa to establish his own studio; the Canadian capital, he reasoned, "would attract the most interesting people." His first choice had been Washington, but "the (American) immigration quota for Armenians was nil."

With the assistance of Solange Gauthier, his first wife and business manager, as well as the patronage of Canadian government officials, Karsh rose to international fame in a remarkably short number of years. He did so by working relentlessly (and demanding equally long hours of his staff), seeking out and fastidiously researching famous "achievers," and then using "old-world charm" and "gentle bullying" to photograph them. In time, celebrities sought him out, eager to be "Karshed."

Tippett chronicles Karsh's more than 60-year career thoroughly. She highlights the portrait commissions for media and corporate clients that took him and his cumbersome equipment around the world and made him a wealthy man. She incorporates accounts of his lesser-known journalistic work, too.

In tracing Karsh's life, Tippett has created an honest portrait. She doesn't shy away from revealing the often contradictory facets of Karsh's character: "When he spoke, he mixed courtesy and flattery with scorn and boastfulness. He exuded an air of prosperity yet also of insecurity."

She also acknowledges the art establishment's mixed reactions to Karsh's work, citing those who praised his portraiture as beautiful and compassionate, and those who dismissed it as fuddy-duddy hero worship.

Although Karsh was sometimes offended by criticism, he knew that his portraits would live on. They are, after all, a roll call of history-makers - they include every U.S. president from Herbert Hoover to Bill Clinton. "Karsh frequently compared himself to an historian," Tippett concludes, "and this, ultimately, is what he was. He recorded faces and gestures for posterity as much as for publication in the press."

Louise Abbott is a writer-photographer in the Eastern Townships. Her latest book, The Heart of the Farm, will be published by Price-Patterson in 2008.

PORTRAIT IN LIGHT AND SHADOW: THE LIFE OF YOUSUF KARSH

By Maria Tippett

House of Anansi Press,

427 pages, $39.95

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2007

[Joseph]

Interesting man. Please see the part at the bottom of the page in bold lettering.



GASPAR AGHAJANIAN: ARMENIAN JUDGE IN PALESTINE
Justine Rapaccioli

The Independent/UK
Published: 01 December 2007

Gaspar Aghajanian, lawyer: born Jerusalem, Palestine 16 April 1911;
married 1942 Astrid Topalian (two daughters); died Shoreham-by-Sea,
West Sussex 31 August 2007.

In 1947 in Tiberias, Palestine, a case was brought before the district
court concerning a dispute between two rabbis, both elderly men
who had been quarrelling for years. Their case was to be heard by a
judge recently appointed to the court. He looked through their file
and, seeing the petty nature of their dispute, bluntly told them
they should have known better: "Here you are accusing each other
of having committed acts which to me appear to be unimportant, and
doing it before me, a young gentile. You should be able to settle
your dispute yourselves peacefully. I want you now to shake hands
and make peace. Then I want to dismiss this case." The two rabbis
got up, shook hands and kissed each other, at which point a man from
the public benches approached the judge, kissed his hand and said,
"Just like the days of the Torah."

That same year the judge was paid a visit by Saad ad-Din al-Alami,
the Qadi of the Muslim Religious Court, and later the Grand Mufti
of Jerusalem. He had come to tell the judge that the Arabs of the
Tiberias sub-district were very pleased with his work and they now
felt they had an Arab judge who was safeguarding their rights and
interests. The judge expressed surprise; he was not an Arab, unlike
his predecessor who had been both an Arab and a Muslim. "Ah", said
al-Alami, "we were not getting justice from him!"

That Gaspar Aghajanian, the only Armenian judge in Palestine under the
British Mandate, could have commanded such respect from both Arabs
and Jews at a time when relations between the two were crumbling
beyond repair, is testament to an integrity that remained unshaken.

Aghajanian was born in 1911 into one of the oldest Armenian families
of the Old City of Jerusalem. His father had a barber's shop and
was prone to violent outbursts towards his family. His mother found
employment at the home of Norman Bentwich, the Attorney General of
Palestine, and it was here that Gaspar and his two elder sisters were
given refuge from their father.

Aghajanian's education began within the Armenian monastery of St
James and continued at Italian and English schools in the city,
where his passion for languages was nurtured.

Aghajanian began his working life as a junior clerk in the Jerusalem
law courts, while he pursued his education in legal studies at
evening classes.

His sister Sirvart had married an Armenian-Arab who was in the employ
of the King of Transjordan and it was he who introduced Aghajanian to
members of the Transjordanian royal family. Aghajanian was sometimes
called upon to entertain various members of the family when they
visited Jerusalem.

In 1938 Aghajanian was appointed Notary Public of Haifa and a year
later became Execution Officer. This was a time when tensions were
growing due to the sale of areas of land by Arab absentee landlords to
the Jewish National Fund. Travelling became dangerous and Aghajanian's
ability to speak both Arabic and Hebrew got him out of many a sticky
situation.

In 1940 Aghajanian decided to volunteer for the British armed
forces, but was dissuaded by his superiors on the grounds that he
was already doing important work for the country. He did however join
the Palestinian Volunteer Force, becoming a gunner, and was awarded
the Defence Medal.

Aghajanian married, in 1942, Astrid Topalian, a survivor of the
1915 Armenian genocide. By 1946 they were living in Tiberias where
Aghajanian, now a magistrate, was in charge of the Courts of Tiberias
and Safad. Unlike magistrates in England, holders of the position in
Palestine had to be legally qualified and had jurisdiction in both
civil and criminal cases.

For a time it seemed that the Aghajanians would be happy in Tiberias
but in 1948, as fighting erupted between Arabs and Jews, they
found themselves literally in the crossfire and had to abandon
their home. Aghajanian's wife and their daughters went to Amman
while he moved into the police building, determined to continue
his work. Eventually however, he, too, was forced to flee to
Transjordan. In Amman, Aghajanian applied for British citizenship and
in the meantime found work as legal advisor to the British Council
representative in the city.

In 1949 the family (now British citizens) left for Cyprus where
Aghajanian became Arab monitor with the US Foreign Broadcast
Information Service at its monitoring station at Karavas near
Kyrenia. He was eventually promoted to the post of Chief Monitor
for quality control, a position he occupied until his retirement in
1971. By now the Aghajanians were living in a house which they had
had built to their own specifications, fully expecting to spend the
rest of their lives there.

The Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus in 1974 changed all that. The
couple were forced to leave their home in the fighting and were taken
to England as refugees by the RAF. They had lost everything. At the
age of 63, Aghajanian had to begin rebuilding his life. With the
help of friends he managed to find work at the Ministry of Defence
and settled in West Sussex. He retired, for the second time, in 1983.

The British High Commissioner of Cyprus had asked the Aghajanians
to submit a claim for compensation for the loss of their house and
possessions, but it was refused by the Turkish authorities on the
grounds that the couple were of "Armenian origin".

Despite all the difficulties that life threw at him, Aghajanian
remained an unassuming man committed to leading an upright life. As
a just man in an unjust world, he was respected by all who knew him.

[Joseph]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Edwards

QB for the Buffalo Bills

[Joseph]

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=64466

International Football Tournament 2008: Armenia on top after second day
by SILVIO VELLA

After beating Malta in the first match, Armenia got the better of favourites Belarus yesterday, to register their second win of the tournament and go on top of the standings.

The Armenians, well organised and quick on the ball, shrugged off an early setback for a remarkable comeback that saw them turn the tables, thanks to an improved second half performance.

As against Malta, substitute Ara Hakobyan proved his side’s match winner.

Belarus forged ahead after five minutes play when Viachaslav Hleb, younger brother of the more famous Arsenal player, capitalised on the Armenia keeper’s gaffe, as he dropped a high ball inside the box, to knock it over the line.

Past the quarter hour Belarus also hit the post with a Vasiliuk shot on a Bulyga cross but then conceded Armenia’s equaliser midway through the half. Following a Mkrtchyan corner kick from the right, Ararat Arakelyan headed in from close range level matters.

Although play remained mostly balanced, Belarus looked more dangerous going forward and twice went close before halftime.

On a fast break, Romaschenko went past two opponents but his final shot was blocked into a corner. On the half hour Blizniuk’s headed effort on a Hleb cross, was held out by the goalkeeper.

Belarus effected two substitutions after the restart but Armenia made some considerable improvement, showing a more direct approach in the second period. Melkonyan shot off target after a good move and a teasing Hakobyan cross from the right.

Armenia denied their opponents any comfort on the ball and even after their industrious midfielder Voskanya was substituted, they still looked slightly faster on the ball than their opponents.

On 78 minutes Hakobyan’s powerful central shot was turned over the bar by giant keeper Liantsevich, who played instead of Veremko. From the resultant corner, Ara Hakobyan advanced inside the area from the right and shot low past the surprised keeper as the ball might have taken a slight deflection off a Belarus defender who stood in the way.

Two minutes from time, Armenia also had their player Tadeosyan sent off by referee Zammut for a second caution. But there was little time left for Belarus to exploit their numerical superiority although they caused some anxious moments to the Armenia defence in the dying minutes.





* * *



Belarus: A. Liantsevich, A. Kulchy, R. Filipenko, S. Omelyanchuk, P. Plaskonny (A.Pytsila), V. Bulyga, M. Romaschenko, H. Blizniuk (M. Asipovich), R. Vasiliuk (A. Paulau), K. Pavluchek, V. Hleb

Armenia: M. Azizyan, K. Dokoyan, R. Hrzumanyan, A. Tadeosyan, A. Mkrtchyan (G. Ghazaryan), A. Arakelyan, A. Voskanya (K. Aleksanyan), L. Packaynen (N. Sahakyan), H. Mkhitaryan (A. Hakobyan), K. Mkrtchyan, S. Melkonyan (A. Edigaryan)

Referee: A. Zammit asst.refs: A. Camilleri, C. Micallef 4th official: J. Attard

Scorers: V. Hleb, A. Arakelyan, A. Hakobyan

[Steph]

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=64466

Viachaslav Hleb, younger brother of the more famous Arsenal player,

Is he a typical "bread & butter" player?

[lal]

Is he a typical "bread & butter" player?

turkey and armenia will play two matches for the world cup finals next year.

this will be interesting.

[uz.bozo]

x

[Steph]

I see someone let the dogs out.


Pity they have got better things to do...