Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

Which Armenian Republic? That's a fair question, right? And, what is your connection to the Armenian Republic between 1992 and today? Or, 1918 and 1922? Or, or.. How can you be an Armenian when you live among the Diaspora.

You are a phony nationalist!

Are you claiming that journalists, or mere citizens, have not been intimidated by the state in Armenia? C'mon, bro.

You are being intellectually insincere. Media outlets in the U.S. experience government pressure from time to time and we are in the most liberated Republic of them all.

[Armenian]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

He has not engaged in hate speech. But, if he were in Armenia, he could possibly be jailed or worse.

Are you xxxxing serious? Where do all you freaks come from? Do you anything about the Armenian Republic? I bet you haven't even stepped foot there. Please, tell do us: When was the last time a writer/thinker/poet was "jailed or worst" for his or her work in Armenia - especially incoherent rants like the ones Ara produces? If you can't come up with an example, and you won't, I expect you to apologize and delete your stupid comment. What a joke you are. What else could I have expected from an Ara fan...

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

Dissent and hate are not the same.

Sometimes, your conduct in attacking him confirms the very positions he takes re: the "Armo" mentality.

Not all of it mind you.

You certainly can opine that he is a pariah. This may carry some weight.

But, pariahs and martyrs are common amongst us.

He has not engaged in hate speech. But, if he were in Armenia, he could possibly be jailed or worse. Some of you may like that. Yet, this is the same mentality that exists across the border. In the end, an intelligent person can inquire: "what's the difference?" and rail against the powers that be.

Perhaps, he is Don Quixote. But, philosophically, he has some merit. There is no doubt. And, your own myopia has limited you from noticing that in some Armenian circles he is acknowledged for his contributions.

Nonetheless, blasting him with continued barbs of "trash" and "hate", etc., etc. - does not make it so.

You can be a nationalist, and love Armenia and still keep an open mind and robust dialogue. This is the lifeblood of a thriving country.

[crusader1492]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
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THE COWARDS AMONG US
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More doom and gloom BS from a depressed mind and a weak soul.
*
Why don't we just get it over with...let's give Yerevan to the Turks and Stepanakert to the Azeris. We mind as well. What is the use? We Armenians are dysfunctional and terrible people.
*
Right, Ara?
#

[arabaliozian]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
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THE BARBARIANS AMONG US
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After reading Plato’s dialogues, Shaw’s plays, and countless letters to the editor in foreign newspapers and magazines, I have discovered that every assertion can be contradicted and every generalization questioned without resorting to verbal abuse. Verbal abuse not only detracts from the merit of the argument but also exposes the writer’s character, IQ, and level of upbringing.
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It is not true that I criticize Armenians, or only Armenians, or all Armenians; I criticize only charlatans and their dupes regardless of nationality – dupes who have dug themselves into a hole so deep that they can no longer see the light of reason.
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It has been said that suffering is one of the very best ways to learn to know oneself. But I guess, when given the opportunity to learn, some people will choose the bliss of ignorance.
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The trick in good writing is to convince the reader that you write to express not your own sentiments and thoughts but his.
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We are not a nation but a mosaic of tribes and products of different environments and cultures. Unless we stress what we share, learn to explain ourselves in a civilized manner, and understand one another – none of which can be achieved by means of insults and verbal abuse – we are doomed.
#

[Armenian]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

Listen freak, just read his endless rants - it is hate. He 'hates' his heritage. As a result, he looks for reasons and excuses to justify his hate. If you think he is simply an intellectual and a critic of our national leadership/establishment - then you are a clueless idiot. Just read Ara's crap, it's oozing with self-hate, arrogance and ignorance. Ara is a diva without a stage. He more-or-less thinks by posting his self-hate and pseudo-intellectual crap all over the internet he will have an impact upon Armenian life. Fortunately, Armenian society in general does not take him seriously. Armenians have rejected him. And this is a severe blow to Ara's massive ego. As a result, all he does now in his old age is rant against anything Armenian. Nonetheless, the level of his understanding of Armenian history and geopolitics in general is that of an adolescent. What's more, he constantly contradicts himself - revealing intellectual disarray. The man may be able to construct snazzy sounding phrases, which are essentially worthless slogans, however, he is totally ignorant of the world around him. He is simply a disgruntled individual with a massive ego and a lot of self hate. As a writer he is mediocre, as an intellectual he is a midget. Men such as him are a detriment to our well being as a nation in the diaspora. In my opinion, such types of men are/were responsible for the worst pages in our history. And fools like you feed their egos, encouraging them to go further. Like I have said, Ara's works will survive as long as he is alive, and when he departs this world so will all his masterpieces...

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

So what exactly has Ara said that was hateful?

[crusader1492]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

Crusader, you are splitting hairs re: the difference between "hateful" writings and hate speech. Hate speech is a term of art, no political term at all.

If you are unable to recognize that Mr. Baliozian has contributed professionally to the literary world, then your ignorance precedes your arrogance.

Actually, I prefer the protagonist in "A Confederacy of Dunces".

"When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."

Jonathan Swift

You can guess what group I put you and some of Ara's other detractors in.

I'm sure Ara will be happy that you consider him a genius and me a dunce, but in the end, your manipulation of erudite quotes, for the purpose of mocking, only shows that you are empty snob who is desperately seeking the label of an intellectual.

I actually have more respect for Ara than you. At least he comes up with his own material.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

Crusader, you are splitting hairs re: the difference between "hateful" writings and hate speech. Hate speech is a term of art, no political term at all.

If you are unable to recognize that Mr. Baliozian has contributed professionally to the literary world, then your ignorance precedes your arrogance.

Actually, I prefer the protagonist in "A Confederacy of Dunces".

"When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."

Jonathan Swift

You can guess what group I put you and some of Ara's other detractors in.

[crusader1492]

Re: Happy Birthday Ara Baliozian!

I don't think Ara's ramblings, if you wish to characterize them that way, amount to hate speech and I find it rather irresponsible for someone to anonymously characterize his rantings as hate speech. Some could opine that you and others have been hateful towards him.

Heck, e.g., you try to marginalize him but his contributions to the literary world are well noted. Which one are you, Don Quixote or the windmills?

I did not say "hate speech"...this is s political term. I said hateful, as in degrading and malicious. Please don't exagerate.
As far as your "literary world" remark...which planet were you refering to?

And as for you man of La Mancha question...I guess that is your way of trying to let me know that you're "smart"...which is ironic because you remind me of the dull-witted Sancho.