Armenian Youth and Violence: A New Cycle of Genocide
Commentary — By Liana Aghajanian on May 22, 2010 12:39 pm
Creative Commons/by Hoggarazzi
On a typical Wednesday evening in November, Mike Yepremyan, 19, did what thousands of other teenagers were doing across Los Angeles and the world: he sent a text message to his girlfriend, annoyed that she was choosing to hang out with a new friend instead of him.
Unlike other stories however, his ended three hours later, with a gunshot to his neck in the parking lot of a Sears store in North Hollywood over a disturbing dispute that never had to take place.
This wasn’t a hate crime. It wasn’t gang related. It didn’t even have anything to do with the fact that Mike’s girlfriend Denielle, whom he loved, was not Armenian.
It was, plain and simple, an Armenian on Armenian crime, where violence is a first resort and words and discussions fall on deaf ears, like silent bullets to the ground, where hot-blooded Armenian youth, with guns at their disposal and a temper to boot, fail to understand what they’re doing to each other is in many ways, a new Genocide.
The details of this sordid story are revealed eloquently in this Los Angeles Times article, which I urge you to read.
They had met up with friends for dinner in Glendale earlier in the evening. To avoid rush-hour traffic, they decided to kill time at a tobacco lounge in Burbank, a delay Denielle explained to Mike via text message. The girls were parked at a gas station in Kat’s pearl-white Infiniti when Mike’s response lit up Denielle’s iPhone, tucked in the cup holder:
“Every time u hang out with that bitch u guys get hookah. Is there something cool bout her n hookah that u enjoy so much?”
In interviews and in courtroom testimony, Denielle described what happened next:
Kat peered at the phone’s screen.
“Oh, I’m a bitch, huh?” she snapped.
Denielle tried to calm her, but Kat grew irate. She grabbed Denielle’s phone and scrolled down to Mike’s number.
“My brother is gonna beat him up,” she said, according to Denielle’s testimony.
Kat picked up her own phone and dialed her sibling, Hovik Dzhuryan, switching to Armenian when he picked up. The words were incomprehensible to Denielle, until the end of the call.
Later, Mike received a call asking him what proof he had that Denielle’s friend was a bitch. Hours later, he was beaten and then later shot. The shooter has not been identified. The driver of the car carrying the shooter is believed to have fled to Armenia, which does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S., and hopes for justice remain up in the air.
Six months after Mike was shot and killed, Nerses Galstyan was attending a remembrance service for a friend, when tired of being disrespected, he allegedly shot and killed four others at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Valley Village, Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, these types of stories involving Armenian youth are becoming all too common. So many questions remain unanswered after the shock and anger wears off. Why is this happening? Why are they carrying guns? Who is instilling in these children to use fists instead of words? How does this mentality arrive in them? What makes it OK to take another person’s life away in the blink of an eye? Over a text message? Over trying to protect a girl’s “honor”? Where is this hot-blooded rage and machismo rooted – poverty, drug abuse, domestic violence, discrimination? Where and why?
Most importantly, how do we make it stop?
These are our real problems. These. Not recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but the stopping of a new kind of Genocide – our own against our own. These are the problems we need to be concerned about. Turkey could turn around tomorrow and admit that 1.5 million Armenians were killed and Armenians immigrating to this country for a better life, will outlive their children who get tangled up in unnecessary and idiotic arguments over typical teenage text messages and end up dead in parking lots across Los Angeles.
Our problems are the problems of all others. There is violence in Armenian communities – against women, against marginal groups and most sad of all, against each other and the sooner we can recognize that, the sooner we can work on making the difference in the lives of young, impressionable children before they grow up and think that solving problems means killing people.
We need to put the Genocide aside, and concentrate on solving these problems before more Armenian youth end up dead.
Armenians, this is a cry for help. Please listen. Let the work to make a difference in the lives of Armenians that are still LIVING be your priority, before more teenagers pick up guns, before more women become abused, before things get worse.
Haven’t you had enough? I have.
Note: While the term “Genocide” is defined more or less as the systematic destruction of an ethnic group, it should be interpreted in this case as a symbolic term, rather than a literal one. It’s use in this post was not meant to compare the Armenian Genocide to homicidal violence of Armenians against Armenians fundamentally or belittle it, but to stress the urgency and importance of this issue figuratively.
Tags: abuse, armenian diaspora, armenian violence, armenian youth, homicide, new genocide, violence, weapons
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20 Comments
Tragically incredible post. Wish you didn’t have to make it, but very impressed that you did…
Thank you, I appreciate it. I wish I didn’t have to either.
What is this world coming to?
Armenians need to step their game up and stop being a disgrace to the race. Stop being a “thug” or “Gangster” or whatever else bullshit you think you are. Stop being a slut or a hoe or a player or whatever your trying to be. Just stop. Our race is becoming a joke to everyone. I’m sick of Cops and Teachers and others stereotypically judging me and my family and friends just because we are Armenian. They call us pigs because of the messes we leave in our areas and because of the distracting, loud, obnoxious cars we drive or the way we treat others. That is just embarrassing. We are a clean race but we don’t show it, I’m not sure why. I don’t understand what we are trying to show others by the way we act. Our race is wise in business and work, thats why you will rarely ever see one of us on the streets looking like a bum. We help 1 another in their time of need, just like others would do for us. As 1 of the strongest races, we need to put our differences and our hate aside and stand together like we’re supposed to. I will not see my race fall or die, especially by another 1 of my race. It’s bad enough the Turks had an advantage over us and destroyed us and our land, but now we’re destroying each other and that needs to stop. I hate that this sounds like a lecture, but we all know its true. And we all know it needs to stop. And we have to stop this disrespectful behavior one step at a time.
excellent post. could not have put it better. People take guns to weddings and christening’s and why so they can protect their pride in case something goes wrong.I have been here for 34 years (L.A.) and we were once respected here. Now all our neighbors I mean your’s and mine hate us and cant stand us. I dont know were to start but I am noticing we are a race with many retards. Sorry if I am offending anyone but if you feel offended then you are in the group I cant stand. If your not offended then you are hurt because it hurts to read this and all the different negative articles written about us Armenians. Wake up please.
We Armenians from Lebanon and Iran have to understand something, before we start hating Armenians from Armenia. Armenians from Armenia did not have the same life styles we had. They have grown under Russian rule, forcing upon them; Godlessness, absolute lack of patriotism, corruption, immorality and hopelessness which leads to self destruction, which is still the ultimate goal. The murder in the article is a perfect example of self destruction resulting from hopelessness it has nothing to do with pride, Armenians from Armenia are much more liberal and free when it comes to relationships compared to us. DO NOT COMPLAIN, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. It will take many generations for them to change but we can help, send a donation to AGBU, or Armenia Fund. Help Armenians from Armenia get back on their feet restore their pride in our 5000 year old culture. No one accept Armenians will help us get back on our feet, no one!. Do not forget Armenians from Armenia are the ones who were able to save that little tiny land called Armenia, if fact they are still doing it!
I agree with Alfred. Armenians all over the world world including the Republic of Armenia have not been received justice and therefore they don’t believe in rule of law. Armenians have been considered as second class citizens for centuries under the Roman, Ottoman, Persian and Russian Empires. For example, under Ottoman Empire, in case of dispute between an Armenian and Muslim, Armenians’ testimony was not admissible in the court of law. The second reason for these type of violence is feeling inferior than others. Unfortunately, most Armenians for lack of knowledge about their heritage, culture and history feel inferior than foreigners. For example, in Iran, some Armenians speak Farsi(Persian) in their homes instead Armenian.
What we can do about this phenomena? Education is the answer. We should educate our children about our religion, history and culture. We must promote our real values including respect, manners and above all responsibility toward themselves, their family and above all toward their nation. They must be reminded that committing crimes lead them to destruction of themselves and bringing shame to their loves ones and to their nation. Nothing else.
I have a short story that will perhaps give some perspective to the theme of this story (which is wonderful by the way. Thanks Liana!), but its unlikely to provide any answers.
I was sitting with one of the first year students of the seminary (the Kevorkian Seminary at Holy Etchmiadzin). This particular student, who is 17 years old, always loves to ask me questions that begin with “In America do they….?” This time he had asked me whether or not violence between Armenians and other races was a serious problem in Los Angeles. I explained that yes I thought it was a problem, and I gave some examples, but having just read the story about Mike’s murder in the LA Times when it was originally published, I told him that violence of this type is even more of an important issue for us.
Two things about his response to this story struck me as being very interesting. Before I tell you what he said let me point out that this particular kid is a wonderful, sensitive, and intelligent young man. He loves to draw, is learning Arabic for fun, does well in all of his classes, and is very spiritual.
His first response was that it didn’t seem odd to him at all that one Armenian should kill another. After thinking about it, I suppose it made sense. After all, having been born and raised in Armenia, what other type of violence would he have witnessed? Perhaps it would be analogous to the reaction that I would have if somebody was asking me about American-on-American violence. I would accept it as something that naturally occurs, whether or not I approve of it.
The second interesting reaction of his was that after hearing the entire story he asked, “But did that girl deserve to be called a b*tch?” It wasn’t a rhetorical question. He really felt it was relevant whether or not the girl that instigated this killing was actually of questionable character. Because according to his morality, if she was innocent then her relative and his friends had a right and an obligation to react.
“Perhaps,” I said, a little surprised, “but murder? That can’t be defended under any circumstance, right?” I wanted to see where this kid would go with this.
He said, “If it was my sister, whom I love very much and who is very innocent, then I would have beat this person as if I was going to kill him… but I wouldn’t kill him.”
I was shocked, and I told him he was wrong (especially as someone who might be a priest one day), but the gap between what we think is rational, moral, and natural, and what falls under those categories in Armenia can sometimes be far apart.
I’m not worried about this particular student, because he is very young. Through his education, and greater exposure to the world and his faith he’ll resolve some of things that were socialized in him. The questions still remains as to how to resolve this. Of course its my view, and I agree with those that have already said that the Church plays an important role. We should be taking a more proactive role to reach out to these youth. However, I think that this requires a coordinated action that includes our schools, our community organizations, and the parents. Especially the parents.
We’re not exactly superstars when it comes to community cooperation, but when it comes to the youth, I hope we can get our act together.
When I was a young boy in Fresno, my Marashtze grandmother, along with her children all assured me that there was no Armenian in jail. While this was not true, and could not have been true, it reflected the pride of farmers and other very hard working Armenian immigrants, whose mission included proving to Americans that they belonged. Those days, and those people, are no more.
The Armenian gang violence problem is severe, as its reflection in vulgar, offensive behavior by youth on its fringes, but it is equally true that all immigrant groups in the past 30 years have seen these things occur: Cambodians, Lao, Vietnamese, Central Americans, Mexicans, Russians etc. have all found a portion of their young men drawn to, and destroyed by the gangster life and its idiot ‘culture’ of drugs, violence, selfishness and self-destruction. It is slow motion spiritual suicide with a coating of loyalty.
Is this aa surprise? As long ago as the 80′s, we had rap music glorifying “thug life”, and you can turn on the History Channel any time to see documentaries that seem also to glorifythis universal aspect of American life, from wealthy suburbs to the worst ghetto.
Bring children to church, make bonds with classmates and other parents, show children a community that cares, so perhaps some will not feel attracted to the artificial family of the gang.
Take a hint from the successful happy and rich Iranians in America, and don’t act like the Mexicans of the Middle East.
The people from Mer Vairenik should know better. wrong is wrong. Excuses like USSR, Godlessnes, blah blah…
Armenians should also take into consideration that it is our own media glorifying, personifying and promoting the cult (culture) of violence. Our TV shows that are made in LA by Armenians for Armenians make violent criminals into sexy heroes and cultural icons. Reality fueling fiction fueling reality has become our pathetic excuse of a modern Armenian culture.
Unlike many of you other posters here I found this article lame, shortsighted, and immature. Primarily as a result of the line about one Armenian shooting another: “These are our real problems. These. Not recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but the stopping of a new kind of Genocide – our own against our own.”
Liana Aghajanian you are not the future of our people. One Armenian criminal shooting another Armenian neither constitutes genocide, nor does it call into action of the abandonment of our pursuit to make the Armenian Genocide recognized internationally.
When it comes to crime, Armenians are not an exception. If you actually care about the “new genocide” then take steps towards a solution rather than making ridiculous suggestions about a subject you know nothing about.
Thank you for your comment Yeghig.
If you had read the entire post, you would have realized that the majority of the people I referred to were not criminals. They were teenagers, mothers, fathers and daughters.
I never alluded to Armenians being the exception. And I’m not sure what this “subject” I know nothing about is well, actually about – are you referring to genocide, murder or violence? If it’s the latter two, then I’m not sure I have any response for you at all.
This was an opinion column to a growing trend – my job is not to take steps towards solutions, but raise awareness. I am writing as a journalist, not as an activist. If you decide to take steps towards a solution and make a difference instead of lecturing me about how I am or how I am not the future of “our” people, let me know so I can write about it.
Until then, you can have the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide as your pursuit, and I can have the real problems of at least the Los Angeles Armenian community be mine.
The “subject” I was referring to is the importance of the Armenian Genocide, as is evident with your irresponsible claim “These are our real problems… Not recognition of the Armenian Genocide…”. I actually never expected to read such a comment in any Armenian related publication.
You honestly believe it is reasonable to throw away the immense efforts of the Armenian community outside of Armenia for decades to bring the government of Turkey to justice simply because some punk committed murder on the streets of LA?
Your concern about the misguided Armenian youth of LA is warranted, but I draw the line when you put into question the pursuit of recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Since you say you are a journalist, you do understand that with a comment like the one you just made, you could be doing more harm than good especially against a young person who might have otherwise contributed positively in the future for the Armenian cause.
In truth the “problems” you speak of have been with us since the beginning of the Soviet Armenian Republic. It does not take a genius to see that Armenians of the Diaspora have a different set of values than the ones from the former Soviet Republic. While the Diaspora Armenians have their share of criminal activity, for the most part they stay out of trouble (or at least try).
I realize that with your article you might have been trying to make a point, and in so doing tried to point out that there are more “realistic” things we should be concerned about. However in the future I urge you to refrain from making such a comment as you did because achieving justice for the Armenian nation is every bit as realistic. My initial response might have been harsh but the point I wanted to make is we do not have to give up the pursuit of genocide recognition in order to solve our other problems.
I take it the only way an Armenian youth can “positively contribute” to the Armenian cause is to fight for Genocide recognition. This is where I disagree with you. I am tired of every spot on our priority list taken up by the genocide. This is the point I was trying to make. It’s the genocide that unites us, it’s the one thing we can all agree on, all other problems get thrown out the window. Poverty, violence, health, inter-cultural communication, progress. Nothing else matters.
Even with your comments, it becomes apparent that the only thing you were able to focus in on was my mention of putting genocide recognition aside for a bit to concentrate on other problems.
I stand by every word I said, because I’m tired. These are the problems that directly impact me and my community and yes, for me, this is what matters. I don’t know if you’re from Los Angeles, but these are major concerns. These are major concerns when five or six Armenian murders occur within the span of 6 months. These are youths who grew up here, once removed from the former Soviet Republic and yet, they are falling in the same paths. I am not sure how else to communicate that.
You say that you never expected to read such a comment in an Armenian related publication. Well this is the difference between this publication and others, and in fact, the entire reason why it exists. Alternative view points, different ways of looking at things, exploring topics that other Armenian publications don’t line their pages with – those are my concerns.
Also, I want to point out, that I never said we should give up anything. What I am saying, and what I stand by, is that Armenian Genocide recognition should not occupy every single concern we have.
I want to make it clear that the opinions I’ve expressed here were in no way intended to demean the Armenian Genocide or to communicate that I don’t think it’s a concern. If you read the other articles on this site, both opinion pieces, feature stories and hard news, you’ll see that that’s not the case.
There is something we can agree on – Armenian Genocide recognition is a realistic goal. It will happen, and when it does, there will still be violence, poverty and domestic abuse in our communities. I’d rather address those topics now, then wait for the genocide to be recognized so that we have something else to concern ourselves with.
There’s room for it all, I’m just saying we need to balance our priorities a little bit.
Nevertheless, I respect your opinions, and am thankful that you chose to express them here. I welcome discussion – that’s what this is all about anyway. I do hope you find something in this humble publication to persuade you to comment again, whether or not it is positive or negative. And if you ever feel strongly enough to want to write something, I would be more than happy to give you the space here to publish it.
some of you people have a real penchant for ingaging in hysterics thing for the sole pupose of attracting eyes to your socalled articles. pathetic indeed.
You portray Armenians from Armenia as homosapians. The country had thousands of well know scientists, athelets, doctors and politicians. These people are not living on trees.
The biggest blame should be put the the armenian CHURCHES. They did not give proper guidance to the people. Everything was tolerated and swept under the rug. The church was supposed to teach the people the right way of life, since history has proven that governments are incompotent in doing that.
When will the Armenian community stand up and tell Armenians that Insurance Fraud, public assistance and generally pissing off the very people (Americans) who rescued them from and grip of poverty in Armenia and welcomed them into our community is NOT acceptable? It seems that many people regret allowing the Armenians to come here and wish they would either join civilization or go back to their caves in Eastern Europe.
the reason, why we armenians from Armenia make a tragedy out of “nothing” and beat up the guy who calls our sister a bitch, is that so we dont have to make a tragedy out of a tragedy, and kill the guy who raped our sister or child, or robbed our mother. our violent behavior is the reason why Armenia (where violence and criminality are so high) is one of the safest places for women, children and elderly. you rarely hear on tv about child abuse,rape insidents, beating up a woman and robbing her, unlike in america where everyone is either some kind of sexual maniac, but a good citizen,either a drug dealer( we call them barigs they are not respected amongst our gangsters) or a gangster in an american way, whom we call bespredzel, those are guys who beat up or kill someone without a justified reason.
well how many years does someone get in america for having raped a child? 5 maximum 10? this is the reason why we Armos dont worship the law, and find the need of making our own laws.
ps no one is allowed to allow or not allow armenians to the US. America belongs to anyone who is able to go there and get established there. Todays Americans ancestors are the proof
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