Strange Holidays

Around this neighborhood today there was much flag waving and car-hood-banner wearing. A lady asked, rather annoyed, why the Persian market on the corner was closed. She couldn't get the stuff she wanted. Someone told her that is was not a Persian market, it was an Armenian market and it was closed because today was Armenian Genocide Day... An unofficial "holiday". The woman replied, "What Armenian genocide?"

So goes the virtually unknown fact that Armenia went through one of history's worst genocides ever, during WWI between 1915-1917. Around 1 million Armenians were systematically eliminated by the government of the Young Turks. The lack of a public prosecution of the organizers behind the Armenian Genocide by the Allied powers was said to have largely influenced Nazi Germany and Hitler.

When I moved here to L.A. in December I looked up info on Armenians because I wasn't sure what the heck it was. Was it the middle east? Was there actually a country called Armenia and why are there so many Armenians here in LA? Why did they want to leave their country?

Armenia is a fascinating and tragic place.

What I couldn't figure out is why on earth they wanted to create a holiday about such a horrible thing? None of my Japanese friends celebrate "Hiroshima Day" with a day off from work (that I know of)... I don't remember the post office being closed every year on the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. So I really didn't get it.

Then a young girl passed me on the sidewalk this morning and the back of her shirt said "We demand global recognition of the Armenian Genocide"

And I thought, "Oh, ok. That's fair. I get it now."

So to the Armenians I say, "I'm sorry for what happened to your culture. It's unthinkable. Now, could your young men please stop drag-racing their Mercedes sedans up and down the street at 500 mph? And would you please turn your music down after 9pm so my kids can sleep? You are welcome here but please respect your neighbors."

I'm glad the market on the corner will be open again tomorrow. They have great baked goods and lots of neat foodstuffs you can't get anywhere else.