KeghartDear Reader,
Keghart.com was launched nine years ago to communicate with non-Armenian Canadians so as to voice concerns about a variety of Canadian and global political and human rights issues, including but not limited to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As well, Keghart.com was intended to familiarize non-
Armenian Canadians with issues vital (our Diasporas, conditions in Armenia and existential challenges Armenians face, to cite some) to the eight million global Armenian nation.
It was not a novel idea to involve non-Armenians in our deliberations, but it was a new attempt on digital media. This was also a time when leading Canadian journalists (syndicated columnist Gwynne Dyer and “Globe and Mail’s” national columnist Jeffrey Simpson) spewed unfriendly, sometimes even couched inimical remarks about Armenians' plight, a period when the Genocide of Armenians was mentioned with qualifiers, and when the foreign minister was nodding to Turkish demands for a “commission” of historians to determine the veracity of the Genocide which was at odds with the prime minister’s principled stand. The memory of a preceding government fiasco was fresh in the minds of Canadian Armenians and the wounds resulting from the cowardly assassination of Hrant Dink had not healed and still have not.
Dear Reader,
Keghart.com was launched nine years ago to communicate with non-Armenian Canadians so as to voice concerns about a variety of Canadian and global political and human rights issues, including but not limited to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As well, Keghart.com was intended to familiarize non-Armenian Canadians with issues vital (our Diasporas, conditions in Armenia and existential challenges Armenians face, to cite some) to the eight million global Armenian nation.
It was not a novel idea to involve non-Armenians in our deliberations, but it was a new attempt on digital media. This was also a time when leading Canadian journalists (syndicated columnist Gwynne Dyer and “Globe and Mail’s” national columnist Jeffrey Simpson) spewed unfriendly, sometimes even couched inimical remarks about Armenians' plight, a period when the Genocide of Armenians was mentioned with qualifiers, and when the foreign minister was nodding to Turkish demands for a “commission” of historians to determine the veracity of the Genocide which was at odds with the prime minister’s principled stand. The memory of a preceding government fiasco was fresh in the minds of Canadian Armenians and the wounds resulting from the cowardly assassination of Hrant Dink had not healed and still have not.
The tragedy of March 1, 2008 in Yerevan, and the subsequent developments dramatically diverted Keghart.com’s editorial orientation. It became more “Armeno-centric”. Due to the imperatives of the day the articles’ focus shifted to global Armenian issues and with the Armenian reader in mind.
At its height the database counted more than 20,000 addresses. Most of the articles were viewed by thousands of readers and some articles garnered cumulative one-half million clicks over time.
Keghart.com also organized public events — some in cooperation with other organizations. Notable were the Roundtable Discussions: Policy Directions in Post Election Armenia of June 2008 immediately following the March tragedy, the Unity Symposium, the panel discussion devoted to Kurdish-Armenian relations and “by invitation only” meeting with the National Congress of Western Armenians chairman Souren Seraydarian. All were attended in numbers worthy of any major community organization event. Of all the articles and editorials “Proposed Media Guidelines” (two parts), penned by the site’s English language editor Jirair Tutunjian has to be singled out for its insightful and practical recommendations to improve communication with the non-Armenian media.
Throughout its performance Keghart.com strived to remain non-partisan and open-minded. It provided an arena for readers to air conflicting views through articles and comments guided by the principle that no individual or entity has the monopoly on the truth. As such, it strived to fill a void in the North American Armenian media.
It was an exciting journey which came at a financial cost. By latest count Keghart.com expenses have been equivalent to the cost of raising a child from birth to mid teen-age years in Canada. To keep the website running in its present form entails the need for ongoing revenues that I, as a septuagenarian publisher, cannot afford, particularly because of imminent retirement. Health concerns and expanding family demands are additional reasons to say, “Adieu” to Keghart.com readers.
Over the past couple of years editors Tutunjian, Minas Kojayan and I have spent numerous hours and criss-crossed Canada and the US West Coast to recruit potential new publishers. Our efforts have failed for a variety of reasons. However, we’ve not given up and hope that concerned individuals, friends of Keghart.com will come up with novel and practical proposals to continue the site or a sister project guided by the same principles of non-partisanship, to provide a free “marketplace of ideas” and unbiased discussion which our communities sorely need.
The site will be on the net serving as a personal blog; readers can post comments, and announcements about significant community events will be circulated from time to time.
Keghart.com’s list of columnists, commentators, editors and board members is long. They soon will receive personal e-mails of thanks. I’d like also to thank you, the Keghart.com reader, who followed the site and kept it going.
Sincerely,
Keghart
Keghart
Keghart
24 comments
Heartbreaking Inevitability
Numb with shock
Keghart.com will remain one of the Armenian Diaspora's most outstanding publications. Its mind boggling endurance captured the respect and admiration of its readers as well as its contributors.
Unfortunately, the inevitable demise of this Herculean enterprise is a painful reflection on the inconsolably retrogressing condition of the Armenian Diaspora.
As a final note though, this is also time to congratulate Dr. Aprahamian as an audacious visionary and celebrate his monumental achievements.
Farewell and BEST WISHES
Dear Dikran, Jirayr and Minas:
You have indeed accomplished a monumental task.
Ապրիք!
Սրտագին Մաղթանքներով'
Thank you!
Dear Dikran Abrahamian, thank you and your editors for all your hard work during the 9 years of Keghart.com's existence. Your selfless and unconditional dedication to this worthy cause is much appreciated. Srdantz shnorhagaluthtun! LA
Sad to say goodbye
Considering that the basis of the "goodbye" to Keghart.com is FINANCIAL, and considering that there is a demand for an independent public forum, such as Keghart, perhaps, the best option, would be to do an annual fundraising, for the publication, expanding the professionalism and even purposes of the forum, turn it into a truly FREE PEOPLE'S FORUM, I think would be a best solution, not to lose another good, unbiased, fair media.
Of course, I do not know, what the budget of this media is, or should be, turning Keghart.com into a non profit, charitable, educational institution, would be a good idea. If you could kindly explain, give us more information, guidance, and help the public make a solid decision, or participate in this decision making, would be a good idea, better, than, leaving the reader in the cold… I will miss you, but I am also confident, that once the public knows, what it entails to keep Keghart.com going, the public will be in a better position to say, "hello, to a new, or renovated, or to our good old, Keghart.com.
Thanks for your efforts.
Adieu
Vartsket gadar Dikran jan.
Farewell
Dear Dikran
It so happened that we spoke numerous times over the phone but thus far I did not have the opportunity to meet you and Jirair in person. Hopefully that will come sooner than later.
As a parting word, I invite the readers to read an article I penned on November 4, 2014, titled “One Thing Led to Another”.
Thank you Dikran and Jirair and fare well.
Vahe
Thank you for your hard work
Dikran, allow me to personally congratulate you and your team for all of your hard work undertaken during this past decade. I very much appreciated Keghart.com's uncompromising, opinionated, critical "third eye" on Armenian-related issues that so often do not see the light.
Thank you also for allowing me to post here from time to time. Շատ ապրիք։
Best of luck,
Aram
Much appreciated
My sympathies to see such a treasure stop functioning, it's a loss for all.
Thank you Dikran for so many years of sacrifices for our nation and I don't only mean keghart.com, you've been active and helping the community for a long long time since your school years that we have shared.
You are an intellectual hero. We appreciate your work very very much.
It’s too hard to say good-bye
I very much like Angela Barseghian's idea of "turning Keghart.com into a non-profit, charitable, educational institution." Annual fundraising with tax receipts might be the answer to keeping this very highly respected, much needed, and unique service, regularly coming into our mailbox.
Shouldn’t be over …
It was a sad surprise to hear you say good bye! People who recently joined will be very upset. Still wish to read your worthwhile articles on this platform.
Վարձքերնիդ կատար
Յարգելի "Գեղարդ"ի խմբագրակազմ,
Սիրելի Տիգրան եւ Մինաս ու անձնապէս անծանօթ Ժիրայր Թիւթիւնճեան եւ այլ յայտնի ու անյայտ յանձնառու գիրի նուիրեալներ,
Ինչպէս որ հայ գրիչները իրենց գրչագիրի վերջաւորութեան կը գրէին՝ "Խօսքս մնայ յիշատակող", նոյնպէս ալ "Գեղարդ"ը իր Խօսքը ըսած է ու կը մնայ յիշատակող։ Ափսոսալու հարկ չկայ, կեանքի շրջուն անիւի պարտադրանքն է, որ հիներու երթալուն հետ նորերն ալ կը ստեղծէ։ Կարեւորը գործը կատարուած է եւ արդիւնքը մէջտեղն է, որ օրինակ կը ծառայէ կամեցողներուն, որոնք անպայման ի յայտ կու գան նոյնիսկ ուշ։ Վարձքերնիդ կատար։
Յովսէփ Արթինեան
Պէյրութ
Adieu?
The laudatory comments are deserved and all well and good, but who will be the second person to declare that s/he is prepared to make a donation to keep Keghart going? You know who the first one is.
Saving Keghart
Thank you Charles.
Dear Dr. Abrahamian, please tell us what a reasonable budget for Keghart would be. We realize that there has been a huge, really huge, volunteer time in Keghart. But assuming we decide we want to keep Keghart alive more or less in its current format, what would be the yearly cost? If that amount is not too high, I am sure the Keghart universe will save this Armenian nation's monument-monastery.
Ventures should be established based on IDEAS not individuals…
If the publication could give the public a bit more information about the financial demands, history, and details, also, details about the charitable, educational status of Kheghart.com, then, perhaps a COMMITTEE could be formed, to continue the venture, to carry on the IDEAS and OBJECTIVES of Kheghart.com…
As much as individual efforts are important and respected, perhaps it is more important to help others to carry on the work.
As a community member, I would like to receive some detailed information about the Financials and the Status of Kheghart, and I would like to form a Committee of VOLUNTEERS so that we can discuss the possibility of carrying on the work.
Thanking you in advance,
ANGELA BARSEGHIAN
Keghart Adieu
While it is sad to see Keghart to say Adieu, I would like to congratulate you for all the years and efforts of your hard work.
Dikran, Minas and Jirayr Vartskernit Gadar.
All the best.
Resurrection After the Requiem
In spite of being a busy physician, we all know how a great intellectual is Dr. Dikran Abrahamian as the publisher of the highly respected Diasporan voice coming from Canada; we all know how professional Mr. Jerry Tutunjian has been as an editor; likewise, Mr. Minas Kojayan has been instrumental in his editorship. They all have been outstanding in their respective positions and devotions to the Armenian Cause. However, now is not the time for a requiem for Keghart.com, but for the resurrection of a much-needed, much-appreciated organ of the Armenian Diaspora hailing all the way from Canada.
While forming a committee for fundraising as a not-for-profit organization is a good idea, it takes long, too long time for Armenians to get organized, especially through committees, to do something efficient and constructive on time. The situation dictates that time is of the essence. Therefore, we need to use a two-pronged approach to the resurrection of the publication: long-term through committees and fundraising events and short-term thorough donations. Let us all donate as much as we can right now for the sake of continuity, while we would work on other viable ideas to support our beloved publication.
Count me in for a donation and for the formation of a committee. Let us stop the song of a requiem, and begin to sing the hopeful and energizing song of resurrection!
Let me hear from you all how truly you care about Keghart.com and who would like to spearhead a campaign for donations. Thank you.
Z. S. Andrew Demirdjian, [(323) 722-0459; [email protected]]
Do we know what the annual
Do we know what the annual expenditures are? How much money and other effort, is required? We have to know the details of what this publication requires, before, we decide what to do, how to do it, etc…That is my opinion and my concern.
Much, Much More than Finance
Most of the comments for exploring the possibility of continuing Keghart.com on its mission are focused on finance. What is needed to perpetuate Keghart.com is much, much more than finance.
First and foremost I believe it entails gaining the trust of its founder, Dr. Dikran Abrahamian, that Keghart.com would carry on the vision that propelled him to undertake such a Herculean endeavor.
Then comes of course the editorials. For the past nine years Dikran and Jirair penned editorials that stood apart in substance and eloquence of language,
Along penning editorials, Jirair edited the article. He read each and every article and comment before posting, suggested corrections and noted grammatical and linguistic errors and brought them to the attention of the writer. It was a labor of love
Keghart.com also entailed administrative labor that would have been financially prohibitive had it not been for Dikran's labor of love. From my personal experience, I know that Dikran also read each and every article, brought to the attention of the writer lapses and errors. He attached the pictures, at times cropped a picture to make it more effective to bolster the articles. All the while keeping in touch with the writer.
After having made the page posting ready, there came the issue of distribution that Nayiri, Dr. Abrahamian's daughter undertook as her labor of love of Keghart.com.
The issue for the continuation of Keghart.com is a matter of having others fill in the shoes of these dedicated individuals along with the Armenian language editors, more so than finance. That done, financing Keghart.com presents no obstacle at all but in the absence of such dedicated individuals who volunteered their times and qualifications, it would be prohibitive for the Keghart.com community to raise enough funds to pay individuals to carry on these tasks that are being left behind as Dikran, Jirair and the rest of the editorial board move on away from running Keghart.com.
I second Mr. Apelian’s comments
Bravo and heartfelt thanks to Dikran, Jirair, and Minas for their sterling, brave, and generous work on behalf of Armenians the world over! The website was a precious mine of information for Diaspora Armenians, and it was my pleasure to be a small contributor to it from time to time.
I wish all three the best of health, peace, and contentment for the years ahead, and I also wish that others can step up and create a comparable website.
Outstanding website
Dear Editors,
Keghart has been an outstanding website with critical but very objective editorials on all issues concerning Armenian affairs plus comments from all. Its editorials have almost all been correct.
Well done to all of you and wish you all the success in your future endeavours.
Գեղարդահիւս «Գեղարդ» Գեղարդաշէն գեղաՏիգրանով
Սիրելի Տիգրանաշէն «Գեղարդ»,
Ես՝ մամուլի նուիրեալս, գործիչս, ծառայողս, այս մարզէն ներս, «մռայլ» օրեր անցնելէ ետք, «Գեղարդ»ով վերակենդանացայ, վերապրեցայ ու վերանորոգուեցայ, որուն կայծն ու լոյսը առի Տիգրանաշէն «Գեղարդ»էն, այդ ասպարէզին մէջ նոր եւ յաւելեալ լուսաւոր ուղի մը գտնելով: Անտարակոյս, ատոր մղիչ ուժը, վ ե ր ա զ ա ր թ օ ն ք ե ա ն զարկով, կը կոչուէր, ազգականական-պատանեկան-ընկերական-գաղափարական բուխութեամբ ու սլացքով, հոգեղբայր՝ Սիրելի ՏԻԳՐԱՆ ԱԲՐԱՀԱՄԵԱՆը, 70 տարուան հեռաւորութենէ ու մօտիկութենէ ետք, ատիկա ըլլալով մնայուն ջահ մը, անմիջականութեան, հարազատութեան ու սրտամօտիկութեան:
Տիգրարաշէն «Գեղարդ»ը սրտեր ու հոգիներ լիացուց, գրչեղբայրներ ու գաղափարակիցներ միացուց, հայրենակիցներ եւ ընկերակիցներ լուսաւորեց, որոնք կը կոչուին՝ հայ ժողովուրդ, հող, հայրենիք, մշակոյթ, ինքնութիւն եւ պատկանելիութիւն եւ այս բոլորին նորօրեայ ռահվիրաներէն հանդիսացաւ Տիգրանակերտեան «Գեղարդ»ը: Սիրելի «Գեղարդ»աշէնեան Տիգրան, դուն մեծ ԱԿՕՍ մը բացիր, որուն արժեւորումը ո՞վ պիտի հասկնայ ու գնահատէ (թէեւ, դուն ատոր կարիքը չունիս), այնքան ատեն որ քարացած ու կաղապարուած ուղեղներ կան մեր չորսդին: Հազարաբիւր յարգանք ներդրումիդ ու վաստակիդ, սիրելիս, որ «Գեղարդ»ով գեղարդեցիր գեղարդաշէն հայկական համացանցային բեմ մը:
ՊԱՐՈՅՐ Յ. ԱՂՊԱՇԵԱՆ
Պէյրութ, 22 Սեպտեմբեր 2016
Զգուշաւորութեամբ
Սիրելի Պարոյր,
Երբ կը մտածեմ փոքրաթիւ անաչառ խմբագիրներու եւ հրապակագիրներու (ներառեալ քու) աշխատանքի մասին, պարզապէս կը հիանամ այն զոհողութեան նկատմամբ որ անսակարկ նուիրած են մեր ժողովուրդին: Անոնց գործերը մէկական արեգակներ են, իսկ «Գեղարդ»ինը փոքր մոմ մը որ անժամանակ շիջեցաւ:
Կը գնահատեմ դրուատական խօսքդ, բայց կը ներես եթէ զգուշաւորութեամբ ընդունիմ:
Կարօտով՝
Տիգրան
ՇԱՏ ԴԺՈՒԱՐ
Իսկապէս որ շատ դժուար է ընդունիլ Գեղարդի բացակայութիւնը: Շատերուն նման՝ որպէս մօտէն ծանօթ անոր աշխարհ գալու երկունքին, որպէս վկան անոր ծնունդին եւ, համեստօրէն ալ, մասնակիցը անոր վերելքին, ձեւով մը, բոլորին հետ ալ, սուգի մէջ եմ եւ մտահոգ:
Մտահոգ՝ ո'չ թէ Գեղարդին դադրեցումով, բայց Գեղարդին նման, մտահոգ եմ մեր ժողովուրդով որ գիտէ Գեղարդներ ծնիլ սակայն մինչեւ հիմա դեռ չի գիտեր անոնց թանկարժեքութիւնը եւ տակաւին չ'անդրադառնար կորուստին ահագնութեան:
Ողջո'յն Տիգրանին, ողջո'յն ժիրայրին, ողջո'յն բոլոր ժամանակներու անձնակազմերուն եւ բոլոր ներդրում ունեցողներուն: Ըլլան անոնք նիւթական թէ մտաւորական:
Ձեր աշխատանքին շնորհիւ է որ Գեղարդը դարձաւ աշխարհի ամենաընթերցուած հայկական համացանցային կայքէջը (Հայաստանի կառավարութեան կայքէջները առանց նկատի առնելու):
Գեղարդը մեր ազգային խիղճը դարձած էր, բայց նաեւ քննադատական միտքն ալ, որոնք հիմա լռութեան կը մատնուին:
Գեղարդը քսանմէկերորդ դարու մեր ուղեցոյց Հիւսիսափայլն էր որ տեղի կու տայ համընդհանուր ազգային խաւարի մը:
Անհամբեր կը սպասեմ լուսաբացին:
Բարեկամօրէն
Վիգէն Լ. Ադդարեան
Let us Re-Ignite the Enthusiasm
Where Have All the Well-Wishers and Benefactors Gone?
On September 8, 2016 Dr. Dikran Abrahamian shook the readers by 8.9 when he announced his retirement from the well-read and well-received Keghart.com newsletter.
To many, including myself, the commendable publication seemed to be instantly orphaned without the outstanding management of both the publisher, Dr. Abrahamian, and its consummate editors Mr. Jerry Tutunjian and Mr. Minas Kojayan.
Soon after that sad breaking news, many well-wishers and many would-be benefactors expressed gratitude for a work well done and indicated support to resuscitate the online publication from oblivion. Among the accolades of outstanding work done, "saving Keghart.com" poured in! These gestures were commendable, but where are their promised fruit?
Why has the momentum fizzled? Is it because the reorganization of Keghart.com is being kept a secret? Those who have contacted me after my comment of support, have disappeared in thin air. If there is a substantive and an innovative way to reestablish the publication is in progress, then I wish them Godspeed, but if the publication is in limbo, let us re-ignite our enthusiasm to resume finding ways to resurrect this much-read, much- loved publication has provided vital news to the Armenian Diaspora around the world for over nine years.
Z. S. Andrew Demirdjian
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