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An E-Mail from Ireland
Why would anyone from Ireland want to read a book about an American-born Armenian who repatriated to the USSR in 1947 and spent 13 years of his life behind the Iron Curtain? That was the question I had asked, via e-mail, of B.K. of Cork County, after he sent us an order for a copy…
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An Armenian-Speaking Imposter
During a trip to Los Angeles, my host asked if I would like to chat with a mutual acquaintance, who happened to be a former Soviet basketball star. The woman, now in her late seventies, immigrated to the USA and is presently living in the North Hollywood, California area. I told my host that I…
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An Apology to the Repatriates
There is talk about the present freely-elected government of the Republic of Armenia apologizing to those who suffered the indignation and down-right cruelty inflicted upon the repatriates. I, for one, don’t need one. I felt that, despite the hardships and the discrimination, I came out of the foreboding turmoil a better person with a better…
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Promises, promises, and promises
Let me tell you a story about a country whose national constitution and its leaders promised each and every citizen free room and board in an apartment complex, a tuition-free education from K-14 and college, and that the government would provide a monthly stipend to the student if they maintained a grade of “C” or…
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The Nazi and the Communist
He was born in Germany at the height of Hitler’s power. I was born in Detroit the year before the Great Depression. After World War II, he chose America and attended the University of Michigan, becoming a prominent architect. After World War II, I chose the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and became a teacher…
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The French Connection
I did not anticipate, nor was I prepared to immediately answer, the question. Over the years the memory of the events had been relegated to the farthest corners of my mind. It would take time to recall the story. And one thing a speaker doesn’t have when facing a group is time. I had been…
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Rewriting History
Many who fell for the Soviet propaganda and accepted an invitation by the Soviet government to repatriate felt betrayed. The Soviet Constitution, Stalin’s Constitution of the 1930’s, by law guaranteed a Soviet citizen work, free medical care, and free education. That was the Soviets’ promise to those who would return. Instead, those who went found…
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A Cross Road in My Life
After thirteen nebulous years as a citizen of the former USSR, I remember with pride and no prejudice the early days of my life as a reinstated citizen of my country. I was proud to again say, “I am an American.” I shall not take up your valuable time to count the ways I am…
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Month-long journey into the past
It was one of the most emotional months of my life. I traveled back into time and met with some of my former Soviet students and teammates and chatted with those who have suffered the injustices of the Soviet system first-hand. Unlike myself, who received a slap on the wrist from the KGB, these Armenian-American…