The bells of the Etchmiadzn were silent.

Five years ago, on September 27. 2020, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale blitzkrieg attack on Armenia supported Artskah, marking the start of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. The bells of Etchmiadzin remained silent throughout the conflict to this day. Simply said, Baruyr Sevag’s “Un-silence-able Belfry” (Անլռելի Զանգակատուն), have been silent under Catholicos Karekin II, when the nation needed it most. I am not speaking figuratively but in actuality. To make my point I cite the following events, during the last five years, where the bells of Etchmiadzin should have rung in moral support of the Armenian state waging an existential battle. 

The bells of the Etchmiadzn were silent on October 29, 2020.

Four weeks into the war, on October 29, 2020, Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan addressed the nation from the Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi, declaring that Shushi, the "beating heart of all Armenians" is waging an existential battle.  In his address, he emphasized that, the enemy's main goal was to occupy Shushi. Loosing Shushi meant loosing Artsakh. The fact that the address was delivered from  the Ghazanchetsots Church, made it evident that the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War had entered a very critical phase. 

The bells of Etchmiadzin remained silent,

The bells of the Etchmiadzn were silent on June 3, 2023

On June 3, 2023, the PM of Armenia flew to Ankara to attend the celebration of Erdogan’s election. When I saw his picture of the PM in the enemy’s den, I could not bring myself to remain indeferent, and posted  on my Facebook page, “May God help the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and give me him fortitude, courage in pain and in adversity, as he deals with powerful, arrogant, SOBs. Asdouatz hedt varchabed - Աստուած հետդ վարչապետ”.

But the bells of Etchmiadzin remained silent

The bells of the Etchmiadzn were silent on June 20, 2025

On June 20, 2025, the PM of Armenia paid an official visit to Türkiye at the official invitation of the president Erdogan. I expected if not only the bells of the Armenian Church ring, but surely the church would render prayer services for a safe trip and successful conclusion of that historic meeting.

But the bells of Etchmiazin remained silent.

Etchmiadzin did not offer prayer service either 

The Bells of Etchmiadzin rang against the Armenian State.

But I would like to note the following exception. The bells of Etchmiadzin did ring under Catholicos Karekin II, but AGAINST the Armenian state

On June 27, 2025, Etchmiadzin, surely at the request of Catholicos Karekin II, Etchmiadzin rang its bells against the State of Armenia. It happened, when masked officers from National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia gathered at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to detain Archbishop Mikael Achabahian, who is the Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Church of Armenia. The Archbishop surrendered to the authorities without incident. 

                                                   ***

 Armenia declared independence on September 21, 1991. We have been running our own state for the past 34 years, 2 months, and 9 days, to this day. It is expected that a new state such as ours, will have its trials and tribulations that we need to overcome.

 Catholicos Karekin II not only does not have the temperament, the character, to have the Armenian Apostolic Church toil hand in hand with the Armenian State, the Catholicos in fact hinders the founding for posterity  a secure,  free, independent, and a democratic republic for Armenians. I find him an anomaly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Points to Ponder: Building the Armenian state, Levon Shirinian

“During the turbulent years of Abdul Hamid and the disaster of the Genocide, there was literally not a single state or influential people who would stand with full force alongside the Armenians and condemn the Turkish state.

“Now, when the Republic of Armenia, realizing its national interests, is trying to move forward in extremely difficult conditions along the path of state-building and independence, within the framework of which is the removal of the immoral anti-state element from the Mother See, there was "not a single thief, not a single stray dog" left that would not support Garegin the Usurper in his anti-Christian and anti-state stance.

How to understand?”

Levon Shirinyan

Christian Democratic Rebirth Party

November 30, 2025

 

 

Ի լուր, համաշխարհային քաղաքականություն վերադարձող մեր ժողովրդին.

Աբդուլ Համիդի դժնդակ տարիներին ու Ցեղասպանության արհավիրքի շրջանում բառացիորեն  չգտնվեց գեթ մի պետություն ու դերակատար ժողովուրդ, որ լիաթոք կանգներ հայության կողքին և  դատապարտեր թուրքական պետությանը։

Հիմա, երբ ՀՀ-ն գիտակցելով իր ազգային շահերը`ծայրագույն պայմաններում փորձում է առաջ շարժվել պետականաշինության ու անկախության ճանապարհով, որի շրջագծի մեջ է բարոյազուրկ հակապետական տարրի հեռացումը Մայր աթոռից,   չմնաց "ոչ մի գող փիսո, ոչ մի  քաչալ շուն", որ  թիկունք չկանգներ Գարեգին Ուզուրպատորին իր հակաքրիստոնյա և հակապետական կեցվածքի մեջ։

Ինչպես հասկանալ?

Լևոն Շիրինյան

30.11.2025

Splendor in the Grass: Մարգամիջի պերճանք

Vaհe H Apelian

 

Our house in Cincinnati, painted by Arin Ch Artwork  in Lebanon.

For a generation the movie Splendor in the Grass remains unforgettable. I was fifteen years old when I saw the movie in Beirut.  Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood remain imprinted in that generation's mind, as the actors who played the teenage lovers that circumstances and youthful follies kept them apart. I do not think they outgrew the roles they played or could change that perception.

A comment on the Youtube about the film read: “I guess I have never grown up yet as I am always looking for SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS. God, please forgive me!” Every now and then I watch glimpses of it on Youtube too. I have friends who have told that they do the same, including Ara Mekhsian who translated the segment of the William Wordsworth’s poem that was central to the movie. 

But I have another reason to continue to relate to the movie.  After her recovery, Deanie saw Bud for the last time. He was married and was doing farm work. His family had lost the fortune they had. She asked him if he is happy. He said, he does not ask that question any longer. What is the point? He said, you got to take things as they come along. She said she iis get married in Cincinnati. She too, she said, does not ask that question. Both were from a small Kansas town. Cincinnati may have looked for them a world apart.

It so happened that twists and turns of our lives would have me and Marie move to Cincinnati, where my job took me. We lived in Loveland, a suburb of Cincinnati for almost a quarter of century and created a life there. I look back with tender memories of wonderful friends we never thought we would have, and for a way of life we never thought we would create.  It became the last station for us together as a family. 

That was what Williiam Wordsworth's poem was all about. That “nothing can bring back the hour, the splendor in the grass.” But, we need not grieve ” but “rather find strength in what remains behind.”

I attached  Ara Mekhsian’s translation and segments of the movie that pertained to the poem and the final scene. 

 

Etchmiadzin hierarchy breached the constitution.

Vaհe H Apelian 

Much has been said about the turmoil between the State of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Church. We all know by now that the chasm transcends the principal individuals. Although naturally, the prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and his government, and Catholicos Karekin II and his clerical administration play decisive roles in the matter, which, more than anything else, is a breach of Armenia’s constitution.

The latest amended constitution of Armenia in 2015, which ushered the country from presidential to parliamentary form of governance, specify that the “religious organizations shall be separate from the State.” That provision is specified in the Article 17 and it reads as follows:

Article 17. The State and Religious Organizations

1. The freedom of activities of religious organizations shall be guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia.

2. Religious organizations shall be separate from the State.

The constitution also recognizes the special status of the Armenian Apostolic Church and calls it a holy church and a national church. The constitution places on the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church an extraordinary trust for the preservation of national Armenian identity. Those provisions are spelled out in Article 18 of the Armenian Constitution which reads as follows:

Article 18. The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church

1. The Republic of Armenia shall recognize the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as a national church, in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, in the development of their national culture and preservation of their national identity.

2. The relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church may be regulated by law.

A serious breach has come about between the State and the Church relations as prescribed in the Armenian Constitution. Who brought about that breach of the constitutional contract? Was it the church? Or was it the State? I am sure each has its own opinion. 

As far as I am concerned, it was the Etchmiadzin church hierarchy that breached its constitutional contract. It started with Catholicos Karekin II. After Armenia was defeated and capitulated in the disastrous second Artsakh war, or the catastrophic 44-Day War, Catholicos called for the resignation of the prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, whom the citizens of Armenia had elected in December 2019.  The prime minister resigned but remained a candidate, The citizens of Armenia reelected him in June 2021 general election. The catholicos did not rescind his call for the PM’s resignation, even after December 2021 general election in which the citizens of Armenia, with an overwhelming majority (54%),  voted for Nikol Pashinyan over its combined opposition forces that hardly mustered half of the winning party’s votes. On the contrary. Catholicos Karekin II qualified his call pontifical – Hayrabedagan. That is to say open ended and remains in force until the PM’s resignation is brought about. Not only the Catholicos did not rescind his call, he gave approval to his high-ranking church officials, Archbishops Achabahyan and Galstanyan, to wage an outright insurrection against the democratically elected government calling it a holy struggle, Srpazan Baykar,– Սրբազան Պայքար. Archbishop Galstanyan in turn, during the insurection, gave a two day ultimatum to the PM Nikol Pashinyan to resign, under the force of his holy strife.  But that is a breach of the constitution.

 It is also becoming evident that an endemic corruption has taken hold in the Etchmiadzin hierarchy. It does not surprise me. An institution, be it a church, that disregards established order and takes matters into its own hand,  is bound for corruption. 

But I look at it in this context as well. After the fall of the Armenian Cilician Kingdom in 1375, Armenia declared independence on September 21, 1991. We have been running our own state for the past 34 years, 2 months, and 7 days, to this day. It is expected that a new state such as ours, will have its trials and tribulations that we need to overcome. I am confident that we will. The collective wisdom of the citizens of Armenia will see that the constitution is observed, as long as the democratic process is maintained. 

 The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in Armenia, may follow the esamples of its two progenies, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Evangelical Church that, in relation to their demographies, render inordinately much service to the Armenian nation  and stand by the government the people of Armenia have elected.

we also should also refrain from a false narrative that is being postulated and circulated.

That false narrative is an out of context narrative that goes this way. I quote from Horizon weekly, “At a moment when Armenia is still reeling from historic losses, forced concessions, and a humiliating erosion of state sovereignty, the government of Nikol Pashinyan is intensifying its attack on the one national institution that has carried the Armenian nation through statelessness, genocide, dispersion, and exile.” 

 It is a false narrative because sovereignty of a state cannot be upheld without observing the principles, the law and order spelled out in its constitution. At his moment, Armenian statehood is threatened no less, if not more, from internal hegemony, than external. 

And finally, what of an Armenian state, if it does not uphold the principles of democratic order it prophesies and does not observe  its constitution?

Բայց ո՞րոնք են օրինակելիները

Վահէ Հ Աբէլեան 

Որո՞նք են օրինակելիները

Զանց կ՚առնեմ անունները։ Կցած նկարս, ինծի ծանօթ մը զետեղած էր դիմատետրի էջին վրայ, բայց ենթականերուն հանրածանօթ դէմքերովը եւ բնութագրած էր զանոնք որպէս՝  «նոր սերունդի այլասերման պատասխանատունները։» Անբնական երեւոյթ մը չէ որ անձ մը ժամամակ տրամադրէ  եւ պատրաստէ ծանօթ դէմքերու՝ նման հաւաքածոյ մը եւ այդպէս բնութագրէ զանոնք։ Ամէնքս ենդադրուած չենք նմնանօրինակ աշխարհայեացք ունենալ հարցերու եւ մարդոց նկատմամբ։ Իսկ  նկարին ընկերացող տեղադրութեան ոճն ալ՝ այդ ալ հասկնալի է։ Ամէնքս նոյն ոճը չունինք։  Կը մէջբերեմ անկէ՝ 

 «Այսօր հայ ըսես, իմ աչքին կը պատկերանայ սա աղբակոյտը։ Բայց եւ կը ներկայանան, ցաւ ի սիրտ իմ շատ մը անմիջական ծանօթներս, չըսելու ընկերներս--- Որոնց շատին մօտ--  Սա աղբակոյտին բերումով թէ անկախ ՍԱ ԱՂԲԱԿՈՅՏԻՆ ՆԵՐԿԱՅՈՒԹԵԱՄԲ ԹԷ ԱՆԿԱԽ ՍԱ ԱՂԲԱԿՈՅՏԻՆ ՆԶՈՎԵԱԼ ԱԶԴԵՑՈՒԹԵԱՄԲ ԹԷ ՆՈՒԱԶ, Հազիւ թէ մնացած է հայութիւն:  Հազիւ թէ նկատելին է հայրենասիրութիւն....։» Եւ այսպէս......։

Յստակացնելու համար կը  տեղադրեմ «նոր սերունդի այլասերման պատասխանատու աղբակոյտը։»

Հասկնալի է որ ծանոթիս արարքը պոռթկում մը կրնայ ըլլալ։ Սակայն, տարօրինակը այն էր որ առօրեայ Ֆէյսպուքեան  իրենց հաւանութիւնը տուողներուն կողքին եղաւ նաեւ հետեւեալ զօրակցական ակնարկը։ Կ՚արտադրեմ ամբողջութեամբ՝ 

 «Ուրկէ՞ կը գտնես Արարատը ուրացող, հայրենասիրութիւնը վտանգաւոր համարող ու սեփական ազգի պատմութենէն ամչցող այս սմսեղուկներու հաւաքածոյին պատկերը։»

Շփոթ մը ծագեցաւ միտքիս մէջ եւ հարց տուի այդ զօրակցական ակնարկը ընողին՝ որո՞նք են որ իրենց կենցաղով եւ վարած առօրեայով, քաղաքականութեան հեռանկարով օրինակելի հայաստանի քաղաքացիները որոնք պիտի առաջնորդեն Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւնը այնպէս մը որ անոր ներկայ ղեկաւարները  չեն առաջնորդէր զայն։ Այո,  ո՞րոնք են անոնք։

Մխթումէս ետք, պատասխանը եկաւ։  կը տեղադրեմ իր ամբողջութեանբ ՝ - «Վահէ, քու քաղաքական տրամաբանութեանդ ու կողմնորոշումիդ համաձայն չըլլալով հանդերձ կը պատասխանեմ գլխաւոր հարցումիդ, յարգելով հայրենիքի հանդէպ ունեցած մտատանջութիւնդ, տագնապդ: Հայրենասէր անձեր փնտռելու ճապաղումդ քեզի պահէ: Գլխսւոր հարցումդ այն է, թէ իմ պատկերացումով ո՞ վ է հայրենասէրը: Ահա պատասխսնս. սեփական հայրենիքի մէջ հայրենասէր է այն քաղաքացին, որ հաւատարիմ կը մնայ երկրի սահմանադրութեան եւ ամէն կերպ կը ջանայ ենթարկուիլ անոր հրահսնգներուն ու ոգիին ու կը գործադրէ զանոնք: Այս պահսնջքը աւելի ծանրակշիռ կը դառնայ իշխանաւորներու համար, որոնք հաւատարմութեան երդում ալ կու տան: Հիմա, դուն մտածէ եւ պատասխան տուր ինքղինքիդ, թէ ներկայ իշխանաւորները կը գործե՞ ն արդեօք  երկրի սահմանադրութեան տսռինու ոգիին հաւատարմուփեամբ: Ես պատսսխան սպասողը չեմ, դուն ինքզինքիդ պատասխանէ միայն:»

Բայց այդ իմ հարցումիս պատասխանը չէր, այլ խուսափողական ակնարկ մըմ էր,  Ազնաւուրին «Կը սպասեմ» երգին նման, ուր գծագրիչ մը կը գծէ կնոջ մը նկարը եւ կը սպասէ անոր։  Եգը  կ՚աւարտէ, Google-ի, թարգմանութեամբ, այսպէս՝   «Ես սպասում եմ քեզ, Իմ անհայտ երազանք. Ի՞նչ է քո անունը, Ի՞նչ է քո նպատակը։ Իմը Սերն է։»  Պատասխանն ալ յար եւ նմամ էր անոր։ Քանի մը որ անծանօթ բացակայի մտապատկերը կար հոն, որ կեանք պիտի առնէ եւ պիտի ըլլայ, նոր սերունդը այլասերումէ փրկողներէն ։ 

Այո, կար ժամանակ իմ պատանեկութեանս, Արարատի կիրճին մէջ շղթայուած Արտաւազդ-ն էր որ կաղապարած էր միտքս, որ օր մը ան դուրս պիտի ելլէր կալանքէն եւ ազատագրէր Հայաստանը։ Բայց ես այն ատեն, Սուրբ Գիրգին ըսածով՝ «տղայ էի, տղայի պէս կը խորհէի, տղայի պէս համարում ունէի։ Բայց երբ այր եղայ տղայութեան բաները մէկդի ձգեցի,։» եւ հիմայ, իրական շնչող մարդոց հետ կուզեմ առընչուիլ, իրական Հայաստանին մէջ եւ անոր համար։

Լաւ կըլլայ որ մեր բանիմացները, ներկայացնեն, անոնց որոնց կը դատեն Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւնը կառավարելու դժուարին գործը ընող  օրինակելի հայաստանի քաղաքացիները։ Գէթ, շինիչ գործ մը ըրած կըլլան։ 

Հետեւաբար, այո, որո՞նք են օրինակելիները։

Republic of Armenia: First official visit to Turkey From June 13 to November 1, 1918

 The attached is my AI aided translation of Tatul Hakobyan's post on his facebook page today, titled: Ահարոնյանը իր՝ Թալեաթի, Էնվերի և Պոլսի մյուս հանդիպումների մասին․ 1918-ի նոյեմբերի 23, Երևան - Aharonian on his meetings with Talaat, Enver, and other people in Constantinople: November 23, 1918, Yerevan. The post was a report that appeared in the ZANK newspaper, ARF organ, No. 75, Sunday, December 1, 1918 Vaհe H Apelian

 

«On the 23rd of this month [November 1918], unger Avedis Aharonian, the chairman of the delegation to Bolis (Constantinople), gave to a small group of friends, a very interesting report, the brief content of which we present here.

The members of the delegation were Aharonian, Alexander Khatisian and Mikayel Papajanian. On the 13th of June [1918], the delegation left Tiflis and on the 19th of the same month arrived in Constantinople, where it remained until November 1, that is, approximately 4 and a half months.

In the port of Constantinople, while still on the ship, the delegation was met by  the  makhmandar, the government representative acting as the host, Mukhtar Bey, who welcomed the arrival of the delegation “on behalf of the Ottoman imperial government.” To which the delegation responded that they thank the Sublime Port “on behalf of the Armenian government.”

From the seaport, our delegation was driven to the city in government cars and accommodated in the Tokatlian Hotel, while the Georgian and Azerbaijani delegations were accommodated in the Pera Palace. The delegation was provided with all kinds of amenities, as befits a representation of a state.

The arrival of the Armenian delegation in Constantinople made a stunning impression both on Turks and Armenians alike. The news of the delegation's arrival was published in the newspapers as a sensational news, because it was completely unexpected for all of Constantinople, for all of Turkey.

The Turkish public was simply stunned upon learning of the arrival of the Armenian delegation, because until then, the Turkish public was accustomed to reading that the Armenians had been exterminated in the Caucasus, that the entire Caucasus had been subjugated by Turkey. But now, it suddenly saw that the Armenians have not only not been exterminated, but, on the contrary, have found a separate state, whose representatives have come to Constantinople.

Sunday June 23, 1918

The Armenians of Constantinople were also stunned and completely astonished. They also thought that the Armenian element no longer existed in the Caucasus, that it had been exterminated as a nation, because the Turkish government and Turkish newspapers had convinced them so; and yet they suddenly heard that the Armenians not only exist, but on the contrary, have also founded a state and sent their delegation to Constantinople. At night, Armenians secretly went from house to house, whispering this, apparently unbelievable news to each other, to  convince themselves of its accuracy.

On the second or third day, the same makhmandar came to the delegation and presented a list of institutions and officials that the delegation was to visit. The strange thing was that there was no Armenian institution on the list, not even the patriarchate.

The first visit was to the Grand Vizier, Talaat Pasha. Of course it is understandable the difficult mental state that our delegation must have experienced at that moment.

After official introductions, the chairman of the delegation addressed the Grand Vizier with approximately the following words: “Your Highness, we are glad that we have come here under the auspices of your imperial government to work out the conditions of a good-neighborly alliance. Our people and country need to expand, and if you show us that goodwill, our friendship with you will improve even more. The problem must also be addressed here in the shortest possible time, because the situation is unbearable. Here, the positive solution of these problems must form the basis of our friendship.”

Turkey was first to recognize the 11,000 square km  Republic of Armenia, which made
the Armenin republic untenable.  

The issue of emigration interested the Grand Vizier. He asked, “How many emigrants do you have?” Approximately 800 thousand, the head of the delegation replied, of which 3-4 hundred thousand are Turkish-Armenians.” “That many Turkish-Armenians?” asked the Grand Vizier, and then  mysteriously fell silent.

“Very well,” replied the Grand Vizier, “these issues will be discussed at the conference.”

The next visit was given to the Minister of War, Enver Pasha. The outward impression was extremely favorable: with a pleasant look, well-mannered, modest, not  a deceit on his face. Here also, the delegation said approximately the same thing as it had said to Talaat Pasha.

Enver said, “I knew you would come. Armenians are good opponents and good fighters. from that point of view, we give them a very high place among the Caucasian nationalities.”

The President replied: “Armenians are not only good opponents, but also good friends.”

“Why not good allies?”, Enver suddenly asked. And here he touched on the issue of the military alliance between Armenia and Turkey, hastening to immediately add that this statement is not made by the government, but only by himself, that it was his plan

Enver also pointed out the conditions on which his supposed military alliance should be based. “Of course,” he said, “we, having become conscious, cannot demand from you that you fight in our ranks, together with us, against the British. We know that you will not do that. But we want to be safe at the rear of our army. When it moves towards the English, towards Persia, it cannot be endangered by you.” The delegation reported that this is a matter on which it had no instructions from its government, and therefore did not consider itself entitled to show any position towards the matter.

A number of other visits were also made, which were more  polite in nature thanpolitical nature. Among the other visits, notable was the visit to Khalil Bey will be reported next time.

 

Courtesy of Tatul Hakobyan
According to the Turkish ultimatum, the Armenian territory comprises 11,000 square verst, (1.07 km), 580,000 Armenians and approximately 100,000 Turkish. This territory falls west of Sevan Lake, south and south east"
Source: Horizon newspaper, May 31, 1918.

Gifting: at the season of gifting

 VaՀe H. Apelian

(updated)

Altough there is no season for gifting, but the preparation for seasonal gifting gets underway right after Thanksgiving celebration with an ominous label, Black Friday.  In Lebanon then, maybe presently as well, seasonal gifting was for the New Year's Day and we opened the season’s gifts not on Christmas day but on the New Year day. The gifts remained wrapped under the ornamental tree until the first day of the New Year. I say ornamental tree because Lebanese Muslims and Christians alike decorated a tree in their homes and in their business showcases. Let us not forget that the symbol of Lebanon is the biblical Cedar tree. The Christians included a nativity scene under the ornamental tree.

Several incidences come to my mind about gifts and gifting.

I was in my HS junior or senior year when a guest came from the United States and stayed in the inn my father ran, the famed Hotel Lux. She said she had brought a gift to my friend and classmate from his relative in the U.S. I told him to come and pick the gift and he did. But he, I, and my parents as well were taken back when she presented the gift. It was a dispenser of single razor blades we used for shaving. This was fifty plus years ago and the United States of America was the distant land of milk and honey for us. My friend courteously accepted the gift, inquired about his relative but he left the dispenser behind when he took leave of us, letting us know that I can keep it or give it to someone else.  Surely there  was an element of understandable hurt there for having received shaving blades from his relative from the U.S.A. To ease him out of the situation I did not refuse him. The incident has remained etched in my memory. I refrain from mentioning my friend’s name. Many of my readers know him.

                                                *

The second incident about gifting is a story our frequent Afghan guest to Hotel Lux, Mr. Mohammad Zaman, told us about the incident with amusement. There was a time when the United States and Afghanistan had warm relations.  President Eisenhower and his Vice President Richard Nixon visited Afghanistan. According to Wikipedia it was in 1953 when Vice President Nixon visited Afghanistan. It so happened that a high placed friend of Mr. Mohammed Zaman was designated as Nixon’s driver. The talk of those who knew driver had been the tangible monetary gift the driver would likely be receiving from the vice-presodent of the U.S. Nixon at the end of his tour. But at the end of the tour, all that Mr. Nixon had presented to the driver to his astonishment was his personalized White House business card. The gesture had not only caused a huge disappointment but also an embarrassment, if not an insult,  to the driver. I doubt that the driver could have made use of that business card then as a tender for a loaf of bread in Afghanistan. Gifts can be no gifts at all.

                                                    *

The third incident I remember about gifting happened to me in 1995/96, during my visit to Lebanon after an absence of almost twenty years. Throughout my stay there I became a guest of my cousin the Hoglinds and with a few other relatives. As a parting gift I bought a set of worry beads, or middle eastern social rosary to my elder relative who hosted me and I presented him the gift after our lunch as a family with his children and their families. He thanked me but not only he did not open the gift but took it to his room and left it there. I had forgotten that in Lebanon  we considered a gift a private matter and did not open it in front of the presenter of the gift especially if there was company. I am not sure if that was a universal custom in Lebanon but it was within my social circle in contrast to the expected customary proclamations of appreciation I had come to learn during the past twenty years in the United States where we unwrapped the gift we received and uttered our unabashed appreciation. Of course in doing so we show our appreciation of the gesture more so than to the gift itself.  I saw our elder relative using the worry beads the next day. It was not an ordinary worry beads. No word was uttered, but I knew he had liked it and had already started using it.

Gifting is an art and a difficult one at that. We naturally appreciate the thought and the gesture and yet we cannot discount the gift  as it may become the subject of our appreciation no less.  

As to that single blades dispenser, I soon realized that it was not the ordinary matchbox size dispenser. It contained far more blades than the ones we purchased from the store. Consequently I ended up using the blades from the dispenser for months and whenever I discarded the used blade and replaced it with a new one from the dispenser, I remembered the gift and I realized how a beautiful and thoughtful gift it was.

That incident also set a pattern for me. Next to books, on most occasions I gift razor blades. Things have changed, so have the razor blades. The single blade razor is now gone into history. A new generation of cutting edge technology houses up to five sharp edges on single blade. Such blades are a la mode nowadays and can be expensive.  One cannot go wrong with such a useful gift to the guys. As to gifting the gals, that is my wife’s domain and I pray it remains that way until the last days of my life. 

                                                *

But gifting books remain my favorite because books make for far more lasting gifts, provided they are personalized. The gifted books may not be read,  but more likely than not, it remain on a book shelf or somewhere in the house and pop out at an unexpected moment rekindling memories and remembrances. Recently my paternal cousin Ara Apelian, M.D., posted a snap shot of a book I have gifted him in 1992, thirty years ago. I realized  what I had suspected all along that books make for a far more lasting gift. I do not remember the occasion but from the date I can tell it was not meant to be as a year end holiday gifting. 

There is no season for gifting.

From Sona Hammalian