Comments on: Akcam, Theriault, and Kotchikian to Discuss Protocols at Clark University http://www.armenianweekly.com/2009/11/04/akcam-theriault-and-kotchikian-to-discuss-protocols-at-clark-university/ Published by the Hairenik Association, Inc. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:14:23 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Davehttp://www.armenianweekly.com/2009/11/04/akcam-theriault-and-kotchikian-to-discuss-protocols-at-clark-university/comment-page-1/#comment-5072 Dave Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:57:04 +0000 http://www.armenianweekly.com/?p=4486#comment-5072 Ah, I see, yet another panel discussion devoid of political leaders but full of Phds.  Yes, I know that Mr. Aghjayan is not a Phd - but he is the moderator, not a panelist.Our panel discussions lately (that is, for the last 25 or so years) are composed of Phds who usually want to study the Genocide until the cows come home. That's partly how the land and reparations issues got shunted way, way off to the side: Instead of talking politics and demands, we let the Phds prattle on endlessly about the genocide.   How did our community come to be led by Phds as if they are gods?  I don't quite understand (actually, I understand quite well) why a Phd makes you so qualified to speak about politics, especially when the Phd was not actually earned in political science and when the person with the Phd represents no one except himself.  I am not saying everyone should not be able to have his or her say, including Phds.   But why the obsession with Phds?  Did Dro, Aram Manoogian, and Sossie Mayrig have Phds?  Did General Antranig?  Does Obama?  Did Reagan?  Does the US Congress? Again, though there are exceptions, where are the Armenian American political leaders that can articulate a political agenda and political demands, inspire people, and hold their own on a panel? I can think of maybe one or two.  This is pathetic. Ah, I see, yet another panel discussion devoid of political leaders but full of Phds.  Yes, I know that Mr. Aghjayan is not a Phd – but he is the moderator, not a panelist.

Our panel discussions lately (that is, for the last 25 or so years) are composed of Phds who usually want to study the Genocide until the cows come home. 

That’s partly how the land and reparations issues got shunted way, way off to the side: Instead of talking politics and demands, we let the Phds prattle on endlessly about the genocide.   

How did our community come to be led by Phds as if they are gods?  I don’t quite understand (actually, I understand quite well) why a Phd makes you so qualified to speak about politics, especially when the Phd was not actually earned in political science and when the person with the Phd represents no one except himself.  I am not saying everyone should not be able to have his or her say, including Phds.   But why the obsession with Phds?  Did Dro, Aram Manoogian, and Sossie Mayrig have Phds?  Did General Antranig?  Does Obama?  Did Reagan?  Does the US Congress? 

Again, though there are exceptions, where are the Armenian American political leaders that can articulate a political agenda and political demands, inspire people, and hold their own on a panel? I can think of maybe one or two.  This is pathetic.

]]>