One day, we were desperate
hungry
out of money.
My father, we had a small rug that had a little value,
and my father took the rug and he took me with him to buy a bribe.
We got out of the
(NON-ENGLISH SPEECH) station and went to the flea market
to sell the rug, to buy some, get some
cash money, buy some bread and things like the provisions.
We went to the flea market.
My father opened the rug on the on the ground and was waiting for a customer.
A Turkish gendarme came with uniform.
He took a fancy to the rug and he want the rug himself
without paying
My father refused to give, saying
(NON-ENGLISH
SPEECH) offended.
“Sir, this is for my children.
I want to buy bread, I’m out of money.
I need to sell this.” The man got, the policeman got angry.
He says, “Get out of here.
You -- (NON-ENGLISH SPEECH).”
So my father had to wrap up, roll
the rug and went to a further couple blocks away,
and he opened the rug again.
Still waiting for a customer.
This man policeman was watching him.
He followed my father
and hauled him right from the chest.
And said, “(NON-ENGLISH SPEECH).”
Okay.
All right, Survivors, are you ready? Yeah.
You ready to roll? Yes, rolling. All right,
go ahead.
Survivors, Archie Dickranian, scene 46,
take seven.
“(NON-ENGLISH SPEECH).”
And he is held my father from the throat
and slapped one on each side, strong slap.
My father looked at me with tears in his eyes.
He said, “Son,” he says, “You see this, don’t ever forget it.”
And to this day I haven't been able to forget it.