Categories: Culture

A book that lifts the veil on ethnic warfare

My long-time friend and former colleague Lou Salome has written a book based on his years of reporting from war zones around the world as a foreign corespondent for Cox Newspapers.

Violence, Veils and Bloodlines isn’t just another old-reporter’s memoir about close calls and blown deadlines. It’s an insightful expose of how ancient tribal allegiances and rivalries continue to shape and often bloody today’s world

It’s a topic Armenians will instantly grasp and identify with.

Lou’s observations are shaped not only by reporting but by very personal experience. From Belfast to Bosnia, from Tel Aviv to Tashkent, his clearly non-Nordic features prompted the same question over and over: Where are you from?

He came to understand the real meaning: Do you belong to my tribe, or are you the enemy?

Lou and I met late in our reporting careers in the newsroom of The Palm Beach Post. His early life as a Syrian in Rhode Island resonated with my experience as an Armenian in New Jersey. He was probably the only other person in the building who shared my preference for lamb over beef.

But while my career was winding down, Lou was just resting. Before retiring a few years ago, Lou made one last foray to Afghanistan. He returned with tales to rival Kipling’s, and a gift for me: an Afghan hat called a pakul made of thick wool knitted tightly enough to keep your head toasty on the coldest mountain top.

I am undoubtedly the only person you’ll ever see wearing one in Florida.

View Comments

  • Douglas
    I am trying to find a recipe for Anginar (artichokes) using the hearts, olive oil, diced peas, carrots and potatoes. Can you help?

  • Hello Anonymous,

    I have several artichoke recipes, but none that use all of the ingredients you've mentioned. I will post your request- along with my recipe options- very soon. So keep on reading TheArmenianKitchen.com!
    Thanks!

Recent Posts

Easter Menu Planning? Look no further!

  I don’t know about you, but in our family, we’re all about tradition when…

1 month ago

St. Sarkis Day and 3 celebratory recipes

It’s that time of year again! St. Sarkis Day, the moveable feast day on the…

3 months ago

A Traditional Recipe for Armenian Christmas Eve – Nevik

Way back in 2010 Ara Kassabian shared his family’s recipe for Nevik with The Armenian…

4 months ago

Thanksgiving Recipes Revisited

With Thanksgiving Day just hours away, I thought I’d share a few of our favorite,…

5 months ago

George Mardikian’s Chicken Tchakhokhbelli recipe, dish favored by Georgian princes.

My family and I had the distinct honor of meeting George Mardikian at his restaurant,…

10 months ago

Antonio Tahhan and his recipe for Kbeibat, Middle Eastern dumplings

My first encounter with Antonio (Tony) Tahhan, the Syrian-American food writer, researcher, and storyteller, spans…

10 months ago

This website uses cookies. find out more.