Editing Serj Tankian (section)

==Views and activism==
Tankian is passionate about human rights, recognition of [[Genocide|genocides]], and social justice. These traits have helped to shape his lyrical style. He has organized and participated in many protests, from [[Armenian genocide recognition]] to [[Axis of Justice]] (AOJ) protests held by him and AOJ co-founder [[Tom Morello]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Polson|first=Brian|date=June 10, 2020|title=Serj Tankian and Tom Morello respond to fans who just realized their music was political, trigger troll fest|url=https://meaww.com/serj-tankian-system-of-a-down-tom-morello-rage-against-machine-fans-political-views|access-date=July 6, 2020|website=Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide|language=en}}</ref> He also covers current issues in his music. In his music, issues like the [[War on Terror]], [[Human overpopulation|overpopulation]], [[genocide]], [[environmentalism]], and the [[American prison system]] are addressed. He and his System of a Down bandmates were featured in the 2006 documentary film ''[[Screamers (2006 film)|Screamers]]'', which covers the United States' position on genocide. In the film, Tankian interviews his grandfather, Stepan Haytayan, a survivor of the [[Armenian genocide]], who recounts his experience of it.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Catsoulis|first=Jeannette|date=January 25, 2007|title=A Loud Outcry Against Genocide|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/25/movies/26scream.html|access-date=July 6, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Tankian serves on the [[advisory board]] for [[Tumo Center for Creative Technologies|TUMO Center for Creative Technologies]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://tumo.org/profile/serjtankian/|title=Serj Tankian|access-date=April 28, 2025}}</ref>

===Views on religion===
Tankian said in an interview that he has "the same religion as that tree over there". He said, "It's a mix of [[Native American religion|Native American]], [[Christian]], [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], and [[Transcendentalism|Transcendental]] ideas. I like to think of Earth as mother. I like to think of sky as grandfather. God has been used for ulterior motives".<ref name="Rothstein">{{cite news|last=Rothstein|first=Betsy|title=Serj Tankian, lead singer for System of a Down|url=http://thehill.com/capital-living/20-questions/20858-serj-tankian-lead-singer-for-system-of-a-down|access-date=September 26, 2014|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=May 21, 2008}}</ref> In another interview, he said, "I believe very firmly that [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]] populations had a really good, intuitive understanding of why we're here. And we're trying to gain that same understanding through psychology and intellect in modern civilization".<ref>{{cite news|last=Moskowitz|first=Gary|title=Serj Tankian: Alternative Rock's Political Poet|url=https://www.motherjones.com/media/2007/11/serj-tankian-alternative-rocks-political-poet|access-date=September 26, 2014|work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]|date=November 9, 2007}}</ref>

===Political views===
Following the [[September 11 attacks]], Tankian wrote an essay in which he stated, "If we carry out [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|bombings on Afghanistan]] or elsewhere to appease public demand, and very likely kill innocent civilians along the way, we'd be creating many more martyrs going to their deaths in retaliation against the retaliation. As shown from yesterday's events, you cannot stop a person who's ready to die".<ref>{{cite news|title=Archive News Sep 14, 2001|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/archive-news-sep-14-2001-2/|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206194554/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/archive-news-sep-14-2001-2/|archive-date=December 6, 2016|date=September 14, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Reed|first1=Ryan|title=System of a Down's 'Toxicity': 10 Things You Didn't Know|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/system-of-a-downs-toxicity-10-things-you-didnt-know-w437478|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 4, 2016}}</ref>

In the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2008|2008 Democratic Party primaries]], Tankian originally supported [[Dennis Kucinich 2008 presidential campaign|Dennis Kucinich]], but subsequently stated that [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|Barack Obama]] "presents the best possible scenario for a hopeful future, but I don't personally put my trust in any political office".<ref name="Rothstein"/> In the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2016|2016 Democratic Party primaries]], he endorsed [[Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign|Bernie Sanders]] and wrote on [[Facebook]], "When it comes to standing up to the oligarchs, leading the fight for civil rights, income-equality, and so much more, no other politician has been so consistent and incorruptible as Bernie Sanders".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/SerjTankian/posts/10153496048294798|title=Log In or Sign Up to View|website=facebook.com|access-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref> He further praised Sanders, "He's said what he's done and he'd done what he says in the Senate. All his contributions are from private individuals; everyone else's are from major donors and corporations. It does not take a genius to see who's working for whom here".<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|title=System of a Down's Serj Tankian on Bernie Sanders: 'I'm Rooting for Him'|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=May 24, 2016|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/system-of-a-downs-serj-tankian-on-bernie-sanders-im-rooting-for-him-20160524}}</ref>

Concerning the [[Syrian Civil War]], Tankian advocates negotiating with [[Bashar al-Assad]], letting Iran deal with [[Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]] (ISIS), whom he accused Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey of supporting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/SerjTankian/posts/10153628439569798 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/8047564797/10153628439569798 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Serj Tankian|website=Facebook.com|access-date=May 8, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2020}}

Tankian has stated he supported [[Bernie Sanders]]'s bid during the 2020 US Democratic Party primaries and that although it was "frustrating" for his brother-in-law [[John Dolmayan]] to support [[Donald Trump]], he added that they are "on the same page with Armenian issues".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kerrang.com/serj-tankian-its-frustrating-to-see-john-dolmayan-publicly-supporting-trump | title=Serj Tankian: It's "Frustrating" to See John Dolmayan Publicly Supporting Trump — Kerrang! | date=October 20, 2020 }}</ref>

Tankian is also friendly with current Armenian Prime Minister [[Nikol Pashinyan]], who wrote a song called "Hayastane" ({{Langx|hy|Հայաստանը|links=|lit=Armenia|translit=|label=none}}) which Tankian performed in April 2020.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=emb_title&v=xqrsHQvp4TU|title=Hayastane - {{lang|hy|Հայաստանը|nocat=1}} (Official Music Video) / Performed by Serj Tankian - {{lang|hy|կատարում է Սերժ Թանգեան|nocat=1}}|date=April 24, 2020|last=Tankian|first=Serj|type=Music video|language=hy|publication-place=[[YouTube]]|access-date=June 28, 2020}} (Refer to video description.)</ref> Tankian was also an executive producer and composer for the documentary ''[[I Am Not Alone]]'', which chronicled the rise of Pashinyan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/system-of-a-downs-serj-tankian-on-making-music-for-a-revolution/|title=System of a Down's Serj Tankian on Making Music for a Revolution|website=Vice.com|date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=January 19, 2021}}</ref>

Tankian is a supporter of the [[Black Lives Matter]] protests, as he stated in his interview with [[H-Pem]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Art, activism, and Armenia: Serj Tankian speaks candidly in h-pem exclusive|url=https://www.h-pem.com/en/interviews/2020/07/30/art-activism-armenia-serj-tankian-h-pem-exclusive/28|access-date=September 21, 2020|website=h-pem.com}}</ref>

In 2020, Tankian condemned the actions of [[Azerbaijan]] in the [[Second Nagorno-Karabakh War]] and expressed his support to Armenia and the [[Republic of Artsakh]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zonrnosa |first1=Laura |title=Why these Armenian American celebs are speaking out about a chronic conflict |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-10-08/kardashians-armenian-american-celebs-talk-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-online |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 8, 2020}}</ref> Since September 27, 2020, when the war broke, Tankian has been very active on social media, posting daily messages and has spoken to a number of media outlets about the issue, including Forbes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scancarelli|first=Derek|title=System Of A Down Singer Serj Tankian Talks Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict, Response From Trump And Biden|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/derekscancarelli/2020/10/19/system-of-a-down-singer-serj-tankian-talks-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-response-from-trump-and-biden/|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 17, 2020|title=Kim Kardashian & Serj Tankian Lead Celebrity PSA Campaign, 'I Stand With Artsakh & Armenia'|url=https://thebluntpost.com/kim-kardashian-serj-tankian-lead-celebrity-psa-campaign-i-stand-with-artsakh-armenia/|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=THE BLUNT POST|language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2021, more than 600 musicians, including Tankian, added their signature to an open letter calling for a [[Boycotts of Israel|boycott of performances in Israel]] until [[Israel]] ends its [[Israeli-occupied territories|occupation]] of the [[Palestinian territories]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rage Against the Machine, Roger Waters, Serj Tankian, among many to boycott Israel |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/glitz/rage-against-machine-roger-waters-serj-tankian-among-many-boycott-israel-254626 |work=The Business Standard |date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> In November 2023, Tankian signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire in the [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands of Musicians Call for Gaza Ceasefire, Including Kid Cudi, Zack de la Rocha, Denzel Curry – "We Cannot Be Silent" |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/thousands-musicians-call-gaza-ceasefire-001136278.html |work=[[Music Feeds]] |date=November 23, 2023}}</ref>

===Animal rights and environmental issues===
Tankian is an advocate of environmental and animal protection. He became a [[vegetarian]], claiming in an interview with [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]] that his change was due to "touring and its variety of edible crap", and he also felt it was "instinctive somewhat". Furthermore, he also feels the need for respect toward "mother earth".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peta2.com/Outthere/o-serj.asp |title=PETA2 // Out There // Q&A with Serj Tankian of System of a Down |website=Peta2.com |access-date=April 14, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303175546/http://www.peta2.com/Outthere/o-serj.asp|archive-date=March 3, 2009}}</ref> In July 2009, he signed a PETA petition against the slaughtering methods of chickens in [[KFC]] slaughterhouses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1762 |title=Serj Tankian Signs New KFC Petition! |website=Secure.peta.org |access-date=May 28, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121220224259/https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1762|archive-date=December 20, 2012}}</ref>

However, in 2024 Tankian stated in an interview on the popular [[YouTube]] channel [[Mythical Kitchen]] that he had begun eating meat again the year prior.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo5JVuW4_qk |title=Serj Tankian Eats His Last Meal |date=October 8, 2024 |last=Mythical Kitchen |access-date=October 10, 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref>