Is this the end of the Diaspora?

[Catharsis]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

And I will say this again, the criticisms of Armenia are not wholly wrong (most of them at least), but when one complains and does not take action to redress those issues or at least plan to do something then what good is them complaining?.

Dear Armanen I understand your need to defend Armenia but it is safe to say that we don't know what Alpha does or doesn't do for the Homeland. For example, in one of the threads he suggested repatriation to liberated territories. He also has repeatedly pointed out the difference between Armenia as our statehood and the ruling circles. I have not seen his dislike for the Armenian Republic, but I have seen him speak out against policies that are not for the benefit of all Armenians, including the Diaspora (which makes up the majority of the Armenian nation). Especially now, there is more frustration because of the Turkish protocols and you have to agree that the Armenian government has been completely lacking in transparency, in reaching out in any meaningful way to the Diaspora for their input, not even as far as simply informing of the ongoing process. This is bound to create very strong feelings as Serzh Sargsyan also came to find out during his "All-Armenian trip."

Armenia is home to ALL Armenians. People sometimes criticize Soviet Armenia, but compared to what we have now, Soviet Armenia did much more as weird as it may seem. Building the Genocide Memorial for the fiftieth anniversary, naming Yerevan's districts after historic Armenian cities and provinces along with many villages and towns (some had the repatriates from identical villages like Nor Hajn had Hajentsis so on), would publish (free) books of Armenian language, literature and culture in Western Armenian (using traditional orthography) and the Committee for Diaspora-Homeland would send them to Armenian Diasporan communities all over the world. There was much more idealism back then, again as weird as it may seem. Cut-throat profit driven oligarchic capitalism killed a lot of this. Finally, most of "Eastern Armenians" are completely or partially actually "Western Armenians" via their roots so much for the artificial geographic descriptive division! This is because of the "sweep" by Shah Abbas in 1604-05 only two centuries later Western Armenians and many of the forced exiles were able to return to their homes in Eastern Armenia.

[Armanen]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

From what I have observed, our Diaspora's efficiency in all aspects of life, be it cultural, political, economical etc., is only second to the Jewish one. This is an even more incredible feat if you take into consideration our numbers and our country's weak position on the international stage. Any other Diaspora would have evaporated in 90 years time but here we are, the majority of us Diasporans, still standing.

I don't disagree with this, but when I come across comments like Kanada Hyes or Alphas, it is rather sad. Of course there are a number of great examples of Diasporean Armenians doing awesome things for the Homeland, I just think at some point those who make excuses should be ignored and allowed to assimilate. I care more for quality than quantity. And I will say this again, the criticisms of Armenia are not wholly wrong (most of them at least), but when one complains and does not take action to redress those issues or at least plan to do something then what good is them complaining? This is what I constantly see from Alpha, I have yet to see one positive comment from him about Armenia. The fact that he went so far to call the modern RA not a part of historical Armenia, I meant wtf, where did he learn his Armenian history (if at all)? He is not far from ara balozian, and I wouldn't be suprised if he likes ara's garbage that some take as literature.

[Federate]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

People will always find excuses to not move back to Armenia. I say f*ck them, I now understand why Armenian thinks so lowly of the Diaspora. People either do not care about being Armenian, or they are like some of the characters who post here, always talking about this or that needs to change without thinking of practical ways they can make a contribution. Assimilate away!

From what I have observed, our Diaspora's efficiency in all aspects of life, be it cultural, political, economical etc., is only second to the Jewish one. This is an even more incredible feat if you take into consideration our numbers and our country's weak position on the international stage. Any other Diaspora would have evaporated in 90 years time but here we are, the majority of us Diasporans, still standing.

[Kasa]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

Once again the opinions and ideas expressed by KandaHye are mind-blowing, out of this world. You may want to put down that game console and pay attention to what's going on in the world. Not everything in the world can be explained like a video game.

Afghanistan and Iraq!? Two extreme examples. These two countries have been in a state of war, chaos and violence for years now. They are anything but an average country.

For every Afghanistan and Iraq there are many countries, existing in peace, having elections and governments replacing each other without war or violence. Those should serve as our examples.

[Armanen]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

People will always find excuses to not move back to Armenia. I say f*ck them, I now understand why Armenian thinks so poorly of the Diaspora. People either do not care about being Armenian, or they are like some of the characters who post here, always talking about this or that needs to change without thinking of practical ways they can make a contribution. Assimilate away!

[KanadaHye]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

Instead of complaining that Armenia is only a satellite state of Russia and it is a waste of time to go there, why not go there and try to change things? That's what even ARF is now proposing, a diaspora based political party; they are calling, as you probably know, for a peaceful campaign to replace the government of the Armenia.

That's, my friend and friends, how it is done. Be it ARF or any other political organization and party, that's how one effects change in a government one doesn't think is perusing the right policies, by living in that country, and participating in it's political process and peacefully bring about change and betterment.

But first you have to live, and more, be a citizen of that country.

I would like to see a party... any party take down the Democratic or Republican party in the USA politically and peacefully. Take a look at the formation of a new government in Afghanistan or Iraq. Every state is formed through violence and there is no such thing as a "peaceful" revolution unless it's supported by an entity with lots of threats and firepower. Unless we move back to Armenia with an army of our own, we won't make a dent into the existing policies.

[Kasa]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

Instead of complaining that Armenia is only a satellite state of Russia and it is a waste of time to go there, why not go there and try to change things? That's what even ARF is now proposing, a diaspora based political party; they are calling, as you probably know, for a peaceful campaign to replace the government of the Armenia.

That's, my friend and friends, how it is done. Be it ARF or any other political organization and party, that's how one effects change in a government one doesn't think is perusing the right policies, by living in that country, and participating in it's political process and peacefully bring about change and betterment.

But first you have to live, and more, be a citizen of that country.

[apachi]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

....... but as I said above the government of RA must also play their role by being more patriotic, less totalitarian, have much less corruption and be fair and just and loving towards their nation. After all, when Diasporans see improvement in the Motherland then I am sure more and more people will repatriate. It is the wish of every patriotic Armenian that this happens and to become a more united nation, to have a stronger Armenia economically, strategically and in every which way.............

"my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
John F. Kennedy

[AlphaPapa]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

It's amazing how much difference, separateness, division some people see amongst Armenians, specially coming from people who end their posting like so:


A fellow citizen of Historic Armenia...your neighbor, brother, advocate.

All Armenians are my blood.


Empty slogans meant to make oneself feel good and self-righteous about oneself.

All this prejudicial thinking that oh no he's from "Russia Armenia" I can't get along with him, she's a barsgahye she's ignorant and a criminal, etc.

The plight of our people has been being forced to live among other people and nationalities and cultures so that we've picked up the same characteristics of the society at large after living there for many many years. That's natural and understandable.

And don't you see, if we keep living separated as a nation in all kinds of places these differences won't decrease but multiply.

If we want to unify and become one nation, we have to congregate together in one place and that one place is Armenia, where we can work to develop and advance our distinct and unique culture and in that way to contribute to the human civilization. Because right now as it is, by living in Canada, we are helping to develop and advance the distinct and unique culture of Canada and not Armenia. If we are living in Chile, we are helping to develop and advance the distinct and unique culture of Chile and not Armenia. If we are living in ....

In the Ottoman Empire, where 99% of the Armenians lived before the genocide, we were also living among odars. Only in rural, small villages were Armenians ever a majority, if at all. Almost all of the time, we shared a town/city with Kurds/Turks/Greeks.

Our identity is not tied to genetics or political borders. Our identity is how we treat each other. For example, someone who says "any Armenian who doesn't belong to party abc is not a real Armenian"...to them I say, "what were Armenians before that party existed?"

My beliefs for my people are one thing, and for a government that doesn't represent me, or most Armenians, is another. We've always lived under 'odar' kingdoms, superpowers, and nation-states. We barely had an independent kingdom once in our thousands of years history, only because a superpower fell, and it was ended in subjugation again. The same could be said for the 1918 republic and 1991 republic. Today I see a Russian satellite moreso than an actual independent state. So why tie myself to this nostalgic remnant of what was once so much more glorious, honorable, and honest? An actual society that prospered in every way?

[AlphaPapa]

Re: Is this the end of the Diaspora?

I think some of you are weighing in too much regarding sarkisyans/nalbandyans blunder in regards to our white massacre/assimilation issue. I'll just leave it at that, and say that for 99% of us, it really wasn't much of an epiphany that had any seismic effect on our repatriation.

I understand what you are saying dear Alpha. There is a lot of animus and pain, especially in light of recent developments. But like Anoush said, grass roots is what matters. And again remember your hero (who is without any doubt) Monte Melkonian's approach, who without a moment's doubt KNEW that what is left of historic Armenia (or today's Republic along with liberated Artsakh) IS our Motherland. He embraced the Armenian Republic and the national liberation struggle in Artsakh with all his heart, with all the baggage and mistakes, past and present.

The people in Armenia feel alienated towards the regime and its policies also, so it is not a Diaspora-Motherland divide. This is only and only what our enemies want. BOTH Western and Eastern Armenia are part of One - Free, Independent and United Armenia. This is a historic truth, even if the current policies by the said regime do not reflect this truth.

Very true.
Above all, I wish my criticisms to be taken as 'venting' and a wish to be corrected, or bring attention to something I consider an issue.