The Future of Armenia and Armenians

[HyeJinx1984]

I got so much to say, but nothing to say cause you said it all so great in that post. I'm actually flying to Illanois tomorrow morning, what part to you live in? Maybe I can swing by and talk to you in Armenian if you'd like =P

[leo007]

The same thing demonstrating would achieve? Seriously, I have to agree with Hyejinx. I'm not saying don't care about it, but the only thing we're doing is demonstrating to other Armenians that we know of the genocide. That isn't exactly doing much for the cause, either. I'd much rather take Hyejinx's approach of being on the lookout for opportunities to educate people who aren't aware 365 days a year.

Why not do both? There isn't anything wrong with your (or Hyejinx's approach), but if you're not really doing anything on April 24th, what would be so bad about going to the demonstration? IMO, demonstrating actually does get people curious and they ask about what's going on and they're informed about it.

Well, looking back on all this, I'd say I've done more by spreading the word on an everyday basis, then a protest in a region where what you're protesting about is pretty well known already.

More on this when I get back....

Even though it is well known, at the very least it shows other people that it's something Armenians care deeply about and that they're persistent about it.


By the way, what city in Illinois do you live in?

[Crimson Glow]

I didn't mean to make my last post come off as me protesting protesting .... or....antitesting.... I was in a hurry to end it, too, so it came off a bit odd. I just didn't understand the anger towards those that choose not to demonstrate. And if we REALLY want to make a difference, perhaps we should protest the genocide everyday, and not just on the anniversary of the day it began. You know....like people sitting outside the embassy in droves, endlessly. It could be done in shifts, or whatever, as long as there were plenty of us in front of the building at all times. If I were an "odar", showing up once a year wouldn't make me think you have a dieing devotion to the cause.

I got so much to say, but nothing to say cause you said it all so great in that post. I'm actually flying to Illanois tomorrow morning, what part to you live in? Maybe I can swing by and talk to you in Armenian if you'd like =P

I'm in a far SW suburb of Chicago (thus the reason I responded to your post about Armenian communities in Chicago). I have no idea how my Armenian would sound to another. I mean, I have no problem understanding the majority of what I read, and I understood just about everything in Ararat (what I didn't know, I could make out by the context it was being used in). But I don't know, it would a lot different in person. So yeah, I'd feel pretty akward, but...eh...what the hell.

[sSsflamesSs]

Where I live, NO one has heard of Armenians, and I mean NO one! You guys in South Cali wouldn't understand what it's like. I've NEVER heard another person outside my family speak Armenian, or talk about them as a people. It's amazing I know as much of the language as I do. I can't read or write it (though I still remember the alphabet, don't ask me how), and there are some words I see mentioned on the forum that I don't understand, but in general, I don't think I'd have trouble conversing with someone in Armenian. At times, I feel disappointed and sad that I don't know more, but at other times, I think about where I live, and am amazed I can speak it at all. I can probably count on one hand (thanks to my 6 fingers) the number of Armenians I've come across in this general region, and other than the family that just opened Raffi's Restaurant, NON of them could speak it.

It's sort of hard to educate people on the genocide when they haven't even heard of the victims of said genocide. Typical conversation when people learn my name:

"What nationality is that?"
"Armenian"
"Romanian??" - after a momentary pause, thinking they didn't hear you right.
"No, Armenian"
"Albanian?" - after another pause.
"NO, ARMENIAN, YOU CULTURALLY ILLITERATE xxxx!"

Actually Crimson, I DO understand...a little too well . As I've mentioned before on this forum, I lived in South Dakota for 8 years prior to moving to Southern California the summer before college. And let me tell you, that xxxxhole (aka SD) has got to be so much worse than IL, since these morons are not aware of ANYTHING outside of state borders, let alone Armenia. So yes, I got a nice chuckle out of your post (especially the dialogue). Akh, the memories.

[HyeJinx1984]

Actually Crimson, I DO understand...a little too well . As I've mentioned before on this forum, I lived in South Dakota for 8 years prior to moving to Southern California the summer before college. And let me tell you, that xxxxhole (aka SD) has got to be so much worse than IL, since these morons are not aware of ANYTHING outside of state borders, let alone Armenia. So yes, I got a nice chuckle out of your post (especially the dialogue). Akh, the memories.

Since you now live in So Cal, I gotta ask.. you agree with the majority of Armenians that Cali armenians are some of the worst around? I hope not, lol

[sSsflamesSs]

Since you now live in So Cal, I gotta ask.. you agree with the majority of Armenians that Cali armenians are some of the worst around? I hope not, lol

I'm sorry to disappoint you . Perhaps I haven't met the decent ones yet (well a few, but not too many). After all, it's ONLY been three years.

Seriously though, America DOES things to you - very very bad things. I reckon I've changed a bit too.

[HyeJinx1984]

*smacks forhead* D'oh!

[Tres Bien]

Here are arent many armenians around. Wich i think is think is quite sad.!!
here we dont have the same problem as you seem to have in cali. there isnt any gangs or rabiz jerks giving us a bad repuation,(asdvats ani ajbeesi mna). if some of my friends or classmates knows where armenia is, or knows anything about the country or region, its because of me Its one thing that cannot be avoided if your friends talk al lot of politics, or in school, right!?

[HyeJinx1984]

I got it... System of a Down! They're nice Armenians who are from L.A.

[Anonymouse]

Here are arent many armenians around. Wich i think is think is quite sad.!!
here we dont have the same problem as you seem to have in cali. there isnt any gangs or rabiz jerks giving us a bad repuation,(asdvats ani ajbeesi mna). if some of my friends or classmates knows where armenia is, or knows anything about the country or region, its because of me Its one thing that cannot be avoided if your friends talk al lot of politics, or in school, right!?

Agreed .