Thoughts on Tashnagtsootyoon...

[Andranik]

Sorry, but I fail to understand how the Cilician Catholicosate is a business. You call it a business just because iit is dominated by Tashnags?

I live in Montreal, Canada. Let us see what Armenians did in the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The Tashnags and the partisans and priests of the Cilician Catholicosate went to Ottawa to protest in front of the Turkish embassy. They did a commemoration mass only once or twice.

The other Armenians and the partisans and priests of the Echmiadzin Catholicosate went to cry in the Saint-Joseph oratory of Mount Royal... They did it 2-3 days or so in a row. One of those masses even took place during the afternoon of April 24 - the same day Tashnags and pro-Antilias Armenians went to protest in Ottawa. What does that mean to you?

Who would I rather join? Armenians who weep and mourn in a church that isn't even Armenian, or Armenians who do one major commemoration event in their own churches, and then go to protest in Ottawa?

Even though some might think protests are useless, crying and asking help from God is even more useless.

I'm sure that you and most of the ordinary Dashnaks (who play no role whatsoever in party affairs) are well-meaning, patriotic Armenians. However, the policies pursued by those on top run against the interests of Armenians and Armenia. Hundreds upon millions of Catholics of different races and backgrounds have 1 single pope, while us Armenians number just a few million have you Catholicoses? I call it a business because all the profits from the Church go fill the pockets and stomach of High ranking dashnak officials and towards the implementation of selfish gains within Armenia.

Protesting the Turks has nothing to do whatsoever with beloging to this or that party. It is your national duty as an Armenian to protest. And just so you know, student youth groups in los angeles belonging to NO parties whatsoever organize the largest protests here, numbering in the thousands (30,000 plus). Coincidentally, the Dashnak youth groups also organize a protest in front of the Turkish embassy, but it attracts 100-300 people yearly (from which a lot of are Non -dashnaks like myself).

[Baron Dants]

The Armenians were invited by Mgr. Turcotte (the Catholic Archbishop of Montreal) to hold the commemoration event in the St-Joseph Oratory, the largest church in Montreal. The ceremony was not at all about crying. It was a tremendous symbol of people of all faiths and congregations coming together, with representatives of all communities, from the Archbishop of the Anglican Church to Greeks to Ukrainians to Arabs to Jews to Buddhists to Armenian Catholics to Armenian Protestants, all joining together to commemorate the event. Only people not there were the representatives of the Cilician Catholicosate...funny, no?

As for the protest...it is downright useless. I've been there a few times myself. People are singing and laughing in the buses, many youth run away to eat Taco Bell (which we don't have in Quebec), the Turkish embassy is vacant and they get no coverage. The ceremony at St-Joseph was attended by federal and provincial ministers, the mayors of Montreal and Laval, got coverage both on the local CTV network, and the national CBC, and the Montreal Gazette.

[Baron Dants]

Let us not even mention that the new archbishop (he is not, by the way, referred to as Arachnort Giligyan Temi...he has rather chosen the title of Arachnort Canadahayots) is a dirty old man who rates the derrières of the sweet old ladies who volunteer for HOM.

Whatever...the Armenian church has just become a playground for older people, who like to think that they are involved in some bigshot political affairs. It is a shame that in a community that has many pressing affairs, the building of a new arachnortaran was considered so important, and so urgent. It's even a bigger shame that all this happened right when a young and brilliant new arachnort (defended his thesis in theology at Oxford), arrived to Canada, and had to face this sort of crap before even getting started.

[Baron Dants]

Oh, by the way, I can be equally critical of the non-Tashnags, but they don't get so angry, lol.

Also, I have at least come to respect the way non-Tashnags always (or almost) invite the Tashnags to joint events, etc, knowing that the invite will be rejected anyways. (I am talking about Montreal, by the way)

[Dave]

I'm sure that you and most of the ordinary Dashnaks (who play no role whatsoever in party affairs) are well-meaning, patriotic Armenians. However, the policies pursued by those on top run against the interests of Armenians and Armenia. Hundreds upon millions of Catholics of different races and backgrounds have 1 single pope, while us Armenians number just a few million have you Catholicoses? I call it a business because all the profits from the Church go fill the pockets and stomach of High ranking dashnak officials and towards the implementation of selfish gains within Armenia.

If it's true, it is really unfortunate. But it's not any different in non-Armenian churches. Many Catholics also have complaints.

Compare us Armenians with the Lebanese. They are Maronite Christians, Orthodox, Sunni, Shiite, Druze....

Protesting the Turks has nothing to do whatsoever with beloging to this or that party. It is your national duty as an Armenian to protest.

There are few non-Tashnag Armenians who attend the protest. Why aren't they fulfilling their national duty?

And just so you know, student youth groups in los angeles belonging to NO parties whatsoever organize the largest protests here, numbering in the thousands (30,000 plus). Coincidentally, the Dashnak youth groups also organize a protest in front of the Turkish embassy, but it attracts 100-300 people yearly (from which a lot of are Non -dashnaks like myself).

Maybe because there aren't many western armenians, or armenians who are affiliated with the tashnagtsoutyoun. Most LA Armenians are Eastern Armenians anyway. They aren't affiliated with these groups.

The Armenians were invited by Mgr. Turcotte (the Catholic Archbishop of Montreal) to hold the commemoration event in the St-Joseph Oratory, the largest church in Montreal. The ceremony was not at all about crying. It was a tremendous symbol of people of all faiths and congregations coming together, with representatives of all communities, from the Archbishop of the Anglican Church to Greeks to Ukrainians to Arabs to Jews to Buddhists to Armenian Catholics to Armenian Protestants, all joining together to commemorate the event. Only people not there were the representatives of the Cilician Catholicosate...funny, no?

I know, I attended that event... How else would they have been able to fill up the whole room? By inviting non-Armenian religious leaders and their followers.

As for the protest...it is downright useless. I've been there a few times myself. People are singing and laughing in the buses, many youth run away to eat Taco Bell (which we don't have in Quebec), the Turkish embassy is vacant and they get no coverage. The ceremony at St-Joseph was attended by federal and provincial ministers, the mayors of Montreal and Laval, got coverage both on the local CTV network, and the national CBC, and the Montreal Gazette.

Maybe you didn't notice the coverage done by Ontarian media.

The protest did get some coverage by Ontarian media, especially the larger one last year. And do not worry. Tashnags know very well how to attract attention in various ways. For example, the news of the protest of Lebanese-Armenians during Erdogan's visit in Lebanon also reached non-Lebanese and Turkish newspapers.

btw are there any Armenian lobbies here other than tashang-supported ANCA? How 'bout if we stopped fighting for the recognition of the Genocide, which is something we do for all Armenians? The ones who died in 1915 were non-Tashnags anyway...

Let us not even mention that the new archbishop (he is not, by the way, referred to as Arachnort Giligyan Temi...he has rather chosen the title of Arachnort Canadahayots) is a dirty old man who rates the derrières of the sweet old ladies who volunteer for HOM.

You really don't know him.

[hyedgha15]

It is so pathetic how narrow minded you all think, how dare you call the church a business. Im sure 90% of you dont even go to church more than twice a year, who are you to speak about it. You all prolly dont even know why there was a split, but just post stuff here cause you found out that the Antilias church is run by tashnags. Do you know why the tashnags control the church? Because it was the Tashnagtsootyoon that stood beside the church, made sure that the Armenians in the Middle East had a church, funded all its needs, when all the other parties turned their backs and ran. You all prolly dont even know the names of the two catholicos, let alone know what the difference between them is. Stop bashing, start supporting!

[Thai-Samurai]

That's true, I think I've only gone to church twice this year. And I don't know the name of the cathilcos' or what their differences are.

[TomServo]

I'm about to go to church right now. That's the first time this year, I think. Yay!

[Siamanto]

That's true, I think I've only gone to church twice this year. And I don't know the name of the cathilcos' or what their differences are.

That's the spirit. At times, I am surprised that we still distinguish not only between Catholic Armenians and Gregorian Armenians; we even go one step further to divide the Gregorian Armenians.

[Baron Dants]

There are no differences. It is just hard to let go of power for the common good when you have it.