The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

[yerazhishda]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

You are confirming my point about stereotypes by mentioning "ultranationalists" on the one hand and "those who express their nationalism more moderately" on the other. First, you don't clarify what "more moderately means", you just use it as the opposite of what you claim to be "ultranationalism". Second, the pure "nationalist" seems to be left out of the picture...That's the missing link in the essay. Again, only my opinion.

The difference is that many ultranationalists use "Us vs. Them" as a way to exclude and berate others (i.e. how many times have you heard "you're not Armenian" justified on the grounds of an ultranationalist moral ideology?).

The ultranationalist tends toward exclusion rather than inclusion.

The moderate tends toward inclusion rather than exclusion.

Neither of these should be taken as absolute statements, however. Both sides can take on traits of the other from time to time.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

Who cares? Why are you so caught up with that about him? If you truly believe that's what he is and stands for, then why does it fucking matter? Let him be then and don't take him seriously or respond, otherwise you are just engaging in more character assassination just like you did here, in a carefully crafted manner so as to come off as topical. The same applies to Armenian, or anyone else.

You guys just don't get it. You, me, Armenian, our whole opinions are exactly what they are, insignificant fucking trivial shit engaged in by a bunch of middle class Armenians with too much time on their hands and not enough power to alter policy decisions or even make a dent in the centrifugal forces of world geopolitics, and yet here you guys are acting toward each other like you are a bunch of damn Turks and you cannot wait to get your hands on the others throat to slice it with a scimitar. Get over it. This forum is for discussion and fun, and if you make it a fanatical habit of seeking catharsis and jollies via character assassinations, I will purge everyone from this fucking forum and it will just be a wasteland again as it once was.

Can't you stay in your own thread and can't they stay in their threads? That seems the only viable solution.

I suspect that somewhere on the border between Canada and the Eastern U.S., Ara Baliozian is snickering to himself.

P.S. have you noticed how all of a sudden the RA PM is on an anti-corruption kick, Serge is overhauling his security apparatus and the NSS is being enlisted to crack down on corruption. Hmm...

P.S.S. A nationalist without a nation is like a hoof without a horse.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

You said it man. Nobody fucks with the Jesus.

Now please for God's sake, let Armenian do his thing and you guys make your own threads and do your thing.

Otherwise I'll get all Walter Sobchak on your asses.

Anon, ever been to a Lebowskifest. They are a ton of fun.

[freakyfreaky]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

Exactly. This is what I have been trying to say all along. If a "nationalist" is going to lambast a diasporan for not being invested in Armenia (as displayed in the article "Who is an Armenian?" - forget who it's by), don't be a hypocrite. At least follow your own dogma.

It illustrates my point about a "romanticized" homeland, which is viewed from afar by a diasporan. Is it that they are afraid that once they get there they will be dissapointed in what they see?

Yeraz, back in the days, I always tested well when it came to reading comprehension.

[Armenian]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

Maybe I'm not a gifted communicator but what part was I not clear on? I thought I was clear when I said no fucking insults and personalizing and character assasinations and that applies to you both. What the hell is wrong with you two? You are not special and I don't care who you are and what kind of fan following you have. Keep it civil or fuck off.

What insults Anon? I don't see 'depth' in the guy. That's an insult now? This is a serious conversation about personal characters. How generic, how sterile do you expect our replies to be? In a healthy forum one should expect harsh rhetoric and some clashes. And when it gets out of hand - we have the moderation team to clean house. No?

[yerazhishda]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

P.S.S. A nationalist without a nation is like a hoof without a horse.

so true.

[Anonymouse]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

I suspect that somewhere on the border between Canada and the Eastern U.S., Ara Baliozian is snickering to himself.

P.S. have you noticed how all of a sudden the RA PM is on an anti-corruption kick, Serge is overhauling his security apparatus and the NSS is being enlisted to crack down on corruption. Hmm...

P.S.S. A nationalist without a nation is like a hoof without a horse.

I can tell you that Armenia is a doomed country, regardless of who sits on the throne of the Ivory Tower.

Yet compared to the diaspora, regardless of who sits on the thrown of the Ivory Tower in Armenia, Armenia will still do leaps and bounds better in terms of retaining what it is to be Armenian and Armenianness. The diaspora is just a lost hodge podge and melange of nothingness, and an existential wasteland.

So all of us should (in theory) aim our eyes there.

And if Armenia is attacked and overrun and destroyed by the Turkic Muslim marauders at least they will die in a fight (I know that much), than us Armenians in the diaspora who will die because of blood poisoning in the multicultural wasteland.

[Anonymouse]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

What insults Anon? I don't see 'depth' in the guy. That's an insult now? This is a serious conversation about personal characters. How generic, how sterile do you expect our replies to be? In a healthy forum one should expect harsh rhetoric and some clashes. And when it gets out of hand - we have the moderation team to clean house. No?

Fair enough, but I am trying to err on the side of caution. I don't see the use of it because all it does is raise the stakes to eventual floodgates of garbage.

In other contexts, I am okay with such harsh rhetoric and some clashes, but in this context, in the context of you and them, I think we have established a point of no return.

In any event...

[freakyfreaky]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

Anon, it was an insult, diluted as it was, for Armenian to claim that Yeraz lacks depth, wisdom and/or worldliness. Here, we know nothing about Armenian and for him to say these things about someone else that understands concepts like logic and philosophy and can express themselves clearly and concisely is insulting.

Yeraz's essay regardless of your opinion of it was refreshing. Much better a post than most of the cut and paste jobs and spamming that 'some' individuals contribute to the forum.

Until Armenian can satisfy to us all what exactly his worldly experience is, telling others that they lack it when it is patent that they don't lack it is an insult. Also, its intellectually insincere.

[yerazhishda]

Re: The Case for Siamanto and Other Forward-Thinking Armenians

I can tell you that Armenia is a doomed country, regardless of who sits on the throne of the Ivory Tower.

Yet compared to the diaspora, regardless of who sits on the thrown of the Ivory Tower in Armenia, Armenia will still do leaps and bounds better in terms of retaining what it is to be Armenian and Armenianness. The diaspora is just a lost hodge podge and melange of nothingness, and an existential wasteland.

Why is Armenia doomed? And if it is doomed, what does it matter if Armenia keeps it's "Armenianness" or if anyone keeps their "Armenianness" for that matter?

So all of us should (in theory) aim our eyes there.

I agree.

And if Armenia is attacked and overrun and destroyed by the Turkic Muslim marauders at least they will die in a fight (I know that much), than us Armenians in the diaspora who will die because of blood poisoning in the multicultural wasteland.

What's the difference? Death is death is death.