Being Armenian!

[xBaron Dants]

Yes, we all have a lot of reasons to be proud, but in the diaspora, while our political strenght is getting stronger, and our community centers are getting more and more organized, we are, ironically, on a whole, getting weaker.

Speaking armenian, it seems, is no longer an obligation. I am sorry if I offend anyone on this board who does not speak armenian, but there is no denying it: an armenian who does not speak armenian will not be able to keep his future generations armenian. There are, of course, exceptions, such as a few friends of mine whose parents were unable to learn armenian, but who enrolled their children in armenian schools.

But as I said, those are exceptions. Nowadays, it seems that even parents, despite their strong accent, choose to speak English. Whether it is to impress the neighbours, the family, or their children, I don't know. But it is downright disgusting.

Even 10 years ago, an armenian that was unable to speak armenian was considered a scandal in our community. Now, it seems that it is acceptable. Pretty soon, I fear that it will be the norm.

This is caused by a couple of things:
1) parents who don't care about being armenian
or 2) parents who want to raise their kids as "americans" or "canadians", so they can later go on and say "I'm Trevor Aristakesian, a canadian of armenian descent" and would have absolutely nooooo clue about Armenia or being Armenian
3) An armenian school system that is comprised of old, tired, women teaching armenian, and who put no effort in making it interesting
4) Most armenian community centers who are led by men who do not seem to understand that their time of retirement has arrived, and who continue to organize the same events every year

I have said it time and time again: repatriation is the ONLY solution. Most armenians in the States or Canada do not go any further than 3rd or 4th generation, and already, the armenian identity has been lost in many of them. Repatriation wouldn't even correspond to one hundredth of the sacrifice our grandparents (or great grandparents) went through in order to keep us armenian. In fact, most repats would probably be better off economically if they returned to Armenia. But I guess most of us are no longer armenian enough to care, and are just "american of armenian descent".


hmmmmmm.....did I just ruin the mood here?

[Emil]

I like the name of the bar.

Emil

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by Emil I like the name of the bar.

Emil

lol! I actually thought of you when I read the article. You wouldn't happen to be a two year old grandson of a rich armenian bar owner, would you?

[Anonymouse]

Re: Being Armenian!

Originally posted by omniscient someone mentioned indo-european in a previous thread just now so i decided to write this. for those of you that don't know, Armenians are aryan (armenioid-aryans to be exact). basically we are considered white and were the first race to accept christianity as a religion.

First of all right off the bat, there are some inaccuracies in your statement. Armenians are not a "race". Aryan is not a race either it is just a language group, interchangeable with Indo-European. Armenians do speak an Aryan language, as do Germans, as do Indians. Armenians are an ethni, or group of people, who share common linguistic and cultural characteristics.

Originally posted by omniscient which i think is one of the main reasons the turks went on that massacre, to eliminate christianity in that area. we're basically the oldest orthodox christians in the world (exclude me because my views on religion are totally different lol). i just wish armenia was never in the middle of all these xxxxing crazy nations that are all islamic (not really racist but dont like their way of doing things and thier lifestyle). they're basically landlocked between all the islamic nations and there's been so many countless islamic invasions in armenia, just the ability for them (us) to have remained a christian nation is more than impressive to me, it shows a lot about armenians. we are one of the oldest nations in history.

One of the oldest cultures and civlizations in history yes, the oldest nation? No.

Originally posted by omniscient but another thing ill say is before the genocide and before all these onslaughts on the armenians, i heard a lot of stories on how the armenian people were truly special people, very nice people, with trust , honor, loyalty , and respect, i dont know if its all we've been through but the armenians of today, and especially in LA , (because i know most of the forumers here are from LA) are disloyal, disrespectful, honorless, and just stupid motherxxxxers that im ready to kill at any moment. especially these rabiz characters which are mostly gheughatsees, so i dont blame them for the way they are, because i dont care if youre hayastanci, barskahye, beirutsi or any other type of armenian as long as you have those 4 things that i mentioned.

You are right. Armenians historically, have been a small conservative people, never really bent on imperialism, but rather always defended their family, traditions and values from foreign invaders who sought to subjugate them. The Armenian Epic by Movses Khorenatsi goes into detail of how Armenian history has been one of a "small people" resisting "tyrants", and this has been true. Xenophon, the Greek soldier who passed through Armenia described how rich the region was, and the hospitality displayed by Armenians, very giving, welcoming people.

In a way, after studying Armenian history, Armenians to me have appeared more and more like the hobbitts attributed to J.R.R. Tolken ( minus going to war to defend themselves ).

Originally posted by omniscient i dont like how the armenians of today have turned out, i wish it was how it used to be back a century ago. but even through all this i can still say that all that we have done, all that we have gone through, all that we have achieved .... im damn proud to be an ARMENIAN

Neither am I happy to see how most Armenians have turned out in the States. However studying history and coming in contact with the better half of Armenians, the educated ones that is, I can safely say that Armenians do hold true to the claim that while they may not have quantity, they sure as hell have quality.

Cheers.

[spiral]

The probelm with Armenians now, in The US is that they are striving to dissafiliate themeselves from their own culture, and people.

They look down at Armenians who are "too Armenian" and segregate themeselves from these people, and judge them, as if they are of a lower value.

They proudly state that they aren't "fobs"
and that its "cooler" to not "look" Armenian.

If anyone has any Armenian in them, it is clearly visible, because you can always tell apart Armenians through their eyes.


in a nut shell, yerexaner@ eshen metsanum.

however, as far as knowing Armenian goes, I tutor in both English, and Armenian. If anyone is interested please let me know. I charge by the hour. =)

[Emil]

Originally posted by Baron Dants lol! I actually thought of you when I read the article. You wouldn't happen to be a two year old grandson of a rich armenian bar owner, would you?

Nah, all my grandparents have passed away. I'll have to visit that bar.

Emil

[TJ]

Let me get in a word here. Above all other things I consider myself ARMENIAN. Above being a male above being a teenager above being a son and certainly above being an american which i dont even consider myself because i hate this xxxxin country and wanna get out as soon as possible, above being anything else if someone asked for one word to describe me it would be ARMENIAN. I want all of you to go read "The Fool" by Raffi it is one of the best books ever and it will make you 100x more nationalistic, it caused me to lose my religion though. i stopped believing in god after i read that book. now i can say xxxx god. Ifyou read the book you might understand why i think this way. Anyway if any Armenian calls themselves something other than an Armenian or intentionally forgets their language and has no yearning to learn it and teach their kids then i dont consider them Armenian. I consider themselves idiots who bought into htis whole stupid propoganda melting pot idea that was created to foster a common american identity, something that hasnt existed for 200 years. I feel so xxxxiin ashamed when i see all these idiots in glendale dressing all ghetto and xxxx and looking like dirty mexican gansters flippin gang signs and all and then calling themselves proud to be Armenian. The only true Armenians as far as im concerned are those that if asked "will you give your life to save Armenia" would give their lives without question and feel proud and happy. So to all of you I want you to become famous people and glorify our great nation. By the way xxxx Armen Nazarian the wrestler, the xxxxin sellout who now flies a bulgarian flag after winning the european championship. Amot Kez!

[omniscient]

Re: Re: Being Armenian!

Originally posted by Anonymouse First of all right off the bat, there are some inaccuracies in your statement. Armenians are not a "race". Aryan is not a race either it is just a language group, interchangeable with Indo-European. Armenians do speak an Aryan language, as do Germans, as do Indians. Armenians are an ethni, or group of people, who share common linguistic and cultural characteristics.

i already addressed that a few posts earlier anon, you guys need to read all posts

[omniscient]

Re: Re: Being Armenian!

Originally posted by Anonymouse One of the oldest cultures and civlizations in history yes, the oldest nation? No.

I never said it was THE oldest nation, and yes it is pretty far down the line though.

[omniscient]

Re: Re: Being Armenian!

Originally posted by Anonymouse
Armenians do hold true to the claim that while they may not have quantity, they sure as hell have quality.

i fear that even that quality is going to dissapear in glendale soon, its really pissing me off the way things are turning out