Well, the idea that language doesn't matter to me is fallacious. You can try to be Armenian politically as surfer suggested, but language is the definitive mark of a given people, for it contains the mentality and consciousness of that people in the language. I don't consider language to be some sort of "social construct" for "economic" purposes as some economists or Marxian theorists like to surmise, but rather a distinct expression of a given people, that contains thought processes and mentalities in its words, for words are carriers of ideas abstract to the mind, that have been simplified in that word. And in those words are carried distinct feelings and outlooks that reflect those people.
Think of it this way. Armenians exist because we have a certain language to identify them as, which makes them a unique people, like any other people who are both culture creating and culture bearing. If the Armenian language dies, then so do Armenians, for they are giving up what is in essence a language of a people unique to them and a reflection of them, an identity, and are changing, accepting another. If no one spoke Armenian, who would be left to call Armenian? Essentially the crux of the matter is the continued balkanization of peoples in societies such as the United States.
To me at least, it is imperative that aside from all silly dilly dallying with politics and other organization efforts, since I see many of these Armenian youth group organizers or these kids that are supposedly going to "Armenian school" yet can't read or write proper Armenian, learn it or know it. It's like when I saw this Armenian girl at Hollywood during last years April 24th march, while she is organizing a political event, she can't read or write Armenian, but barely speaks it, since most of the time she chats in English.
I'm not saying that one shouldn't learn English, since this is an inevitability in the merging of cultures, and old cultures die, blend in others. I am however saying that, one should at least have an idea of what language is, for without it, there is no point in calling Armenians, Armenian.
Think of it this way. Armenians exist because we have a certain language to identify them as, which makes them a unique people, like any other people who are both culture creating and culture bearing. If the Armenian language dies, then so do Armenians, for they are giving up what is in essence a language of a people unique to them and a reflection of them, an identity, and are changing, accepting another. If no one spoke Armenian, who would be left to call Armenian? Essentially the crux of the matter is the continued balkanization of peoples in societies such as the United States.
To me at least, it is imperative that aside from all silly dilly dallying with politics and other organization efforts, since I see many of these Armenian youth group organizers or these kids that are supposedly going to "Armenian school" yet can't read or write proper Armenian, learn it or know it. It's like when I saw this Armenian girl at Hollywood during last years April 24th march, while she is organizing a political event, she can't read or write Armenian, but barely speaks it, since most of the time she chats in English.
I'm not saying that one shouldn't learn English, since this is an inevitability in the merging of cultures, and old cultures die, blend in others. I am however saying that, one should at least have an idea of what language is, for without it, there is no point in calling Armenians, Armenian.
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