I have some questions...

[Moldy Cheese]

Re: I have some questions...

Your previous post suggests somehow that you don’t believe in a transition phase at all, thus the reason I brought it up. You suggested a 'massive revolution'!!! Is that a 'transition' phase you believe in??

I suggested a "massive revolution" for AFTER we gained independence without the proper preparation. Let me ask you, have you been to Armenia? If so, when and for how long?

Yes, relatively speaking the country IS flourishing. Armenia's economy despite all the obstacles IS growing, although gradually, and it is quite stable… Just compare today's Armenia to Armenia in early 90s, politically, economically and etc.

What's so stable about it? You know how much the currency exchange rate changed over the 2 months I was there? Just ridiculous. And it was all tied with elections and campaigns. It's complete and utter anarchy...anything can happen at any moment.

I am well aware of the problems of our country (you also mentioned some) but we need to be more patient, changes will not happen overnight…your suggested revolution could do more harm than good to the country.
Need I remind you that we Armos are a bunch of talented people?
Just give it time, Armenia will rule again.

Talented, we are. Supportive of each other, we are not.

[Moldy Cheese]

Re: I have some questions...

He's not the first that I've heard it's unstable from. We had an Armenian transfer student at FSU a year ago, and I used to talk to her about it. She said pretty much the same thing. If there is any progress it's slow and it only affects the rich. And there's really nothing I can do. I can't afford to visit. I can't speak the language. I can't afford to learn the language, the only place I've even seen that offers to teach it is accross the country at a different university, in Arizona.

For starters, I'm not a "he."

Also, I must strongly agree with what Armenian said.

I was surprised that, as a history major, you would ask such a question. However, I myself feel that there is much I still don't know about world history, a result of my American education (they drill you about US history for years and years, and merely offer a semester of world history as an elective...what a joke).

Being Armenian carries quite a bit of extra baggage. Your passive attitude will not stand up to the challenge. If you want change to take place, take it upon yourself to make it happen. If we all rely on others to do OUR duty, nothing will get done.

As for the language barrier, you won't get lost in Armenia, believe me. English is a common second language there. In addition, you'll get some practice and learn 500x faster than through some lame book.

[TomServo]

Re: I have some questions...

As for the language barrier, you won't get lost in Armenia, believe me. English is a common second language there.

As long as he sticks to central Yerevan.

The Stone Garden Guide is a good guidebook for Armenia and Artsakh.

[visa express]

Re: I have some questions...

The more we cover up our mistakes "LUCIN' the less we are going to learn and the longer it will take to move forward.

I was going to ask the same question as Mouldy Cheese, Lucin, have you ever been to Armenia??

I think people take it upon themselves to try and protect Armenia and it's ideology, philosophy and methodologies, but no one has any constructive input into how our country can go forward.

For too long our politicians have "eaten our bread" who vehemently deny any corruptive rule. SHAME ON THEM and shame on us for not standing up.

I think we need more people like Mouldy Cheese and myself to express our concerns , but then again who will listen?? As long as we have people like Lucin, and "backbenchers" who sing and scream out Dashnakcakan slogans without even visiting their 'Mayr Hayastan' we are forever doomed.

I appreciate Lucin being patriotic, however there are serious issues at hand which she obviously doesn't comprehend.

Take for example the assassination of Vazgen Sarkissian. Clearly a man who was making his mark in the history of Armenian Politics, one who was fundamental in change.

“Today I commit my second brother to the grave – a person with whom we shared all the hardships of struggle during last 10 years,” said Robert Kocharyan, the President of Armenia, in his farewell speech at the grave of the Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan. “We lost a person who was present at all the complicated places and at all complicated times. A person who was always ready to bear responsibility. Every period of time has its heroes. Vazgen Sargsyan is the hero of our Third Republic. Nobody can substitute him at his state position. We will never betray the ideas he suffered for and died,” said Robert Kocharyan.

Such words of wisdom coming from a "supposed" supporter of him. (can you catch my drift).

Everyone has their own opinions, this is what makes us unique. So I think that Lucin should not be too judgemental about the reality of Mouldy Cheess' comments.

[TomServo]

Re: I have some questions...

Does anyone know when Kocharian or Sarkisian arrived in Hayastan? From what I understand, both were born in Artsakh. So how did two guys from there rise to power in Yerevan?

[Lucin]

Re: I have some questions...

. Let me ask you, have you been to Armenia? If so, when and for how long?.

What are you trying to prove? You don’t have to live somewhere to know how things are going on.

What's so stable about it? You know how much the currency exchange rate changed over the 2 months I was there? Just ridiculous. And it was all tied with elections and campaigns. It's complete and utter anarchy...anything can happen at any moment.

You are talking about evidences and I am not covering up the issues we are struggling with but I suggest you open your eyes and not minimize the improvements and the achievements the country has accomplished within 15 years of her independence.
Today, Armenia has got both internal and external stability (relatively speaking). And she keeps on growing day by day, although slowly, but the thing is she has not stagnated after the independence. The repatriation of thousands of Diasporans could be just one proof to that.

And honestly I would not expect more, from a tiny landlocked country struggling in many fronts… in other words, today’s Armenia with all her deprivations and lacks is a miracle for me…

He's not the first that I've heard it's unstable from. We had an Armenian transfer student at FSU a year ago, and I used to talk to her about it. She said pretty much the same thing. If there is any progress it's slow and it only affects the rich. And there's really nothing I can do. I can't afford to visit. I can't speak the language. I can't afford to learn the language, the only place I've even seen that offers to teach it is accross the country at a different university, in Arizona.

I’m sorry but the web of excuses you just made are just laughable.

Try the following sites:

http://hayeren.hayastan.com/english/abr.html ( Here you can also download an Eng-Arm dictionary)

http://www.learnarmenian.com/NonArme...onArmenian.cfm

[Siamanto]

Re: I have some questions...

Does anyone know when Kocharian or Sarkisian arrived in Hayastan? From what I understand, both were born in Artsakh. So how did two guys from there rise to power in Yerevan?

What does that prove? What is your point? Trying to add confusion with some old gossip?
You don't even know if visa_express is a troll account or not???

[Siamanto]

Re: I have some questions...

first of all, on myspace, armenians keep adding me, which is awesome but a lot of them rep a communist pride theme in their profiles.. old USSR stuff. Obviously, as a history major, i know Armenia was once part of the USSR but what i don't get is why these people, my age or thereabouts would be taking pride in USSR and not a free Armenia.

I have visited hundreds of Armenian profiles on Myspace and I have no idea what you are talking about? Can you please provide links to those supposedly existing profiles? LOL I assure you that I will contact them and check that they have added you as a friend.
In the absence of such links, your statement can only be considered as a hideous attempt to misinform and manipulate public opinion.

P.S. With all due respect, Like everybody else, I found the "Obviously, as a history major" at best amusing. It's like a Biology major being amazed at the sight of a human bleeding???

This is largely an American point of view i realize.. but i'd still like some insight into the matter.

This not only largely an American point of view, it is nothing but a narrow minded and distorted neo-con view of the World that probably dominates in the redneck country that is Tallahassee, Florida?

[Moldy Cheese]

Re: I have some questions...

As long as he sticks to central Yerevan.

True.

He can also take a tour with other foreigners...they'll definitely speak English, even when they take them outside of Yerevan.

[Siamanto]

Re: I have some questions...

How exactly is Armenia flourishing? If there are any improvements, they are taking place at a snail's pace. Yes, we now have electricity 24 hours/day, and yes, bread is not rationed any longer, but the goverment is far from impressive. Perhaps I am a pessimist, although I'd like to think of myself as a realist. And as for objectivity, your post contains none.

LOL May I say that you're a dreamer - not in a negative way, but neither in a positive way.
It often takes more than a generation to put on track a single family and managing an entire nation is of much higher degree of complexity. Considering the harsh conditions - i.e. lack of cash, landlocked, war, earthquake, collapse of traditional (Soviet) clients and distribution networks, reorganization of institutions, new standards and regulations, emigration etc. - and relatively to other countries in similar situations, Armenia recovered in a spectacular manner and in such a short period of time. Only a dreamer or an ill-intended person would fail to see it and I know that you're not ill-intended.
I will google for and post some comparative and historical data when I find the time.

I suggested a "massive revolution" for AFTER we gained independence without the proper preparation. Let me ask you, have you been to Armenia? If so, when and for how long?

Just like in Georgia and Ukraine??? What kind of "revolution???" Remote controlled and orchestrated by the US and Soros???

Let me ask you, have you been to Armenia? If so, when and for how long?

Do you really need to be in Armenia to know that the sky is blue, rain falls, rivers run, vegetables grow etc.??? What you have described is a process that has happened numerous times - both in space and time - and will continue happen.

I
What's so stable about it? You know how much the currency exchange rate changed over the 2 months I was there? Just ridiculous. And it was all tied with elections and campaigns. It's complete and utter anarchy...anything can happen at any moment.

You are not being fair; the Dram has been stable for years - and often, artificially because of interventions by the Central Bank - while the US dollar proved to be far more volatile. It's only a coincidence that they let it float while you were in Armenia. Furthermore, that is a financial reality that happens elsewhere - for instance, the same happened to the Canadian dollar recently.

Talented, we are. Supportive of each other, we are not.

Somehow true. Yes, we should become better organized and more collaborative; but, that is also true of ("individualistic") nations - such as us - who have created a beautiful culture and a strong state such as the French. LOL *expects to hear some cliché American old broken record gossip here - but not from Moldy Cheese* Personally, I hope that we will never become as organized as Anglo-Saxons; it's not our temper and we're a bit more emotional, warmer and "messier." Also, the Anglo-Saxon culture is not as rich and flavored. I consider France and Italy as models for Armenia.