Better late than never?

[Grandchild]

Hello, I'm US/Armenian. Actually I'm heinz57 but the Armenian shows through more than the others. My maternal grandfather, born 1881 died 1981. He hated Turks and Russians; though I only remember one story as to why this was. He was a doctor till he immigrated to Detroit, Mich. roughly in 1931.

All the recent flutter about the Turks and the HR has me wondering what I don't know about my ancestry and my grandfather, who was unfortunately senile since my birth.

I will be reading lots, posting little. I recognize a few posters from other forums. One appears to be local to Boise, ID as I see him on a local forum here. I had heard there was a strong Armenian community here; but I have never met an Armenian in Boise. Seems the Basque are the current darlings of Boise.

Well, nice to meet you all. I will be interested in learning what my heritage is.

[Armenian]

Re: Better late than never?

My maternal grandfather, born 1881 died 1981. He hated Turks and Russians;

You mean he hated Turks and Bolsheviks.

I will be reading lots, posting little. I will be interested in learning what my heritage is.

Very good idea. If you are new to the Armenian scene you will need some time before you familiarize yourself with the very complex mechanisms of Armenian identity and existence.

[Grandchild]

Re: Better late than never?

I have been asked in another thread to better introduce myself. I thought here would be the better place to do that.

I am nearing 50. Have two grown children, no grandchildren. I am divorced and single. I own a small business and as expected it is a struggle to stay ahead. I live in Boise, ID which is a struggle socially but I love the weather. I have what I call that Armenian edge personality-wise; willingness/eagerness to have provocative discussions, sharp intelligence, prefer intelligent, somewhat dry humor, can become exceptionally "firm" quite quickly, move and talk fast, small and fiesty, and a tendency towards a superiority complex. I also look mostly Armenian. I lack the gorgeous hair.

Well, what else would be of interest to anyone? I've never actually done the introduction thing on a forum, I've usually just jumped in and started debating.

[Lucin]

Re: Better late than never?

and a tendency towards a superiority complex. I also look mostly Armenian.
.

Oh, it's not a complex. Once you get to know more about your ancestors' history and the country's glorious pages, you will realize that Armenians are indeed superior in many regards. (especially culturally speaking and intelectually)

I lack the gorgeous hair.

Yeah... Had you been 100% Armenian, you would have gorgeous hair.

PS: By the way, what is surprising about Teharn? We are one of the most dispersed people in the world (unfortunately) and there are Armenians who live in Iran and whose history goes back to early 1600s. Regarding our values, I think you got an eloquent, proper response.

[Grandchild]

Re: Better late than never?

Oh, it's not a complex. Once you get to know more about your ancestors' history and the country's glorious pages, you will realize that Armenians are indeed superior in many regards. (especially culturally speaking and intelectually)

Oh, trust me I rarely doubt my superiority, however I have learned that in the places I have lived; it is best to learn to dampen the expression of that superiority.

Yeah... Had you been 100% Armenian, you would have gorgeous hair.

Yes, I know.

[Grandchild]

Re: Better late than never?

Curiosity about grandpa's name. I knew him as David Bedrose Haig, I also heard sometimes a name "debanion" (sp?) and was told that his american name was chosen by the immigration officials and that Haig wasn't really his last name, but was his ???? This is where the memory gets foggy. If David is clearly NOT one of his original names; how would debanion, haig, and bedrose be properly aligned for Armenian name?

[Armenian]

Re: Better late than never?

Curiosity about grandpa's name. I knew him as David Bedrose Haig, I also heard sometimes a name "debanion" (sp?) and was told that his american name was chosen by the immigration officials and that Haig wasn't really his last name, but was his ???? This is where the memory gets foggy. If David is clearly NOT one of his original names; how would debanion, haig, and bedrose be properly aligned for Armenian name?

Bedros (or Petros) is a proper name that equates to Peter. And Haig (or Haik) is an Armenian name as well, an ancient one as a matter of fact. The name "Debanion" is most probably DebanIAN and that sounds like an Armenian family name. Your grandfather's name was most probably Bedros or Haig Debanian.

[Grandchild]

Re: Better late than never?

Excellent and thank you!

[Grandchild]

Re: Better late than never?

PS: By the way, what is surprising about Teharn? We are one of the most dispersed people in the world (unfortunately) and there are Armenians who live in Iran and whose history goes back to early 1600s. Regarding our values, I think you got an eloquent, proper response.

Sorry I didn't notice your PS in my last response.

I'm not sure why it surprises me, but it sure does. I would say the source of my surprise is the lack of accurate information regarding most communities except American and European. Seems we get talking points about Asia, ME, and Africa. I always had the impression (even though I figured it was wrong I have never looked into finding the truth) that Iran was too tightly controlled to have any citizens that were not extremist Muslims.

As I said I knew/know that extremist view is inaccurate as are the colorings of "dictatorship" and "regime," but I guess I still figured it was basically mono-cultural.

So is polygamy practiced in Iran? If so is it practiced by all faiths in Iran or only some of them? Sorry, I've got such a rush of curiosities. And I am thrilled to have what might be the "horse's mouth" instead of propoganda and intentional mis-translations we get here.

I'm so curious as to what the opinion of our shameful behavior toward your president was, as well.

[Armenian]

Re: Better late than never?

I always had the impression (even though I figured it was wrong I have never looked into finding the truth) that Iran was too tightly controlled to have any citizens that were not extremist Muslims.

This is so sad. I am not blaming you, its your environment. American society is geared towards keeping the population ignorant about the world. An educated citizenry is not easy to manipulate.

Just know that Armenians and Iranians don't have any problems with each other. The last time Armenia and Iran had a political problems was back in 451 AD and they were not even Muslims back then. The Armenian community of Iran is very well respected, Armenians there are perhaps amongst the most respected in the entire Armenian Diaspora. Because there are some Azeris who think they are Turks in Iran, there are laws there against mistreating Armenians and vandalizing Armenian monuments. Nevertheless, during Armenia's war agianst Azerbaijan (Turkish Muslims) the only two nations that were helping us Armenians were Russia and Iran. As a matter of fact, the United States was aiding Azerbaijan.

Nations where Armenian Christians have been historically mistreated are in Turkic nations and Israel, nowhere else.