If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

[Italia brrro]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

I am the descendant of Genocide survivors who came over in the 1920s to New England so I was born in America. I do feel a personal responsibility to build Armenia almost as a form of retribution for the lives lost in my family during that period. I also do not want to see more Armenian lives lost at the hands of Turks in the near future.

The intrinsic value of the Armenian culture, people, and language is of importance as well. Just as with our religion, there is something to be said for belonging to something that is larger than ourselves, that has existed for thousands of years.

It also has to do with the fact that I, as an Armenian, cannot stand to sit comfortably by while Armenians are in dire conditions. I am not sure why "Armenian"-Americans go around all day proclaiming their Armenianness, proclaiming they are more Armenian than me even, while they let their brothers starve in the homneland. How many of them have donated their money to Armenia and its charities? How many have invested in Armenian businesses? Not many to be certain.

I am no saint, and I am not exactly sure how I will be able to participate in builiding Armenia, but I am steadily working towards this goal. Anyone else who feels this way is my comrade, my tovarishch, my enger.

that makes sense and I commend you for desiring to help your people.

I just think it is wrong to judge other Armenians who have decided to assimilate and marry outside of their race, unless their common goal is to go back to Armenia. I also don't think that parents should teach their kids to only marry within their race. If they are going to subject them to living in the U.S., then they should allow them to marry whoever they want. Just my opinion. It would be the same thing for my father to tell me not to marry a black woman. That would be looked down upon so much in our culture as racism, and yet I know a lot of people are guilty of this.

[yerazhishda]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

Were you born in America or Armenia? Do you personally feel an obligation of building the country and such? If so, why?

I am the descendant of Genocide survivors who came over in the 1920s to New England so I was born in America. I do feel a personal responsibility to build Armenia almost as a form of retribution for the lives lost in my family during that period. I also do not want to see more Armenian lives lost at the hands of Turks in the near future.

The intrinsic value of the Armenian culture, people, and language is of importance as well. Just as with our religion, there is something to be said for belonging to something that is larger than ourselves, that has existed for thousands of years.

It also has to do with the fact that I, as an Armenian, cannot stand to sit comfortably by while Armenians are in dire conditions. I am not sure why "Armenian"-Americans go around all day proclaiming their Armenianness, proclaiming they are more Armenian than me even, while they let their brothers starve in the homneland. How many of them have donated their money to Armenia and its charities? How many have invested in Armenian businesses? Not many to be certain.

I am no saint, and I am not exactly sure how I will be able to participate in builiding Armenia, but I am steadily working towards this goal. Anyone else who feels this way is my comrade, my tovarishch, my enger.

[TomServo]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

Have I ever called you brainwashed?

[Italia brrro]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

I'm not sure how much they'll like this comparison, but it's kind of like Zionism.

I suppose that makes sense, but I don't think that a lot of Armenians think this way, but yet still choose to date within their kind. Most of the ones I talk to in person just say they grew up being taught from their parents that it is good to stay within their kind. However, they have no intentions of moving back to the "motherland". They have enjoyed the prosperity and opportunity that the U.S. offers and aren't willing to leave it all behind. So what gives?

[yerazhishda]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

Except, unlike Zionists, we actually have a right to the land we have.

[Italia brrro]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

Ignoring all the bad connotations of "third world" (it's considered "second world" by American standards):

We should move back to participate in nation building. Who else will bring up Armenia to a level of sustainability and economic growth if not individual Armenians? It's time for Armenians to take responsibility for the economic, political, and social stability of Armenia.

In short: If Armenians don't stick up for Armenians and Armenia, who will?

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is the best example of an organization devoted to achieving these goals.

Were you born in America or Armenia? Do you personally feel an obligation of building the country and such? If so, why?

[TomServo]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

brrro no you did not!

But seriously, I am not asking to be malicious, I have always wondered what was so important about preserving Armenian culture and moving back to Armenia. It's part of the reason why I joined this forum.

I'm not sure how much they'll like this comparison, but it's kind of like Zionism.

[Italia brrro]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

Oh noes.... Prepare to die, guido

brrro no you did not!

But seriously, I am not asking to be malicious, I have always wondered what was so important about preserving Armenian culture and moving back to Armenia. It's part of the reason why I joined this forum.

[yerazhishda]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

And another question, why move back to a poverty stricken third world country? Is salvaging your culture that important to you?

Ignoring all the bad connotations of "third world" (it's considered "second world" by American standards):

We should move back to participate in nation building. Who else will bring up Armenia to a level of sustainability and economic growth if not individual Armenians? It's time for Armenians to take responsibility for the economic, political, and social stability of Armenia.

In short: If Armenians don't stick up for Armenians and Armenia, who will?

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is the best example of an organization devoted to achieving these goals.

[Italia brrro]

Re: If you couldn't marry an Armenian.....

No, this is a wrong statement. People first came to America in droves in the 1920s and 30s due to the Genocide. Armenia was shut off from the world due to the Iron Curtain of the USSR so that wasn't an option.

Recently, they have been coming since the 70s, 80s, and early 90s due to very harsh socio-economic factors i.e. either starve or move. Armenia has improved since those harsh times but their immigration had nothing to do with "decadence". It had to do with self-preservation.

Of course, this is not true in all situations.

We should preserve Armenian culture in the US only to the extent that we plan to repatriate.

I'm not completely acquainted with Armenian history my humble apologies. I do agree with your last statement.