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

[Anonymouse]

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

I'd try to find a Hittite.

[Mos]

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

how about Serbs?

[Tali]

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

Well, I can't marry an Armenian woman anyway; but my bf's family is slowly allowing odar (?) like me to become part of the family. I read a lot of comments and I guess I may be quite the unfavorable person on this thread O.o... how do you guys feel about this reality? I'm not a hypothetical situation. My Armenian boyfriend plans to marry me. Your thoughts?

[Mos]

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

Honestly, if it's Armenian man marrying non-Armenian woman, in my opinion that's better than the other way around. But still I think it's a shame for Armenians to marry Odars, as already we are a very small group in this world with a large diaspora. I guess if you adopt our religion, customs, language, and pass it on to your children, and teach them that they are Armenians, then it's not so bad.

[KanadaHye]

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

Honestly, if it's Armenian man marrying non-Armenian woman, in my opinion that's better than the other way around. But still I think it's a shame for Armenians to marry Odars, as already we are a very small group in this world with a large diaspora. I guess if you adopt our religion, customs, language, and pass it on to your children, and teach them that they are Armenians, then it's not so bad.

That's alright, we have the internet and satellite now... we can create new Armenians instead of passing down anything. I'll write a script to "recruit" Armenians by just pressing the "generate" button.

[Mos]

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

Well it's better than if the children with the Odar grow up with no Armenian culture. Given the large diaspora of Armenians, unfortunately many such instances will occur. Of course it's not good. Honestly when it comes to being Armenian, the percentage of blood is not the determinant but with what culture you identify yourself with and grown up with, your mother tongue, your mindset, and so on. Of course very rarely will a person with no or little Armenian blood grow up like this, but also on the other hand you have Armenian people with full blood growing up like odars and having nothing to do with Armenia and our culture.

The US is an assimilation zone.

[jgk3]

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

Well, I can't marry an Armenian woman anyway; but my bf's family is slowly allowing odar (?) like me to become part of the family. I read a lot of comments and I guess I may be quite the unfavorable person on this thread O.o... how do you guys feel about this reality? I'm not a hypothetical situation. My Armenian boyfriend plans to marry me. Your thoughts?

I think it's great, you care about eachother and you're open to his family and culture. I hope he feels the same way about your family.

[Tali]

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

Thank you for your honest input. Well, like Mos said " the percentage of blood is not the determinant but with what culture you identify yourself with and grown up with, your mother tongue, your mindset, and so on. Of course very rarely will a person with no or little Armenian blood grow up like this, but also on the other hand you have Armenian people with full blood growing up like odars and having nothing to do with Armenia and our culture." That is true of every culture. I am "American" but I'm also technically "Mexican;" he is also "American" but also technically "Armenian". He himself falls in the latter category of little Armenian mindset; however, the cousins and such that I met on his mother's side are definitely very proud Armenians.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I see a growing trend that odars are becoming more Armenian-like as a way to please the family. Almost like adoption. If i 'become' as close to Armenian as possible, we'll overlook the fact i'm not actually Armenian; though it helps I don't really look like my own race haha.

As for jgk3, my family is very...how shall we say... individualistic. they dont really have an identity for themselves (thus i am the same way). but his family is hoping i can make my bf learn armenian. that's my goal for now til the little ones come by. then they're learning it. If i can succeed in learning W. Armenian, i'll be trilingual. i want them to be the same way.

[KanadaHye]

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

Tali, you have an identity... the government has given you a Social Security number, lol. In all seriousness though, it's easier to take an "odar" who has no cultural ties and have them accept your culture than to marry two people who have vastly different cultures. As far as language goes, the world is becoming more and more globalized so knowing more languages is already a huge benefit.

[Tali]

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

hahahaha yea, I'm branded U.S. Property =P

What I meant though is I'm "Mexican American" but in completely honesty, we have NO IDEA. We know my mom's side of the family is Mexican (my grandparents, her parents are from Mexico). My parents aren't divorced. They still live togehter and are married. However, on my dad's side, they say we're Mexican, but beyond my dad -- it's up in the air as to what we are. So, I'm just my social security number. hahaha if you check out my profile, you'll truly see I don't look very Mexican, nor very American.

Back to your more serious point though, that intrigues me: "it's easier to take an "odar" who has no cultural ties and have them accept your culture than to marry two people who have vastly different cultures." Are you saying that I can become Armenian -- obviously not physically, but rather by tying myself to that identity?