What if we lose it?
I apologise first of all if this post comes out of the blue. It is just a reflection on a chat I was having with someone about identity and the importance “being Armenian” plays, or shouldn’t play, in ones life.
“may I gain the serenity to accept the things u cant change, change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference”
Some may argue that the fundemental “glue” in holding together dispersed Armenian communities around the world is the notion of pain, the feeling that we all suffered, our ancestors suffered, and this is what keeps us together. The old tattered song books, parents forcing you to Armenian school, telling you it’s “good for you”, and the feeling of nostalgia that is constantly brought forward into our minds by all these factors.
I was wondering, after a friend considered I “lose the chip on my shoulder” with regard to the Genocide, as part of my identity. On careful consideration, it seems quite a lot of this energy towards loving a homeland may well be lost. The old English quote above mentions accepting things you can’t change, and knowing whether to move on.
What if we did move on?
Our parents, as a generation, are still raw from the wounds of the genocide. We are still angry, I still feel a pain. Will my children feel this pain? Will they keep it in their minds in 30 years time? It is quite a remarkable thought to consider that a future generation of Armenians may not consider the Genocide an issue, or that when asked where they are from they may well reply “American..” or “English”. This is acceptable, as it does happen, when you live in a country, its culture will dominate, and form a part of you. I do , however, worry that if we don’t figure out another common cause to keep Armenians together, then in 50 years time, there may well be no one to post on this website.
Please share your thoughts 
Well while the last line of this is overly alarmist which I don’t like, as obviously there are many dedicated Armenian youths today who will still be around in 50 years (if we don’t blow the world up first or some asteroid hits it!) who are clearly not going to just vanish or suddenly all lose their Armenianess.
At the same time there of course is a very valid point, as most diasporans I’ve sure can see the effects of assimilation and how after a good three generations in this country the vast majority of people of Armenian descent (or any other for that matter) are mostly to completely assimilated. What is to be done indeed?
Many like Hrant Dink suggested the cause that unites us should be rebuilding Hayastan, that in theory is a land for all of us to work for, and to an extent that has happened. However almost all diasporas also have home countries, and a great deal of those are not rich countries either, and that alone does not counter the assimilation process. I think the best hope is in organizations like Birthright Armenia sending as many Diasporans as they can. The initial experiences so many of them have here leaves a life-long imprint on them and quite a few actually decide to move there full time afterwards to continue their work. Trying our best to totally invest members of the Diaspora in Armenia itself, so that we are able to hold onto them even as they assimilate (which is not necesarily a bad thing in itself as long as they still remember Armenia and use their integrated position in the west to help).
Comment by Paul — 6/8/2007 @ 7:13 am
Inevitably the Genocide will become less of a burning issue even for diasporans. This is why the survival and prosperity of the Republic of Armenia is critical.
Comment by Liborale — 6/8/2007 @ 8:33 pm
I also agree that Genocide is a not the best thing to gather around. Othervise this blog would be called “a blog for survivors” and would include much larger audience. (…including those cartoon chicken escaped from a poultry)
Sorry for the joke, but I am keep suprising at how many issues Genocide is “applied” to. It is used for balancing NK issue, used for Turkey negotiations, used for increasing Armenia awarness in the world, to increase tourism, to gather diaspora… My grandmother survived from Van massacres, yet lived and died in a new country, new family, etc…
Let’s forget and live a new life.
Can anyone imagine Armenia without Genocide? I think if we continue this way, it won’t even be possible in several years. And the Armenia would be renamed to “Genocidia”. Jewish lost and gained much more us from Genocide, yet they are not associated with it.
Armenia without Genocide is a nice caucasian/anatolian country with a wounderful cultural attributes that I want to be associated with. Promotion and development of these attributes would strenghten my will to associate with this group even more. The same for diaspora: any assimilated italian in US tends to associate himself somehow with the country of his ancetors, the same with Irlandians, etc. These people do not speak Italian, yet they are keeping Italia to go in them. That will work as long as Italia country is in place. We also have Rep of Armenia. Then let us not be afraid of Armenians losing their identity there and worry about keeping/developing this identity here. One may find many examples of modern “identity work” nowadays: ex. I like promotion of state attributes that is taking place in recent times (national anthem singing every day, a wonderful song about our flag, etc.)
Or, I bet 90% of “assimilated” Armenians have told that Arto Tunchboyajian is of their origin when they heard his songs etc. etc..
So in my perception it is about keeping/creating a product which will raise a demand for it.
Thanks for attention
Comment by Հայաստանցի — 6/11/2007 @ 12:43 pm
Genocide is not the best way to keep national identity of Armenians from my perspective. I believe that when Turks and Armenians try to understand each other, the two sides will be better off as Hrant Dink hopes.
Please let us give a chance to be close enough like six-seven scores years ago.
As Hrant said, the poison and antidote of Armenians are Turks. At the end we maintain our mutual understanding because we are Anatolian.
Comment by Ali — 6/15/2007 @ 1:13 am