"#TURKEYFAILED BECAUSE I LIVE IN ARMENIA, AND SO SHOULD YOU"
15:01, April 27, 2015
By Raffi Elliott
As the world's Armenian community gears up to commemorate the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman
Turks, the hashtag #TurkeyFailed has been trending across Armenian
social networks.
The phrase, usually followed by accounts of multi-generational survival
uploaded onto the web by Armenians, is meant to empower the descendants
of these genocide survivors.
As photos of survivors, and their progeny are shared and commented
on, we are reminded that though 1.5 million of our grandparents were
dehumanized, robbed of their birthrights, their possessions, marched
into deserts and brutally massacred, yet the five hundred thousand or
so who survived managed to, as William Saroyan so eloquently put it
"laugh, sing and pray again"; building "a new Armenia" in the four
corners of the globe.
They passed on as best they could their culture, traditions and
language to new generations of Armenians, now totaling over 7 million
people.
However, declaring that "Turkey Failed" at this time would be
similar to declaring victory over shark-kind while still floating
in shark-infested waters: Though the immediate danger may have been
averted, we, as a nation, are not out of the woods yet.
The fact that I need to write this piece in English, rather than
Armenian in order to reach the majority of my compatriots living
in dispersed communities around the globe attests to the fact that
we have sacrificed a lot for survival. Our language, culture, and
traditions are constantly being diluted despite our best efforts,
as we continue to live in lands which we do not call our own, while
the concept of a hyphenated Armenian becomes increasingly solidified.
In the 21st century, it is no longer enough for Armenian people to live
with the hope of indefinitely preserving Armenian identity, language,
culture and traditions in suspension in their newfound homes abroad.
Despite hollow promises that we make to ourselves, that we are ready,
at a moment's notice to return to our ancestral land, how many of us
are ready to leave our cozy city lives, our jobs, and the communities
we helped reconstruct over 3 generations to go back to mud brick
villages in eastern Anatolia?
I can recall, back in my native Canada visiting family, discussing
my new life in Armenia with local Armenian friends and finishing our
conversations with the question: "And when will you be joining me in
Armenia?" I would always get an embarrassed response in the form of
"some day". Our lack of readiness to leave these comfort zones was
most exemplified by the destruction of the well established Armenian
communities in Iraq, and now Syria.
Turkey's failure will only truly be complete when we secure the
existence, and sustainability of the Armenian nation. This, of course,
can only be done when the majority of those living in the Diaspora,
those who seek the preservation of their cultural heritage, will begin
to see the Republic of Armenia as a genuine option for establishing
themselves, raising families, and contributing to.
After all, the job is not yet done. Our young republic, which we
inherited 76 years after the Genocide, still deals with many of the
typical issues that a start-up nation, with a soviet legacy would be
expected to.
Armenia still struggles with corruption, an imperfect democratic
process, economic stimulation, emigration, and the precarious nature
of its geopolitical location. Despite all this, Armenia offers unique
opportunities for those who wish to contribute. The country changes
at an astonishing rate. Despite a century of separation and contrasts
between the soviet and diaspora experience, many repatriates are
pleasantly surprised to discover how much they share with their
local contemporaries.
Almost four years ago, wishing to bank on this opportunity, I made the
move here, established a business, employ a modest number of people,
and pay taxes to the State. I am setting the foundations for a family
here, and live what can best be described as a 'normal' life.
I say this not to invoke the envy of the readers, but to explain
why, in my case at least, #TurkeyFailed. For the first time in three
generations, on the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, a member of
my family will be in Armenia. My hope is that my story doesn't remain
be unique.
Those, like me, who wish to see a strong, economically sustainable,
democratic and forward looking homeland, as opposed to one that dwells
in its past, should know that Armenia doesn't need your money or pity.
Armenia needs you. Armenia needs Armenians to populate the country,
contribute to its job market, its economic development, cultural
institutions, and the demand for political change.
Until independence, the common line was: "As soon as we reestablish
an independent Armenia, I will the first on the plane over there".
This has only materialized for a small number. Today, there no more
excuses:
Many opportunities exist for those who want to help complete "Turkey's
Failure" and subsequently Armenia's victory, by living here.
Those who may want to reconnect with Armenia's culture can always
make use of resources online, such as the Armenian Virtual College's
Armenian lessons; they can receive a world-renown education at both
the undergraduate and graduate levels at the American University of
Armenia, or simply try out life in Armenia to see if it's right for
them, by applying for the 3 month professional internship program at
Birthright Armenia. Resources such as the Repat Armenia Foundation
dedicate themselves to helping Armenians from the diaspora to reclaim
their birthright, and establishing themselves in their homeland. The
possibilities are endless, the reasons are countless.
100 years after we were chased out of our lands, it's time to come
home. Only then, we can truly say that #TurkeyFailed
(Raffi Elliott is a Yerevan-based commentator on Armenian political
and economic issues. His views are published on his blog www.mshak.org)
Top photo: Author's grandfather, a Genocide survivor, with his children
in Aleppo. (Circa 1940s)
http://hetq.am/eng/n...should-you.html
