QRISTINE

Originally posted by QRISTINE: ... Please dont even try to compare NATIVE AMERICAN situation and Armenians because they are not the same not even close. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can you please elaborate? It seems to be they were also victims of genocide ... even on a much larger scale and they pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth. Thank god the Armenians genocide, as bad as it was, did not reach the magnitude that American Indians experienced. The only difference is that now in the US, the indians OWN the casinos and the Armenians GO to the casinos (Kirk K. being a big exception) ... ok, this last past is just a stupid joke which I couldn't hold inside I am so sorry Seaphan I did not know that Columbus was the one who discovered Armenia also. I guess that's how this everything started between Armenians and Turks I guess your right we have a lot in commen uppppppsssssssssssss

We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.”- Maugham "Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget." -G. Randolf "True friends are the people that are there for you unconditionally. They are the people that never question you and support you no matter what the circumstances are. They are the people worth living for." -unknown "Never explain yourself. Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it." -Belgicia Howell “A real friend is someone who you can sit in complete silence with and still walk away feeling like you just had the best conversation of your life.” “True friendship is when two friends can walk in opposite directions, yet remain side by side.” “Side by side or miles apart, dear friends are always close to the heart.” "We will be friends until forever, just you wait see." - Pooh Bear "My friend, if I could give you one thing, I would wish for you the ability to see yourself as others see you. Then you would realize what a truly special person you are." **"A friend is someone who can see the truth and pain in you even when you are fooling everyone else."—Unknown **"A friend is one who knows all about you and likes you anyway." --Christi Mary Warner "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." --Walter Winchell "A true friend is someone who is there for you when they would rather be someplace else." --Len Wein "Friends are like television. Some are like PBS and always asking for money. Others are like the news, with sad tales to tell everyday, some are like that one station with the foreing language; you don't understand a word of it but you listen and watch anyway. And then there are the ones like the commercials, always changes, ever-so-annoying and only seem to be there when you are bored. But every once and a while you meet someone who's like a really good movie of the week or that one tv show you hardly ever get to see anymore because you're so busy. My point is hold on to the friends you care about and since we don't have a remote control to mute someone or just change the channel, pick your friends carefully." "The road to a friend's house is never long." -Danish proverb "Friends. A simple word isn't it? It's uttered everyday to almost every person imaginable. Who are your friends? I used to think that friends were the people that you could laugh and talk to. Now I know that friends aren't that, they're the people that touch ur heart. You could spend hours with them doing nothing at all and it can be the best time of your life, just becuase it was with them. They're the people you can share your secrets with, cry with, laugh with, and just have fun with. They don't judge you or make you change. They accept you exactly as you are. They look at you and they see a great person, one they love spending time with. You all share something in common and are tied together by memories, tears, laughs and smiles. You're tied together by love for the other. Friendship is the strangest but greatest thing in the world. I find my time with my friends, the best times of my life. My friends are my heart, my soul, my fun, my laughter, tears, love and my life." -Kate Tierney "Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything." -Muhammad Ali **my favorites!!!

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving. Make every day a holiday and celebrate just living! ~Amanda Bradley A friend is a gift you give yourself. ~Robert Louis Stevenson Friendship doubles your joys and divides your sorrows. ~Author unknown Thank You Friend I never came to you, my friend, and went away without some new enrichment of the heart; More faith and less of doubt, more courage in the days ahead. And often in great need coming to you, I went away comforted indeed. How can I find the shining word, the glowing phrase that tells all that your love has meant to me, all that your friendship spells? There is no word, no phrase for you on whom I so depend. All I can say to you is this, God Bless You precious friend. ~Grace Noll Crowell Out of all the treasures in the world there is nothing more precious than giving someone a piece of your heart. ~Author unknown To love and be loved in return, is to be born anew. ~Karen Lynn A casual glance...exchanged at what cost? In that long moment...a lifetime lost. ~Sandi A. Perry Daring Greatly It is not the critic who counts Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled Or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit goes to the man who is actually in the arena Whose face is marred by dust and blood Who strives valiantly Who errs and comes short again and again. Who knows great enthusiasms The great devotions. Who spends himself in a worthy cause Who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement And who at the worst, if he fails At least fails while Daring Greatly So that his place shall never be With the timid souls Who neither know victory or defeat. ~Theodore Roosevelt Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind And therefore is wing'd cupid painted blind. ~Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. ~Goethe People will forget what you said, will forget what you did, But will never forget how you made them feel. ~Author unknown The best portion of a good man's life is his little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. ~William Wordsworth You cannot do a kindness too soon... For you never know how soon... It will be too late. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Don't Quit When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low, and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit... Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar. So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit... It's when things go wrong that you mustn't quit. ~Author unknown There is no failure except in no longer trying. ~Elbert Hubbard Expand your mind and you Expand your possibilities. ~Karen Lynn When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. ~Alexander Graham Bell Be not afraid of change: some are born to change, some achieve change, and some have change thrust upon them. ~Shakespeare Tears are often the telescope by which men see far into heaven. ~Henry Ward Beecher The soul would have no rainbow, if the eyes had no tears. ~Author unknown You have to have a darkness... for the dawn to come. ~Harrison Ford You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. ~Eleanor Roosevelt The difference between winners and losers is attitude. ~Karen Lynn It All Depends On How You Think If you think you are beaten - you are. If you think you dare not - you don't. If you'd like to win but think you can't, It's almost certain you won't. If you think you will lose, you've lost, For out in the world you'll find Success begins with a fellow's will. It's all in the state of your mind. If you think you're outclassed, you are. You've got to think high to rise. You've got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man, But sooner or later the one who wins Is the one who thinks he can. ~Author unknown Just think, you're here not by chance, but by God's choosing. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else. You are one of a kind. You lack nothing that His grace can't give you. He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation. ~Roy Lessin The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard Friendship is one mind in two bodies. ~Mencius Friends are family you choose for yourself. ~Author unknown 'Stay' is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary. ~Louisa May Alcott Friendship is like a rainbow between two hearts. ~Author unknown Friendship There's a miracle of friendship That dwells within the heart And you don't know how it happens Or where it gets its start But the happiness it brings you Always gives a special lift And you realize that friendship is God's most perfect gift. ~Author unknown A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out. ~Grace Pulpit The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away. ~Wilson Mizner Love is what's left in a relationship after all the selfishness has been removed. ~Cullen Hightower Love suffers long And is kind. Love envies not. Seeks not her own. Thinks no evil. Bears all things. Believes all things. Hopes all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Love is the reward of love. ~Schiller Love is, above all, the gift of oneself. ~Jean Anouills Love knows not its depth until the hour of separation. ~Kahil Gibran The Rose Beyond The Wall A rose once grew where all could see, sheltered beside a garden wall. And, as the days passed swiftly by, it spread its branches, straight and tall. One day, a beam of light shone through a crevice that had opened wide. The rose bent gently toward its warmth then passed beyond to the other side. Now, you who deeply feel its loss, be comforted, the rose blooms there. Its beauty even greater now, nurtured by God's own loving care. ~Author unknown (In Loving Memory of my Mother who passed beyond to the other side on 6~26~99) A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. ~Author unknown The Rose Some say Love... It is a river that drowns the tender reed Some say Love... It is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed Some say Love... It is a hunger, an endless aching need I say Love... It is a flower, and you its only seed. It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live. When the night has been too lonely And the road has been too long And you think that love is only For the lucky and the strong Just remember... In the winter Far beneath the bitter snows Lies the seed That with the sun's love In the spring Becomes the Rose. ~lyrics by Amanda McBroom

Hi Tigraness How are you doing? Nice seeing you in this forum. Thank you for the comments dont worry I allready know what is beside peoples minds BUT I AM NOT A PSYCHIC

Hi Hagarak You made my day. Hi Loreley "I was brought up to believe that all Turks were bad." What has changed your thinking I wonder? Did you fall in love one of them? "With the years, I have come to realize that I can not judge a person only for being a Turk." No one is here judging any one we are only expressing our opinions. "Children in Turkey go to school and they are taught a different history. " You are right they are teaching them how to distroy our new generation. "If you want to look at it in that way, then Native Americans should not talk to Europeans or the so called "Americans" now. Please dont even try to compare NATIVE AMERICAN situation and Armenians because they are not the same not even close.

Here some poems just for fun Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. ~Barbara Johnson The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own. ~Benjamin Disraeli To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. ~Author unknown Life The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give. The joy of life is to love. ~William Arthur Ward Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. ~Sir James Barrie Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly. ~St. Francis de Sales Hold On Tightly To What Is Truly Important In Life Hold on to faith; it is the source of believing that all things are possible. It is the fiber and strength of a confident soul. Hold on to hope; it banishes doubt and enables attitudes to be positive and cheerful. Hold on to trust; it is at the core of fruitful relationships that are secure and content. Hold on to love; it is life's greatest gift of all, for it shares, cares and gives meaning to life. Hold on to family and friends; they are the most important people in your life, and they make the world a better place. They are your roots and the beginnings that you grew from; they are the vine that has grown through time to nourish you, help you on your way, and always remain close by. Hold on to all that you are and all that you have learned, for these things are what make you unique. Don't ignore what you feel and what you believe is right and important; your heart has a way of speaking louder than your mind. Hold on to your dreams; achieve them diligently and honestly. Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit. Remember others on your way, and take time to care for their needs. Enjoy the beauty around you. Have the courage to see things differently and clearly. Make the world a better place one day at a time, and don't let go of the important things that give meaning to your life. ~Kelly D. Caron The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway. ~Henry Boye If nature has made you a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart. And though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that. ~Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess It is better to be hated for what you are, than loved for what you are not. ~Andre Gide Online Friendship Online friend I have never seen you before, but I know you are really there. I click you into reality, like magic in the air. Your voice is like an angel, though I really do not hear. Your hug as warm as any, of the loved ones I hold dear. You are always there for comfort, or a word of cheer. Though you are very far away, I always have you near. You are a very special friend, like none I have ever known. As long as you are in cyberspace, I will never be alone. ~Author unknown The heart has reasons that reason does not understand. ~Author unknown Nothing but the heart can change the heart. ~Carroll O'Connor We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. ~Goethe What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. ~Addison A smile is a curve that sets things straight. ~Phyllis Diller The Making of Friends Life is sweet because of the friends we have made And the things which in common we share; We want to live on, not because of ourselves, But because of the ones who would care. It's living and doing for somebody else On that all of life's splendor depends, And the joy of it all, when we count it all up, Is found in the making of friends. ~Edgar A. Guest Joy is a net of love that captures souls. ~Mother Teresa Some people, no matter how old they get, Never lose their beauty -- They merely move it from their faces Into their hearts. ~Martin Buxbaum A diplomat is a man who... always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age. ~Robert Frost The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others, but ourselves as well. ~Author unknown To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe. ~Anatole France If you put truth above your own desires And value those as friends who feel the same If you take pride in things that you've accomplished And when you're wrong, stand up and take the blame If you can understand your limitations And not waste time on tasks beyond your scope But take the future as a brand new challenge That you can meet with confidence and hope If you can listen to those who would advise you And then judge for yourself just what is right If you can keep in touch with all about you And settle differences without a fight If you can find delight in simple pleasures And see the rainbow, not the falling rain If you can lose and never give up trying Believing that there's nothing done in vain If you can staunchly stick by your convictions And not let others set your goals for you If you can be as practical as need be And still remember sometimes dreams come true If you can live the life that you believe in And trust your judgment and maturity Then you'll be not just happy and successful, But the worthwhile person you are meant to be. ~E. M. Gerus Time is too slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice, But for those who love, time is eternity. ~Henry VanDyke Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die tomorrow. ~James Dean Try to remember to forget Anger, worry and regret. Live while you have life to live. Love while you have love to give. ~Author unknown No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings. ~Robert Blake Dance like no one is watching and love like it will never hurt. ~Author unknown Winners Winners are people like you. Winners take chances. Like everyone else, they fear failing, but they refuse to let fear control them. Winners don't give up. When life gets rough, they hang in there until the going gets better. Winners are flexible. They realize there is more than one way and are willing to try others. Winners know they are not perfect. They respect their weaknesses while making the most of their strengths. Winners fall, but they don't stay down. They stubbornly refuse to let a fall keep them from climbing. Winners don't blame fate for their failures nor luck for their successes. Winners accept responsibility for their lives. Winners are positive thinkers who see good in all things. From the ordinary, they make the extraordinary. Winners believe in the path they have chosen even when it's hard, even when others can't see where they are going. Winners are patient. They know a goal is only as worthy as the effort that's required to achieve it. WINNERS ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU. THEY MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO BE. ~Author unknown Great is the human who has not lost his childlike heart. ~Mencius It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye. ~The Fox in The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery Live Each Day With Love Life is a constant process of growth and change. Each day is a miracle filled with new discoveries and challenges. Some days bring hurt and disappointment also, but these, too, are challenges, and as you grow and change you learn to handle them with more ease. Growing older means growing in experience, growing in courage and compassion, growing in love and growing in strength. Growing older means changing your life to make it meaningful to you, changing your attitudes, and staying flexible about everyday living. Life keeps getting better as long as you have a positive attitude. Remind yourself of all the things you love about life, stay in touch with your loved ones and friends, and do what your own heart tells you to. Your tomorrow will always bring you good things if you live each day with love. ~Donna Levine Happiness is not a destination; it is a manner of traveling. ~Author unknown The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. ~Helen Keller The only way to have a friend is to be one. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together. ~Woodrow Wilson Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity. ~Kahlil Gibran Everyone Needs Someone People need people and friends need friends And we all need love for a full life depends Not on vast riches or great acclaim Not on success or on worldly fame But just in knowing that someone cares And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers For only the knowledge that we're understood Makes everyday living feel wonderfully good And we rob ourselves of life's greatest need When we 'lock up our hearts' and fail to heed The outstretched hand reaching to find A kindred spirit whose heart and mind Are lonely and longing to somehow share Our joys and sorrows and to make us aware That life's completeness and richness depends On the things we share with our loved ones and friends. ~Helen Steiner Rice When you open your heart, You open your mind. ~Beth Mende Conny Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories. ~Author unknown Remember that a little love goes a long way. Remember that a lot...goes forever. Remember that friendship is a wise investment. Life's treasures are people...together. Realize that it's never too late. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Have health and hope and happiness. Take the time to wish upon a star. And don't ever forget...for even a day, How very special you are. ~Douglas Pagels Collection Love is not two people gazing at each other, but two people looking in the same direction. ~Antoine de Saint Exupery The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes Always Have A Dream Forget about the days when its been cloudy, but don't forget your hours in the sun. Forget about the times you've been defeated, but don't forget the victories you've won. Forget about the misfortunes you've encountered, but don't forget the times your luck has turned. Forget about the days when you've been lonely, but don't forget the friendly smiles you've seen. Forget about the plans that didn't seem to work out right, but don't forget to always have a dream. ~Author unknown

Hi Varduhi It depends if the love is true, if its really not, then definitely I would save friendship, but if the love is very true then I would choose to save my love because you can always make new friends but can only have one TRUE LOVE in your life. I think my love would be enough for me to talk to and be friends with.

Hi Seaphan I did not say I wont marry a guy who do not belive in God in fact my dad is not beliver. But I personally think that would be great if the person that I am going to be with has faith in God. I think the reason I am here now becasue of my faith. Seaphan dont get me wrong I do not judge anyone in this world but I also can not love the people who exucuted my relatives neighbors etc...... As a 6 year old child not understanding what was war about I was unfortuanate enough to see all this cruelties that were done to Armenians and of course if we did not followed their rules we would of end up one of the people who were shut to death. SO do not get me wrong whoever proably experinced what I did would never like them I garatee you that for sure.

Hi to all Armenians in this forum and others Thank you all so much lets have a toast lol according to this.Hi Hybruin lets drink and invite Seaphan over so he does not need to feel like he is not part of Armenian (joke)

EVEN A TURK? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

When I say ‘I want to marry an Armenian,’ what I really mean is that I want to perpetuate a vision that I believe God has placed in this world, our ancestors have defended it and I believe in its value. I want to marry an Armenian in order to maintain a God created vision and a way of life established by my ancestors. I want to be part of a vision in life, a member of a community that has lasted for millennia. This is what marrying an Armenian means to me. By marrying an Armenian I am not running away from something, but instead remaining part of a vision that not only spans throughout the world, but also spans over thousands of years. There maybe some people who will misinterpret what I say as ‘chauvinistic.’ That is not my intent and I will not be apologetic to those people. There may also be others, likely Armenians, who will try to twist my words and say that you should marry an Armenian because ‘Armenians are better than others.’ I do not believe that either and I certainly do not support those views. So, if there are people in those two groups who will read and misinterpret what I have to say here, I really cannot help them. For me, I must say that my Christian faith and cultural identity are intertwined. The two go hand in hand! I really think we are very unique among Christian people because of that. I cannot see being Christian in any other community. It is not to say that Armenians are better or worse than others. Since I have learned this sense of spirituality – the interweaving of the abstract faith and the concrete culture in which that faith takes shape, I cannot imagine any other way for me to practice my Christianity. Actually our work today is easy. Our grandparents who were massacred in the 1915 Genocide had the tougher job. They are the ones who had to face the ultimatum. We don’t. Now the least we can do is keep our name and maintain our faith and heritage. There are many non-Armenians who still wonder if there is a country called ‘Armenia’ or a people who are called ‘Armenians.’ They have read about us in history books and they wonder. It may sound ridiculous but it is real! It is our responsibility to be both proud of this heritage and inform others about the brave and faithful people whose descendents we are. When non-Armenians hear about how we have survived, they do not say something like: “What’s the big deal about surviving thousands of years?!” Believe it or not, the people who most generally make this statement are other Armenians. But generally non-Armenians are awed and many are happy for us. So why should I ignore something that is so inspirational to so many? I don’t believe that what I am saying here is true of all Armenians. There are some for whom the Armenian heritage does not make a difference. Fine. That is how God has created them. For me though, there is a piece of my life, a major portion that is simply rooted in the Armenian faith and heritage. I know it! Actually, I would encourage marrying someone of own cultural background to all people who have a cultural heritage and an affinity to maintain it. It is not just for Armenians but for people who have a sense of history – be that a three thousand year history or a three hundred year one. I think this is most true in the United States where a homogenous culture does not exist. As a result, if you don’t belong to an Armenian, Greek, German, Irish or another ethnic community, with whom will you associate? The people at work? Once in a while mix with the neighbors at a block-barbeque? Just where are you going to go with your family to share some in depth thoughts and feelings about life, history, the arts, humanity, and religion? That is why I just cannot see myself marrying someone other than an Armenian. To say that I did not try to go out with non-Armenians would be a lie. I tried. But it just wasn’t true to me! I could not see myself living in such a relationship the rest of my life. Sure, I could love that one person. But what community would I live in and associate with? Maybe it is just me, but I want to be part of the total humanity and history, and not just my family and neighborhood. Marrying an Armenian, I believe will give me the depth and breadth to continue maintaining that overall perspective of life. This ‘depth and breadth’ in life I believe will also manifest in the daily situations. If my partner is an Armenian, it will be much easier to communicate with each other. It does not matter if I am born in the U.S. or overseas. If I have an Armenian heritage and am close to the Armenian community, there are many aspects about me that only another Armenian can easily understand. Can a non-Armenian eventually understand me? Of course! If there is enough love and hard work, we can understand each other regardless of where we come from. I truly believe in the power of love that God has placed in us. Yet, the chances are better that another person with an Armenian background will understand me better than one without. I must add of course, there is no guarantee that someone with an Armenian background will understand me either. We are speaking here of probabilities! I know that I don’t have all the time in the world. So, to improve my chances of finding fulfillment in my relationships, I am trying to find a soul mate in the Armenian community as opposed to looking for someone at large. For both parents to come from an Armenian heritage I believe also helps the children and their sense of identity and belongingness. I believe that the children tend to have (and I want to emphasis ‘tend’) a clearer sense of identity if both parents come from the same background. Sure some people say that if the parents come from different backgrounds then the children will be more diverse. I think identity is like learning a language. It is always better to learn one language very well, rather than learning two languages half way. Being from one cultural heritage helps the children learn one culture very well and then expand and diversify from that culture. I must also add that the Armenian culture is very rich in spiritual and family values, so it is a good culture in which to grow and through it learn to appreciate other cultures. I believe this makes a difference in the religious aspect of a family as well. There are many Armenian traditions that are based upon the Christian faith that bring the whole family together. When we as spouses have a common religious heritage then I would not feel that I have to explain, apologize or defend my religious traditions. I believe that the children would see this and they will be inspired. But if there are differences in our religious backgrounds, then the children would become confused. In fact, I would think, though I am not sure, that if the children see that attending one Church as opposed to another is going to cause complications between the parents, they may tend to stay away from all Churches and even religion completely. Again though, I must go back and say that there are many children from all Armenian families who simply do not go to Church. At the same time, there are children from families where one parent is Armenian and the other is not where the young people serve in the Church faithfully. So I must remind you, I am speaking of probabilities for which there are always exceptions! I believe that if children do not grow up with an appreciation of their parents’ religious and cultural heritage, then the children will not fully understand their parents. So this is not just for the long-term interest of the children or lets say for the sake of the nation. No, it is for the interest of the parents as well! I think that when there is no commonality of culture between parents, there is another more subtle loss that takes place within the family. I believe that if both parents come from the same religious and cultural heritage, then they have more time to focus on the deeper and multi-layered aspects of life. But if the parents come from different backgrounds, since they likely cannot do everything together, they will tend to leave out the real deep and unique aspects of each parent’s background. Instead, they will engage in activities that are more individual person oriented as opposed to the larger family and community oriented. They will tend to lose the breadth and depth of life. I think this robs both the parents as well as the children from the beauty of the community life. Again I am sure there are exceptions. To illustrate my point, let me give you a real living example. We have a person who is not married to an Armenian but he is really attached to his Armenian identity. Unfortunately, because his wife is not Armenian, she does not come to any of the Armenian functions. They are a good couple, and love each other as husband and wife. There is no question about that. They will not divorce! I can guarantee you that! Yet, the husband generally feels lonely, and he has said so, when we have an event and his wife is not present. In addition, both his sons, 18 and 16 years old, do not attend any of our Armenian gatherings because they never bothered to learn the Armenian language, religious belief or cultural traditions. The issue here is not to establish blame – his fault or her fault. That would be a very selfish and arrogant approach. Rather, we have to accept that that is one of the likely consequences of a marriage between two people of different heritage. In fact, the husband has given-into this reality and admits openly: “My Armenian heritage is going to die with me because my wife and sons don’t understand me!” So are they happy as a couple? I would say “Yes!” But is he, the husband, fulfilled? I would say “No!” I do not know about the wife. Would she be fulfilled if her husband is not? I guess you will have to ask her. But here is the point I am trying to illustrate: Marrying a person you love can lead to happiness. If that person is also Armenian and shares your beliefs and heritage, then I think it can lead to even greater fulfillment in life. This is the vision that I have and this is why I want to marry an Armenian!

Barev Seaphan Inds es xosatsnum nuin turkere chein vor kotoretsin 1 u kes million haiutiian ev minchev ors el chen uzum chanachel irents kataratse TESEXASPANUTIONE de vor aidkanits heto du drants mard es hamarum el xosk chunem aselu kez. DROITS " ES VOCH MI JOXOVRDI HANDEP ATELUTION CHUNEM, BAITS VAY AIN AZGIN, VOR KHAMARDSAKVI VATUTUION ANEL HAI JOXOVURDIN, NA LINI TURK, RUS KAM AIL AZGI, ES ZENK PITI VERTSNEM NRA DEM.

Hi Lorely Welcome to Armenian forum I believe that people should marry the person they love and it does Not matter what is their ethnic background. Although it is important to keep our culture alive, it is also vital to see each other as primarily individuals. Race is a socially cronstructed category and it does Not define who we are (it only influences it). I want to marry a good person and I don't care about his race or ethnicity. I don't think that if I marry a non-Armenian person, I will less of an Armenian or the other way around. As you mentioned that it is important to keep our culture alive how you are going to keep your culture alive if you are married to a Turk? how you ever thought about it? Ok lets put it this way if the guy you love is a Turk are you still not going to consider his background or race?

Hi Seaphan I agree with you on that one too. I worked and still working so hard but haven't recieved the best thing yet. But I am guessing I am still young hopefully I will get the best thing one day.

READ EACH ONE CAREFULLY AND THINK ABOUT IT A SECOND OR TWO. 1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you. 2.No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry. 3.Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. 4.A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. 5.The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them. 6.Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile. 7.To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. 8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you. 9.Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful. 10.Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened. 11.There's always going t be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around. 12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you. 13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to. REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

Hi dear Varduhi Thank you for your messages I am very appriciated also thank you all FOR YOUR COLD AND WARM RESPONSES. I am through with this question I realized none of us can make each other to love something that they dont have feelings for. For me is Armenians like my family members and specially when comes to the topic where what I think about marring someone out of your nationality I WOULD SAY BE ARMENIAN WHEREWER YOU ARE.I respect other nationalities as well but in this case I would prefer marring somenoe who shares my culture, religion and costoms. Good bye

Hi thoth My suggestion will be to you to talk to Paruir Sevak and find out the clear point of this poetry.

clear definition who Armenians are. We are few but we are called Armenians We do not put ourselves above anyone Simply we also admit that we, only we have Mount Ararat And that it is right here on the clear Sevan that the sky could make its exact duplicate Simply David has indeed fought right here Simply the Narek was written right here Simply we know how to build from the rock, a monastery How to make fish from stone, how to make man from clay To learn to become the student of the beautiful, the kind, the noble, and the good We are few, but we are called Armenians We do not put ourselves above anyone Simply our fortune has just been so different Simply we have just shed too much blood Simply in our lives of centuries long When we were many and when we were strong Even then we did not oppress any nation See, centuries have come and centuries have passed Yet over no one have we become tyrants If we have enslaved, only with our eyes And if we have ruled, only with our books If we have prevailed, only with our talents And if we have ever oppressed, it has only been with our wounds Simply with us death had fallen in love Yet we willingly did not give ourselves And when we were forced to leave our own land Where ever we reached, where ever we went Everywhere we left indelible trace We have joined efforts for everyone, always We plowed everywhere, we built bridges, we tied arches We plowed everywhere and we brought forth crops We gave everyone mind, proverbs, and songs Another words we defended them from spiritual coldness Every where we left our eyes reflection A peace of our soul and a sacrament from the heart itself We are few, truly, but we are Armenians And by being few we do not succumb Because it is better to be few in life, then to control life by being many Because it is better rather to be few, then to be masters by being many Because it is better to be few, then to be swindlers We are few, yes, but we are Armenians And we know how to sigh from yet unhealed wounds But with a new juice we rejoice and we cheer We know how to thrust into the foe's side And how to lend a helping hand to our friend How to repay goodness which was done to us by compensating for each one by ten And the benefit of it just in the sun We vote with our lives, not only with our hands Yet if they desire to rule us with force We know how to smoke and how to quench their fire And if it is needed to disperse darkness we can turn into ashes like burning candles And we know as well how to make love with lust And we do this always by respecting others See we do not put ourselves above anyone, but we know ourselves We are called Armenians And why should we not feel pride about that We are, We shall be, and become many

Hi gamavor Your a good poster and letter bold makers. Armenian forum seems like paying you for the generous actions loooooooool I think every body in this chat has a perfect vision so dont worry about making them too dark or bigger.

Hi GAMAVOR If you are Armenian then you should know perfectly what does mean to be pure Armenian. So do not make it complicated your statements if you have other things to say or argue then go for it I dont have time for it. YOU CANT TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO HAVE LOVE TOWARD YOUR NATION.

Hi Seaphan I know exacly what you mean. It is kind of hard to predict the future now but who knows. I personally think it is not right to make your kids get married at the age of 9 first of all they mental thinking is not ready to make family decions.

Hi Varduhi I personally think people should marry the person they love of course they still have to consider their parents opinion because like it sayed love is blind so most of the time youths make mstakes when they are in love so in that case will be nice to consider your parents opinions otherwise you might regret it later on. But I belive in love marriges because I dont even think it is logical to force or arrange marrige for someone who has no affection feeling for the person they are going to be married with.

Hi VARDUHI It is pleasure to know that somewhere out there that there are clever Armenian like you. Thank you

Hi Thoth Do you really want to know why pure Armenians bother to learn English or any other languages? Think for second more languages you know then you have better chance of surviving in this world and it makes you intellegent person. And English is my 3 rd language :0 So I consider myself intellegent and PURE Armenian. And if you think more language you know then you will become a stranger to your own nationality then we all have different level of knowledge.

HI TOOTH TO TEACH YOU MORE ABOUT GRAMMAR LOL