gmd

I have not been back to Armenia since before independence. I am planning a trip this year, hopefuly summer. It has been too long. I miss my relatives and I need to see my homeland. I am sure I have a romanticized view of the homeland. Despite all that I read about corruption etc, I still want to believe the best about our people. I'll have to see for myself. Good luck enker, no matter what, remember life is a journey and an adventure. It is the same old thing that gets us down.

Hi Armat, (I wonder if you are the same from the Topix forums). I empathize with your feelings. I am not far behind your age. I work to work and to support my family. Seems all I do is work and have no time for anything that is truly important. All the while it feels like time is running out. The naive energy and wonder of youth is slipping through my fingers. It is a rat race none of us can win. It is just a chace to get to the next point without knowing what it is I am even after anymore. What point is there in the unknown regardless of what it is when the hear and now is so elusive at times. If you find any answers, don't hold back, I know I could use a crutch. good luck

I think you are reinforcing Arpa's point. These are all moral victories. Turkey's population is almost 80 mil. It still holds lands we Armenians consider our homeland and it is a regionally important nations with close ties to superpowers. Armenia's population is less then 3mil it has an insignifican economy and is considered a political backwater. The brave souls who liberated Artsak also put Armenia on the map and gave it some regional importance. Those are the types of Armenians we should all strive to be.

Is there such a thing especially for Armenians? Even on these forums we seem to have a variety of "values" depending more on where we really are from and not on how Armenian any of us claim to be.

only if the DNA test is guarenteed to prove me human.

Can I fax you a copy of my hair along with a copy of 3 $50 bills?

Which of your works do you recommend that would answer my question.

That was very well put. Bravo.

The Kurdish population and overall demographics of Turkey is the Achille's heel of your nation. Armenia does not need to have overwhelming power over Turkey. Only enough to take what it needs if/when your nation is at its weakest(divided). After all this is what Turks have done historically to all other nations they conquered. Remember your own history so that you will not be too shocked when it repeats itself, with you on the receiving end.

Cool pic. I especially like the gray wolves at his feet like dogs at their master's feet.

That was not my question but I thanked you for the information out of politeness. Regardless of our differing views on religion I still respect and care for all Armenians.

Seems to me like the RA gov't is tyring to turn our heros into martyrs.

Your answers are not always clear to me. This is entirely my fault for wasting braincells, in my younger days, as if they were going out of style. You are obviously well read and knowledgable on Armenian history and issues. I don't really care too much about political ideology, especially among Armenians. Provided the philosophy in question is focused on providing some sense of unity in purpose among Armenians I am all for it. What bothers me about your writing is not criticism of the powers that be but the lack of positive direction. I think your view may be that honesty is what it is. However, without giving you too much credit in comparisson I want to point out some of the influential intelectual leaders within the American revolution. I bring this up because I do not see (or know of) such leaders among Armenians living today. You always only criticize but never seem to offer anything better. This is one problem I have come accross with many Armenians. All love to talk about things endlessly but few take up the torch and do something about it. If you know so much why do you not strive to be more then those you criticize by providing or supporting that which you see lacking within our small tribe?

I usually do. In this case it is because I object to excluding Armenians based on religion. If anything secular Armenian(ism) should be a focus of development. Failing that at least some attempt at re-examining Armenian traditions and spirituality prior to Christian invasion.

never asked but thank you for sharing. i know one priest i respect irrespective of denomination. fyi he is an Armenian Apostolic priest and married my wife and me. over the years i have become less tolerant of relgions of any kind.

But has this taught Armenians to do everything in the name of victory? Based on some of your posts I got the feeling you did not support this idea. If all this time you have been trying to tell Armenians to out-Turk the Turk then I may actually have to apologize to you.

You take what I intended as a joke far too seriously. If Armenians had it in them to be like Turks, then we would not have this discussion because Turks along with every other nationality in Anatolia would have been wiped out by Armenians who were the majority when your lot first came on the scene. I don't believe Turkey would give back even Ararat much less 4 of their regions to Armenia or anyone else. Since the founding of your republic you have had a Kurdish problem. Despite your delusions you are not invincible nor united. It is a matter of time and pressure before something gives. Armenians need to be patient and focus on building up its abilities.

I think there are different types of unity. There seems to be at least unity in purpose for Armenians I have spoken to as it pertains to strengthening the fledgling Armenian state. We may not agree on the best way to do it but at least it is something to build on.

Too many Armenians for far too long have suffered under delusions. Christ is not coming to save anyone much less us. Sooner we all accept it the sooner we can solve our own problems together. I am not posting on here for validation. Just want Armenians to start thinking about each other. Christianity is a global movement that does not further our national ambitions. If there was a god and he cared about us then he would at least send us a saviour of our own. Not make us follow a made up Jewish carpenter. If this kind of talk is uncomfortable for some then they can shut me up by discussing Armenian unity without any Christian pre-conditions.

? what ever do you mean ?

That is why I specified that Armenia and Kurdistan do not share a border. This makes it less problomatic to resolve and demographic issues. Besides look at the # of cities in the regions near to present day Armenia. This is not the most developed area of Turkey. You probably have more rural/nomadic type herdsmen as you do urban dwellers.

depends on the territories in question. i don't have exact demographic figures but based on the population size of the cities in the 5 regions bordering ARmenia/Georgia the population in those regions is less then 1 mil. go past that and then you have a demographic problem for Armenia. I figure best bet for Armenians no matter the circumstance of "Land Return" is to take what can be populated by Armenians and defended by Armenians. The rest you worry about in the future. (Hopefully after the Turks and Kurds have a couple of wars).

if you can't beat them then join them. winners write history. if its good enough for the Turkey then its good enough for Armenia!

There is more then one way to address this issue. If "lands" are returned then it depends on the lands in question. For the sake of argument we say the Turks have achieved enlightment. It may mean they provide some "lands" to Kurds as well. Assuming for the sake of argument that Armenia receives lands in the NorthEast and Kurds in the SouthEast and that these lands to not share a common border then there is not such a big problem. The lands comprising Ararat, Kars going north to the Black Sea are not heavily populated. The Kurdish population would probably be reduced by migration to a free Kurdish homeland. Additionally, Armenia can always make an agreement to exchange populations with a new Kurdish state. these are the more palatable options. if the return of lands is handled in a less then amicable fashion then it is possible that the current population of these lands would see a more drastic reduction due to fleeing from conflict. An important thing to realize is that since the Turks have not provided much to these regions in terms of development, a new gov't with a positive attitude may not be unwelcome.

A long time ago I would buy that lie. I was "fortunate" enough to receive a good Catholic education. Subsequently I began my own search for any historical basis to support the existence of Christ. If I am confused it is only on who is gaining the most by this lie. As for Armenians and Christianity, all I can tell you is that if you accept "Christian" philosophy then it is contrary to any nationalism. Accepting Christianity speeds up the destruction of Armenians. We would be better off as a people believing in ourselves and rejecting any notion of god that tells us to accept enslavement to Jewish beliefs.