Gayane

I'm trying really hard to be fair on this one (so there will be no statements from me). But please, stick to the topic, and when you do discuss the topic, stay reasonable. Hell, I'm not even sure this belongs under Love and Romance. I see no expression of either in what's being discussed.

lol... point of clarification: I am NOT anti- alcohol!!! And I won't be sending anyone to AA either...lol ...I know what you mean about the comraderie, etc etc. Sorry, guys, it's just that based on previous experience I get scared whenever I see anyone express an intense yearning for alcohol...Sorry, totally subconscious, I just caught myself. Gayancho

Nvard, I'm not going to argue with you. I've made my decision; it applies to the forums I moderate only. The other moderators can choose to act differently. Now relax and smile

I had an opportunity this morning to look at and hold an authentic Turkish Mauser, Model 1903 (the year). The owner says that when he first got the rifle it gave him a really strange vibe, a bad feeling, the creeps basically. He went to shoot it and the rifle seemed like it had a mind of its own, he couldn't control it like he could his other rifles. As he shot it he would hear screaming in the background. This is all before he figured out the association between the Turkish Mauser and Armenian Genocide. So after about 20 rounds he stopped shooting it and buried it in the basement under his house. He only took it out so that I could take a look at it because I was practically begging to see it ever since he first mentioned it. The rifle also has a bayonet that comes with it. The bayonet I couldn't even hold and had to put down as soon as I touched it. The rifle itself gave me the creeps. Not only that, it angered me to the point where I had to have it put away again because I was afraid of my own angry reaction (I don't get angered easily, and it's practically impossible to get me to the boiling point like that). When I first looked at it, within the first second I made the association with Musa Dagh. I don't know why, can't explain it, I think it might have been used there (statistically a long shot, there are many other turkish mausers out there of the same era, but I felt the connection to Musa Dagh so strongly I couldn't help it). Even now as I type this I can still feel the rifle and I can't shake the connection I made. I think it'll be giving me nightmares for a while. As you might have noticed, I usually don't post under this section; the Genocide is usually a topic I shy away from, I think because of my family's pain that resulted from it--it's a touchy issue for me, very personal whenever I sit down and discuss it with any members of my family or anyone else for that matter. But I had to post this because I've never had this kind of a reaction to the whole thing. My reaction has always been one of indignation and wounded pride, I think. Now it's anger. Haunting anger. The rifle just made the experience of the genocide for our ancestors very real for me I think. I thought it was worth sharing Gayane

Berj = Armen: We've discussed this in other thread and many came to conclusion that marrige doesn't necesserily include love (including you Gayane ). If it doesn't, than "acting romantic" after the marrige is the only thing one can get from his partner. Armen: I'm a changed woman (more on that later)

I will ask you not to use a language that others on the forum don't know or understand, at least not extensively. Everything in Russian will be deleted. I hope you understand my reasoning.

Well, I AM a big wine fan, but to look forward to alcohol??!!! Gentlemen, come now, do let us be reasonable!

I was reminded....When I was applying for naturalization, at one point during the long process I was asked whether I wanted to change my name. At the time I was so naive I didn't quite understand what was meant by that. I remember thinking to myself "why the hell would I want to change my name??!!" So I smiled to the man behind the counter and said "no, I'll keep mine, but thank you for asking"... Now I would think twice if somebody asked me that again. I wouldn't do it of my own initiative, the opportunity would have to be there. It's much "easier" to have an "american" last name. How preferrable it is I haven't quite decided. I'll tell you this much. I'll change my name to an "otar" last name if I marry a non armenian. So I think the long and the short of this is no, I wouldn't, but yes, I would if I were taking my husband's last name and he happened to be non armenian.

Lol, my mother's favorite admonition: "don't get too carried away, all this love and romance dies within the first month/three months/year/three years of marriage"(she chooses the length of time quite arbitrarily I think...lol) What do we think? I want the truth!! Does marriage kill romance? Why? Why not? How about love? All of you married folk, let's hear it! I find that armenians are very much skeptical of love and romance after marriage, whereas the western cultures (especially the americans) are ardent believers in romantic marriages.

"Arturchik", you're not the only two who speak russian, my friend. Keep that in mind. I'll leave it up to you to edit your post (I trust your judgement). (self edit: deleted the two russian phrases) [ May 04, 2001: Message edited by: Gayane ]

I think the institution of marriage has meant different things to different women over different periods in history. What do you think is the significance of marriage for women nowadays? How much has it changed or remained the same? What hopes/dreams do women have going into marriage? What part of these are they able to realize? What does a woman leave behind when getting married, if anything? What does she gain, if anything? I have a million similar questions, but you get the gist of it, I'm sure. (lol, I know, I know, Gayane is actually talking about marriage, hell must be freezing over...lol) Sound off, ladies and gentlemen, let's see what you think about women and marriage!! lol

Mersiner, Movses jan Boghos, I can certainly understand their skepticism about conventional armenian communities. Believe me, I'm a huge skeptic myself. But I really don't think that this bulletin board is "conventionally armenian". If it is, then certainly less so than you would expect. I've been on other boards that are much, much more traditional and conventional. I think we have a good mix of people here. sidenote: Boghos, guess why I'm at UCLA and not at UC Berkeley! It's all mommy and daddy's fault (addressing your earlier comment about choice of college)

Garik, eli amen inche katakies veratsum, txa jan...lol Azat, not sure what all that means (I know, I know, I'm technologically challenged ). I use netzero as my connection, and explorer or netscape to do anything online. I imagine this is what you were asking!

quote:Originally posted by Artur: P.S. Gayush, good job with the topics ... seriously [/QB] Vay aman, music to my ears Shat-shat mersi, Artur jan

lol, vay du tip...this is a serious issue!!!

Thanks, guys Movses, der hamozvats chem vor forumi het kap uni, chem uzum forumi vra kaskats netel. Garik, I'll forward you one of them (I can only imagine why you'd want it ) Mikey, I understand your point about a new email address, but that's not how I function. I don't run when something unpleasant happens. I've had that email address through all kinds of unpleasant things online for the past 4 years and I'm not about to drop everything and run because of some anonymous cowardly scumbag. (I think I'd take all of this better if they were to tell me who the hell they are). Azat, let me know what info you need. I have a yahoo account (if that's what you were asking for) Thanks a bunch, gentlemen

I know men who like women meeting the "western" standards: tall, thin, usually blonde. I know men who like "eastern" (or middle eastern) looking women: curvy, some flesh, very feminine. Then I know men who like the exotic look: a mix of the two somehow. And then there are men who'll take anything...lol...And then there are women who will kill themselves to look a certain way...They deserve each other...lol Jokes aside, I think this is a very serious issue, both for women and for society at large. Are women "oppressed" by the existence of these beauty standards? or perhaps pressured into looking a certain way? Is it "natural" for a woman to feel insecure about her appearance? How much of this is a societal construct and how much of it is a woman's own insecurity as a woman? Are the two intertwined? What about those of us who are not insecure? How have we "escaped" the "oppression"? How do these beauty standards apply to armenian women in particular? do they? In any case, let's hear it anything and everything you have to say on the issue

images/smiles/converted/icon_smile.gif

I know exactly what you mean, Edo...But I'm an eternal optimist, I refuse to learn, always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt until they do something blatantly untrustworthy (lol, one thing I've learned is that this is definitely NOT to my benefit, but I can't stop being this way; it's a part of who I am)

I've been getting all kinds of slanderous, insulting (and really quite unpleasant) emails lately. It'd be amusing if it wasn't so painful. Is there any way to find out who's sending them? (all I have is an email address they come from) All you computer people out there, please help me!!! p.s. it's interesting: all this time I've tried to live my life so as not to hurt anyone and do everything with dignity (I can be accused of everything except being a "bad person", I've made sure of that), and yet all I've gotten in return has been envy, hypocrisy, venom and spite from people. A perfect example of "life's not fair", I suppose. Oh well...(sorry, had to vent) I need help on this one...any leads whatsoever will be appreciated. Gayane

Mikey, I just noticed you getting creative with my name...lol...cute

Azat, isk inchne kez partadrum yerexayin hayeri xnamkin handznelun? Personally, I don't think we should equate substandard care with its Armenian genesis, nor should we equate quality care with its non-Armenian origins. I would look for quality first, not "armenianness"

quote:Originally posted by Azat: BTW: Gayane, I just saw your female friend, Mother Theresa and she said "Hi". Sorry could not resist, you had described the friend somewhat saint like. Sorry [/QB] Funny Actually, I wouldn't be surprised. The one (one!!!) female friend I have is an exceptional human being. Calling her Mother Teresa wouldn't be too much of a stretch Like I said, I don't trust women, but she is incredible. Lol, I just got an idea. I'm in a matchmaking mood. lol. P.S. I have to disagree with whoever said you can't/shouldn't trust your friends 100%. If there is no trust, there is no friendship. I'm not saying trust everybody, in fact, I'll be the first to say don't trust anybody, but the friends you choose you should trust not only 100, but 120%. Gayancho

Even when American women acquired the vote in 1920, they did not begin to vote in significant numbers until much later. What do you think are the conditions necessary for women's political involvement, especially using the vote? How influential is the women's vote, as such? What effect does culture have on women's voting patterns? In what numbers do Armenian women vote in Armenia? How about in the diaspora? (sidenote: If anyone has direct access to background information on armenian women's voting patterns I'd appreciate the info.)

This leads into a different and I think interesting discussion. I'll post it under another thread.