vava

LOL!!!! :) Thanks guys

HAHA lol - yeah Thoth, how abstarct is that? I remeber someone in another thread saying the philosphers (unlike politicians) are here to handle real problems and suggest/implement permanent solutions. so i'm reponding with this in mind - yes, my response is at least a little 'real-world'... but really, it's all the same BS in the end....

I like the first part - but I'm not sure about the latter... my support of troop deployment would be based upon the circumstances.

Although i admire the revolutionary spirit of A, I'll have vote B as I agree that arms regulation isn't a bad things (I'd rather be opposed to fanatical groups like the NRA etc.) I also would support a well-managed universal medicare system (if such exists somewhere in the world) and more transparency in the food/drug indusrty ie. mandatory labelling of all consumables (for consumer protection - GMOs, provenance of meats/fish etc). I suspect however, that this experiment will put all of these ideals in a poor light. Also, I would wonder exactly what opposition to 'open' immigration is... many of us are here thanks to 'open' immigration policies. I would think it hypocritical/oppotunistic not to support such policies after having taking advantage of them

While choosing NOT to vote may have a firm ethical basis - often times it is merely interpreted as apathy. This is unfortunate. I think in this case, and within our respective systems, a protest vote would be far more productive. As opposed to saying, 'I don't like X, and I don't like Y, so I'll vote for neither' it's more like saying, 'I'd rather vote for Z'. Here in Canada, we have a multitude of parties ruinning in almost every given riding/district that represent a plethora of issues/platforms: Environmentalists, Socialists, Libertarians, Pro-Cannabis legalisation etc. etc. etc. Often times, enough protest votes are garnered to make these issues valid political concerns.

Yes, yes, I have only noticed the red bow now that my hangover is thumping a little less on the inside of my head.

Strange how their page SO resembles Apple.com... <_< right down to the nav buttons, merchandise layout & the brushed metal look & feel... Hmph. Oh, and Azat - I have the same model

Hmmmm... I just finished watching Lost in Translation. I felt the movie was struggling to find its identity. Sophia Coppola did a fairly good job as a director - she established the emotional 'longing' the characters are both experiencing. In fact she parlays this feeling to the audience with long, slow scenes that do not develop - they did nothing for the movie... except make me feel 'longing' for the film to come to an end. Despite this, I think the acting was quite good... 6/10 (and no, not an oscar please)

Eve! Don't confuse us by biting Azat's azatar (i mean, avatar).... it's now very hard to follow (both) of your posts! BTW I hope you're loving your new machine ....

HAHAHAHAHAHA Very nice Nairi jan! I'll be sure to refer to your lovely country as such in the future

Due to Arpa's request and his kind eloquence - here's to SevMard who truly has contributed to our beloved forum. I hope that his presence and 'openness' has in turn opened some eyes and ears

.... ditto (what stormig said)

We have a homeland. What is the ROA to you? How about we rebuild that?

Exactly my point. My outlook may be less optimistic than Mouse's as his post seems to hint at a potetial good...

We are? I thought the turks have most of 'our land'. Anoushik, I don't think that a future of history lessons is going to cut it when it comes to keeping our culture vibrant (and not merely preserving it...)

To answer your question briefly, and somewhat inadequately ('cause I'm at work!) I think it would be optimistic to presume that Armenians will put aside a behaviour acquired over 90 years and merely 'move on' to something else. I think that the transition will be easy for some - but not so for many.

Sevik jan, Although the example you draw upon has some distinct parallels, I'm not entirely sure it applies. Armenians throughout the world are quite disjointed - various segments of diaspora having different challenges, adaptations and above all different 'new' realities. Perhaps even more divided than the African American (how i dislike that term) population in NAé The one sole rallying point for all Armenians, whether postive or not, has been the pursuit of genocide recognition. Like it or not, this has been a formidable unifying force for armenian people - even if they share very few other commonalities (nations of residence, political aspirations, adopted languages, cultures etc.) I'm afraid that with it's removal, our culture/people will lose an important bastion of our identity... I'm not sure how much of the population would simply re-evluate and divert their energies into other avenues (ie. the development of the ROA, for one)

It would be a catastrophe. our 'raison d'etre' would disintegrate in a matter of hours, if not minutes.

Yeah gevo - sorry about that - it's what happens when we split threads. (but you'll notice I edited your post to indicate this ) And BTW - you guys have left out finance/accounting.

Geez, I just read the positives again - MAN, i sound like a pansy! :( (and there's the self-pity) HAHAHA

Well, pretty damn close actually... In the postives, I would certainly remove 'understanding of others' as I seldom do... but I would add dedicated/loyal. In the negatives, the self-pitying really doesn't apply. Neither does the losing touch with reality part - I think I'm pretty grounded. I am a dreamer however - with all of the distraction that comes with that trait. Well there you have it

ROTFL

Aww, Sasun! You have to take the good with the bad, you 'status-seeker' you!! Errr.... sorry i'm being an idiot. I bet that's what it says under my sign - idiot.

I don't know - something tells me he couldn't possibly be for real. But he definitely deserves an Oscar for his work - he's got his act down perfectly. I admire him for his business skills...

You're right Edward! She's quite wonderful. You can see what the CBC said about here in THIS THREAD.