Pilafhead Posted March 1, 2001 Report Share Posted March 1, 2001 The following letter was in the Feb 27, 2001 Glendale News-Press. I found the general underlying tone of it annoying and one sentence offensive. I've bold-faced the sentence that really bothered me. See what you think... Letter -- Dennis Marsh Armenian roots stay, bitterness falls away I read with interest my friend David Enslow's letter concerning Armenians. You see, Dave does business with me all the time, and he does not have a clue that I am 100% Armenian. The reason for that is simple. Upbringing. When my parents came to this country, my mother, grandmother and aunt -- via forced march from Hadgen, Turkey to Allepo, Syria -- they felt lucky to be alive and going to someplace where they might survive. Upon arrival in Pasadena, my mother kissed the ground and thanked her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for her great fortune. As members of the first Christian nation they recognized that a great honor had befallen them. The first difference between then and now was that in order for my mother to survive she would need support. That came from family members and friends already here. There was no federal assistance or welfare from the government. Following the need for survival came the need for education. At that time, there was no English as a Second Language program to coddle kids into a slow track to assimilate into our society. She was told she had 45 days to learn passable English or she would not be able to attend the Pasadena school system. She learned in 30 days. As my parents raised four children, they realized a unique thing about this country. We were all here from somewhere else that was worse. In my home, Christianity was taught as a way of life. English became the official language, so that we could survive in this great melting pot of America. We remained Armenians, yet we were now Americans first. The greatest difference that I can see between the Armenians coming here now and the ones who came before is that the first ones who knew the genocide firsthand exercised their God given and commanded right to forgive and go on with their lives. I'm 57 years of age. I know about the genocide because my parents told me about it. However, there is no anger and bitterness deep inside me like in so many people today. That is because my parents realized that the anger and bitterness would become a giant hindrance to success in this new place where who you were as an individual was more important than who you claimed to be as a nation. My Armenian brothers are allowing anger and bitterness over an atrocity that happened to very few of those that are left to control their lives today. It is incumbent upon the leaders of the Armenian churches to step up to the plate to teach and lead in forgiveness of the Turks before they destroy again the Armenian from within his soul. DENNIS MARSH La Crescenta [ March 01, 2001: Message edited by: Aghmug ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilafhead Posted March 1, 2001 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2001 quote:Originally written by D. Marsh:You see, Dave does business with me all the time, and he does not have a clue that I am 100% Armenian. The reason for that is simple. Upbringing.His upbringing should make him proud of his heritage and anyone he sees regularly should eventually become aware he is Armenian. quote:Originally written by D. Marsh:There was no federal assistance or welfare from the government. So what? Does that make the more recent immigrants lower class??? quote:Originally written by D. Marsh:At that time, there was no English as a Second Language program to coddle kids into a slow track to assimilate into our society. Yeah, and ESL was developed for a reason! quote:Originally written by D. Marsh:We remained Armenians, yet we were now Americans first. Me, too. And my grandparents felt the same way. However we remained very militantly proud of our Armenian heritage. I question if this guy is even proud of it. quote:Originally written by D. Marsh: The greatest difference that I can see between the Armenians coming here now and the ones who came before is that the first ones who knew the genocide firsthand exercised their God given and commanded right to forgive and go on with their lives. Suffering in silence is not the same as forgiving the turks. quote:Originally written by D. Marsh:My Armenian brothers are allowing anger and bitterness over an atrocity that happened to very few of those that are left to control their lives today. Of course very few are left, many were killed or disappeared into turkish society! What about the hundreds of thousands, and possibly million+ that were killed??? Based on this logic, justice should never be sought for those that are murdered.IF THIS IS THE TYPICAL FACE OF SECOND, THIRD, OR FOURTH GENERATION ARMENIAN-AMERICANS, NO WONDER MANY OTHER ARMENIANS DISLIKE US![ March 01, 2001: Message edited by: Aghmug ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilafhead Posted March 9, 2001 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 Check out what this esh wrote back to Mr. Marsh with: http://www.latimes.com/tcn/glendale/forums...tgn0012503.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raffiaharonian Posted March 9, 2001 Report Share Posted March 9, 2001 Simply put, GREAT!Bravo Mike. It was a nice and honest reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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