Armenian Tribalism

[Rubo]

Armenian Tribalism

 

I give credit to Ara Baliozian for exposing the chauvinists, bigots, arrogant self assessed “intellectuals” and “geniuses” etc. etc.

Armenians love, yes love to discriminate among themselves-east verses western Armenians and then Lebanese, Iranian, etc. etc.

I was thinking about this indirectly for a while in a more slow taking and filtering matter and the truth is Ara is right we are caring the mentality of victims and loosers and as such instead of scoring real victories in the real world we take our petty, narrow minded prejudices upon one another-perfect tribalism in action. This forum is a perfect example, disagree with a self-appointed bigot and wait for the barrage of insults and mockery to begin. Isn’t this what Ara is talking about by saying Ottomanized, Sovietasized, Orientalized etc.Yes, honesty among our race is rare, I don’t know how many times I heard our chauvinists boast about Armenians ability in cunning as though it is a virtue to be proud of.All the talk here about unity is just that TALK and reality is we continue to cannibalize any other Armenian who we perceive does not look like our carbon copies –call it Armenian twisted love!

Disclaimer -this post does not apply to all Armenians including on this forum.

[nairi]

I'm so sick of this, to be honest with you. Recently someone again posted some self-assessed junk in the lines of: Diaspora has not achieved what Hayastan has. I always like to think that those who believe we are different are those exact same people who create that difference for themselves.

 

Nice post Rubo.

 

Nairi

[aycemnik]

ok!!!!

I am new to this place, however I have read a few works done by Ara Barliozyan, he has some points that are most true. However he contridicts himself, by showing his huge anger in his works. Now, Ara Barliozyan, can you be the first to celebrate Ourselves, show only the good in us, any good that you can see, you must see some good in Us(Ourselves=Us=Armenians), celebrate the Spring, the flowers, show something positive......come on.

Look my dear Armenians, self criticism is healthy, that means we can think, but it has to have limits. i have seen soooo many negative views about Us by Us in this forum, that it's more then too much to take. All I know, that I KNOW MY OWN NATION TOO WELL TO EVER PUT IT DOWN, NO METTER HOW MANY NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES CROSS MY PATH. And that is my FINAL answer.

[aycemnik]

oh, and one more thing

 

I LOVE ALL ARMENIANS...ALL

[Rubo]

Aycemnik bari galust, at first I also had similar feelings about Ara’s works but upon closer examination you will find as I have that he is deeply patriotic and his criticism stem from wanting things to improve and he as a writer or any other Artist is not obligated to play a role of positive motivator or positive psychiatrist but more of somebody who dares to express the truth as perceived.

I dislike painting flowers and still lifes and my work is full of agony but underneath massage is liberation for freedom to feel real.

In America everyone constantly points out that we should be positive bla bla and even in funerals one is ashamed to cry. This is a clear example by suppressing real emotions we end up having fake half ass mediocre sentiments hardy worthy of human beings. I do miss those Armenian dramatic funerals; they only emphasized the zest and the desire for life. I know I strayed from your point slightly but it is all related. I have almost pathological aversion towards phony “positives”

Take care Ruben S.

[joseph]

Yahhhh , lets call him "SOORP ARA" or"MAHARISHY ARA" some people when they think about themselves as perfect people they cant see any good thing in other people , come on we have like any nation in this world the perfect and not perfect .If from one milion Armenians in the USA we can raise FIVE MILION DOLLERS in one day to help Armenia and Artsakh whats that tell you , that means that we still have good people among us stop kiking your self and others , if you are looking for perfect people then your looking for Angels , we are humans .

[sen_Vahan]

"If from one milion Armenians in the USA we can raise FIVE MILION DOLLERS in one day to help Armenia and Artsakh ...:"

 

Is this true? When did it happen?

 

P.S. Hovsep, not "Mishd hayenk" but "misht hay enk"

[joseph]

you did not hear about the telathon last week , MJ post the site and i watch it .

[joseph]

Sen_vahan I change my signature I hop you like it .

[aycemnik]

Dear Rubo, thank you for welcoming me.

I do agree with you that drama is essential to every Armenian, how can it not be, considering our history, our nature and our rich characters.

However, my point was, if Ara thinks that all we do is to feel sorry for ourselves, then he contridicts himself by doing the same thing in his poems.If he want's improvements then he shall be example for us and start being a little happier.

Dear Rubo, I sympathize with you, as far as your paintings. An artist should express him/herself as they see things. And when I said celebrate , I did not mean fake it. We are intitled to celebrate, we have so many things to be happy for. And I am not preaching an American idea.I am all about Armenia. I live for Armenia, I breath for Armenia. But, come on, you have to agree with me when I say, that the self critisizm among us is too much. And yes, I agree with your other point too that life has become too fake of a deal for so many. All we can do is keep our sense of identity of who we are no metter where we go.

[sen_Vahan]

Much better, thanks

[joseph]

Finaly I got it .

[Rubo]

Dear Aycemnik I share your sincere feelings about our people and this may surprise you that even Ara may share it too. One can be positive without saying things positive “heh” yes. If your car’s breaks are not functioning right and your friend tells you so: is your friend positive or negative? I find lot of wisdom in Ara’s works but then again I am not looking for hair in my meal. Often lot of intelligent people dismisse others based on few or more faults but ignore the wisdom contained in the rest. My criteria for judging an Artist, writer etc. is based on their masterpieces, their finest works rather on mediocre ones. Vincent Van Gogh did lot of mediocre paintings but we remember him based on his masterpieces. I am not saying anything very revealing but the obvious. Armenians “menc” can not have too much self criticism, on the contrary we don’t have enough of it. Proof? Just examine our corrupt government and the entire bribe infused population there. Before anybody fixes these problems one must recognize them as problems in the first place hence people whom recognize them are often called social critics but then again had they song the lamenting songs of past glories nothing would have changed.

Regards Ruben S.

Few of my favorites

 

A fanatic would rather walk a thousand miles

in the opposite direction to misunderstand you

than take a single step in your direction

to understand you.

*

For a fool, winning an argument

is more important than opening his mind.

 

What do I share with some of my fellow Armenians?

Nothing but an Ottoman background.

A source of degradation rather than pride.

*

In the kingdom of the blind

the one-eyed is king.

But if the kingdom is Armenian,

the one-eyed is blinded too.

Misery likes company, they say,

and envy is tough on the privileged.

*

I don't believe in the moral superiority of the underdog.

I have been an underdog all my life

and I have no illusions about them.

[Rubo]

Once in Greece with my new bride traveling I saw numerous shops in Athens and Islands selling fake Greek vases from the classical times and other fake ancient jewelry and I was intrigued and proceeded to ask the Greek vender about them and he answered me by” Greece is like a giant iceberg everything great is below the surface” Living in past glories does nothing for present.