What Does It Mean To Be An Armenian

[Anoushik]

I don't know if this post belongs in "Culture" or "Diaspora".

 

I have been thinking about this subject a lot recently. What does is mean to be an Armenian? And furthermore, what does it mean to be an Armenian in the United States or anywhere else outside of Armenia?

 

I know that I speak Armenian (unfortunately not as well as I'd like) and I'll teach my future children how to speak Armenian as well but then what? As my husband and I talk about children in our near future I ponder what my children's experience will be as Armenian-Americans. My duty is to teach them their mother language, yet of course I want them to succeed in the U.S. as well, which means of course them mastering the English language. Eventually they will be fully integrated in the American society (which I'll fully support if I want them to be successful), and for them being Armenians will just be an abstract concept, much like for their American friends who'll list that they are of English/German/Spanish (etc.) descend. But at least my future children will speak Armenian. But what about my future grand-children? They won't be able to speak the language anymore. Maybe they'll understand a few simple words and sentences but that will be all.

 

I told my husband that if we wanted to continue our Armenian lineage then we had to pack up and move back to Armenia and stay there. And our children and their children would have to stay there. But realistically, we can't do that. Eight years ago when I joined this forum I was young and idealistic and I imagined that one day I'd be back in Armenia. The truth is, I have become too integrated in the American culture. I have certain expectations about how I should be treated and how I should treat others, and I really doubt that I could keep those expectations in Armenia. I would not be able to survive there with my American education and my American experience in life.

 

So what does that say about me as well? Am I Armenian or am I Armenian-American? I already feel like I'm Armenian-American because even though I speak Armenian at home (most of the time at least) and eat lavash and tanov apur I also mainly interact with the American culture through work. And being a teacher I teach the American ideals of equality and respect to all my students. So if I no longer feel like I'm solely Armenian and have to call myself an Armenian-American then who am I to insist that my future children "remain" Armenian? And again, what does it mean to be an Armenian in the first place?

 

What are your experiences with those questions?

[Yervant1]

This is a dilemma that most Armenians in the diaspora are faced with, the heart says to stay Armenian at all costs but the head says you can't run from the eventuality which is assimilation and Armenian only by name or family origin.

All we can do is try our best by educating our children and hoping that they will do the same with their children.

[gamavor]

Eight years ago when I joined this forum I was young and idealistic and I imagined that one day I'd be back in Armenia. The truth is, I have become too integrated in the American culture. I have certain expectations about how I should be treated and how I should treat others, and I really doubt that I could keep those expectations in Armenia. I would not be able to survive there with my American education and my American experience in life.

 

Anoushik, the World is not static and Armenia is one of the places that develop faster than many other places. The main reason why Armenians at this stage and age, live outside of the country is because they cannot enjoy the conveniences and the income they have in the West or in Moscow, for example. The whole existence of the Diaspora should evolve around having prosperous, just and free Armenia.

[Anoushik]

This is a dilemma that most Armenians in the diaspora are faced with, the heart says to stay Armenian at all costs but the head says you can't run from the eventuality which is assimilation and Armenian only by name or family origin.

All we can do is try our best by educating our children and hoping that they will do the same with their children.

Yes, Yervant jan, that's all we can do. But that means we realize that each successive generation will be less Armenian.

 

I still ask... what does it mean to be Armenian? Especially in this global world? It's interesting that I lost that feeling of being Armenian.

[Anoushik]

The whole existence of the Diaspora should evolve around having prosperous, just and free Armenia.

Well, isn't that what the diaspora has been focusing on all along, with the donations and contacts with Armenia?

 

It takes a lot out of the individual to focus on having a prosperous and free Armenia. And without individuals we have no collective diaspora, of course. So the question becomes, can a person lead a successful American life and yet also focus on having a free and just Armenia? In my experience it's either one or the other, simply because of the demands and the stress the American lifestyle bestows on the person.

[Yervant1]

Yes, Yervant jan, that's all we can do. But that means we realize that each successive generation will be less Armenian.

 

I still ask... what does it mean to be Armenian? Especially in this global world? It's interesting that I lost that feeling of being Armenian.

Anoushik Jan, I don't believe that you lost the feeling of being Armenian. This subject topic is the proof of it that the feeling is well and alive in you. As for the definition of what does it means to be Armenian, I don't think we have a definite answer that everybody can identify with it. If every member tried to come up with one, all will be somewhat different than each other according to one's priority, to some it's the language to others the literature, music and let's not forget the food. For me it's the awareness of belonging.

[Anoushik]

For me it's the awareness of belonging.

That's a great way to put it. I agree, it's the feeling of belonging. But that means it's only our generation who'll feel that way. What about the future generations?

[Yervant1]

That's a great way to put it. I agree, it's the feeling of belonging. But that means it's only our generation who'll feel that way. What about the future generations?

When I was your age, without children the feeling was like you, but now that I have grown children and they do have that belonging feeling because I see it daily in them then I say that hope is not all gone. Just plant the feeling of belonging in the next generation after that just go on living don't look too deep into the abyss.

[MosJan]

Anushik jan shat djvar tema es batsel

 

guce yes el mi ban sovorem.. i vercha amen or nuyn hartser@ xndirner menq unenq mer tan@..

[ED]

Yes kaseye, yete mi tunk hoxits hanumes u urish hoxi mejes portsum ajatsnel, ardyunq@ nerka iravijakne, lines hay kam Irlandatsi......etc

 

ove portsel Hayastani xaghoxi shim@ tnkel es yerkrum? ajume ayo bayts nuyn hamn u hot@ chuni.

Edited November 11, 2011 by ED

[MosJan]

portsel em bayst voch xaghogh, iyl tsiran.. shlori hama tali s:(

[MosJan]

600 tary Parskastani HAykakan Gaghut@ aprel yev mnatsel e hay, haskanali e 19rd darum shat yev shat HAyer gnatsel hamalrel en irents sharqer@ sakayn Parska-Haykakan GAghut@ ka yeyv der Hye e.. nuyn Sirya , nuyn@ Beyrut,, iharke kan mardiq ov dzulvel myadzulvel en parsiknerin, arabnerin fransyatsinerin yev aylonts.. sakan iren avel pind avel kayun Hayer eyin qayn yerevi te menq iys USA kochvats Christonya anvanvogh yerkrum.. nayum em shrjapat@ 50/50% 50% der ka 50% arden dzulvel gnatsel e,, yev tsavaln iyn e or et gnatsats moratsatsner@ vatabanum en en muys kesin..

[Arpa]

What does it mean to be an Armenian?

To be Armenian is to have Khash for brekfast, drink furkush kafe at 10 AM break, eat dolma for lunch, have basturma for snack and shish kebab for dinner.

Oh, oh!! And not to forget to go to the Time Square on April 24.

Edited November 12, 2011 by Arpa

[Yervant1]

Movses Jan, Muslim countries have a way of keeping us Armenian unlike Europe or North America, we need to be reminded at all times that we are Armenian otherwise kiss it goodbye.

[MosJan]

tsavoq srty jisht es barekam

[MosJan]

Anushik jan , kartsum em pit gas mer tun mi 2 or mnas.. tesness te inch "paterazm" e amboghj or@ Hayeren xoselu hamar.. sakayn nayev asem.. ayd amboghj hognatsutyun "paterazm@ achqit el chi yereva yerb yerexat tothovum lezvov hayreniov mi ban e asum.... it all pays offf

 

hametsy yerb tsankanas

[Boghos]

Once you are in the diaspora it is just a matter of time. The only thing left will be the ian/yan at the end of your surname. Nothing to worry about, just how things work.

[Anoushik]

Mosjan, yes el em hamadzayn vor musulmanakan yerkrnerum hay hamaynq@ shat hesht he amur pahel vorovhetev harts@ kroni u tarber kyanqi motetsman harts e. Aystegh bolors nuyn arzheqner unenq kam el dzktum enq ayd arzheqnerin.

 

Boghos, that's the reality, right? Then why are we kidding ourselves? That means we are all hypocrites, living here, trying to lead the good life and yet wishing to keep our culture. Yes, we're keeping our culture, but not for too long.

[Anoushik]

I'd like to bring this discussion up from another point of view, that of the immigrant (or the child of the immigrant) trying to fit in and thrive in our adopted country. If one is to fully succeed in America then one needs to fully integrate in the American culture and accept its values and morals. Yet we all know so many Armenians living in America who - in an effort to remain "Armenian" - are only living in the past, refusing to learn from the American culture. They are very nostalgic about their past and idolize everything that happened in Armenia while they lived there, forgetting the reason they chose to leave the country in the first place. So, the question becomes, is it healthy then to hang on to the past and try to desperately keep one's "culture" in America?

[Yervant1]

Anoushik what you are saying is not an Armenian thing it's human conditioning. When lots of people came to North America, escaping the Lebanese civil war were dying to be here and grateful at first, few months later they were complaining that life was better in Lebanon even under the bombs go figure. Humans are always has been nostalgic about their youth days or the past when it's not around them anymore when they are out of their comfort zone.

 

I wouldn't call them hypocrites because they are all trying to do their best at keeping what's dear to their hearts.

What about those Armenians who are not from Armenia and who have been here and there and everywhere?

[Anoushik]

Anoushik what you are saying is not an Armenian thing it's human conditioning. When lots of people came to North America, escaping the Lebanese civil war were dying to be here and grateful at first, few months later they were complaining that life was better in Lebanon even under the bombs go figure. Humans are always has been nostalgic about their youth days or the past when it's not around them anymore when they are out of their comfort zone.

That's true.

 

What about those Armenians who are not from Armenia and who have been here and there and everywhere?

My experience with those Armenians has been that they are also nostalgic about their "homeland", which could be Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, etc.

[Azat]

I'd like to bring this discussion up from another point of view, that of the immigrant (or the child of the immigrant) trying to fit in and thrive in our adopted country. If one is to fully succeed in America then one needs to fully integrate in the American culture and accept its values and morals. Yet we all know so many Armenians living in America who - in an effort to remain "Armenian" - are only living in the past, refusing to learn from the American culture. They are very nostalgic about their past and idolize everything that happened in Armenia while they lived there, forgetting the reason they chose to leave the country in the first place. So, the question becomes, is it healthy then to hang on to the past and try to desperately keep one's "culture" in America?

 

I personally dont think one has to have one or the other. One can immerse themselves in the American culture(whatever that may mean) and at the same time remember the past and honor the past and in some ways keep their Armenianness(not really sure what that may mean). I do agree with Boghos that at some point it will all be gone. People of the past were able to keep their culture and identity mostly because we did not have globalism and did not have the communication and technology to allow us to integrate with others as fast