Armenian Youth in US

[KoRn]

hi everybody

 

I don't live in LA, but I often vist some family friends who live in LA. One thing that I notieced about the Armenian youth in LA is how ignorant, and clueless they are towards ARmenian culture and language. Of course, I can't say the same thing about everybody because I think that being informed about your own culture comes within your own family and your interet in it.

I never hear the youth speaking ARmenian with each other like they're embarassed or something. When I do speak ARmenian they look at me weird.

Living far away from the ARmenian community I have to speak english all the time (except at home of course), so whenever I get the chance to go to LA I always speak ARmenian with everybody.

I never even try to speak english with any Armenian, since there's no reason for me to speak english with them if we have a language of our own. Most of them do not know who Martiros Saryan, Minas Avetissian, Komitas, hambartsumian, Carzou and many other great armenians are. They think that knowing about the Genocide is enough to understand the Armenian culture and the past which is not right since Armenian culture doesn't evolve around the genocide and ARmenians as a nation do not represent the event of 1915.

Knerek artahaitutians hamar baits shater@ debilen metsanum, kani vor voch miain irank gaxapar chunen hay mets mardkants masin, ailev urish ergrneri haitni groxneri, gitnakanneri masin. Es noritsem asum vor bolori masin chem xosum, kani vor shat xelok jahelnerel kan mez mech, baits shater@ bani petk@ chen ev hetagaium irantsits inchen nerkakaitsnelu chgitem.

I know some Armenian 22 years olds from where I live who have no idea that last year was the 1700 anniversary of Christianity in Armenia and when I told them about it they were all like "wow, you're so smart for knowing that" which has nothing to do with me being smart or dumb since it's my duty as an Armenian to know such a basic fact as being the 1st Christian nation.

My father travelled to Armenia few months ago and he was so impressed with the youth over there. He said that there's so many talented kids, unlike here.

I didn't mean to be disrespectful to anybody but I'm just saying what I have noticed.

[MosJan]

Welcome to Hye Forum !!!

 

i will get back to this topic in next 2 days /

 

MOvses

[Sip]

Well, I didn't know that either but I figure some things are worth knowing and some things are not. I won't lose much sleep over not knowing that amazing fact

 

But I do pride myself in knowing that the "Hundred Years War" lasted for about 116 years and that the Russians celebrate the "October Revolution" in November

[Harut]

KoRn, inchpes du asaci, ays harcin @nhanrakanov motenal@ sxal e, bayts petq e asem, vor yerb teghapoxveci LA, indz zgum ei inchpes kzgayi Hayastani amenaxul u ktrvats gyugheric mekum` vortegh jhoghovurd@ shat mets hpartutyun e cucaberum irenc hay linelu mej, bayts gaghapar chunen angam hay lezvi, mshakuyti, yev ashxarhahayaci tarrakanneri masin: Cavoq srti, ays vi&ak@ voch miayn yeritasardutyan mot e, ayl nayen` metsahasakneri: Bayc amenamets cav@ ayn e, vor ashxarh@ (gutse sa shat @nhanrakan e, bayts LA@ kareli e hamarel ashxarhi poqr model@) hayerin yev hayi eutyan@ tsanutanum e ays mardkanc mijotsov:

 

cavali e:

[Loreley]

Korn: Thanks for sharing your concerns. Honestly, I speak much more Spanish than Armenian because I feel more comfortable and have more knowledge of the Spanish language. Am I less of an Armenian? I don't think so. When I am with Armenians, if we have the same dialect, I speak in Armenian. If we have different dialects, I feel more comfortable in English because I will understand more. I know the language, I use it in family and friend setting, but it is not my first language. I am conscious that I should practice it more and hope to do so. I was brought up in a small Armenian community in Uruguay and we had armenian school (only elementary), church, and clubs, but we didn't have armenian stores, bookstores, Armenian newspapers, Armenian food,most of us had never been there or ever seen an Armenian from Armenia. We tried our best to the keep the culture in our hearts. Yeah, I don't know a lot of historical data as you do, but it is necessary to be more welcoming and understanding of Armenians who are not as knowledgable as you are(people's life circumstances are different)so people feel more comfortable staying in the Armenian community as oppossed of leaving the community because they are Not seen as fully Armenian who comply with their Armenian duties.

[KoRn]

I guess I forgot to mentioned but I was only talking about Armenians from Armenia who do speak Armenian but don't use the language when they're together in public.

 

Harout,

Es hamadzainem ko het. Es nuinpes teselem ko asats dzevi hayerin. ES ski tentsnerin chemel handipel hayastanum erb endexei aprum.

[KoRn]

mention not mentioned

sorry

[Accelerated]

Well, this really is a shame, considering the opportunities that they have been presented in the US. I would think the kids born in the States (or moved at a very young age) would be the worst in this regard...

[Sip]

FYI, you can edit your posts by clicking the button above the post at any time

[vava]

Hi Lorely,

 

There are some on this forum who would disagree with you in this regard. For my part, however, I wholehearted support you.

 

We can only build stronger, more vibrant Armenian communities in the Diaspora, by adopting more 'inclusive' attitudes.

 

- Uruguay, huh? I didn't even know there were any Uruguayan Armenians. BTW is that Uruguayahye, or Urugahye?

[Mher]

Berev dzez yev bari es yekel ays forum Korn

 

Speaking of Armenian youth not speaking Armenian, especially Armenians from Armenia, wait lets stop here!

 

Why are we single out only Armenians from Armenia, isn’t it thru for every Armenian youth from no matter where she/he came from, or originate?

 

I have a 14 year old son, and he attends Armenian private school, does excellent in all Armenian related classes, but outside when he is with his friends they communicate in English, and I think that’s very “bnakan”, why? For numerous reasons! the question is, is not speaking Armenian when they are together, is that a sign of “bad raised Armenian”??? I don’t think so, it has nothing to do with being Armenian, it’s more of a social issue then patriotic, my worry is, they won’t loose what is it that makes one Armenian, the essence of being an Armenian. Far better then myself, very famous Armenians can’t/couldn’t speak Armenian, But how dare one call Charles Aznavour, William Saroyan, Kirk Krikorian, Ayvazovsky, Monte Melkonian, Orbelies, (sorry the list is long) …etc, not being if not great but

All Armenian one can be??

 

Far from being “well of” when our family first came here in 1980, the times have changed so dramatically since then. We grew up in a deferent settings, compare to our kids, things are a little “comfy” for them. (I’m here speaking about Hayastanahay families) they come here from either economical or when we came, from social issues, and we can’t compare Life of an average Armenian family (I mean in comparison to others who come/came from Lebanon, Iran, Uruguay, Iraq, etc..)

 

The discussion can be very long and can be easily misunderstood from member to member, does who are from “Hayastan” can relate to what I’m saying, I rather leave the issue by simply saying, although I do agree with Korn.

However simply agreeing I’m afraid it’s just closing the book on the problem, instead we need (for does who are parent) discuss share and find common understanding, and why not maybe solution as well.

 

I strongly believe individual families (Armenian) can be a model for every nationality, and I’m very proud of that fact, but if we (the generation) can’t stop this “white massacre” then I’m afraid we are loosing something very precious and dear!

 

If you noticed even middle age man like myself started Armenian, but being here long time I elaborate better in English, Times do and always leave there mark on us dear Friends.

 

barin @nd dzez

[Rubo]

I totally agree with you Mher.

As a footnote: I heard my son sing the US national anthem after school and I heard him sing the Armenian national anthem also after Saturday Armenian church class. I paused when that happened and I thought that it is possible to maintain both identities without conflict. He started to write in Armenian as well as in English so I hope some day he won’t curse me of leaving his roots dry.

[QRISTINE]

Bari galust Korn jan

 

Es hayerits mek@ linelov haskanum em qo tesakete. Es kartsum em nuinpes vor da shat mets djbaxtution e mer hay joxovurdi hamkar teev inchpes asum en menq bolors tarber enk baits es hamamit em ko het vor aisorva drutiamb metsamasnutian jahelutione chi uzum hargats linel irnets sovorutione ev lezun.Metsamasnutine gaxapar chunen ovker en mer hayots mets groxnere, qandakagortsnere ev ailn. inchpes du asatsir du metsatsel es angliakan bnagavarum baits meivnuin e urax es xosel mer mayreni lezvov. Iroq tsav e es shat em tsavum mer galiq eritasardutian hamar ev iroq anharmar e ain hayeri hamar ovqer uranum en mer gexetsik darerov pahpanvats MAYRENI lezun.

 

Chiraz

vor toxel es ko mayrenin el inch huises ko masisin.

 

Mesrop Mashtots

 

Mareni lezu maireni barbar axorsh entanu im hogu hamar.

Mankakan lezvis totovan tkar hnchum es im mej du misht andadar.

Gexetsik lezu hrashali lezu ais inckan qaxtsr hnchvum es inds du, hnchir du hnchir misht ev havitian mayreni lezu barbar siakan.

[Varduhi]

who knows about Victor Hambartsumian and his life?

 

Ov giti Victor Hambartsumyani kyank@ ev ira aprats verji tarineri masin?

 

I will be happy to hear from you...

 

thanks

[Arpa]

Sireli Varduhi,

 

Du qo shounj@ mrrkin es talis. Avagh!!!

You are whistling in the wind. Alas!!

Ever since you posted the above challenge and plea the silence has been deafening! You see? You don't seem to know what makes us jump. Can't you see that we are busy? Can't you see that we waste all of our talents responding to garbage? If you really want to hear a lot of noise/aghmuk what should you do is hit those two resident parap takars collectively known as HAG-ARA. Join the ranks of the enslaved. Join the ranks of those whose only (re)action is to respond to the trash that the aforementioned dish out. They have us exactly ehere they want us to be, wallowing in the sewer. They are no differnt from the Turk who also has us exactly where they want us, wallowing and wreathing in the blood of the Genocide. NOT ME!!!Armenian Eisntein?? My v...k!!! Then again, may be he is, since Eisntein was an imposter as well. [He brought one single theory that he had stolen from his county of birth and voila! He is a prophet??Guess why he is the best known (non)physicist??]I wish those two would seek professional help and find out what it is that makes them such damaged merchandise. To me, not only those two are spitually damaged but judging from their tirades, I suspect that they may have been physically traumatised in their youth as well. Use your imagination, interpret any way you want.

A note of caution though. When reading those two hold your nose lest you throw up and cover your ears lest you go deaf too.

 

As to Victor, I will leave that to others, aside from the fact that he may as well be one our most ilustrious sons and an international STAR. His biography, his acheivements and awards, his honorary membership in every possible astrophysical institution, his affiliation to the most prestigious international academies is a matter of record. Victor Hamazaspi Hambartsumian was born on Sep. 18, 1909 in Tiflis and died in 1996 in Yerevan. Among his later star performances were his hunger strike in Moscow, along with some of his soulmates, in behalf of liberation of Artsakh which proved to be more than anyone could have bargained, i.e. the collape of the ...Empire, and independence of Armenia.

 

However, as above I will not talk about him. Instead I will talk about a colleague of his, another star in that constellation of illustrious scientists of Burakan Obeservatory. When I say STAR I mean it literally as you will see.

Benyamin Eghisheyi MARGARIAN. (upper case, you will see why.)

Born in Shulamer (Shahumian in the Marneuili region) Nov. 29, 1913.

Astronomer, scientist, member of the Academy of Science. President of the International Astronomical Society (1976-79). Graduated from the Yerevan Faculty of Physics, 1938. Deputy director of the Burakan Observatory (1953, Guess who was the chief director?) Just as in the case of Victor Benyamin's awards and his international cudos are astronomical:) in number but his most luminous halo is the Galaxy that he discovered and identified that is named for him(1965). It is internationally known and acknowledged as

 

!!!!MARGARIAN GALAXY!!!!

[sen_Vahan]

http://www.diaspora.am/artgallery/m_avetis...isyan/nkar1.htm

 

This is a link to AVetisyan's paintings,my favorite armenian artist.

 

As for Hambartsumyan, I did not find any really good web pages containing info about him but shortly he was an excelent armenian/soviet physicist/astronomer who was the first in Soviet Union to write a textbook for Theoretical Astrophysics. He run one of the best astrophysical schools in USSR doing most of his works in Byurakan (Byurakani Astgaditaranum) where he was the head from the very beginning and up to 1996. Generally speaking, Byurakan had a very well equipped observatory by the time of USSR but unfortunately now it is not working that well (I cannot give you detailed description of the equipment they used because I don't know)

He is also famous for his "Zvezdnie Assoziazii" which was included into the Soviet and Armenian Encyclopedias.

 

His son Rafael Hambartsumyan was also a well known physicist who made a number of nice works together with Letokhov in Institute of Spectroscopy,Academy of Sciences in Troizk. They have pretty nice works done in the field of nonlinear optics, particularly Multiphoton Excitations. Letokhov later was a candidate for the Nobel Prize (but Bluembergen from Harvard got it ) and he is still doing nice research in Russia but Rafael disappeared, nobody hears from him.

 

If you want to find details about Victor's biography or research it is better to check the encyclopedia.

 

Vahan

[MJ]

Indeed, Arpa. Margaryan was/is(?) one of the most regarded astrophysicists of the last century - well known outside Armenia, and less known in Armenia - guess why... he is almost like a legend in astrophysics.

 

Few words about Rouben Hambartsumian: He has been a relatively well regarded Probability Theory specialist in USSR. However, in Armenia his credentials have always been questioned, and it has been considered that he has gotten free ride on daddy's shoulders - especially, when he became Candidate of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia (Tghtakgits Andam).

 

I think he still should have joint appointment at Yerevan State University and the Institute of Mathematics of Academy of Sciences in Yerevan.

 

Edit: Forgot to say that Rouben is Voctor's son.

 

[ January 03, 2003, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: MJ ]