What Is An Armenian?

[THOTH]

Sorry Domino - this person thinks in English...so what "ethnicity" are they?

 

Regardless this blows holes in your argument that language is sole determinate of culture.

Face it - you lose again.

 

Oh and Nakahar - belief in something or non-belief is not sufficient to constitute a religion. Anyone who has bothered to consider the various accepted definitions of religion should be able to understand this. Again - I don't believe in santa clause - does this constitute a religion? And for Domino - I don't believe that Santa Clause is divine and created the earth with the North Pole at its center....does this constitute a religion...?

 

:fyou:

[THOTH]

Oh & Domino - your equation of language with ethnicity probably has less validity then connecting it purely with nationality...think about it....

 

Russia - a nation of many ethnicities....but what they - for the most part - have in common - they speak Russian.

 

And speaking of - there are a great many Armenians from Armenia who are far more comfortable speaking in Russian as opposed to Armenian....so these are not Armenian either?

 

Sorry again - your draconian pronoucement of who can be considered Armenian is as worthless as your equally inept/inadequate attempts to define what constitues a religion....

[DominO123]

Sorry Domino - this person thinks in English...so what "ethnicity" are they?

 

Regardless this blows holes in your argument that language is sole determinate of culture.

Face it - you lose again.

 

Oh and Nakahar - belief in something or non-belief is not sufficient to constitute a religion. Anyone who has bothered to consider the various accepted definitions of religion should be able to understand this. Again - I don't believe in santa clause - does this constitute a religion? And for Domino - I don't believe that Santa Clause is divine and created the earth with the North Pole at its center....does this constitute a religion...?

 

:fyou:

You should be worry to not try to find holes on the arguments of others... even when you do that you fall in your own arguments hole.

 

It is evident by now why you try to find "holes." It has nothing to do with with any real holes... you have a problem with the fact that you don't speak Armenian and just because I presented the language as the heart of the culture you feel a threat.

 

Yiou have done this everytime we debate... you do not think something because of arguments that you have measured and came up with a conclusion, you find the conclusion first based on your belief, and then try to find any Arguments that could support your points. I am quite habbituated with this tactic used by denialists.

 

Someone that think in English is English, nothing to do with England that is a nation, but England as an ethnicity... this doesn't undo the fact that he might be an Armenian... being one doesn't exclude the other... if you took few minutes to read my 4 points and try to understand them first it will be nice.

 

Or it is this, or you want to justify yourself that your children are Armenian and that they do not qualify in any of the 4 points, neither the "half-Armenian." Nothing can satisfy everyone.

 

As for the religion thing... the discussion is closed, we had the debate and I have shown why your arguments could not hold water, don't bring it in other threads because you are a bad loser.

[DominO123]

Oh & Domino - your equation of language with ethnicity probably has less validity then connecting it purely with nationality...think about it....

 

Russia - a nation of many ethnicities....but what they - for the most part - have in common - they speak Russian.

 

And speaking of - there are a great many Armenians from Armenia who are far more comfortable speaking in Russian as opposed to Armenian....so these are not Armenian either?

 

Sorry again - your draconian pronoucement of who can be considered Armenian is as worthless as your equally inept/inadequate attempts to define what constitues a religion....

Here comes again Thoth with his childishtic ball game.

 

This post just is an evidences that you don't even bother understanding what the other is saying before answering.

[Boghos]

Hello Domino, please don´t call Toth childish. Edited July 14, 2004 by Boghos

[DominO123]

Agree sir, that's why I have called him childishtic and not childish.

[Azat]

In another thread again this subject was raised, so why not starting a thread for once about that?

 

My definition of whom is Armenian.

 

1. Has both parents talking Armenian(regardless of if him talk Armenian or not)

2. Has one parent talking Armenian and he or she talks Armenian himself or herself.

3. Has one or two parents of Armenian ancestory that do not talk Armenian but that he or she talks Armenian.

 

It takes at least 1 or 2 or 3 to be Armenian.

 

 

Who is a half-Armenian.

 

Someone that has one of his parents being Armenian and talks Armenian but he or she himself or herself do not talk Armenian.

 

I don't think there is 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 Armenians etc... you are Armenian, half Armenian or not Armenian at all.

 

 

Any comment?

Did not know I was 100% English and 100% Russian.

 

(Sorry have not read rest of the comments yet)

[DominO123]

EDITED: Edited July 14, 2004 by Fadix

[DominO123]

You know what!!! I was thinking placing a condition by excluding those talking Eastern Armenian. (Joke joking)

[DominO123]

It took Azat or Sip to find out something I forgot to mention.

 

When I said parents speaking Armenian, I meant Armenian parents speaking Armenian.

Wait a minute, there wasn't any thing I have forgotten. I meant what was understood there... Yes! You would be a Russian and an English... won't change the fact that you are an Armenian.

[Azat]

I read all the responses and I agree with Nairi the best. If you think you are Armenian then you are Armenian and we should adopt these people into our culture so that we can someday grow and increase.

 

We have talked here many times of the couples where one is Armenian and one is an odar and after 30-40-50 years of marriage even our own families consider the odar and odar and not part of "us". Are we really that special that we do not want to welcome these people into our culture?

[DominO123]

There might be a number 4) that could exist... in the cases of a non Armenian speaking Armenian(like Sev-Mart) living with an Armenian that speak Armenian and having kids that speak Armenian... will we grant them the title of Armenian? Or at least, "half-Armenian"? Don't know... I have to meditate about that at night.

I grant this one for Azat... here I make that number 5)

 

Now that it is compleated I will fax this to Armenia to offecialise it.

 

BTW Azat, you are English and Russian in cases you mist my other post.

[Azat]

oh thank you and for that I am going to buy you your microscope

[Boghos]

You know what!!! I was thinking placing a condition by excluding those talking Eastern Armenian. (Joke joking)

I wouldn´t go that far but I confess that they could soften the accent a little bit...

[Boghos]

oh thank you and for that I am going to buy you your microscope

But not a Leica, I hope.

[Boghos]

Agree sir, that's why I have called him childishtic and not childish.

Yes, don´t call him childish...

[Azat]

But not a Leica, I hope.

Even better

 

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/f...-microscope.jpg

[DominO123]

Even better

 

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/f...-microscope.jpg

That's garbadge.

 

Sip member spank Azat.

Sip moderator give him a warning.

[Vigil]

Vigil, no, by learning Japenese and learning its culture and reading books about it one can not just become Japanese. The only way according to my definition, for someone to become Japanese if he has no Japanese lineage is to think in japanese... if someones mind language is Japanese, for me he is a Japanese.

 

How is an individual going to "feel Japanese" when he or she does not know anything about Japanese culture? He or she must at least read about Japanese culture from a book, right? Right, which means that by stating that "by learning Japanese and learning its culture and reading books about it one can not just become Japanese" you automatically contridict yourself.

 

Face it, Domino, the only way one can truly become "Japanese" is by being born into a family consisting of Japanese parents. This goes back to my logic that your Armenian identity is formed by interacting with a Armenian father and mother.

 

Now, since half Armenians interact with only a Armenian Father or Mother then we must assume that they indeed are not Armenian in sense of their behavior, ideals, and morals, which last time I checked forms the ideology of the culture.

 

At this point I am not using "race" or anything related to "genetics", but rather is a purely sociological approach to this question. So, please explain to us Domino how is a half Armenian child truly Armenian when in fact he or she only interacts with one Armenian parent? How can this actually understand the ideology of the culture when in fact he or she has only interacted with an Armenian father or mother, but not both? He or she can not be Armenian and to say other wise in my opinion is a failed attempt to make racial and ethnic intermarriage socially prudent.

 

This is what it boils down to people, which is if intermarriage is socially prudent or not because to be honest if someone wants to marry a "otar" he or she does not have to ask another Armenian if they agree or disagree, but because they have to still operate among Armenians after the marriage they must try and find justifications to racial and ethnic intermarriage.

 

Please do not make this into a racist, ethnocentric, or illogical argument due to the fact that my logic makes perfect sense while yours is a bit contradictory.

 

How can you state that by "feeling Japanese" you can be Japanese when in fact the act of being part of Japanese without having prior knowledge about Japan would require you to read a book about Japan? You can not, which is why your logic automatically contradicts with our mutual agreement on how reading books about culture does not actually make you part of that culture.

 

 

You give many possibilities yes! But what happen if for instance a kid of an Armenian and an odar is sent to an Armenian school and that he learn Armenian. This person fluently talk Armenian and later marry with a non Armenian, and he in his turn sent his kid to an Armenian school... the culture is still transmitted.

 

No culture is not transmitted due to the fact that he or she did not interact with a Armenian mother or father, so, at most only half of the identity is transmitted, which degenerates and marginalizes the Armenian identity. Are you saying then that my 20 years of interacting with Armenian father and mother can be attained by going to "Armenian school"? No, of course, which in my opinion is insult to parents that married in the culture so they would actually preserve their identity? Yes, it is a insult and furthermore, insult my parents and every other parent that has taken the time to actually marry in the culture. Domino, just face it, there is no way to become "Armenian" without being born into a family with Armenian parents.

 

Eventually the child does not become Armenian and just fades into American society. Furthermore, the above statement contradicts with the statement in your original post which is "to state that I don't think there is 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 Armenians etc... you are Armenian, half Armenian or not Armenian at all" proves to me that at this point you honestly are just trying to make it socially prudent to be "half Armenian" when in fact we all know that preservation can only be accomplished by exposing a child to a Armenian father and mother.

 

However, in now way can I deny a half Armenian their right to be Armenian, but in no way can I force them to accept it either, which is what you are proposing. I think it is more racist and prejudice to forcibly put a half Armenian into Armenian school just so he or she will eventually adopt the Armenian side as his or her own.

 

That is racist and fascist, which in my opinion is wrong, right? Right, so, not only is what you’re proposing "wrong", but in a sense is also racist due to the fact that you are trying to impose the Armenian identity upon your half Armenian child when that child is also part of another race, ethnicity, and nationality.

 

Are you saying then that being Armenian is better then not being Armenian? Yes that is exactly what you are proposing by stating that the child has to go to “Armenian school”, when in fact the child also has a right to choose the “otar” side of his or her family, which in no way is below the Armenian side.

 

Suppose that an orphan child that has no Armenian lineage is adopted by Armenian parents... will this kid not be an Armenian?

 

Yes, that child is Armenian, which is something I can live with due to the fact that some Armenian may not be able to biological have children, but to state that a "otar" can automatically replace a Armenian in my opinion is insulting.

 

What I am proposing is not racism, but if you really think about it what you are proposing is.

 

I do believe that culture is something magical that goes beyond the person... it is what links you with some other peoples sharing this same culture.

 

It "magically goes beyond the person" through a Armenian mother and father. Are you honestly telling me, Domino, that an "otar" father or mother knows about how to be Armenian equivalent to my father or mother because that is what you are proposing, right? Right, which again is wrong because logically there just is no way for a "otar" to understand the Armenian identity equal to or better then a actual Armenian born into a family with a Armenian father and mother.

 

Imagine that Sev-Mart marry his Armenian girl friend, and later his kid learn Armenian, his kid is Armenian.

 

Are you ignoring the fact that he is half Caribbean, African, and American? I mean is it me or are you saying that his child is better off being Armenian? Yes, that is what you are saying, which implies that indeed you are being racist because you do not value Sev-Mards lineage.

 

Now are you telling us that this Armenian woman will understand the Caribbean, African, and American ideology equal to an actual Caribbean woman? No, of course not, which equally means that in no way is Sev-Mard an actual replacement for an Armenian father, thus, in no way does the child actually become Armenian.

 

I just find it funny how some on these forums insist on stating that their half Armenian children will be Armenian, when in fact we all know it is not going to happen. This is partially done because they want to still function in the Armenian community, while at the same time making racial and ethnic intermarriage socially prudent.

 

If I were to get married to someone of different race or ethnicity I would in no way impose my Armenianism onto the child by putting him or her in Armenian school. This in my opinion is racist and in reduces our ethnicity to owning books.

[DominO123]

Vigil, my answer will be short. I know that my definition does not satify neither your die, or "Thoth" side. both of you are at the extrem, so i believe that since neither of you two are satisfied I think that my proposition of a definition hold water.

 

First of all, you question about how a child that has only one of his parents as an Armenian... from the same logic a child that has only one parent could not be an Armenian.

 

There is a reason why I have chosen those definitions and not others, and it is obvious that any time someone tries to qualify what an Armenian is or what an "xian" etc... it end up in an ethimological war.

 

As I have stated and will repeat, there iis no such thing as an Armenian blood, people appearence may have a role in culture(like visual art, where people paint human figures, poetry, where people characterise others based on their colores, nose form etc...)... but this role is too small to even place it as a condition to make someone an Armenian. So any "racial" bases of what an Armenian is, compared to other aspect of the culture, is innacurate.

 

The problem here is to find something that a culture share that is at the bases of this culture, the thing that distingishes them the most... obviously without dought the Armenian language compared to any other ellement of our cultures, is the most important aspect...

 

The rest of the Armenian culture, like Armenian art, Armenian food etc... have yes an important role, but language is like the OS of a computer... what language is to the Armenians is what the OS is for a computer.

 

Any physical characteristics, like eye color, hair color, skin color, the size of someone etc... are all minime differences... no mather if my computer tower is bigger than yours, I have another motherboard etc... suppose that you and me have installed Windows XP, both of our computer will be Windows system... of course you may have installed other softwares, there are other files you have I don't... those are flavours... it is like the other ellements of the culture... but the OS is the fundamental software.

 

You know what? One of my best friends is a Black from Haiti, I know that guy since the first year of highschool... just recently I realised he was black, I swear I am not joking here... I forgot he was Black for years... the last time I remembered him to be Black was in Summer 1999 when we were at the Theatre and that in the movie we were watching a Black person was making a joke about Whites... I told my friend:"With the big Black nouse he has he should not talk." I considered this friend like a White when I told him this... like telling him... look what a Black guy is telling about us... I then realised that I have forgotten that he was a Black.

 

I realised that, eye color, nose form, skin color etc... are not important to qualify someone a French, english etc... that guy talks in French, so as I, I think partly in french, so as he... he both can therefore be considered a French, no matter him being Black or me being white... of course that doesn't undo the fact that he is an Haitian and me Armenian.

 

Comming to what it takes to be an Armenian... Armenianess does not exclude someone to be of another ethnic group, I do not believe that to be the cases. A kid that has only one of his parents Armenian and that he speak Armenian is Armenian... to the same way as an Armenian mother that rase his kid without a father will have an Armenian child... it is for those reasons and problems that I have come with in my sense the most appopriate definition of what an Armenian is.

 

I have added another one a fift one that I was thinking adding, but after Azat post i finally added. Supposes that we have Sev-Mart marrying his girlfriend and rasing his kid that speak Armenian... Sev-mart do know Armenian, from this atmosphere he adopt "Armenianess" therefore become Armenian.

 

Take in account the my definition is an at least... some Armenians can be more into the Armenian cultures and others, the best they could do is only talking the language... but in this cases, it is not a question of whom is more Armenian but rather who is more assimilated and who is less etc...

 

How can one feel Japanese? The point here is not about what can be done to feel that way. I give a possibility, someone think is Japanese... how it happened is irrelevent... I am providing a given fact... if he thinks in Japanese, he is a Japanese... he has the Japanese OS... you can install many OSes ina computer.

[Vigil]

Your just beating a dead horse with a stick.

 

I already stated that "At this point I am not using "race" or anything related to "genetics", but rather is a purely sociological approach to this question. So, please explain to us Domino how is a half Armenian child truly Armenian when in fact he or she only interacts with one Armenian parent", so, please do not bring genetics into the debate.

 

Sev-Mard can no way attain what it took my dad all of his life to attain. Your just finding reasons and justifications as to why it is "ok" for Armenians to intermarry when in fact we know in no way do you actually "preserve" the culture by doing so.

 

Can you also guarantee to me that without sending this child to Armenian school she will adopt her Armenian culture as her primary one? No you can not, but the chances of her accepting the Armenian is greater in a setting where her ultimate choice is to be Armenian.

 

Furthermore, how can you actually guarantee to me that a half Armenian will indeed marry an Armenian when in fact his or her parents did not?

 

Please explain to me how Sev-Mard is actually "Armenian" and how he can attain the title "Armenian"? Give me concrete steps as to how he can become "Armenian" without reading about Armenian culture, which we both agree is impossible.

 

My point of view is more valid since it does not contradict with any of my previous statements, but your argument just does not make sense in terms of "preservation" due to the fact you are reducing the Armenian identity into owning books and attending schools. The argument I am making does indeed label an adopted child as Armenian if he or she was raised by Armenian parents and thoroughly holds in any scenario, but yours on the other hand is just confusing.

 

Your creating rules and regulations just so you can force me to accept a half Armenian or someone of another ethnicity, race, and nationality into my community as a Armenian.

 

Are you going to also convince me that Sev-Mard indeed is as much of an Armenian as my dad? So, by your logic then once I marry a person of German ancestry I also can become German? Yes, which means that since I can attain the title German by not having a biological connection with someone of German ancestry then we must also assume that I do not have to be born into a family consisting of German parents to attain the title German, right? Right, that is exactly what you are proposing, which is that out of the blue someone can become a German without having no biological connection with a German, but also no sociological connection as well. This is just ludicrous and insulting to just propose to change the entire dynamics of ethnicity, race, and nationality just so you or anyone else can feel more comfortable marrying a “otar”.

 

The best way to define an Armenian is someone that is raised by and interacts with a Armenian father or mother. Let us be honest and get to the heart of the issue, which is if intermarriage is socially prudent in any ethnic community.

 

I am not being "extreme" and in no way is stating that “the only way to be Armenian is to be raised by Armenian parents” an “extreme” idea, but it is blatantly oblivious that you just can not accept the fact that intermarriage is not socially prudent and are trying to make it socially prudent.

Edited July 15, 2004 by Vigil

[Vigil]

Furthermore, what you are proposing is no different then someone of Jewish ancestry forcing their husband or wife to convert to Judaism, which begs the question if indeed there can be someone of Jewish-Catholic ancestry?

 

For example if we are to assume that John Kerry is from Jewish ancestry because of his grandfathers side then we must assume that being "Jewish" is indeed in the blood, right? Right, which means then that converting a "Jew" into the "Jewish faith" is a bogus means of attaining the Jewish identity, so, to convert a "Sev" to the Jewish faith is a double standard that ultimately labels someone of non Jewish ancestry as a Jew, but also places someone of "genetic" Jewish ancestry in the mixture. This is exactly what you are proposing, now, do you see how you are not making sense?

 

You see how by making rules and regulations you ultimately still end up using genetics as litmus test? However, just basing it on books and factual information is also equally stupid because it reduces the barriers of entry into owning books and attending school. It places a historian studying Armenian history at equal footing as a actually Armenian.

 

On the other hand, what I proposed is indeed the best way of defining the Armenian identity, which is that if you are raised by Armenian parents you are Armenian regardless of the color of your skin, eyes, and hair.

 

If someone is half Armenian by all means you have the right to "feel Armenian", but do not expect someone like me to actually call you a "Armenian" because the difference between me and you is not just genetics, but also sociological.

 

However, is that stopping you from marrying a Armenian girl and integrating yourself back into the Armenian ethnicity? NO, but do not think for one minute that by justifying your parents decision you are indeed Armenian because you are not.

 

Furthermore, I am not going to be a racist and force my half Armenian child to adopt his or her Armenian half just so I can still function in the Armenian community. If my half Armenian child wants to adopt his other ethnic roots then by all means he or she has my blessing, but in no way am I going to condone these racist actions of forcing my child to adopt her Armenian as her primary ethnicity.

Edited July 15, 2004 by Vigil

[shaunt]

Well we can start out by determining whether or not they listen to Harout and eat Zankou chicken.

 

Actually, Nairi articulated the concept of "Armenianness" perfectly, and I support her view 100%.

[Accelerated]

I dont think it should simply be: if one considers themselves Armenian then they should be accepted as such......There should be more to it.

[Vigil]

An Armenian is whoever believes he or she is an Armenian and wants to be identified as such.

 

Actually, Nairi articulated the concept of "Armenianness" perfectly, and I support her view 100%.

 

By your logic then everyone in the world is Armenian and since "Armenianism" can indeed be attained by just "feeling" it then by all means I will leave it up to "otars" to preserve the Armenian culture. If indeed your premise is right then try to go convert somone of another ethnicity, race, and nationality. By your logic you should have no problem because if somone "feels" Japanese then they can just instantly be Armenian by "feeling" Armenian.

 

If indeed the Armenian identity can be attained by books or by just "feeling Armenian" then by all means I will leave it up to you to go and spread the teachings of "Armenianism". I will also leave it up to you to find individuals willing to go die for Armenia and to donate their own funds to the Armenian cause. I will leave it up to you to go and find individuals that will take the time to read about Armenian literature and to pass the stories orally like my mom and dad to their children. By all means Shaunt, Domino, Nairi go outside and find a replacement. In fact all you need to do is find just one replacement due to the fact that from now on since being Armenian is just a matter of emotions then I see no value in preserving due to the fact that at any point in my life I can be Armenian by just "feeling it".

 

This is ridiculous and childish to think in terms of "if you feel your Armenian your Armenian" and is a bit tragic that Armenians like yourselves are reducing the entire Armenian into "feeling Armenian" due to the fact that if I were to "feel Japanese" there is no way in a hell a Japanese person will ever consider me Japanese based on this premise.

 

I just find it unbelievable at how desperate some individuals are in trying to force the entire Armenian community to socially accept a non Armenian as a Armenian when in fact in no way is a "otar" ever going to be Armenian. I do not care, who you want to marry or what you want to do with your life, but do not come here and force every Armenian out there to accept a half Hye as a Hye because the difference is blatantly obvious.

 

You know what makes me go bonkers is that every Armenian meet that has married a "otar" always tells me that "yeah, swore off Armenian men or women", while at the same time they send their children to Armenian school.

 

The hypocrisies is just disgusting I mean here you have a Armenian boldly stating that he or she swore off Armenian men or women, but yet just so they can be socially accepted place their children in Armenian school in a vain attempt to impose the Armenian identity on them. A family friend even has a odesity to ask my mom to find a "Armenian girl" for his half Armenian child, when in fact he did not take time to find one for himself. How can you actually tell your child to preserve or keep being Armenian when you married somone of another ethnic background? I mean are you going to tell me I am racist now also because so far I think your definition is by far more racist in the long run then mine is.

 

 

The sad part of the story is that someone like me, who indeed is not racist, is deemed "racist" or a "bigot" when in fact it is the parents of the half Hye, that are imposing their culture on the child, is.

 

In your opinion does that no constitute racism?

 

If the child was half Armenian and let us assume half German. Would not she or he not have a right to choose which culture to partake in and by forcibly imposing the Armenian ideals onto the child are you not in turn indirectly stating that Armenianism is indeed better then the other culture? Yes, you are and by doing so are you not also being a hypocrit by in time forcing the child to marry a Armenian? Yes, you are.

 

At this point I find what you people are proposing no more disingenuousness as when someone of Jewish ancestry forces the husband or wife to convert to Judaism and learn Hebrew.

 

I have just had it with this politically correct garbage and indeed am shocked at how passively some of you can just sit here and allow this mockery to continue.

 

You know what like I stated earlier put your money where your mouth is and try to "feel Japanese" among the Japanese and see how far you get when in fact they laugh at you and say “get lost Ghigin” then you will understand that being part of a ethnic group is not just “feeling” you are part of it.

 

Furthermore, I want every one of you, who agrees that by "feeling" Armenian you are Armenian, to go and try to convert someone because by your definition the 6 million Armenians worldwide can only be Armenian if they "feel Armenian".

 

By the way on a side not way was my thread on asking if John Kerry was Jewish deleted? This was in no way aimed to be racist, ethnocentric, or anything of that sort so why was it deleted? Also, why was Boghos thread about him asking if I was Jewish deleted? To be honest it did not bother me and I hope the Mods did not ban him.

 

This is bureaucracy at its best and I am almost getting sick and tired of it, but since I choose to be here I will ignore it this time.

 

This is my last post ever on this subject because it seems to me I can not really change some of the members’ opinion due to the fact that the entire board consists of half Hyes or “westernized” Armenians that are trying to find ways to make intermarriage socially prudent when in fact in no way does someone, who indeed wants to preserve their culture, accomplish preservation by intermarrying.

 

Furthermore, I am sick of antagonizing myself or anyone else so from now on you all have my blessing and can spread your wonderful definition of “Armenianism” to the masses.

 

From now on the fact that my parents are Armenian and have been raised in an Armenian community, which eventual is passed onto me through interacting with them, does not actually make me Armenian, but actually “feeling it” does.

 

From now on I am going to "feel American" because to be honest if indeed being Armenian has no bearing in terms of genes, lineage, and or social interaction with Armenian parents then by all means I would rather “feel” American because at least if you are American you have to wait 5 years before you are citizen.

 

Oh and do not state "well you can not force your ideals onto us" because I am not "forcing it on to you", but to say that "feeling" or "thinking" you are Armenian defines what a Armenian is just hogwash.