‘Azadamard’ Gomideh Commemorates Federation’s 120th Anniversary

 I would like to comment on a staement made in the article. The reporter mentions that one of the ARF’s accomplishements was the ” ARF’s key part in establishing the diaspora”. I believe that it would be more accurate to say the ARF played a major role in organizing the diaspora into functioning communities. The diaspora was established by the challenges facing our nation during the pre-genocide years from the Hamidian masacres until the start of WW I  and the post genocide period of recovery into the 1920’s. It’s a subtle , but significant diiference.
      In my view, this is a subject and contribution that has been understated. I view the ARF, aside from operating as a nationlaist “loyal oppostion’ party in the Republic, has been a superb community organizing operation for 100 years. Most of the Armenian communities in America began with small groups of men and women(sometimes early on just bachelor men) from common geographic area in western Armenia who brought their faith and heritage to these new enclaves. Frequently, they were organized as a local ARF gomideh building a community infrastructure. My own grandfathers, in different communities participated in the same model…. opened “agoomps”, built churches to practice our faith and provided educational opportunitedies.
      This was an incredible accomplishment as the ARF transitioned in the 1920’s into organizers of this new reality… the diaspora. As American-Armenians, we enjoy the fruits of the sacrifices of the previous generations. Just as the ARF supported local villagers against Turkish oppression, they successfuly transitioned into a new need of the Armenian people… transforming the population of the diaspora into a functioning community… capable of sustaining itself and contributing to the needs of other Armenians. This accomplishment is deserving of our grateful respect.