Last April, my family and I vacationed in Cancun, Mexico. It was a relaxing experience, both in interaction with the landscape and people. The beaches were scenic and ideal for surfers and snorkelers alike. It was this very observation that led to my shock when I saw natives littering and using the sand as a garbage dump. As I wondered how the indigenous Mexicans could so carelessly mistreat their land, my dad explained that, having a low standard of living, “their problems were not yet up to the level in which environmental hazards are a concern.”
This comment got me thinking about the divide between the perspectives of the citizens of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora on how to move forward with Hai Tahd.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) is the foremost organization in the United States fighting for the betterment of the Armenian republic and nation. Its fight for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and reclaiming historic Armenian territories is admirable, to say the least. However, while there is little doubt that the ARF holds the support of the Armenian American community, there is a disconnect with the people of Armenia. It would be nice to think that all Armenians have an engrained sense of nationalism that will lead them to prioritize the issues that the ARF was created to tackle. But this is not the case.
While the ARF has wide support from around the world, it should come as no surprise that the Dashnaktsutyun captured under six percent of the popular vote in May’s parliamentary elections in Armenia. Diaspora Armenians, at least in America, simply do not face the same obstacles that the residents of Armenia face; to them, there is no threat of net emigration, no danger of war with an enemy that claims Armenian land, and no concern of a faltering economy. Many if not most Diaspora Armenians have no experience of life in the Homeland and, while they may try to put the aforementioned difficulties facing Armenia’s residents into perspective, the full magnitude of such problems cannot easily be felt or realized.
In other words, the people of Armenia are the people of Mexico on the beach: Their problems are too basic, too materialistically oriented to allow concern for larger, less tangible issues like genocide recognition or territorial reclamation. Because the ARF focuses primarily on the latter, most people in Armenia will place their loyalty with the less ambitious but more conservative Republican Party.
It is essential that the interests of Diasporan Armenians and of Armenian residents become fused. General alignment will never be enough: ARF organizations must realize that the idea of a “free, independent and unified” nation will never be realized until all Armenians are on board, and for this reason must be more considerate of domestic issues in Armenia. To garner the necessary support, the Dashnaktsutyun must shed its image of being a purely ideological party by incorporating ways to provide for Armenian nationals in its mission, all while maintaining its core objectives.
David Oganesyan is an incoming freshman at the University of Maryland.
David Oganesyan
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- A Synthesis of Ideals: Revisiting the ARF Agenda - July 4, 2012
Bravo David.. you very eloquently summed up all the points that to this day hinders all Armenians to unite… and only with unity we can accomplish what we are out there to accomplish..
It is very heart breaking when you have ONE BEAUTIFUL and RICH country like Armenia yet most don’t care about it…not to the extent where they will reach out a hand without an excuse…
I was there last month to visit my country and see my family after 12 years.. I fell in love with its beauty, its advancements, its humanity that still exists after 23 years of being away.. yes it does not have the same feel and smell when I was a child living in Armenia, but no matter what I loved my country then and i will contiue to love it until i die…
However, when you wrote about people littering their home, I remembered how it is in Armenia.. people are oblivious of how much they are damanaging their environment by littering..and that littering their own city, or roads it is a reflection of themselves.. i could not believe how they would throw trash anywhere they happen to be.. i was happy to train at least my own relatives to collect their trash in bags or hold off until they see a trashcan to throw away their trash…i could not bear to see garbage anywhere… we have such a gorgeous country that it should remain as such without garbage.. could it be real actual garbage or people who are garbage….
Gayane
So what do you propose? Should the Armenian Cause abandon its efforts to do what’s morally right and focus entirely on the economic and political issues in Armenia? I have news for you, if the Armenian Diaspora does not put pressure on Armenia’s enemies, there WILL be war.
Good article, but fails to specify what ARF should do to come down from the high clouds. Here’s a practical suggestion: Let each ARF chapter (Gomideh) in the US, adopt a village in Armenia, and begin to reconstruct, help or support the village. The needs of villages and villagers are endless, but slowly life can come back into the village and people will once again embrace the ARF. This is far better than meeting once a month at those chapter meetings and pounding sand. Incidentally this is how Hezballah came to power in Lebanon as their constituents were once the poorest. They helped their people in every possible way.
Good suggestion John.. but this plan can be adopted by any Armenian organization and not just ARF… if we ALL do our part no matter how small it is, i know we can accomplish unthinkable and restore our beautiful country…
@Jack
Thank your for the response. I absolutely do not suggest for the ARF to do such a thing. I reaffirmed this in the last sentence.
My point is that ARF’s influence will be limited until it appeals to all walks of Armenians. It cannot make idealistic expectations of Armenians in Armenia until materialistic obstacles are addressed first.
Regardless, I appreciate the criticism.
@John
As an 18-year-old member of the diaspora, I do not believe that I am in a position to make any definitive policy proposals.
There are other 18 year olds similar to you that realize what’s most important; unification and ideological efficiency. Unfortunately, some people never realize and are stuck in their narrow ideals. Keep the logic and use this wisdom for most aspects of life and you’ll have an advantage on others.
What’s interesting is the roots of the ARF policies are very compatible to what you presented. It was for the average peasant who was on the ground who asked for basic reforms in human rights and agrarian reform. The post-1915 diaspora is a new phenomena that has presented new challenges and policy shifts for the 3 traditional parties. It’s easy to criticize which I’ve done since I was 16 but the historical context helps understanding why some ideas exist and others don’t.
Keep up the pondering.
Hope you come to Armenia!!