Dear Editor:
Once again this week, the United States commemorated Martin Luther King Day.
Once again we all remembered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech, which changed the course of history in the country and established a new era for black Americans to be regarded as equal despite the color of their skin.
The speech has been a beacon for many pondering their own people’s current and future situations; I find myself among them, pondering about Armenia and my Armenian compatriots, whether in the motherland or the diaspora.
So, I started dreaming along the same lines that Dr. King did about his own people, and I concluded that I also have a dream…
– that Armenia will become a truly democratic country with a government of true patriots and not self-centered politicians at the mercy of the few;
– that there will be no oligarchs running Armenia and using the country as their own money-laundering operation through casinos and other such means;
– that there will be a stop to the more than 40,000 Armenians leaving their country every year in search of employment outside;
– that there will be an end negotiated with Turkey to lift the economic embargo on our mutual border;
– that there will be a negotiated solution with Azerbaijan, and Armenia will benefit from the on-going oil and gas exploration boom in that country;
– that the recently uncovered, appalling conditions of mismanagement and lack of leadership at the highest echelons in Etchmiadzin will be cleaned up and we will have a much more inspired leader at the helm of the Armenian Church;
– that the current government will, finally, understand that economic development and job creation through investment (and not a small group of individuals controlling the country’s economy) is the longer-term solution to the country’s prosperity;
– that Diaspora Armenians will decide to help their motherland in earnest—not for self-aggrandizement but to help our native compatriots in Armenia have a better life;
– that Armenia will not build yet another church or extension to the Madenataran, but instead develop industrial or high-tech projects for the global marketplace;
– that Armenia will not be the battlefield for ego wars between well-heeled Diaspora Armenians trying to outdo each other with private projects, albeit welcome and necessary, here and there;
– that the Armenian Diaspora in North America will see its own Genocide Museum not subject to turf wars and court-appointed referees in savage legal battles between rich and “entitled” Armenian families vying for recognition and legacy building; and finally,
– that the current total leadership vacuum in the Armenian world should come to an end by having some brave and competent souls come forward, without political aspirations or self-centered interests, and form a group to organize and lead the forthcoming commemoration of the Genocide Centennial and set the course for the future.
I have this dream with all of the above and much more.
And then I wake up!
Sincerely,
Miran P. Sarkissian
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Bravo Mr. Sarkissian,
Very well said. Saying is much better than sticking heads under snow and or sand. Let the young generation understand that is time to stand up for their rights.
United we stand.
Mack Vahanian,
Sydney
Thank you, Mr. Sarkissian, for your thought provoking dreams. It is true that Armenians have a lot of work to do, including some clean up in so many of the areas you mentioned. I would also dream that Turkey acknowledge the Genocide they performed on our martyrs (in their ancestral homeland) and provide just reparations and restitution, so that the small rump of the Armenian territory that was miraculously saved from annihilation could more easily prosper and grow.
Thank You, Mr. Sarkissian, for your thought provoking dreams. I agree that Armenia/Armenians have a lot of clean up to do in many of the areas you mentioned.
I would also dream that Turkey would acknowledge the Genocide committed against our blessed martyrs, who lost their lives and livelihoods on their ancestral homelands, and in addition, provide reparations and restitution, so that the remaining rump of Armenian territory, which was miraculously saved from total annihilation, and the Armenian nation could more easily prosper and grow.
Thanks,
Nishan Gerjekian
Detroit
Dear Mr. Sarkissian,
Sorry to disappoint you. YOU ARE DREMING IN 3 D TECHNICOLOR
Go back to dreaming. Nothing will change, Administrations may change but the system and those who are pulling the strings though beyond the stage will unfortunately remain the same.
Have I said enough??????
Very well said. Hopefully, some of them will be realized and come true.
In addition to those, I have one more dream.
I pray that the leaders of the opposition parties will put their egos, self interest and own agendas aside, and in good faith form a coalition to counter balance the President and the Republican Party.
The opposition is too fragmented. It needs to come together for the good of the country and the Armenians world-wide. It can be done, and it is shameful and disheartening that none of them is taking the initiative. It is inconceivable that they are all corrupt and influenced by an oligarch.
Vart Adjemian
Thanks to Miran Sarkissian for her inspiring message. Change begins with a clear vision, a goal towards which to move, and she has outlined hers so well – a vision of light and hope for all. Unfortunately, as Hrad Poladian replied, there are dark and powerful forces at play in the region, like puppeteers, whose vision sharply contrasts with hers – a vision based on greed, fear and violence. If Armenia succumbs to their vision, then the Armenian Genocide will be complete. I join hands with Miran Sarkissian and like-minded others. If more people do the same, even in intention alone, it will make a difference. If such people act on this intention, positive change is possible and even, I dare to say, probable.
Dear Mr. Sarkissian,
Your ¨Dreams¨-I´d rather dub them important issues and objectives…are all in place, no doubt.I especially like to re read again your last wish/dream paragraph,that is MOST APPEALING TO ME AND HOPE TO MANY MORE…..
Please count me within the ¨brave and…competent souls¨..if you don´t mind and indeed yourself,as well,since you have set that forth. please be informed that there definitely are many many more.Trouble is the present Armenian structures(even here in Diaspora) are quite S H A K Y…I ´d say-We need New blood new breath.Not necessarily within our youth..even the middle aged plus those advanced in age, such as myself are ready for any sacrifice.
More trouble… is that the present does not bode well neither in RA nor in Diaspora,since in both places, the ¨Hrabarak¨´,arena is full of Panchoonies and like you mention good doers. ARA Baliozian famous Canadian Armenian writer philosopher ,calls them BBB´s(Bishops,Benefactors and Bosses).
Nevertheless I have not lost all hope.I know they-we are coming….it will not be long in coming in light of a slight (now) ¨verashkhuzhatsutiun¨¨ re-freshment? whatever amongst us …and also in the Arena of Diplomacy (EU) where our political mind is much more so…
Hopefully I shall report here , in near future,hopefully NEWS as to a New Era in our Diasporan actuality.Armenia is a country , very young and indeed having copies the Western(like all 15 ex-soviet union republis)modalities is forging ahead,albeit very slwoly 8with all its faults)I???Iwould have preferred the Scandinavian Democratic Socialism model to begin with ,before pluning into the present ´´WILD FREE ECNOMY¨¨
BEST hASGCOGHIN
Dear Mr Sarkissian, thank you very much for your patriotic comments. Let me assure you that there are many of us who have the same dream and aspirations but unfortunately think it is useless to say anything and go against the established system. You were brave enough to talk about it. I believe we are not the only nation with these problems and, living in the Diaspora like yourself, I can see many nations suffering from similar situations. I believe the Diaspora could take the initiative and influence our homeland. We can learn from our host nations how they deal with their problem and speak with one voice and initiate change. I know this is difficult but world history has shown it is possible. We need to think as patriots and put the national interest first. As my dear father (Miran) used to say “we are all bourne Armenian first before joining this or that party or organisation”. Good luck.
I am applauded at Armenians referencing “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech ” , I know during the 60’s the Armenian community & church were completely silent in regard to the civil rights movement of the ’60’s.
Dear Mr Sarkissian, thank you very much for your patriotic comments. Let me assure you that there are many of us who have the same dream and aspirations but unfortunately think it is useless to say anything and go against the established system. You were brave enough to talk about it. I believe we are not the only nation with these problems and, living in the Diaspora like yourself, I can see many nations suffering from similar situations. I believe the Diaspora could take the initiative and influence our homeland. We can learn from our host nations how they deal with their problem and speak with one voice and initiate change. I know this is difficult but world history has shown it is possible. We need to think as patriots and put the national interest first. As my dear father (Miran) used to say “we are all borne Armenian first before joining this or that party or organisation”. Good luck.
Let’s have a goal instead of a dream.
From a dream we shall wake up but when reaching a goal nobody can take that away from us.
Nicolas Seferian
Buenos Aires – Argentina