What is your story of inspiration?

During this time of the “Great Pause,” it can be mentally therapeutic to recall the moments that defined the direction of our lives. It may have been individuals, events or experiences that captured our imagination and motivated us to follow a path. In particular, as members of the greater Armenian nation, recounting those moments can be a teaching moment for your children and grandchildren. For those in our emerging generation who are experiencing these moments or have yet to, it can be catalytic. Each of us has a story that is worth recounting and sharing during these moments of reduced public activity. It is quite possible that your knowledge of this moment is recalled retrospectively. You realize that time months or years later. Take a moment to think about the path you have chosen and what forms in the road you were guided to or traveled. What were the influences? For many of us there are personal family journeys, professional ones and our ethnic identity. I would like to focus on the latter. As American Armenians, what were those moments of inspiration? Can we identify that time in our past that shaped who we are today? In the hope of encouraging others to recall and share, I would like to share my own journey.

The moment of inflection for myself was actually a year of incredible emotion, enlightenment and direction. The year was 1965. I was just 13 years old, but I was about to experience a remarkable set of events that gave my life a path and ultimately meaning. In a broader context, 1965 in the Armenian community was the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. For those younger readers who may view annual commemorations and activism as a part of our daily lives, that was not the case prior to 1965. There were commemorative activities, but for the most part they were religious events with the community. The 50th anniversary, which has been called by some “The Great Reawakening” changed the course of our history. The commemorative activities that year launched a new era of activism and gave birth to the recognition movement. In 1965, Uruguay became the first nation to formally recognize the Genocide. The year was filled with nationwide activities, printed educational material and local events. In my own community of Indian Orchard, like all communities in the US,  a committee was formed to direct activities. My father was on the committee, and I remember the excitement at our dinner table when he would discuss details with my mother. I had heard of the Genocide, but my knowledge was very limited as it wasn’t a “mainstream” topic. A new era was about to be introduced, and I was all ears. There were printed materials, posters and other educational documents available.