About two months ago, I participated in my first online call as a 2020 Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Leo Sarkisian Intern. I was already having destructive thoughts that I didn’t deserve this opportunity because I wasn’t Armenian en
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Thank you for sharing your story! It’s so important to realize that the only way to be Armenian “enough” is acknowledging the Armenianness in you. No one else can keep you away from what’s already yours.
Love this! Also, any Armenians who want to judge other Armenians for not being the exact way they think an Armenian should be ought to maybe ask themselves how to make the community more welcoming.
“Why should it matter if you can speak Armenian or not?”
That’s equally as absurd as saying why should it matter if an Anglo-American or Brit speaks English or not. The Armenian language, is the most important part of the Armenian culture. Without it, there would be no Armenian culture, nor would there be an Armenia. Just imagine if few Armenians were able to communicate in Armenian? Well, then it certainly would not be possible to continue the Armenian culture; and as a result, the entire worldwide Armenian community, without the Armenian language, would end up assimilating into different cultures. This would indeed be the equivalent of a worldwide Armenian genocide.
I am sympathetic to your view, Yerevanian, but we need to meet people where they are. Not every community is like Glendale, where there are Armenian-language schools (some of them full-time Monday to Friday), almost weekly community events in the Armenian language, and cafes and restaurants where Armenian is spoken that one can enter anytime.
It is simply difficult to learn any foreign language, especially if one has to do it on one’s own without formal schooling. If someone told you, “learn Greek,” could you do it within a year? Two years? Three? Keep in mind you have a full-time job and many other time commitments.
For people who don’t speak Armenian, and realistically can’t learn it, what is your solution? They’re not part of the community? In my opinion we need to invest our resources in schools and online aids so that even the most assimilated members of the Diaspora can find ways for their kids to learn the language.
Alex,
In terms of my earlier comment, in no particular way was I trying to suggest that any particular person is disqualified from being a part of the Armenian community if he or she cannot communicate in Armenian. I was only clarifying why the Armenian language should matter to those out there who identify as being Armenian.
In terms of Glendale, California (where I lived once upon a time), although it’s the most Armenian city in the Armenian diaspora, there is nevertheless quite a lot of assimilation going on within its Armenian community, and that’s just totally wrong.
In terms of being a part of the Armenian community, anyone who identifies as being Armenian, takes pride in being Armenian and feels love towards the Armenian flag, is automatically a part of the worldwide Armenian community.
“For people who don’t speak Armenian, and realistically can’t learn it, what is your solution?”
The opinion that you gave in the last sentence of the third paragraph is a good solution.
Uff! I love the last punchline.
Alex,
There’s another thing that I wanted to add to my reply to you:
If we were to have a community where few Armenians were able to communicate in the Armenian language, then how would it be possible to continue the Armenian culture?
Anahid Gashashian Vanetsee
Degheen kanee?