Youth OpinionYouth
“With Open Arms”
I am one of more than seven million Armenians living in the diaspora.
Growing up, my journey connecting with my Armenian heritage was different from that of most people I’ve spoken to. My mother and her family immigrated from Soviet Armenia to the U.S., where she married my Italian father, making me half-Armenian and half-Italian. I was fortunate to experience both cultures through food, cultural events and hearing the languages around me. However, I never learned Armenian and was not expos
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Anna you are 100 percent correct. If the Republic of Armenia has any hope of surviving it will require building bridges with anyone who will be sympathetic to our cause. If Armenian culture is going to survive it will require not only embracing our Armenian culture, but also being open to learning about other cultures. The insular attitude that many Armenians project is offensive not only to non Armenians, but also to many Armenians who embrace pluralism. Thank for being insightful,brave, and honest.
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian also contributes to this division. The Armenian Reddit is the place that helped me most to learn about my Armenian side. Yet, Hamparian demonized the online space, likening the users to “men in pajamas”.
Lots of Armenians (assimilated or mixed) use r/Armenia as a way to reconnect and learn about their roots. It’s perfectly normal.
Yes, it is very strictly moderated. It’s unfortunate. But, you cannot have everything. There are 50,000+ users aside from the 10 moderators. We did not all decide this policy.
I commend you on Armenian activism, and your participation in the Leo Derderian program.
Sorry for the treatment you have received from fellow Armenians, which is a sad situation and extremely unfortunate, especially with the small number of Armenians in the world.
The divisions based on one’s ability to speak Armenian or from which country they come from should not divide us.
Whether you are from the US, Beirut, Bolis, Russia, or Iran, we are all Armenian!!