Opinion
Changing Strategy: On the Survival of Armenia and its Diaspora
By Berge Minasian
Dr. Albert Einstein taught us that the definition of insanity is “doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.” He went on to say, “if you don’t like the results you are achieving, change something.” So knowing all this, what is it with our people who insist on grieving over the tragedies our ancestors suffered almost 100 years ago? I’m afraid our national identity in this country is mainly one of victimhood over events that occurred almost a century ago. What I’m referring to is our national obsession with getting a genocide resolution adopted in Congress.
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Yes, without doubt. But, you are spitting into the wind. Many seem to have an absolute resolve to pursue a failed course.
In the international system, it is the exception when the weak are served justice. Armenia is weak. It is a dependent state. A state whose existence is only possible by the largess of the USA, EU, Russia, and its diaspora. This largess comes with strings that are driven by their interests and not the interests of the people of Armenia.
It seems to me, that the most direct route to justice is not through non-binding resolutions with no force of law. The most direct route to justice is by building a strong Armenia. A country with a dynamic economy, good governance, and with the rule of law. A country whose most able seek to stay and whose most outspoken patriots seek to return.
The international system is driven by a quid pro quo marketplace. Armenia is weak and brings nothing to the table. Its interests will always be a tertiary interest until the country gains strength to stand on its own.
Focus on Armenia and the welfare of the people of Armenia–that is the only chance for justice–the only chance for a future.
Excellent article thanks! I absolutely agree with Berge. What needs to be changed is for Armenian’s to become friends with Turks. Instead of talking about genocide, over and over again, we should think about how to open borders with Turkey. Cheers!
Mr. Dallakian, have you heard of the term “dolma diplomacy?”
A better strategy than the one you suggest is to push for free speech and democracy in Turkey, so that the country will be civilized enough to open borders without paranoid preconditions. Moreover, ANCA should actively lobby the US to pressure Turkey to open the border without preconditions, rather than lobby for genocide recognition.
You are absolutely right. The effort spent on Genocide recognition would be better value if dedicated to try to maintain culture and knowledge (starting among young Armenians). Even if you insist on recognition, instead of sending me 25 messages (all the way to Chile, where I live!) asking me to write to my “congressman” (!), you would get better results telling presidential candidates that the Armenian-American community will support them only for a SECOND term provided they deliver during the first one, when they shall all abstain. How many times will newly elected presidents have to sell us down the river before the leadership understands this?
I agree with Alex on the opening of the borders. This is a very vital issue and can give a great boost for the Armenian economy. I don’t know if anyone from outside can push for free speech and democracy, these process are more lasting if they are developed from within countries and Turkey has done some steps in the recent years in this direction. Of course, one may argue that these steps are self-serving and are adopted for entering the EU. Nevertheless, we Armenians should rather take advantage of this moment to improve our relations with a nation of 60 mln (or is it more now) and with an army of 4 mln. Sad as it may sound, we just cannot compete with that…
There has been a lot of criticism of our President (USA) because of the decision not to keep the commitment to support Genocide recognition. Yes, he did break that commitment. The only thing worse is if he kept the commitment at the expense of US national interests. I would not value a President who would pursue a disadvantageous course of action for my country because he said he would at a past point in time.
The next generation of this family is in Helmand Province. If resupply is quicker and more efficient through Incirlik then he had better keep the base open and unimpeded.
Again, don’t expect others to do Armenian heavy lifting. If you want a strong vibrant Armenia-then make the sacrifice to go and do it. Loudly proclaiming ain’t it awful the US or the EU or the world court etc doesn’t do more for Armenia is not proving to be an effective nation building strategy.
Maybe those who claim diaspora leadership ought to invest their time and resources into
1. educating people about the challenge and opportunity of building Armenia
2. organizing programs to facilitate repatriation.
Ask Hillary Clinton what more Armenia has to do to smooth out Turkey’s feathers? Minister Nalbandian signed a document, without preconditions, to establish neighborly relations between the two countries. Armenia is still being victmized whether its 1915 or 2011. Isn’t pressing a foot on the victim’s throat considered genocide? What’s changed in the last hundred years?
” I would not value a President who would pursue a disadvantageous course of action for my country because he said he would at a past point in time.”
Well said! And do you value that same president for lying to and taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of the Armenian community, shamelessly taking their hard earned dollars, just to get himself elected? Was it also done in the USA’s interests or his own interests? And, please, don’t try to trivialize the immorality of his self-serving lie: “because he said he would at a past point in time.” So a man of his status can just spit things out at any time without bearing any responsibility just because it was done some time in the past?
I bet you also find him worthy of the Nobel Prize that he took shamelessly. The Nobel Prize is not given for serving political interests. It should go to those who fight for the truth and justice even when it’s against the interests of the mighty and the powerful. Of course, such a “hero” would never have the guts to admit that he was not worthy of the great honor.
@ Bob
The idea that confirming the mass murder of the Armenians as “going counter to US interests” is absurd at best. The TRUTH should never be replaced under the stupid silly guise of “national interest”. That is a TURKISH LOBBY, U.S STATE DEPARTMENT AND MILITARY CONTRACTORS CREATION. EVERY COUNTRY THAT DOES/DID RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH STILL ENJOYS NO REPERCUSSIONS AND IN FACT HAS GOOD RELATIONS WITH TURKEY.
THE US’ OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS A GREEN LIGHT FOR LAW SUITS AND A CLEAR WAY FOR REPARATIONS. IT IS THAT IMPORTANT. BESIDE WHY ALLOW THE US STATE DEPARTMENT AND IT ZIONIST LACKY’S FOR DISTORTING ARMENIAN HISTORY?
LAST I DON’T READ ANYTHING IN THIS ARTICLE ON THE SHEER CORRUPTNESS OF THE CURRENT AND PAST ARMENIAN GOVERNMENTS WHO’S ONLY REAL CONCERN IS TO LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS AT THE COST OF THE PEOPLE’S EXPENSE. ROBERT KACHARIAN IS SAID TO BE WORTH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS????? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? WHY WOULD ANYONE WANTING TO STEAL FUNDS CARE ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE? ARMENIA PROPER DOESN’T TILL THIS DAY DOESN’T REALLY CARE.
Could you imagine the horror people will get from the archived Google news reports of 1915? It is not that hard to do. Just go to Google news, type Armenia or Turks and limit the year to 1915. Read the New York Times and then think about the wine you are drinking!!!!!!
Kids are going to say: “mommy, where do stuffed grape leaves come from?” And then parents are going to say: “do a Google search.” Then the kids are going to say: “mommy why do they call it Turkish coffee instead of Arabic or Armenian coffee?” Then the parents are going to say: “just do a Google search!!!!” LMAO!!!!!!
Certain Turks, and not all of them feel the same way, want to keep us landlocked in property. However, they can Never subjugate us in our intellectual properties and creativity.
Do they really expect us, after they murdered their favorite nannies, their favorite chefs, their favorite intellectuals, their loyal soldiers to come back and clean up the mess as their servants?
“In my opinion, the greatest minds in our diaspora need to begin placing a higher priority on making sure that Armenia survives as a free and independent democracy.”
The assumption with the above statement is that the greatest minds of the Armenia diaspora are somehow actively involved in the Armenian community in a manner that needs to be redirected to what Mr. Minasian is proposing.
I would argue that the greatest minds of the Armenian diaspora, for the most part, are living their lives without giving much thought to how they can positively influence Armenia or the Armenian community.
They are not “lost” because the organizations are focusing on Armenian Genocide resolutions..they are lost because by the very act of living in the diaspora they are allowed to forget Armenia, Armenia’s problems and Armenian specific issues and simply focus on their jobs and personal goals/ambitions.
They just happened to be Armenian. Nothing more nothing less. That is what the “greatest minds” are doing. Now the “most active” members of Armenian community, that is another story…to them Mr. Minasians article is right on point.
Firstly, replace the inept and incapable leaderships of Armenia… inexperienced and too, are still self-centered and are making errors in judgments. These leaders are ‘learning on the job’ whilst the fledgling nation of Armenia needs full fledged patriots of the caliber of an Aram Manoogian – NOW. Then, the world over, meeaseen/together, Armenians joined and secure in our combined strengths will advance our Hai Tahd. Manooshag
When criticizing our American president and too, the USA State Department for their stance against recognizing the Turkish Genocide of the Armenian nation… actually the truths of the issue is that the USA leadership is a hinderance in ending ALL the cycle of Genocides! The greatest republic the world has known, the USA, taking a political stance where Genocides are ‘allowed’ – perpetrators not made to face justice…. THIS LACK OF MORALITY IS THE SHAME OF THE USA LEADERS!
For as long as an Obama allowed/allows the Sudanese (Turkey’s ally) to suffer the vile horrors of Genocides against the Darfurians… he has, in effect, too, allowed the cycle of Genocides to remain the evil that it is… inhumanity to humans. Genocides continued unabated by civilized societies, such as the USA leaderships, allowing such planned ‘eliminations’ of peoples by despots who know that they shall ‘get away with murders’ and more in their planned Genocides.
All civilized nations seek criminals, bringing them to face justice in their courts. Sadly, then why are not despots using Genocides to gain their own goals not made to face justice? Hence the cycle of Genocides continues – ongoing/unending. Are not the USA leaderships too guilty of allowing Genocides? Genocides not recognized, Genocide of Darfur, and all future Genocides that shall follow… Genocide cycle unabated…Manooshag
“In my opinion, the greatest minds in our diaspora need to begin placing a higher priority on making sure that Armenia survives as a free and independent democracy.”
The greatest minds in our diaspora must first be orgonized as a one official political entity. Unitl then no concrete result can be expected.
Re: “The alleviation of extreme poverty in Armenia must be our first priority. The eradication of all governmental corruption must be a high priority for the motherland. Engaging second- and third-generation American Armenians as practicing Armenians is crucial…”
Poverty will not be alleviated without the “eradication of all government corruption.” You will not be able to “Engage [ing] second- and third-generation American Armenians” until you eradicate government and elite corruption. Read Garo’s response to Liana Aghajanian in today’s Armenian Weekly to see how Diaspora efforts to help in Armenia are thwarted by corruption. Our fathers were men who would starve rather than eat bread garnered with fraud or deceit or theft. They earned their bread with the sacrifice and sweat of their own labours. And even in the harshest of times, they shared it with the less fortunate among them. If John’s statement about Kacharian’s millions is correct, who in the Diaspora wants to contribute further to it? How do we bypass corruption and help our country and feed our hungry? Garo tried and failed.
Berge Minasian
Yes, we should change somethings to achieve the desired result, that is the world recognition and reparation of the Armenian Genocide.
Yes, we should give reason of national pride to our new generations rather than asking them to survive on sad chapters of ou history.
Bob
Unemployment, homelessness and economic crisis in the USA and the decline of USA position in the world in recent years is a result of US continued partnership with Turkey and others.
What USA interests? Wake up. It’s the interests of few capitalists you are talking about and those few never care about the USA people, they care only about gold, oil etc.
The day USA decides to do real partnership with countries like Armenia, USA and it’s people will prosper.
In other words a USA recogntion of the Armenia Genocide is the start f te right path for USA.
The article is useful because it asks inconvenient questions. However, it’s very USA-centric and influenced by propaganda that targets our communities for the benefit of special interests (read BIG OIL and the Military Industrial Complex). The problems described are US-Armenian Diaspora specific and should not be extrapolated on the entire Spurk. Unless US Armenians change the ways we work as a community we risk to become irrelevant.
These Armenians who live in the US have to understand that their tax dollars support the illegal blockade imposed on Armenia by Turkey, a NATO member. Economic blockade like this one is an act of war according to the international law.
When Soviet Union imposed a similar blockade on West Berlin, the whole world came to the rescue. Now we have a situation where it’s basically a NATO supported blockade that causes starvation of these Armenian children described in the article.
Occasional donations to charities and telethons are not enough. Diaspora Armenians should learn from other ethnic communities and start collecting a voluntary tax that should go to support the survival of our communities here, repatriation and measures against the blockade. It could be a 1% income tax or volunteer service in Armenia, but it has to be very transparent. Unfortunately, Armenians are always ready to pay taxes to everybody else (Ottoman Empire, NATO, etc.) but not the Armenian Cause. This needs to change before anything else changes.
Bravo Voskanapat! I see more and more Armenians are freeing themselves of their victim mentalities and genocide induced insecurities and beginning to see Armenia and the world with clearer vision. It’s too bad, however, that the essence of your message will not be appreciated by our typical “kiss me I’m a genocide survivor” Amerikahai…
The current leadership of Armenia has proven their caliber on the battlefields of Artsakh (they are the ones who actually fought Azeri Turks and won the War of Liberation) and in diplomatic battles of the recent times.
This is what our fat cat lobbyosi don’t want Armenians to know because while the current President of Armenia and his Defense Minister were risking their lives in Artsakh the people who criticize them now where doing what they do best – cleaning up crumbles at the Capitol Hill. I think they should continue to be paid their high salaries with one condition – just stay away and do nothing.
Please Voskanapat,
Don’t try to deify the current leadership in Armenia by portraying them as war heroes. Serzhik a warior?? You sound like you’re on their payroll.
I agree with the rest of your comment but will not tolerate any attempt to paint the current thugs in power as war heores. These guys are the ones who jailed many true Artsakh war vets after the government crushed the popular uprising on March 1, 2008 when the cops and soldiers opened fire on unarmed demonstrators.
Mkrtich – I did not call President Serzh Sarkisian a war hero in my post. And no, I’m not on their payroll – I doubt they can afford my retainer fee;)
However, what I know is that he is an elected President of Armenia and he participated in the War of Liberation. I respect the choice of citizens of Armenia who elected him and I do not respect people who repeat third party propaganda and inappropriately uses familiarities.
People of Armenia have a real stake in their leadership because if something goes wrong it would mean death to them and their loved ones. People who criticize their choice are pretty much safe and will continue to enjoy their comfortable lives in the West no matter what happens to Armenia. I would leave it up to these who fought in the war to talk about contributions of each individual veteran. From what I heard from people who fought with them and are not part of the current government, both the President and his Defense Minister served honorably and risked their lives multiple times.
Here is an example of Serzh Sarkisian’s conduct during the war described in Valery Martunian’s (a surgeon in Stepanakert during the war) book “The War has a Long Trail” (my translation): the author describes a heavy artillery shelling of the city and surrounding villages one day and Serzh Sargisian’s driver walked in with a small boy who had a wound in the stomach and amputated hand. The driver told them that they found the boy in Armenavan and Serzh Sarkisian sent his car with this boy to the hospital returning back to Stepanakert on foot. The doctor died soon after the war so he is not “on their payroll” either.
Hargeli enker Voskanapat:
Why are you lowering yourself to their level? Aren’t these the same self-destructive peasantry that wanted to bring back as president a traitor and a criminal that had already once raped and pillaged Armenia during the 1990s?
The simple fact that president Sargsyan gave a real professional military officer and a war hero like Seyran Ohanyan the top military post in Armenia is more than enough evidence to show his steadfast nationalistic intentions. Serj Sargsyan is our best bet against Azerbaijan and Moscow is our best bet against Ankara. In many respects, Serj Sargsyan is the first real president we have had – although this fact is being totally drowned by the unrelenting and ubiquitous propaganda that is aimed against his administration by Western intelligence (primarily because Serj is pro-Moscow) and by our homegrown self-destructive peasantry (primarily because of ignorance)…
Voskanapat, those whom you criticize have formed the diaspora into the unified and organized, now third and fourth generations since the Turkish Genocide of the Armenian nation. Today our Armenian grass roots exceeds beyond what our Survivors imagined we shall have been able to create. Too, that we have connected with all our Armenian bretheren worldwide. The greatest accomplishments since our Survivors and all our generations who follow in their memory…menk gank, menk hosenk aysor! Our Haiastansi bretheren will learn to recognize the great value of the Armenian diaspora… but ONLY when such leaderships come to the fore in Haiastan.
Your leadership of Haiastan today have been at the forefront of the War of Liberation against the Azeri Turks… were there, served the cause of Hai Tahd. Yet today, Serge and his cohorts have now become as a Der Petrossian and his ilk who followed – they too are taking from the citizens of Haiastan… rather than offering Haiastan advances our citizens of Haiastan are worthy. Today, these same heroes are not serving the Hai Tahd cause (with their self-serving communist mentality) as they are practicing stealing from the citizens of our Haiastan… pocketing and worse. Sadly, they are ‘learning on the job’-doing very badly – whether in their direction for foreign relations and too, in serving the citizens of our Haiastan. Today,now, a Serge’s newly appointed agricultural minister is planning to replace the little farmers, thus far who have been feeding themselves and ‘contribute’ (rather than “stealing” from our homeland) with his high tech ideas… Actually, ‘eliminating’ our farmer citizens of Haiastan – the little farmers… Whereas, his patriotism would have succeeded if he had come forth and presented an all-inclusive plan – for all the citizens, (including little farmers) to become participants in the advances of the Armenian nation in its efforts to bring prosperity to ALL the levels of Armenia… not just those (as himself included) to be the beneficiaries of his ‘elimination’ of our honest/dedicated farmers. He needed to step forth and present such a program for inclusion segments of our fledgling nation’s farmers… the honesty and the truths of such actions might lead the way to the betterment of the fledgling nations need to develop in all directions… For when a nation seeks to bring forth the best for ANY of its own peoples… ALL their peoples shall benefit – as ALL our peoples shall share and rejoice in the advances of their nation. (Not just those who mislead a nation)!
Serge and his ilk have harmed our young nation of Armenia… ENOUGH! For they are self-seeking and totally incapable of seeing beyond themselves, first. Haiastan, our young nation, needs patriots to lead our peoples to the greatness that the citizens of Haiastan are worthy and deserving… another Aram Manoogian. Manooshag
Avetis – You’re so predictable, dude. Try something other than Russo- or Serjophilia, would you? Just for a change… You’re no doubt entitled to have your own political convictions. Your greatest flaw, however, is that you insult other people entitled to different ones while laying out your thoughts. How many times do you need to be reminded that people cannot be derogated as to be stigmatized as “self-destructive peasantry” only for having convictions and worldview that maybe incompatible to yours? It is a sheer provincial mentality not the mentality of a cosmopolitan, open-minded person that I bet you consider yourself. And for the thousandth time: NONE of the Armenian presidents were legitimate (except for LTP’s very first election), because none of them was elected and given the vote of confidence by the people. Your beloved Serjik included. Try to widen your worldview and call things by their names. It is a sheer absurd to state that Serj shows “steadfast nationalistic intentions.” Was May 1-2, 2008 bloodshed a nationalistic intention? Or creation of a notorious clan system was a nationalistic intention? Or wide-spread corruption, lawlessness, and all-permissiveness in the society are the ones? Or maybe you think his disgusting handling of the humiliating Turkish-Armenian protocols was a nationalistic intention? Again, NONE of the Armenian presidents—past or present—was the embodiment of hopes of the people because none of them was legitimate, concerned, and public-spirited leader. “Unrelenting and ubiquitous propaganda [disseminated] by Western intelligence” has nothing to do with the fact that the present one is illegitimate and unpopular, as was Robik, as was LTP. Why dump everything on “Western intelligence”? The facts speak for themselves… Lastly, why would any Armenian president be pro-third country? Russia, or the U.S. or Burundi? Don’t you think that by supporting Serj’s being pro-foreign you exhibit the traits of a provincial-minded man, while at the same time coming down on others with a pathetic “peasantry” label? Why would a president be pro-foreign and not pro-Armenian, pro-people? Is it a quality of Serj that you take pride of bringing forth? Besides, how can any president be our “best bet” against external enemies if he—whoever he is, past or present—is loathed by the majority of his citizens? How can he be “the best” if he lacks public support and trust? What, then, is he hinging on domestically to be qualified as the “best bet” for us? For whom? For his impoverished and disenfranchised people?
Avetis, your Serge/cohorts have, known by their inactions/reactions ‘displayed’ that these leaders are not the caliber of patriots needed not only for the citizens of Haiastan but too, their Armenian bretheren worldwide…. Fledgling Haiastan needs great honest leadership. NOW, TODAY… Too, (as did all who preceded current leaders) incapable Serge and his ilk ineptly persist as they are ‘learning on the job’ – when, actually today, now, brilliant minds and patriots shall make the difference for our homeland – aysor!. Manooshag
OK folks, nice discussion – we can agree to disagree, like our opinion matters;) To me the most important thing is that there will be a newly elected president after Serj Sarkisian’s term is over. So far Armenia showed the ability to stick to the democratic process and not turn into a sultanate like their neighbors.
We, however, are not there and need to think how to get the same democratic process in our communities. From my observations, the Diaspora structures are less democratic then the governments of Armenia or Artsakh… There are clans and shameless promotions of certain families whose less deserving young generations think that they are entitled to leadership positions because their ancestors did so much for the Hye Tahd. In addition to that we have divisions based on church affiliations, political parties and countries of origin. This is something that must be eliminated in the most democratic country in the world.
I think that a voluntary tax can unite Diaspora better then all the good speeches and telethons. We can start with 1% or use the system that Turks had for Armenians in the Ottoman Empire to collect additional “protection” tax. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that people who pay tend to be better involved and since it’s across the board, the divisions will be eliminated. The tax revenue should be sufficient to cover our community needs here (schools, charities, churches, political activities) and help Armenia and Artsakh by supporting repatriation, infrastructure (something that is impossible to steal and deposit in a Swiss bank account) and overcoming the NATO-member imposed blockade.
This will allow us to stop being beggars on the Capitol Hill. We would not need to spend $30 million on bribing these corrupt politicians so they pass a bill to give Artsakh $45 million, but then look surprised that the State Department refuses to spend the money. Enough of that! With even 1% tax we should be able to lend IMF money instead of borrowing from them.
Again, people who don’t pay to Uncle Sam should not be paying the Armenian tax either. They will be receiving money from the fund when they need help. The same is true for these who are volunteering their time by teaching in a village school in Armenia or similar activities.
It would be good to start before 2015 so we would have something to show some progress in the past 100 years…
Written in the artcile: Congress has indeed taken note of Armenia as a newly emerging captive nation of the former Soviet Union and continues to regularly allocate financial aid. Their confidence in Armenia is exemplified by the fact that they built a state of the art American Embassy in Yerevan. This embassy is the largest in that part of the world and it speaks to the value America places on its partnership with Armenia.
If I’m correct, Armenians were use to build the foundation for the American Embassy in Yerevan and Turkish workers came/were brought in to finish the building on it – that which is seen. A more disturbing fact is that the wage earning power was taken from the Armenian population.
It might be likened to the highly controversial mosque issue in New York City near Ground Zero and the sense of one group stepping on another.
For a lady you seem to know a lot about army sizes. Your veiled treat gives you away turkishman.
Berge, absolutely, we need to focus our attention at engaging people in diaspora in life of our community, to keep them connected with Armenia. Without being involved we cant preserve and enrich our culture and tradition. It is high time that our national organizations will switch gears and treat this as main goal instead of passing resolutions. Though it doesn’t mean we have to abandon our cause. At least it is the only thing that unites us all, brings together and involves people. In the mean time no one should wait until leadership acts. Get involved yourself!
While what is written is true and respected, if the Armenians forget/bury in the past the 1915 Armenian Massacres or earlier pogroms, there is no reason others should remember them. If the Jews were to forget their Holocaust, the world would most easily leave it in the past with little concern for it.
The Armenians can learn from the Jews the necessity in remembering and honoring their history, and all their noise making that accomplishes many objectives and we need to learn something from them.