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ALEX YENIKOMSHIAN: DIASPORA MUST PARTICIPATE IN STRUGGLE TO SAVE ARMENIA
http://hetq.am/eng/interviews/22097/alex-yenikomshian-diaspora-must-participate-in-struggle-to-save-armenia.html
12:21, January 10, 2013
Preserving one's Armenian identity in the diaspora must be a means to
an end. The desire to do so must be imbued with a living rationale;
otherwise it is doomed to failure.
Below is an excerpt of a recent interview given by Sardarapat Movement
leader Alex Yenikomshian. The interview, conducted by Jirayr Cholakian,
touches on the challenges currently threatening the future viability
of Armenia, such as mass emigration, and what must be done to overcome
them. The excerpt below deals with the role of the diaspora in such
a process.
We must all finally realize that preserving the health and viability of
Armenia is a problem of the entire nation. This is not only correct in
principle, from an all-Armenian perspective, but also from a practical
and tangible aspect. If this problem isn't resolved in a short period
of time, we will lose Armenia. If that happens what is all this talk
about the diaspora, the preservation of Armenian identity, the Armenian
Cause and even western Armenia. It would all be for naught.
Today, the pre-requisite for all those issues is making the tiny
Armenia we have today healthy and viable. This must be of primary
concern for all Armenians irrespective of where they live. Thus,
this must at least be placed on an equal footing with issues related
to the Genocide and, if we are to be rational about it, at the top
of the list.
The participation of the diaspora in the struggle for Armenia is very
important, both for its success and for the diaspora as well.
The correct stance of the diaspora and its activism would be a great
moral and psychological boost for those struggling in Armenia and for
the people. With its correct stance, the diaspora would strengthen
the struggle within Armenia. On the other hand, the struggle of
the diaspora would also weaken the position of the authorities and
their actions damaging the nation. The authorities could not remain
indifferent to criticism and pressure from abroad, whether Armenian
or foreign. This is one of their weak points. In a word, we must not
think of the diaspora's role as merely symbolic.
On the other hand, participating in the struggle for Armenia is
very important for the diaspora itself. The preservation of Armenian
identity on foreign shores, as an end in itself, is not only absurd
but also the weakest form of identity preservation.
If the continuity of the Armenian people overseas is not imbued
with meaning, it cannot be effective. Sure, schools and culture
are extremely important, but they aren't enough. The struggle being
waged to preserve national and cultural identity is essentially a
"passive" process and creates nothing. It has been the creative and
initiating activities during the history of the diaspora that have
always succeeded in instilling new life into the Armenian component
of new generations.
This is what first happened in the 1960s and particularly, in
the 1970s, with the movement pressing for demands. It occurred
in 1988-1994, the years of the pan-national Artsakh movement, the
earthquake, independence and war. Starting as far back as the mid 1990,
the diaspora has been in crisis mode in terms of giving meaning to
the Armenian component.
Two issues may provide meaning to the national-cultural identity of an
Armenian living in the diaspora - achievements made in the struggle to
eliminate consequences of the Genocide and a feeling to identify with
an Armenia that is flourishing and serving as a positive role model.
Today, both of them are lacking.
It would seem that the recognition of the Genocide has been
transformed into an end in and of itself, while present-day Armenia
is repulsive. We should then not be surprised when a young diaspora
Armenian asks, "Why should I remain Armenian?"
This is exactly where participating in the struggle for a vibrant and
viable Armenia will serve as the best guarantor for new generations
of Armenians living overseas to retain their Armenian identity. The
desire to creatively make a difference in shaping a new Armenia that
they can be proud of, will serve as a living justification to remain
Armenian. They will have a real reason to do so.
By participating in the struggle taking place in Armenia, a diaspora
Armenian will both be involved in the salvation of Armenia, and work
to make it flourish, while at the same time giving meaning, a living
purpose, to his/her Armenian identity.
There is also another important factor linked to this. The declaration
of independence should have served as an opportunity for bringing
Armenians, both in Armenia and abroad, closer together. We all know
this hasn't happened.
For objective and other understandable reasons, sub-cultural
differences have cropped up between these two segments over the past
decades. These differences have deepened, rather than lessened, due
to the near-sighted policies of consecutive governments in Armenia
as well as the leadership of diaspora structures.
Not only has work not been conducted to lessen these sub-cultural
differences but, as a consequence of chaotic contact, alienation
has occurred in many instances. Today, a golden opportunity has been
created to fix this situation.
Today, in Armenia, there is a vital need for a collaborative creative
struggle. The participation of healthy and active segments of the
diaspora in that struggle and the defense of the rights of its
people is the best manner to quickly smooth over the psychological
differences and to rebuild national unity. There is no better way
for the two segments of the Armenian nation to come together than
solidarity and united struggle.
Consequently, the participation of overseas Armenian community, or
more correctly, that segment of it driven by Armenian values, in the
struggle for Armenia is a necessity both in terms of the pan-national
front and for all segments of the people, either taken as individuals
or collectively. Such participation is beneficial in all cases.
From: Baghdasarian
http://hetq.am/eng/interviews/22097/alex-yenikomshian-diaspora-must-participate-in-struggle-to-save-armenia.html
12:21, January 10, 2013
Preserving one's Armenian identity in the diaspora must be a means to
an end. The desire to do so must be imbued with a living rationale;
otherwise it is doomed to failure.
Below is an excerpt of a recent interview given by Sardarapat Movement
leader Alex Yenikomshian. The interview, conducted by Jirayr Cholakian,
touches on the challenges currently threatening the future viability
of Armenia, such as mass emigration, and what must be done to overcome
them. The excerpt below deals with the role of the diaspora in such
a process.
We must all finally realize that preserving the health and viability of
Armenia is a problem of the entire nation. This is not only correct in
principle, from an all-Armenian perspective, but also from a practical
and tangible aspect. If this problem isn't resolved in a short period
of time, we will lose Armenia. If that happens what is all this talk
about the diaspora, the preservation of Armenian identity, the Armenian
Cause and even western Armenia. It would all be for naught.
Today, the pre-requisite for all those issues is making the tiny
Armenia we have today healthy and viable. This must be of primary
concern for all Armenians irrespective of where they live. Thus,
this must at least be placed on an equal footing with issues related
to the Genocide and, if we are to be rational about it, at the top
of the list.
The participation of the diaspora in the struggle for Armenia is very
important, both for its success and for the diaspora as well.
The correct stance of the diaspora and its activism would be a great
moral and psychological boost for those struggling in Armenia and for
the people. With its correct stance, the diaspora would strengthen
the struggle within Armenia. On the other hand, the struggle of
the diaspora would also weaken the position of the authorities and
their actions damaging the nation. The authorities could not remain
indifferent to criticism and pressure from abroad, whether Armenian
or foreign. This is one of their weak points. In a word, we must not
think of the diaspora's role as merely symbolic.
On the other hand, participating in the struggle for Armenia is
very important for the diaspora itself. The preservation of Armenian
identity on foreign shores, as an end in itself, is not only absurd
but also the weakest form of identity preservation.
If the continuity of the Armenian people overseas is not imbued
with meaning, it cannot be effective. Sure, schools and culture
are extremely important, but they aren't enough. The struggle being
waged to preserve national and cultural identity is essentially a
"passive" process and creates nothing. It has been the creative and
initiating activities during the history of the diaspora that have
always succeeded in instilling new life into the Armenian component
of new generations.
This is what first happened in the 1960s and particularly, in
the 1970s, with the movement pressing for demands. It occurred
in 1988-1994, the years of the pan-national Artsakh movement, the
earthquake, independence and war. Starting as far back as the mid 1990,
the diaspora has been in crisis mode in terms of giving meaning to
the Armenian component.
Two issues may provide meaning to the national-cultural identity of an
Armenian living in the diaspora - achievements made in the struggle to
eliminate consequences of the Genocide and a feeling to identify with
an Armenia that is flourishing and serving as a positive role model.
Today, both of them are lacking.
It would seem that the recognition of the Genocide has been
transformed into an end in and of itself, while present-day Armenia
is repulsive. We should then not be surprised when a young diaspora
Armenian asks, "Why should I remain Armenian?"
This is exactly where participating in the struggle for a vibrant and
viable Armenia will serve as the best guarantor for new generations
of Armenians living overseas to retain their Armenian identity. The
desire to creatively make a difference in shaping a new Armenia that
they can be proud of, will serve as a living justification to remain
Armenian. They will have a real reason to do so.
By participating in the struggle taking place in Armenia, a diaspora
Armenian will both be involved in the salvation of Armenia, and work
to make it flourish, while at the same time giving meaning, a living
purpose, to his/her Armenian identity.
There is also another important factor linked to this. The declaration
of independence should have served as an opportunity for bringing
Armenians, both in Armenia and abroad, closer together. We all know
this hasn't happened.
For objective and other understandable reasons, sub-cultural
differences have cropped up between these two segments over the past
decades. These differences have deepened, rather than lessened, due
to the near-sighted policies of consecutive governments in Armenia
as well as the leadership of diaspora structures.
Not only has work not been conducted to lessen these sub-cultural
differences but, as a consequence of chaotic contact, alienation
has occurred in many instances. Today, a golden opportunity has been
created to fix this situation.
Today, in Armenia, there is a vital need for a collaborative creative
struggle. The participation of healthy and active segments of the
diaspora in that struggle and the defense of the rights of its
people is the best manner to quickly smooth over the psychological
differences and to rebuild national unity. There is no better way
for the two segments of the Armenian nation to come together than
solidarity and united struggle.
Consequently, the participation of overseas Armenian community, or
more correctly, that segment of it driven by Armenian values, in the
struggle for Armenia is a necessity both in terms of the pan-national
front and for all segments of the people, either taken as individuals
or collectively. Such participation is beneficial in all cases.
From: Baghdasarian