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COMMENTARY: WHY I AM NO LONGER ALLOWED TO BE ARMENIAN
By Armen Kouyoumdjian
http://hetq.am/en/society/42918/
2010/11/10
Half way through my 63rd year, I have realised I cannot be an Armenian
any more.
Of course, I cannot change the genetics or the character; though
I could do something about the tell-tale name. I cannot erase my
knowledge of the language as if it were a file on a hard disk. In a
way, I may have started my mutation earlier by marrying a non-Armenian,
and then realising my children had no interest whatsoever in that
side of their roots.
I find it impossible to be an Armenian because Armenians are their
own worst enemy. This is why I think they will never achieve neither
a dynamic modern homeland, nor an unconditional recognition of the
Genocide, nor the survival of the Diaspora beyond an academic and
folkloric community of limited following.
Those who know me may find these affirmations surprising, as I have
dedicated some 45 years, since my late teens, to Armenian causes. I
fought, with mixed success, with media misrepresentation, joined
non-political organisations, stayed away from divisive groups, and
did such diverse things as promoting the Armenian presence at the
Cannes film festival by sinking (the word is used advisedly) more
than a quarter of all my savings into helping people in Armenia with
a cultural sponsorship and individual assistance.
Though I found it ridiculous, I learned to live with the divisions and
subdivisions of the various communities who spent more time fighting
each other than pursue common aims. I accepted, with some exceptions,
the idiosyncrasies of Armenia itself, thinking that they have had a
hard time and deserved some positive discrimination and patience.
In less than one year, all my dreams and ideals came apart.
In late 2009, I realised that financial circumstances would not allow
me to pursue my sponsorship in Armenia, and advised the 40 or so people
involved of the fact. Most said that they understood and it did not
matter, as I had done enough for 13 years. They insisted that their
love and gratitude would endure whatever. "Parole, parole, parole",
as the Italian song went.
After sending my last contribution, I never heard from them again;
even when I pursued them. Not even an Armenian Christmas greeting.
Much later, I asked a member of our community in Chile visiting Armenia
who had been instrumental in my initial involvement, to find out why
I was so ignored. He did not even bother to report back.
I resigned myself to try to help our small and struggling community in
Chile, where we have no embassy, school or church; just a rundown old
clubhouse where we meet up three or four times a year . The Armenian
ambassador, serving Chile from his post in Argentina, had asked me
to be his informal liaison man. I can say without false modesty that
I leaned over backwards to comply. We managed to have a Genocide
resolution passed unanimously by the Chilean Senate, and have been
omnipresent in the local media whenever the need or occasion arose.
I liaised with friendly embassies and reported on the activities of
the Turks. I sent a weekly situation report on what was going on in
all aspects of the country and also maintained contact with Armenian
communities in Latin America and beyond.
I visited Armenia 13 times, met up with the Foreign and Diaspora
ministries, and wrote papers ranging from geopolitics to diplomacy. On
several occasions I was asked to lecture on aspects of Armenian
affairs both in Chile and abroad.
Suddenly, in March 2010, all communications to me from official
Armenia stopped. Messages were not answered or even acknowledged,
and no explanation given. Last week, I learned that a Chilean lawyer
with no link to or knowledge of Armenia had been formally accredited
two months ago as Honorary Consul in Santiago. I was never advised
in advance. This happened despite my supposedly being the "Embassy
Liaison" and "Community International Adviser"
Not just I, but the community in general was never advised. Nor did
the appointed person make contact with his newly acquired flock. When
I complained, I got a purposely distorted "explanation" that made
no sense.
Forgotten in Armenia and thrown away by the Diaspora, there is nowhere
left to go in my being an Armenian. Continue to behave like that
'Oh Armenians', and see how far it will get you.
An apology to the memory of my maternal grandfather Levon Hazarabedian,
whom I never met, but who, on his deathbed, advised his family -
"never become involved in Armenian affairs".
I am sorry not to have listened to you, medz-baba.
From: A. Papazian
By Armen Kouyoumdjian
http://hetq.am/en/society/42918/
2010/11/10
Half way through my 63rd year, I have realised I cannot be an Armenian
any more.
Of course, I cannot change the genetics or the character; though
I could do something about the tell-tale name. I cannot erase my
knowledge of the language as if it were a file on a hard disk. In a
way, I may have started my mutation earlier by marrying a non-Armenian,
and then realising my children had no interest whatsoever in that
side of their roots.
I find it impossible to be an Armenian because Armenians are their
own worst enemy. This is why I think they will never achieve neither
a dynamic modern homeland, nor an unconditional recognition of the
Genocide, nor the survival of the Diaspora beyond an academic and
folkloric community of limited following.
Those who know me may find these affirmations surprising, as I have
dedicated some 45 years, since my late teens, to Armenian causes. I
fought, with mixed success, with media misrepresentation, joined
non-political organisations, stayed away from divisive groups, and
did such diverse things as promoting the Armenian presence at the
Cannes film festival by sinking (the word is used advisedly) more
than a quarter of all my savings into helping people in Armenia with
a cultural sponsorship and individual assistance.
Though I found it ridiculous, I learned to live with the divisions and
subdivisions of the various communities who spent more time fighting
each other than pursue common aims. I accepted, with some exceptions,
the idiosyncrasies of Armenia itself, thinking that they have had a
hard time and deserved some positive discrimination and patience.
In less than one year, all my dreams and ideals came apart.
In late 2009, I realised that financial circumstances would not allow
me to pursue my sponsorship in Armenia, and advised the 40 or so people
involved of the fact. Most said that they understood and it did not
matter, as I had done enough for 13 years. They insisted that their
love and gratitude would endure whatever. "Parole, parole, parole",
as the Italian song went.
After sending my last contribution, I never heard from them again;
even when I pursued them. Not even an Armenian Christmas greeting.
Much later, I asked a member of our community in Chile visiting Armenia
who had been instrumental in my initial involvement, to find out why
I was so ignored. He did not even bother to report back.
I resigned myself to try to help our small and struggling community in
Chile, where we have no embassy, school or church; just a rundown old
clubhouse where we meet up three or four times a year . The Armenian
ambassador, serving Chile from his post in Argentina, had asked me
to be his informal liaison man. I can say without false modesty that
I leaned over backwards to comply. We managed to have a Genocide
resolution passed unanimously by the Chilean Senate, and have been
omnipresent in the local media whenever the need or occasion arose.
I liaised with friendly embassies and reported on the activities of
the Turks. I sent a weekly situation report on what was going on in
all aspects of the country and also maintained contact with Armenian
communities in Latin America and beyond.
I visited Armenia 13 times, met up with the Foreign and Diaspora
ministries, and wrote papers ranging from geopolitics to diplomacy. On
several occasions I was asked to lecture on aspects of Armenian
affairs both in Chile and abroad.
Suddenly, in March 2010, all communications to me from official
Armenia stopped. Messages were not answered or even acknowledged,
and no explanation given. Last week, I learned that a Chilean lawyer
with no link to or knowledge of Armenia had been formally accredited
two months ago as Honorary Consul in Santiago. I was never advised
in advance. This happened despite my supposedly being the "Embassy
Liaison" and "Community International Adviser"
Not just I, but the community in general was never advised. Nor did
the appointed person make contact with his newly acquired flock. When
I complained, I got a purposely distorted "explanation" that made
no sense.
Forgotten in Armenia and thrown away by the Diaspora, there is nowhere
left to go in my being an Armenian. Continue to behave like that
'Oh Armenians', and see how far it will get you.
An apology to the memory of my maternal grandfather Levon Hazarabedian,
whom I never met, but who, on his deathbed, advised his family -
"never become involved in Armenian affairs".
I am sorry not to have listened to you, medz-baba.
From: A. Papazian