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SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN REUNIFIED ARMENIA
By Appo Jabarian
http://www.armenianlife.com/2012/02/02/see-you-next-year-in-reunified-armenia/
February 2, 2012
During the 2011 holiday season, I took the liberty to e-present to
certain friends a new kind of New Year wish - "See You Next Year in
Reunified Armenia!" Many of them wrote back, "I wish you the same,
my dear friend!!!"
I presented that wish also in person to many other friends and
relatives.
Some of them were very happy to hear. Others were flabbergasted. And
some others were shaken, saying, "Isn't it too challenging to even
think about such an idea?" My response was, "Our quest for justice
transcends all barriers." Still others said, "Shouldn't we be careful
not to stretch our freedom over the limit?"
I answered, "So, what happened to our freedom of thought and
expression; and our right to dream and to pursue them?"
Armenians, the victims of the 1st genocide, deportations and
dispossessions of the 20th century, have come a long way. But they
must remember that they still have "miles to go, promises to keep,"
in order to avenge one of the greatest injustices of the 20th century.
Armenian along with Greeks, Assyrians, Alevis, Kurds, Arabs, Jews,
and more recently Cypriots were subjected to a host of calamities:
- Nearly the entire Armenian nation was wiped out in 1915-1923 by
Turkey through systematic and large-scale ethnic cleansing;
- They have lost their ancestral homelands in Western Armenia and
Cilicia;
- Thousands of families lost their real and personal properties;
- Unlike several Middle Eastern and European countries that received
independence from Ottoman Turkish occupation, Armenians, Kurds,
Assyrians, and Greeks of Pontus, Smyrna and Constantinople were
denied such rights to sovereignty and their national aspirations were
undermined by the neo-Cons of the time.
To the credit of these victim-nations, nearly all of them rebuilt
their lives. And now, they can create new possibilities by further
co-operating and helping one another achieve their respective national
objectives.
Back in early 1980's who could have anticipated that Soviet Armenia
(Eastern Armenia) and several other then Soviet-occupied nations
would achieve independence?
Who could have foreseen crumbling down of the Berlin wall?
Historic opportunities may come. But are we ready to regain what we
have lost?
For now, Armenians have double tasks: 1) Assisting the twin Armenian
states -Republic of Armenia and Republic of Artsakh consolidate
their social, economic, and political positions; and 2) They have
the imperative of better organizing their Diaspora.
Are we up to the challenge?
We have no other alternatives. If not now, when? If not us, who?
Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2012 and a Merry Armenian
Christmas. Cheers! Genatsut! (To your life!) And yes, see you next
year in reunified Armenia!
By Appo Jabarian
http://www.armenianlife.com/2012/02/02/see-you-next-year-in-reunified-armenia/
February 2, 2012
During the 2011 holiday season, I took the liberty to e-present to
certain friends a new kind of New Year wish - "See You Next Year in
Reunified Armenia!" Many of them wrote back, "I wish you the same,
my dear friend!!!"
I presented that wish also in person to many other friends and
relatives.
Some of them were very happy to hear. Others were flabbergasted. And
some others were shaken, saying, "Isn't it too challenging to even
think about such an idea?" My response was, "Our quest for justice
transcends all barriers." Still others said, "Shouldn't we be careful
not to stretch our freedom over the limit?"
I answered, "So, what happened to our freedom of thought and
expression; and our right to dream and to pursue them?"
Armenians, the victims of the 1st genocide, deportations and
dispossessions of the 20th century, have come a long way. But they
must remember that they still have "miles to go, promises to keep,"
in order to avenge one of the greatest injustices of the 20th century.
Armenian along with Greeks, Assyrians, Alevis, Kurds, Arabs, Jews,
and more recently Cypriots were subjected to a host of calamities:
- Nearly the entire Armenian nation was wiped out in 1915-1923 by
Turkey through systematic and large-scale ethnic cleansing;
- They have lost their ancestral homelands in Western Armenia and
Cilicia;
- Thousands of families lost their real and personal properties;
- Unlike several Middle Eastern and European countries that received
independence from Ottoman Turkish occupation, Armenians, Kurds,
Assyrians, and Greeks of Pontus, Smyrna and Constantinople were
denied such rights to sovereignty and their national aspirations were
undermined by the neo-Cons of the time.
To the credit of these victim-nations, nearly all of them rebuilt
their lives. And now, they can create new possibilities by further
co-operating and helping one another achieve their respective national
objectives.
Back in early 1980's who could have anticipated that Soviet Armenia
(Eastern Armenia) and several other then Soviet-occupied nations
would achieve independence?
Who could have foreseen crumbling down of the Berlin wall?
Historic opportunities may come. But are we ready to regain what we
have lost?
For now, Armenians have double tasks: 1) Assisting the twin Armenian
states -Republic of Armenia and Republic of Artsakh consolidate
their social, economic, and political positions; and 2) They have
the imperative of better organizing their Diaspora.
Are we up to the challenge?
We have no other alternatives. If not now, when? If not us, who?
Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2012 and a Merry Armenian
Christmas. Cheers! Genatsut! (To your life!) And yes, see you next
year in reunified Armenia!