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CELEBRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS
Maria Titizian
BY MARIA TITIZIAN
This past weekend was celebratory in the country. The Armenian national
football team beat Bulgaria on home turf, finally breaking a streak
of losses at home. Young and old danced in the streets, strangers
congratulated one another and the tricolor was draped on everything
from people to cars. Yerevan turned 2795 years old marking it as
one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world;
Etchmiadzin, Armenia's spiritual center marked the 2698th year of its
establishment and Gyumri (or Kumayri) Armenia's second largest city
whose roots can be traced to the 8th century BC was selected as the
cultural city for the CIS in 2013.
A legacy of a rich history is certainly something to celebrate and
be proud of and while this comes with a monumental burden it also
presents endless opportunities. For many of us who were born and
raised in foreign lands at a time when Western Armenia was occupied
and Eastern Armenia was within the iron grip of the Soviet Union,
being Armenian meant something. It meant not only retaining that
heritage but also struggling for the liberation of an elusive homeland
that had been forgotten in the dusty pages of history books. It meant
keeping memories and traditions alive in a world that didn't always
understand us. It meant collective action and an unbreakable sense
of community. It also meant working harder, being better, striving
for greater heights.
When I recall those formative years growing up in North America,
it seemed natural that we held commemorations, organized cultural
and sporting events, staged protests and rallies every April 24,
celebrated mass on Sundays and built schools and community centers
to preserve our language and history.
In the absence of a homeland, and even with all the absurd in-fighting
between the traditional political parties that claimed ownership of
the Diaspora and its institutions, it was a game, the rules of which
we determined and understood.
With independence that safe, familiar bubble burst and we were left
unsure of what our role was in the Diaspora vis-a-vis the Republic of
Armenia. Events in the homeland just before and after independence
were developing so quickly that we didn't have time to reframe what
that new role was to be. Twenty two years on, we are still struggling
to realign and determine a new conceptual framework.
If we could, in general, agree on the premise that a strong, secure
and viable homeland is necessary not only for its own survival but for
the long-term survival of the Diaspora, then we need to articulate and
execute new ways of working and building structures and institutions.
In the chaos of nation-building, we have to be able to differentiate
between the ruling regime of the day and the very concept of statehood
- this regime isn't going to last forever. We should not therefore
limit our engagement with the homeland just because we feel that the
current regime is undermining Armenia's potential.
Armenia should be the axis around which contemporary Armenian
identity is cultivated - how we structure and define that identity
will determine how successful we are at sustaining this ancient nation.
The homeland must be the fountain that nourishes the needs of Armenians
dispersed throughout the world - art, language, culture cannot thrive
and develop without connection to the source of its inspirations.
The full potential of the Diaspora must be utilized and its efforts
geared toward the homeland's empowerment - a weak and fledgling nation
cannot support or nurture its dispersed children, nor can it inspire
or sustain them.
Strengthening the bonds of individual Armenians and communities
with Armenia has to be an ongoing effort. Contributing to the
empowerment and sustainability of Armenia must not be seen solely
as a responsibility or burden but an opportunity to be part of its
potential.
Celebrations, while they may instill a sense of pride and belonging,
entail expectations and those expectations can be fulfilled only
if and when we determine what we want as a nation. I hope one day
we begin to see the homeland as central to our continued survival,
as the fountain of inspiration, as a place that needs the cumulative
abilities of all of its children, as a place where we belong.
http://asbarez.com/115011/celebrations-and-expectations/
Maria Titizian
BY MARIA TITIZIAN
This past weekend was celebratory in the country. The Armenian national
football team beat Bulgaria on home turf, finally breaking a streak
of losses at home. Young and old danced in the streets, strangers
congratulated one another and the tricolor was draped on everything
from people to cars. Yerevan turned 2795 years old marking it as
one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world;
Etchmiadzin, Armenia's spiritual center marked the 2698th year of its
establishment and Gyumri (or Kumayri) Armenia's second largest city
whose roots can be traced to the 8th century BC was selected as the
cultural city for the CIS in 2013.
A legacy of a rich history is certainly something to celebrate and
be proud of and while this comes with a monumental burden it also
presents endless opportunities. For many of us who were born and
raised in foreign lands at a time when Western Armenia was occupied
and Eastern Armenia was within the iron grip of the Soviet Union,
being Armenian meant something. It meant not only retaining that
heritage but also struggling for the liberation of an elusive homeland
that had been forgotten in the dusty pages of history books. It meant
keeping memories and traditions alive in a world that didn't always
understand us. It meant collective action and an unbreakable sense
of community. It also meant working harder, being better, striving
for greater heights.
When I recall those formative years growing up in North America,
it seemed natural that we held commemorations, organized cultural
and sporting events, staged protests and rallies every April 24,
celebrated mass on Sundays and built schools and community centers
to preserve our language and history.
In the absence of a homeland, and even with all the absurd in-fighting
between the traditional political parties that claimed ownership of
the Diaspora and its institutions, it was a game, the rules of which
we determined and understood.
With independence that safe, familiar bubble burst and we were left
unsure of what our role was in the Diaspora vis-a-vis the Republic of
Armenia. Events in the homeland just before and after independence
were developing so quickly that we didn't have time to reframe what
that new role was to be. Twenty two years on, we are still struggling
to realign and determine a new conceptual framework.
If we could, in general, agree on the premise that a strong, secure
and viable homeland is necessary not only for its own survival but for
the long-term survival of the Diaspora, then we need to articulate and
execute new ways of working and building structures and institutions.
In the chaos of nation-building, we have to be able to differentiate
between the ruling regime of the day and the very concept of statehood
- this regime isn't going to last forever. We should not therefore
limit our engagement with the homeland just because we feel that the
current regime is undermining Armenia's potential.
Armenia should be the axis around which contemporary Armenian
identity is cultivated - how we structure and define that identity
will determine how successful we are at sustaining this ancient nation.
The homeland must be the fountain that nourishes the needs of Armenians
dispersed throughout the world - art, language, culture cannot thrive
and develop without connection to the source of its inspirations.
The full potential of the Diaspora must be utilized and its efforts
geared toward the homeland's empowerment - a weak and fledgling nation
cannot support or nurture its dispersed children, nor can it inspire
or sustain them.
Strengthening the bonds of individual Armenians and communities
with Armenia has to be an ongoing effort. Contributing to the
empowerment and sustainability of Armenia must not be seen solely
as a responsibility or burden but an opportunity to be part of its
potential.
Celebrations, while they may instill a sense of pride and belonging,
entail expectations and those expectations can be fulfilled only
if and when we determine what we want as a nation. I hope one day
we begin to see the homeland as central to our continued survival,
as the fountain of inspiration, as a place that needs the cumulative
abilities of all of its children, as a place where we belong.
http://asbarez.com/115011/celebrations-and-expectations/