Here is letter #3 that responds to my question I asked on March 23rd log. I wanted to save this one for last, but since I said I was going to post the letters in the order received, I'm sticking to that order.
Dear Ara,
Once again you've posted a memorable and thought-provoking message, which I'm sure will make at least a few people think about their involvement (or lack of) in Armenia and in preserving Armenian culture and heritage.
In response to your first question, "what has changed that the people today who face what our grandmothers faced years ago are not worth helping," I would say that there are many reasons, that there is perhaps not a clear or definite answer(s) to this question.
However, one thing that comes immediately to mind is the greed that many people in Western countries exhibit. They've earnt a good living outside of Armenia, and they have the typical American mindset of "why should I help anyone else, I earned this money myself. Let them go and help themselves if they really want to!"
Meanwhile, other Armenians do not help Armenia because they have heard the stories of corruption and mismanagement and are hesitant to donate any money, fearing that it will just be pocketed by the influential people and will not go to the needy. If people feel that their efforts are being wasted and are not helping the Armenian people, they will understandably refrain from donating money to Armenia.
Another reason (and this can't be subjective) is the plain fact that many Armenians do not love their own country, and they especially do not love their own people. We are perhaps the most divided race on Earth (even more than the Italians).
For the Italians it is North against South. For the Armenians it is every city against another.
How many times have we heard an Armenian from Iraq say he doesn't like the Armenians from Iran or that the Hayastanstis are thieves? Or how many times have we
heard an Armenian from Iran say that the Beirutsis are cheap?
This is sad but true. I am not saying that all Armenians are this way, just that there is a rather large population of Armenians who feel this way.
However, fortunately, there are also many Armenians who DO love their country and their people, and have devoted their entire lives to helping Armenia and the Armenian people. These are the kinds of people who are keeping the dream alive!
Yet another reason that some Armenians don't help out their country is the fact that they don't want to go through hardship!
And why should they (I'm being sarcastic here) ??? After all, they can live in the United States or the UK, these wonderful and free (far from being free actually) western countries, in which they can own their own house and a BMW or Mercedes, or put a
10-inch exhaust pipe on their Honda.
They figure that they live in this so-called modern and technological society, so as long as they live the "good life" in the USA, they are free from responsibility or duty to help others.
The reality is that, more than anyone else, the spiurk has a DUTY to help Armenia and the Armenians.
And if they don't want to, that is their own business, we cannot force them to help....but they should not claim that they love their country and their people. That is load of rubbish!!!
The first thing that must happen is, the people who are able to really help out significantly should do so. And it's not just about sending money to Armenia. It is also about going there to lend a helping hand in rebuilding someone's home damaged in the Earthquake, or educating young children, or helping families to provide food for their children.
But even if one does not desire to be in Armenia physically, he/she can still help tremendously by at least raising awareness of the country and its plight and situation, as well as keeping alive the Armenian traditions, cultures and customs in foreign countries.
One step toward that objective is to avoid having our culture destroyed and to avoid allowing others to pigeonhole us into something we are not. We should, for example, completely omit the ridiculous term "Armenian-American." What a load of rubbish!
For example, I live in Spain (or rather, have lived)....but does that make me Armenian-Spaniard? I don't think so. I am still 100 percent Armenian. I was born in Iran, to Armenian parents, and I will go to the grave being Armenian.
Even the few Armenians in Spain have a lot better attitude and respect toward the Armenian culture than many of the ones living in the USA, UK, or other English speaking western countries.
Overall, I'm quite disappointed by the Spiurk (especially many living in the USA, who have displayed a sort of greed and selfishness that is mind-boggling).
Would you like to know why? Because now, thousands of Afghans who had left their country are now going back to help. They are returning by the thousands, to a country which is in an even worse situation and is much more unstable than Armenia.
Meanwhile, instead, thousands of Armenians are LEAVING their own country, and those who live outside it claim they love their country and their people but have no intention of ever going back and laugh at the thought of helping out those "corrupt" people in Armenia.
And why should they (sarcasm mode again)? After all, they couldn't have such a nice job in Armenia or drive a Mercedes Benz 500SL.....
Those Armenians who are in the "novelty" group must look at how the French, Israelis, and Afghans (among others) love their countries and feel ashamed that they don't love their own people or country.
Best wishes
Dear Ara,
Once again you've posted a memorable and thought-provoking message, which I'm sure will make at least a few people think about their involvement (or lack of) in Armenia and in preserving Armenian culture and heritage.
In response to your first question, "what has changed that the people today who face what our grandmothers faced years ago are not worth helping," I would say that there are many reasons, that there is perhaps not a clear or definite answer(s) to this question.
However, one thing that comes immediately to mind is the greed that many people in Western countries exhibit. They've earnt a good living outside of Armenia, and they have the typical American mindset of "why should I help anyone else, I earned this money myself. Let them go and help themselves if they really want to!"
Meanwhile, other Armenians do not help Armenia because they have heard the stories of corruption and mismanagement and are hesitant to donate any money, fearing that it will just be pocketed by the influential people and will not go to the needy. If people feel that their efforts are being wasted and are not helping the Armenian people, they will understandably refrain from donating money to Armenia.
Another reason (and this can't be subjective) is the plain fact that many Armenians do not love their own country, and they especially do not love their own people. We are perhaps the most divided race on Earth (even more than the Italians).
For the Italians it is North against South. For the Armenians it is every city against another.
How many times have we heard an Armenian from Iraq say he doesn't like the Armenians from Iran or that the Hayastanstis are thieves? Or how many times have we
heard an Armenian from Iran say that the Beirutsis are cheap?
This is sad but true. I am not saying that all Armenians are this way, just that there is a rather large population of Armenians who feel this way.
However, fortunately, there are also many Armenians who DO love their country and their people, and have devoted their entire lives to helping Armenia and the Armenian people. These are the kinds of people who are keeping the dream alive!
Yet another reason that some Armenians don't help out their country is the fact that they don't want to go through hardship!
And why should they (I'm being sarcastic here) ??? After all, they can live in the United States or the UK, these wonderful and free (far from being free actually) western countries, in which they can own their own house and a BMW or Mercedes, or put a
10-inch exhaust pipe on their Honda.
They figure that they live in this so-called modern and technological society, so as long as they live the "good life" in the USA, they are free from responsibility or duty to help others.
The reality is that, more than anyone else, the spiurk has a DUTY to help Armenia and the Armenians.
And if they don't want to, that is their own business, we cannot force them to help....but they should not claim that they love their country and their people. That is load of rubbish!!!
The first thing that must happen is, the people who are able to really help out significantly should do so. And it's not just about sending money to Armenia. It is also about going there to lend a helping hand in rebuilding someone's home damaged in the Earthquake, or educating young children, or helping families to provide food for their children.
But even if one does not desire to be in Armenia physically, he/she can still help tremendously by at least raising awareness of the country and its plight and situation, as well as keeping alive the Armenian traditions, cultures and customs in foreign countries.
One step toward that objective is to avoid having our culture destroyed and to avoid allowing others to pigeonhole us into something we are not. We should, for example, completely omit the ridiculous term "Armenian-American." What a load of rubbish!
For example, I live in Spain (or rather, have lived)....but does that make me Armenian-Spaniard? I don't think so. I am still 100 percent Armenian. I was born in Iran, to Armenian parents, and I will go to the grave being Armenian.
Even the few Armenians in Spain have a lot better attitude and respect toward the Armenian culture than many of the ones living in the USA, UK, or other English speaking western countries.
Overall, I'm quite disappointed by the Spiurk (especially many living in the USA, who have displayed a sort of greed and selfishness that is mind-boggling).
Would you like to know why? Because now, thousands of Afghans who had left their country are now going back to help. They are returning by the thousands, to a country which is in an even worse situation and is much more unstable than Armenia.
Meanwhile, instead, thousands of Armenians are LEAVING their own country, and those who live outside it claim they love their country and their people but have no intention of ever going back and laugh at the thought of helping out those "corrupt" people in Armenia.
And why should they (sarcasm mode again)? After all, they couldn't have such a nice job in Armenia or drive a Mercedes Benz 500SL.....
Those Armenians who are in the "novelty" group must look at how the French, Israelis, and Afghans (among others) love their countries and feel ashamed that they don't love their own people or country.
Best wishes
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