For young Armenians today, our homeland can be seen in many different ways.

It is seen by some, as a destination visited on a family vacation, or with a graduating class.  Comparable to a coming-of-age Euro trip, these visits despite being limited in scope and depth, can spark an initial connection to a far-away land.

To others, Armenia evokes romantic sentiments of a hallowed land, almost too pristine to be real.  Captivated by flawless mental imagery, they may be too apprehensive to see it, lest they leave disappointed by reality.

To others, it is a foreign place on a map, or a country that exists—by default—on a list of places to be visited “when we get the chance.”

To still others Armenia is a fledgling nation with an ancient history, a country of treasures both hidden and in plain sight; treasures from the past and treasures that are just materializing.

Regardless of background or starting point, discovering Armenia is meaningful because it brings to reality the rich history and culture of our people.  It takes our history out of books and places it in a tangible context that is ours to experience.  The firsthand adventure of bringing to life the stories of our childhood has more value today than ever before, both in terms of feasibility and necessity.  It gives us a glimpse into understanding why we struggle and what it is we are struggling for.

We struggle today because we want a better future for our homeland—the land we want to make our homes in.  We struggle in solidarity with those who struggle within our nation’s borders.  We struggle to give our next generations an understanding of the previous chapters of our story.  We struggle because the beauties of our land are worth the struggle.

We struggle for our country because it is the unifier of our people and is the link between our past and future.

The journey of discovering Armenia is one that starts with the curiosity and drive of the individual.  Curiosity to learn, curiosity to visit.  Having the audacity to ask the not-so-simple questions, “Why am I here?”  Wanting to know, “Where am I from?”  Where do I belong?  Where do I want to make my life?”

The answers to these questions are provoking and are different from person to person, but they are found during the course of a journey.  That journey will lead to discoveries that will give you pride, purpose and determination.

That journey is a fun one.  It’s an eye-opening one.  It’s a frustrating one.  It’s a personal one.  It’s an empowering one.  It’s a challenging one.  It’s a rewarding one.

That journey is a life changing one.

Life is endless renewal. Where there is no renewal there will be spiritual paralysis and a slow death

The idea of rebirth is a familiar one to the Armenian people because it has represented endurance in the face of oppression, perseverance in the face of struggle, and survival in the face of oblivion.

After all, we are a people who trace our history to those who endured, led by Vartan Mamigonian at the Battle of Avarayr. We draw our strength from those who persevered like Kevork Chavoush and Soseh Mayrig. We find our hope in those who survived like the unnamed child in the Syrian Desert.

We are the stubborn people Saroyan described as not capable of being destroyed.

The time has come for us to redefine the concept of rebirth to not only represent endurance, perseverance and survival, but to grow to represent creation, enlightenment, and renewal.

After all, we are also the people who built Tigranakert in the 1stcentury B.C., creating a Kingdom from sea to sea. We also draw our intellect from the Zartonk-era of the 18th-19th century, which enlightened revolutionaries to imagine better futures and work to create them. We also find our hope in the renewal of our culture, our struggle, our objectives, our means, and our commitment.

Today, we are the creators of our future history. We do not accept the idea that our culture is static. We are surrounded by young talents of our generation who will continue taking inspiration from our rich traditions in order to develop the Armenian culture of tomorrow.

Today, our struggle is not one-dimensional. We understand the forces we face, and strategize on how to overcome them at all obstacles. We categorically reject the idea that the pursuit of justice for historical wrongs, and working for the prosperity of our homeland are mutually exclusive ideas. We are no longer victims of genocide, we are cognizant of our rights and what is owed to us—and we will have our justice.

Today, our objectives as a people are aligned, unified across more lines than ever before. We pay no attention to, nor do we give any credence to, any differentiation, segregation, or marginalization of any segments of our communities. We recognize the importance of engaging and activating our masses, and ridding our society of useless commentary and pretension.

Today, our means are well developed and cutting-edge. We are not afraid or hesitant, to not only step outside of the box, but to kick the box over and stand on it to attain new heights. Our movement is based on participation—on sharing and debating ideas, concerns, and plans. Our advocacy knows no bounds, our voice knows no deafness.

Today we aim to better ourselves in order to better our people. We see our lives as vessels of opportunity ready to work for the betterment of our communities and our homeland without any indecisiveness.

Our commitment is renewed and our motivation is our future.

No matter where we may be in the world, caring about the future and well-being of Armenia is an ancestral obligation that we cannot escape. If we are serious about this obligation, we need to be rooted in reality and view the challenges facing our people with candor.

Unfortunately, a sober look at our current conditions is not always the order of the day, even among thoughtful and committed Armenians. Too often, we have a tendency to view our homeland through a sentimental lens; one that is hesitant to confront its uglier hardships.

Thinking honestly about Armenia today means acknowledging the disparities between Yerevan and the rest of the country, as well within the capital itself. It means identifying the disturbing inequity of genders within the country. It means recognizing the widespread poverty, corruption, social injustice, unemployment, and economic exploitation taking place at the hands of a super-rich elite. This is not the nation of our people’s hopes and aspirations.

We need to come to grips with the harsh reality that many Armenians continue to flee their homeland simply because they see little prospect for a better future. They are not leaving their loved ones and native soil behind because they are unpatriotic or lack so-called “Armenianess.”

Rather, they are leaving for the same practical reasons the bantukhts of yesteryear fled the yergir: financial hardship, corruption, lack of security, and a desire for a more meaningful future.

In Armenia’s second largest city, Gyumri—where the AYF has been operating a day-camp for underprivileged kids the last 3 summers—these socioeconomic problems are blatantly evident. Rocked by genocide, epidemic, occupation, repression, earthquake, and economic collapse, the city is struggling to survive and return to its past glory. It is hampered in the process by the absence of basic services, poor infrastructure, widespread corruption, low investment, and a ruling elite that lacks the desire to tackle society’s most pressing problems.

The only way forward is through the empowerment of the masses. Reducing inequality and improving economic conditions requires increasing democracy and public participation. Only by supporting and encouraging genuine democratic impulses for change, as well as assisting in grassroots efforts to heighten consciousness, can we overcome the marginalization of the population which has solidified the dire situation we see today. Mere speeches or appeals to national pride are not enough; serious work needs to be done to improve living conditions, not only in the regions of Armenia, but also Javakhk, Artsakh, and all areas of our homeland.

If this occurs, there is no doubt that the modern-day bantukhts—who, as in the past, similarly dream today of when they can return to their homeland—will flock back to the yergir.

Whether discussing genocide resolutions or the recent Turkey-Armenia Protocols, Armenians are told they need to “move beyond” the Genocide issue and put more emphasis on things like culture or helping the homeland. Sadly, at times, it is fellow Armenians pontificating these notions.

The underlying assumption here is that commemorating and working on attaining justice for the Genocide somehow takes away from other aspects of Armenian identity; we are supposed to believe that we must focus less on the Genocide in order to highlight other aspects of our history and culture.

But the two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, strengthening and advancing our culture is part of the resistance against the Genocidal process itself.

After all, the motivation behind the Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government was to erase all trace of Armenian identity from the face of the earth. Fighting against this means not only bearing witness to these crimes and demanding real justice, but also bolstering and reviving our rich heritage and culture.

With over 2/3 of our people dispersed outside of the homeland, we face the constant threat of acculturation and assimilation within our host countries. The loss of our native language, cultural traditions, and eventually our identity as Armenians is a very real challenge we must deal with everyday.

We can choose to confront this challenge in one of two ways: hold on to conventional practices and strictly defined notions of Armenian identity or carve a new path which embraces modern influences and seeks to reinvigorate our traditions in the context of the 21st century.

Our history is analogous to the life of an old wise tree. It has been through much: it has seen drought, it has withstood torrential rain, it has been cut with every imaginable ax, it has been burnt and wounded…but its strong, unwavering roots will ensure a new spring, and a new rebirth.

Invigorated by our roots, a new generation will grow and develop itself to bear the fruits of our future.

Through the stroke of a pen, the rights, dignity and interests of the Armenian people threaten to be sacrificed on the altar of political and economic expediency.

• The countless years of relentless work put into having the world open up its eyes to the reality of the Armenian Genocide risk being undermined through the creation of a so-called ‘historic commission.’

• The Armenian people’s legal and moral claims to Ararat, Ani, Kars, Van and the rest of our historic homeland threaten to be forfeited through the legitimization of a border created through Genocide and aggression.

• The sacrifice of thousands of our best men and women in the liberation of Artsakh threatens to be compromised by an agreement emphasizing artificial state boundaries above the right to self-determination.

The recent qualified ruling handed down by the Armenian Constitutional Court—while deciding that the Protocols are constitutional—held serious judicial reservations. The Court stated that ratification of the Protocols cannot contradict Article 11 of Armenia’s Declaration of Independence [The Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia] and that the Protocols cannot speak on behalf of Artsakh.

The unprecedented international outpouring of anger and opposition to the provisions of the Protocols resounded in a loud and unified “NO!” to the officials in Yerevan. It reminded the ruling elite in Armenia and throughout the world that our perseverance as a people has never come out of submission and capitulation. Our triumph over the odds has not been a result of backdoor deals and political maneuverings. Rather, our survival has been due to the resilient determination to struggle for our basic rights.

The dangerous implications of the Protocols for our national interests point, more than ever, to the urgent need to change the undemocratic, unjust, and inequitable conditions in our homeland. The lack of accountability of those in power and the disillusionment of the general population must be reversed if we want to see the viable and prosperous Armenia we all envision in our hearts. Such a reversal will require us to not turn away from Armenia, but rather to flock more firmly towards it.

Just as we struggle against the odds to maintain our identity and community in the Diaspora, we must come together collectively—organized and determined—to overcome the obstacles that stand before our nation’s future.

The onus is on us to unite and do the work required to see our struggle through; to ensure the sanctity of our national and historical interests and to declare that they are not for sale, at any cost.

The goals remain to secure the international recognition of Artsakh’s statehood, the pursuit of reparations from the Government of Turkey for the crime of Genocide, an end of the occupation of Western Armenia and the establishment of social justice, human rights and democracy in the Republic of Armenia.

The movement continues…

www.Stopthe Protocols.com

For Armenians the need for solidarity exists on three distinct levels: amongst ourselves, with the struggles of our local American communities and within the sphere of transnational social issues and persecuted minorities.
Armenians in general need to make a much more earnest effort to communicate and coordinate with one another; especially regarding core national issues which are inarguable. For far too long, divisive, skeptical and outdated mindsets have laid obstacles, preventing full cooperation. It’s high time we realize the importance and value of every active and motivated community member in matters which really matter.

Furthermore, as a Diasporan population we must mobilize ourselves to get involved in local issues that impact the areas which we inhabit–anything from movements advocating environmental consciousness to immigrant rights movements and the fight against local racism. Even in a diverse city like Los Angeles, we see intolerant and xenophobic sentiments expressed against Armenians. Hearing radio show hosts joke about “finishing what the Turks started,” or reading columns by school teachers who feel entitled to deride students for trying to maintain their culture and help their community, to experiencing a police department riddled with chauvinistic officers who stereotype and characterize civilians, shows that our plight is not much different from what Blacks, Hispanics, Asians or any other minority group have gone through or continue to go through.

On a global level we must remind ourselves that issues such as genocide, oppressive labor practices and foreign domination–which are issues that have profoundly affected Armenians– affect the entire human race and people from all walks of life. We see that the same aggression carried out against the Armenian people by Turkey has also been repeatedly committed against the likes of the Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds, and even dissenting Turks. Thus, our call for justice is part and parcel of this broader struggle to, once and for all, put an end to the brutality of the Turkish state. This naturally aligns our cause with that of the Kurds. Of course, the movement for recognition of the Armenian Genocide has always been propelled by the understanding that failing to recognize past injustices will only contribute to history repeating itself. Thus amplifying the urgency with which we must speak out and take action against the current genocide in Darfur, in an effort to stop current and future atrocities.

When approaching Armenian issues from these perspectives, one that draws connections rather than divisions with other peoples, you lay the groundwork for solidarity and future collaboration. Such collaboration is important not only for the intrinsic moral value it wields but also for the broader bases of strength it can help build in achieving serious progress. The pooling of resources and collective power that is gained from coalition building should never be underestimated. In addition, allying with other groups has always been one of the ways Armenian activists have learned more about themselves and gained valuable skills for pushing our own movement forward.

Although we have a unique obligation to, first and foremost, serve our community, we also owe it to ourselves to stand with one another and to stand with others struggling against oppression.

Through solidarity we can prove the old proverb, “big fish eat little fish” to be wrong.

That Armenians have succeeded in shaking the indifference of the world and moved beyond the once necessary task of proving historic facts is beyond doubt. Even in Turkey, we see the tide of awareness generated by the movement rapidly eroding the wall of denial erected by Ankara.

These realities suggest to us that the movement for justice for the Armenian Genocide has reached a turning point; the time has come to raise the bar on our actions and aims beyond just recognition. Concurrent with the need for upholding historic truth, there is a need to finally begin holding Turkey accountable for the massive debt it owes to the Armenian nation.

Although nothing can ever make up for the suffering, loss, trauma, robbery, and destruction inflicted onto the Armenian people—from the Ottoman Turkish government’s genocidal intent, to the culpability of the Republic of Turkey for continuing prejudicial policies and a full blown denial campaign—the need for some sort of meaningful atonement and restitution is indisputable. Those who think that there could ever be a genuine reconciliation between Armenians and Turks without the latter attempting to restore the dignity, property, wealth, self-determination, and cultural heritage of the Armenian people are truly fooling themselves.

How exactly this debt will ultimately be paid is not something we can fully address or predict here. Moving forward effectively will take more expertise and serious planning than we can offer in these few pages.

What we can do, however, is sound the call for our entire community to steadily broaden its focus beyond just recognition. The time is long past due to begin initiating strategies, initiatives and campaigns centered on attaining reparations and restitution for all that was taken from us during the Genocide.

Although the road has been long and winding, the message has always remained crystal clear—A hollow apology will not suffice in bringing justice to the Armenian nation.

Despite even the decimation wrought by the Genocide, Armenians everywhere transformed their existence from one of refugees, orphans, and scarred survivors to flourishing, tight-knit and successful communities. Through the invaluable strength of organization, we were able to build new schools, churches, and cultural institutions. Thanks to the perseverance and will of our parents and grandparents, the youth of today were provided the proper avenues for maintaining their identity and preserving their heritage in the diaspora.

But this struggle to stay Armenian outside of our indigenous homeland has always been daunting. In the Western societies of Europe and North America, especially, the fight against assimilation and apathy is a daily challenge. The cultural homogenization now propelled around the world by the process of globalization has only further expanded this obstacle.

Adding to this complexity of life in the diaspora is the changing landscape of communities themselves. An influx of more recently arrived immigrants from Armenia has challenged the traditional dynamics of many diasporan communities. What’s more, regaining an independent Armenian Republic—one with all the powers available to a state and an impetus to engage the seeds of its nation spread across the globe—has opened a new page for what lies in the future.

These realities demand the need to take a fresh new look at the state of the Armenian Diaspora and grapple with the modern challenges that face it. In this special Tri-Regional AYF collaborative issue, we set out to do just that.

One thing continues to remain crystal clear: more than ever, it is the responsibility of the youth today to recognize the accomplishments of previous generations so as to build upon them with vigor and determination, and ensure an even brighter future for generations to come.

The countless Armenian diasporan communities and the Republic itself are like the seeds of a sunflower. While some are larger than others, they exist in unison to form our blossoming Armenian Nation.

It’s up to our generation to keep that flower beautiful.

The worldwide diaspora can play a significant role in this process not only through material assistance but also through the sharing of knowledge, skills, experiences, and solidarity. In order to do this adequately, however, we must come to a clearer understanding of not only the current conditions in Armenia but also the historical context in which they were spawned.

Indeed, if anybody should realize the importance of remembering history, it us, the Armenia’s. We must learn the lessons of history when it comes to the legacy left on Armenia by the Soviets and the past two administrations; we must learn the lessons of history when it comes to the struggle for Hai Tahd and the sacrifices of those such as Vahan Cardashian and the Lisbon 5; and we must learn the lessons of recent history here in our own backyard, when we see the ravages of a profit-driven health care system taking the lives of our very own.

Only by paying attention to history and drawing the obvious lessons it teaches us can we make certain that the future will be a more just and equitable one.

We agree with the words featured in this issue from musician, activist and former AYF alumnus Serj Tankian when he says, “Everything on this planet is connected. And if that’s the case, then working towards justice should be one of our primary goals as humans here.”

It is in this spirit that we present this current issue. It is also in this spirit that we call on all Armenian youth to join together to create a more righteous future for our people.

Our struggle for Hai Tahd also comes directly from this condition of being deprived of our historic homeland and being exiled to foreign countries.  Those who have sacrificed themselves and given their lives for this struggle, have always spoken of the need for our lands and freedom for Armenia to prosper.  When Hampig Sassounian recently gave an interview to the Voice of Van radio station in Beirut, he openly called on the Lebanese-Armenian community to repatriate to Armenia.  In his words, “Our time in the Middle East has passed by now.  The time has come for repatriation to Armenia.  From now on, we must think about gathering our families and children and going to Armenia, where future generations will be much more fortunate then of those who are living in foreign countries.”

Today, we live in a historic era where Armenia is once again an independent state.  We must realize that the torch has been passed to us to strengthen and enhance the Armenian Republic.  Just as the fedayees of yesteryear flocked to Armenia and sacrificed themselves for the yergir, one of the main tasks of this generation is to commit itself to the development, democratization, and defense of Armenia.  Ideally, this would entail going directly there and fully joining our compatriots in the struggle for Armenia’s betterment.

There are hopeful signs that this process of repatriation to Armenia is slowly picking up steam.  According to Armenia’s migration agency, the country has steadily registered a positive migration balance since 2004, with the number of people coming to Armenia exceeding the number leaving by 21,500 in 2006.

We also see that young people from around the world have been visiting Armenia in greater numbers over recent years.  Some are even deciding to permanently settle there.  A growing economy and warmer relations with the Diaspora seem to be the main driving forces behind these developments.  By serving as a bridge for youth wanting to travel directly to Armenia and Artsakh, programs such as Youth Corps also play a crucial role in this overall process.

However, the work being done on the Genocide recognition front should also be seen in light of our commitment to strengthening Armenia.  A denialist and unrepentant Turkey poses a lethal threat to the security and rights of the Armenian Republic.  It is in the mutual interest of both Armenia and the Diaspora to have Turkey face up to its past and own up to its crimes.  This mutual interest has been clearly manifested in everything from the mass demonstrations in Yerevan on the 50^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to the more recent jubilation in Armenia over the US House Foreign Affairs Committee’s passage of H.Res.106 (the Armenian Genocide Resolution).

In all of these endeavors, we must utilize opportunities to solidify our bonds with the homeland and promote the concept of Tebi Yergir.  It is of utmost importance that we understand the value of this powerful concept and do all in our power to strengthen Armenia’s vitality.