By Appo Jabarian
Executive Publisher/Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine
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!
