Alright, I shall attempt to share my "take" on this dual citizenship in a bit more detailed manner than before.
Let me first say that, Raffi M.... I agree, yet disagree with you. I TOTALLYYY understand your point about the importance for Diasporan Armenians to be connected to Armenia (with dual citizenship-in your opinion). I was born here, in America... my parents each came here at a young age and met, married, and continue to live here with NO intention of ever leaving. As an American born Diasporan Armenian, I have also dealt with the issues of being so detached from a homeland. Like I've said before, I grew up "Armenian". Then I went to Armenia and I found out.. "WOAH, I'm not "Armenian" like these people!". I came back, and tried to see where I fit in, in the world around me... and once again, I was not American either. So where do I belong? ("Nepantla") Will I be lost forever? .... No! I say NO, because I went to Armenia again..and again... and again. And now, I feel there is NO WHERE else I fit in more than in Armenia.

Now, do I need that piece of paper (citizenship) to validate my official linkage to the country where I truly belong? MAYBE....in time! I really don't think I'm qualified to make decisions about the future of a country (because that's what democracy is...EACH PERSON COUNTS!). Maybe others feel like they can fix things, if ONLY they had the power to vote. But here is my point.. Why would you care about, let's say, distribution of water in Yerevan... if you don't live there? Fine, forget the caring part...if you've never even been there, how could you vote on something like that? You've never experienced the whole "2 hrs in the mornin' and 2 hrs in the evenin' deal". You don't really know how it feels when you've cooked dinner (without running water there), and then it's 11pm and water hasn't come yet, so you have no choice but to leave you kitchen dirty and wake up at 5am to do the dishes. You see, your vote affects soooo many people and their daily lives! You live in the diaspora and you make decisions about other people's lives? SURELY you are aware of the fact that there are WAY more diasporans than Armenians living in Armenia. Giving people dual citizenship, just to "link them to the country" .... sorry..... no no no.

Here is my suggestion... (although it might be a lot of extra work... "no pain, no gain")... So Armenia should start this big ol' list of all people interested in becomming citizens of Armenia. They should fill out something like a census...with details about their lives, like if they're married, how many kids, etc. So when election time comes, these people should get a "fake" ballot form (this could even be done with email!) and AT LEAST for some time, Armenia should treat these ballots, or votes that come in, as a majority view from the Diaspora. So, let's say there's a big issue on the ballot... we can say, "Well, Diasporan Armenians' majority vote went to blahblahblah, where Armenia's population voted on blahlabhalbha". So now, the government and the people get a good feel of how similar/different the views of the Diaspora are! AND THENNNN it would be easier to judge whether Diaspora votes are REALLY thaaaaaat outrageous, or if they're "right on the money".

Sometimes trying things out, then re-trying them is the best solution to any problem. Armenia, ASK PEOPLE what they think! Diaspora, TELL PEOPLE what you think! Everyone, ANALYZE IT.... then you can make "educated" assumptions as to how much Diaspora Citizens' votes hurt Armenia. If you ask me, right now, it's all hypothetical and no one is thinking to actually gather some info about it to make things a big more substantial.

Ok, that's what I think folks.... I still believe if you want citizenship, you would need to live there. At least for right now, this is how it's gotta be. We can't take a chance. And here is my ultimate last "conspiracy" scenario for you all.... Fine, say we give everyone who has visited Armenia twice, paid the $300 (or whatever), passed the Armenian history/language test... citizenship. Ummmmm, what stops ANYONE (even someone who is definitely not Armenian) from becomming a citizen and having say in our country's future?? I don't know about you, but you just go and look at Armenian Studies Departments in Universities here, and there are non-Armenians who know more about Armenian history and language than anyone else. So do we do some sort of DNA/blood test to make sure they're Armenian? hahahaha (Just kidding) Does Armenia slowly begin to be another melting pot of a nation (eventually)?

I know that it would be AWESOME to have the opportunity to be an Armenian citizen, just like that. But I think about the pros and cons of ME having the citizenship, and then how that gives the SAME rights to others... and honestly, I wouldn't want that. Eventually, yes... I would love to be an Armenian citizen.. if I've actually gone to live there, and not have to give up my American citizenship. Cause as much as I hate to admit it.... I am truly Armenian-American. If I lost one or the other, I wouldn't be a "gadaryal" person.....

K, now I must head out to school...
OHHHHH... the chat was AWESOME! Big thanks to all those who came! I hope we can do it on a more regular basis.... and like they said, with a set agenda, so people don't go asking "where r u from?" a million times in the room. And about the reality shows... "OH GOD!"... Alfred's room yegher.. HAJIS! I'm glad Armenia is in tune with the rest of the world's hype about reality shows, but I was hoping we'd rise above that kind of entertainment. Well that's my proud nationalistic side talking right there... I knowwwwww we're not different than the rest of the world! So I guess we HAVE to have our "survivor/real world" shows too! :)

TSUH! :)~
p.s. - "tsuh" is a short (dzooyl) way of saying "tsudesootyoon". :)_