It's about 1am (technically Friday), and for this or that reason, I can't sleep. So I decided to log about something I recently read. Let me preface the story by saying that, obviously as someone who hopes to move to Armenia soon (and strongly believes that it will happen), I find it difficult to have discussions with people who are pessimistic and unencouraging... so basically judgemental and unaccepting of others' views. Let me also say that I've been thinking A LOT about this issue of "Tebi Yergir" and how a movement can start in today's world...
Several months ago, I was reading an article that this southern Californian born and raised person had written. The title of the article was "Tebi Yergir", so of course it caught my eye. I started reading, and at first, the article seemed like it was really going somewhere. Then, it just left me with my mouth open, wondering how I could find this author and enlighten the poor soul. Basically, the article spoke about how absurd it was to think that someone who was born and raised in America (especially Southern Cali) could just leave and go live in a country like Armenia. And the article goes on and on about a few reasons why this would be something that the author would NEVER do... how s/he could never leave their bubble of L.A. and venture out to experience another life... especially not one in her/his homeland. This person even stated in the article that s/he had never even been to Armenia, and MAYBE could go for a visit, someday. I'm not going to state specifics...
I have to say that I was deeply saddened after reading the article. I put the magazine down and just wondered how it was that someone who has never been to Armenia could even write such an article, attempting to pursuay readers that living in Armenia is a big crock. I don't know why this bothered me so much, but it did. It might be because I myself want to move there soon, or maybe because I do know a lot of people (loggers, just to name a few) who have "sacrificed" the "luxuries" that author so clearly cannot live without, to live in our homeland... breathe Armenian air... see Ararat everyday...once in a while get harassed by that kid on Abovian who always has a sick sibling to beg for...run out of hot water while there's still conditioner in ur hair...hear the beautiful music of an accordian player across the street from Artbridge playing "Sari Siroon Yar"....saying "bless you'' to someone (cause they sneezed) at an internet cafe and getting weird looks... etc. These are the little experiences that make up my "Armenia"-life... and it's funny how each one is just perfect. You know, sometimes I think about all the things we end up HAVING in our lives here in the US, and I really don't see this freedom that we keep talking about and having to "fight for". Sure, there must've been that freedom idea a long long time ago, but there is no freedom for anything nowadays... especially not with things like the patriot act, etc. Take the smallest example. If you turn on the radio... to any popular radio station, you listen to the same 20 songs that certain people have decided you're going to listen to. For a land that's soooooo free, we surely don't use that freedom... or maybe we're just too busy running around in our lives to even realize we crave it. Another thing... today a weird, unfamiliar car was parked in front of our house...and it had become the biggest deal. Who was that young person who comes and goes inside the car? What was he doing in our neighboorhood? Is he going to burglarize one of the homes and murder the people inside? ... My god... what is this fear that we live with?
I've digressed.... I guess my point is mainly, there are always positive and negative aspects of living in a particular place. For example, for some people the positives of LA life outweight the negatives, so they are happy here, and could not imagine (like that author) living anywhere else.. whether it's Zimbabwe or Hayasdan. There are other people who see more negatives in LA-life (or actually they see the reality of life here) and so, living somewhere else will be better for them. It's not for everyone. But let's not sit there and judge people for seeing the good in our little Hayasdan and deciding to keep it strong for us, while we're on "vacation".
"Welcome to Hayasdan... Pessimists keep out!" -- new sign coming at zvartnots (when I'm President one day.. he he he)
TSUH! :)~
Several months ago, I was reading an article that this southern Californian born and raised person had written. The title of the article was "Tebi Yergir", so of course it caught my eye. I started reading, and at first, the article seemed like it was really going somewhere. Then, it just left me with my mouth open, wondering how I could find this author and enlighten the poor soul. Basically, the article spoke about how absurd it was to think that someone who was born and raised in America (especially Southern Cali) could just leave and go live in a country like Armenia. And the article goes on and on about a few reasons why this would be something that the author would NEVER do... how s/he could never leave their bubble of L.A. and venture out to experience another life... especially not one in her/his homeland. This person even stated in the article that s/he had never even been to Armenia, and MAYBE could go for a visit, someday. I'm not going to state specifics...
I have to say that I was deeply saddened after reading the article. I put the magazine down and just wondered how it was that someone who has never been to Armenia could even write such an article, attempting to pursuay readers that living in Armenia is a big crock. I don't know why this bothered me so much, but it did. It might be because I myself want to move there soon, or maybe because I do know a lot of people (loggers, just to name a few) who have "sacrificed" the "luxuries" that author so clearly cannot live without, to live in our homeland... breathe Armenian air... see Ararat everyday...once in a while get harassed by that kid on Abovian who always has a sick sibling to beg for...run out of hot water while there's still conditioner in ur hair...hear the beautiful music of an accordian player across the street from Artbridge playing "Sari Siroon Yar"....saying "bless you'' to someone (cause they sneezed) at an internet cafe and getting weird looks... etc. These are the little experiences that make up my "Armenia"-life... and it's funny how each one is just perfect. You know, sometimes I think about all the things we end up HAVING in our lives here in the US, and I really don't see this freedom that we keep talking about and having to "fight for". Sure, there must've been that freedom idea a long long time ago, but there is no freedom for anything nowadays... especially not with things like the patriot act, etc. Take the smallest example. If you turn on the radio... to any popular radio station, you listen to the same 20 songs that certain people have decided you're going to listen to. For a land that's soooooo free, we surely don't use that freedom... or maybe we're just too busy running around in our lives to even realize we crave it. Another thing... today a weird, unfamiliar car was parked in front of our house...and it had become the biggest deal. Who was that young person who comes and goes inside the car? What was he doing in our neighboorhood? Is he going to burglarize one of the homes and murder the people inside? ... My god... what is this fear that we live with?
I've digressed.... I guess my point is mainly, there are always positive and negative aspects of living in a particular place. For example, for some people the positives of LA life outweight the negatives, so they are happy here, and could not imagine (like that author) living anywhere else.. whether it's Zimbabwe or Hayasdan. There are other people who see more negatives in LA-life (or actually they see the reality of life here) and so, living somewhere else will be better for them. It's not for everyone. But let's not sit there and judge people for seeing the good in our little Hayasdan and deciding to keep it strong for us, while we're on "vacation".
"Welcome to Hayasdan... Pessimists keep out!" -- new sign coming at zvartnots (when I'm President one day.. he he he)
TSUH! :)~
posted by shooosh at 1:20 PM
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