I cannot tell you guys in Armenia how important it is that you are logging about everything going on in Armenia right now. The reality is that all we have to receive information about what is happening is through the filtered media reports. I have said nothing on the subject because I honestly don’t know enough about what’s going on to have a fair perspective. I feel the same as Shooshig in that we are so removed from the situation that we feel completely helpless. What kills me the most is that I try to think of how the diaspora can do anything, but there’s little we can do, particularly when so few people even know what’s going on, if at all.

The generalization I could give of the diaspora in the US is that few people pay attention to daily news in Armenia. This does detach them from Armenia’s reality. Few people feel that they need to know about Armenia’s activity… even America’s activity. After all, when one has never been, what interest could one possibly take in what happens there?

But as Madlene clarified, a generalization is not always fair. There is so much the diaspora does to better Armenia and many individuals who follow the news in Armenia (available to them) every day. What I don't swallow easily is the "good intended Armenian." These days, many people feel that if they just say and believe they truly care about Armenia, but don't want to get involved isn't good enough anymore. In this day and age, technology has made it impossible for the diaspora to be in ignorant bliss, and good intensions aren't good enough anymore. This isn't a questions of who is more Armenian or a better Armenian, because I don't believe in that. No one should have to prove to anyone their Armenianism. But if you are going to play off this "I am for the Armenian cause" image and disregard the cause all together because you don't know any better, you don't have my sympathy.

I just watched Bush's news conference and he has been drilled lately about whether or not he neglected certain information and reports about a possible attack before Sept. 11. His response is always that he never wanted this to happen and had he known it would, he would do anything to stop it. No one questions Bush's grief of Sept. 11 and you would be hard pressed to find anyone living in America at the time, and most of the world, who believe Bush wanted Sept. 11 to happen. That isn't the question. The question is if you did enough to prevent it, worked hard enough to prevent it. People's intensions are always good, but are we always serving the cause in the best manner. And this is the core of our problem. I don't mean to compare the average Armenian to the president of the United States, but it helps me make my point.

The violent turn of events in Armenia is very sad news. It’s more depressing that the media doesn’t report these things. I don't know the solution, but I sure know that the violence will only bring Armenia down. Kocharian, what are you thinking? Repat logger, please keep logging.