"To Flag, or Not To Flag..."
I started to comment on Hagop's blog, but I realized I had a lot more to say than the space given. So I thought I'd comment here. :)
At first, I was not just disturbed with the whole flag thing, but sort of disgusted too. But then I realized something. AT LEAST these young Armenians are out of their homes, doing SOMETHING (perhaps in their minds THIS is the right thing to do) but in my opinion it's a form of activism... and it's better than being "chezok" or idle. Would it be better if these guys were sitting in their living rooms... or perhaps taking a trip to Palm Springs or Las Vegas? (Because in reality, that's what a lot of Armenians do... oh, and what about the family who uses that day off from school to take their kids to Disneyland???)
Yes, I doubt the guys driving those cars (which are probably paid for by our tax dollars) are active in the Armenian community, let alone working on Genocide Recognition the rest of the 364 days. I reallyyyyy hope I'm wrong... and if I am, I'd reallyyyy appreciate it if someone corrected me.
I think it's also somewhat our faults, because maybe instead of watching them and shaking our heads, we should educate and motivate them!
That's all for now...
TSUH! :)~
At first, I was not just disturbed with the whole flag thing, but sort of disgusted too. But then I realized something. AT LEAST these young Armenians are out of their homes, doing SOMETHING (perhaps in their minds THIS is the right thing to do) but in my opinion it's a form of activism... and it's better than being "chezok" or idle. Would it be better if these guys were sitting in their living rooms... or perhaps taking a trip to Palm Springs or Las Vegas? (Because in reality, that's what a lot of Armenians do... oh, and what about the family who uses that day off from school to take their kids to Disneyland???)
Yes, I doubt the guys driving those cars (which are probably paid for by our tax dollars) are active in the Armenian community, let alone working on Genocide Recognition the rest of the 364 days. I reallyyyyy hope I'm wrong... and if I am, I'd reallyyyy appreciate it if someone corrected me.
I think it's also somewhat our faults, because maybe instead of watching them and shaking our heads, we should educate and motivate them!
That's all for now...
TSUH! :)~
posted by shooosh at 2:17 AM
13 Comments:
I'm with you Arsineh... we can't alienate and judge too much... it just drives people away. Yes, cutting a hole in the flag so the BRAND of your car can be seen (and who is so proud of a Toyota anyway?) is quite pathetic... but as you said, we can reach out to these kids...
Arsineh? Shoosh wrote this blog entry Kojian.
I DONOT have a problem with flags on cars.
It certainly is much better than sitting at home and doing nothing.
In fact applaud it!
Krikor
Well, I agree with Raffi and Shoosh, but cutting a hole in the flag is so distasteful. Just another comment... I'm sure all of New York hated Armenians on April 24 for clogging up the streets, but it's misdirected. If we stop the world for a day to remember what happened, even if it makes them late to something, so be it. Hagop, I don't know how bad it is out in LA, but I'd rather see all these Armenians take to the streets and upset a few odars than wonder where they all are and why they have forgotten.
Well said Arsineh !
I also agree that tearing a hole in OUR flag is unacceptable.
Showing our flag though on cars does no harm and I for one wouild love to do it here in yevroba.
Levon
Wow..the Diaspora youth sitting at home or going to theme parks on April 24th never came to mind. I guess, you have a sincere point Shoosh. What bothered me was visually seeing the festive cruising image...I mean these not-so young guys and gals had loud Armenian music on, screaming girls in a few cars and were honking like a post soccer game victory. Some of them looked well over 25 years young. I mean…we even saw one Armenian flagged car squirt water on a group of young Armenian school kids and parents waiting for a transport bus to Montebello. I don’t remember April 24th being a day of festival, do you?
Reflecting back my parents especially encouraged us to take part constructively, even asked us to take odar friend to attend the memorial in Montebello and that’s what we did. April 24th recognition in the US is a per person approach and should be done very acutely because the topic itself is the mass death of other humans.
Thank you all for your attention and feedback. I sincerely appreciate it.
Hagop, I agree 100%, people have forgotten that April 24 is a day for solemn commemoration of the Genocide, and even political action until the genocide is recognized. I saw hints of misdirected celebration on April 24 as well, to the point where apparently the local NY news networks briefly described the rally in Times Square as a celebration of Armenian heritage... and that's it. The dancers were a bit too festive in my opinion and it could have been done more appropriately. However, the bright side (because if there is one, koneh I like to identify it) is that atleast we are seeing a pride in Armenianism that is growing rather than disappearing. Again, I wasn't there, and I probably would have been turned off by what you just described. But the only positive thing of all that is that they are happy to be Armenian. As leaders of this community, perhaps our responsibility is to help direct that energy to something a little more productive and appropriate. I wonder if that's possible in a community as large as LA. I hope I can do that here.
GREAT subject for discussion!
Nothing like seeing thousands of teens take part in the torch walk in Armenia this year, on the eve of April 24.
The AYF started this about 5 years back, but if I'm not mistaken, a few other political organizations took part this year, along with the church.
It was AWESOME ... unfortunately I didn't have my cam with me. Plus seeing it constantly being played back on CNN, Euronews and Turkish News is awesome.
No cars with flags, or rabiz music blasting, or water squirting here.
It was so good to see everyone, even at least for one day, unite in this country. We all know how difficult it is for us Armenians to do that.
One more thing...
Dancing? Music? etc. on April 24???????? Yes, or no?!
I think YES. Celebrating our culture should maybe be part of our remembering the Genocide, because it's a big IN YOUR FACE to Turkey, and all other deniers. In your face that we still dance to our songs, in your face that we hold hands with each other and sing, in your face that we're in your face!!!!!
Maybe instead of ONLY commemorating the memory of the dead, we can celebrate that we exist. ...just a few thoughts. :)
I can see the logic in what you say Shooosh.
Levon
Shooshig…YES on Dancing & Music on April 24…come on benevolent sister it’s a day to commemorate not to celebrate. I’m going to politely disagree with your restful point of view. There is a plethora of other Armenian National remembrance days that can perfectly accommodate the dancing and music festivities. Liberalizing this cultural and life threatening day in the Armenian American Diaspora, and exporting it to the other Armenian Diaspora communities is not my idea of dignified activism. In my opinion, April 24 should be a day of solemn respect and reflection. Say NO to April 24 circle dancing and say YES to determine, dignified and legitimate tribute. Thank you for your time and opinion.
Garo Garabedian
At first, I was not just disturbed with the whole flag thing, but sort of disgusted too. But then I realized something. AT LEAST these young Armenians are out of their homes, doing SOMETHING (perhaps in their minds THIS is the right thing to do) but in my opinion it's a form of activism... and it's better than being "chezok" or idle. Would it be better if these guys were sitting in their living rooms... or perhaps taking a trip to Palm Springs or Las Vegas? (Because in reality, that's what a lot of Armenians do... oh, and what about the family who uses that day off from school to take their kids to Disneyland???)
Yes, I doubt the guys driving those cars (which are probably paid for by our tax dollars) are active in the Armenian community, let alone working on Genocide Recognition the rest of the 364 days. I reallyyyyy hope I'm wrong... and if I am, I'd reallyyyy appreciate it if someone corrected me.
I think it's also somewhat our faults, because maybe instead of watching them and shaking our heads, we should educate and motivate them!
"I started to comment on Hagop's blog, but I realized I had a lot more to say than the space given. So I thought I'd comment here. :)"
See above. Not too long to fit.
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