Hye Plan
In response to the discussion going on in the Diaspora logs, I have decided to put online a concept paper I drafted for "promoting Armenia and Armenianism worldwide". It includes ideas which would both promote Armenia proper, promote the and strengthen the Diaspora, and tie the two together more firmly. It is a compilation of ideas I've had over the years (many of which are of course not original), but which, if implemented in part or in whole could make a massive impact on our nation across the planet. To implement the whole thing would require massive resources, but bits of it could be done quite easily (and many of them rather profitably).
Some of the ideas include:
creating real "Little Armenia's", which are not just Armenian neighborhoods with a couple of bakeries, but offer a true taste of Armenia and a sort of cool neighborhood with a real flavor and tourist attraction, educational opportunities, shopping, and a tighter community. These would be also be implemented in cities where there used to be Armenian quarters centuries ago, but have disappeared (Lviv, Venice).
building a large-scale retirement community in Armenia, where every concern and reason why someone wouldn't want to retire in Armenia (except the colder winters) would be addressed.
creating a series of Armenian theme restaurants and bars to be franchised around the world... what better way into peoples hearts, than through their bellies?
Well, if the ideas interest you, check 'em out here...
Some of the ideas include:
Well, if the ideas interest you, check 'em out here...
posted by Raffi K. at 10:22 AM
13 Comments:
We could franchise something like Raffi's Kebab or Zankou... beyond California's borders. Mmmmmmmmmm......
Raffi I completely agree with you on all those points. I had thought about retirement homes many times.
I also think that there needs to be a massive youth marketing campaign to help Armenian youth who perhaps have never been to Armenia understand that it is actually a great way to get away for summer and spend your time doing useful things, as well as enjoying the safety and fun of Yerevan. A friend and I are beginning work on some glossy booklets and are hoping to put together youth "package deals" . The flight prices still remain a problem for yearly trips, although they are getting cheaper.
The distribution network thing is also a really valid one. It seems that now, many small companies are working and only promoting the products they have made ( understandable I guess) - which means there is no "one stop shop" for everything armenian. We need an independent body to do all this..but all in all very exciting. If I had any cash I'd invest lol.
Harmick, that essentially exists in the United States (and expanding to Europe) in what is known as Birthright Armenia. It pays for any Armenian who wants to travel for free to Armenia, usually in tandem with another organization's internship. I know a large amount of young Armenian-Americans doing it this summer, including one from Nebraska. Talk about getting Armenians from ALL over who definitely had never experienced anything like it more involved.
"Raffi kabob" is PERSIAN food! only the owners are armenian.
Raffi's ideas are good. We certainly lack quality Armenian restaurants, however "Hin Yerevan" is one excellent example that i think should be followed. I have no doubt that if a "Hin Yerevan" was opened in Glendale or anywhere in LA, it would be a HUGE success and fill a huge VOID.
Haha...goodstuff Raff...listen up though...to add on to your Hye Plan--> Anjar, Lebanon...Only Armenians live in this town if you did'nt already know...for more info go to www.mousaleranjar.com
on it you can find history, pictures and even daily updated news about the town...
Raffi, I read the Armeniapedia sites you referred to in your blog, and I am quite impressed! Some of the suggestions are perfect from ANY point of view you look at them (the same retirement homes - who can find a single problem from moral, business, or Armenia-Diaspora standpoint? I can't). Some others are more problematic, but the impressive thing is that (at least some) Diasporan Armenians have grown to genuinely (!) care for the Republic of Armenia, are willing to invest their time and energy in its development, and, importantly, are becoming more subtle (and also more humble) in perceiving the problems and different types of people populating Armenia.
Persian... Armenian... it speaks to my stomach. I'm not much of a Hin Yerevan fan. I'm more of a Mer Gyugh customer.
I would be most interested in the idea of retirement home idea ..I am heading that way in age!!...and am just back from my 5th trip to Armenia today..but my only concern/rider would be that the building of the same be used to subsidise accomodation for elderly Armenians from Armenia on the same site Ther are too many ghettos for rich diasporans being built at the 'expense ' of housing for the locals..just my opinion..and I'm not even Armenian ..so you can reckon I have a cheek !!!!
Your idea is somewhat problematic in cities like Venice, I don't think it would work properly.
By the way, how do you say Venice in Armenian?
Skylark, if you elaborated it would help.
Venice is Venetik in Armenian.
On one hand, the "fabric of the city" in places like Venice is very fragile, and there is generally a quite conservative approach to any large project of architectural renovation or urban restyling. Therefore, a plan like the one you describe would need painstaking preparation to match plenty of bureaucratic requirements and win over the Monument and Fine Arts Bureau, which has the last say on heritage sites and historic city centers.
On a different level, the debate on multiculturalism in Italy (like probably other Western European countries) is going through a difficult period. With all the fuss about "cultural roots", a plan like the one you describe should be carefully designed and advertised in order to ensure that it is not view (by less accepting or less open-minded segments of society) as a "threat" to the national and/or local identity, or as a "display of foreignness". Bear in mind that not everyone knows that Venice used to host an Armenian community, and may not tell the difference between an Armenian bakery and a Kurdish kebab shop (which can elicit comments such as: "Ah, they flooded us with their kebabs").
There is an interesting comparison that could be done with the expansion projects realized by Lubavitch/Chasidic groups in the former Jewish Ghetto. I don't know much about it, but my external impression is that those projects have increased a more visible "Jewishness" of the neighborhood, while also creating a rift with the rest of the city. It is really useful to turn the Jewish Ghetto into a Jewish ghetto, if I am allowed to use this pun?
I don't believe this is what you have in mind.
I know this is just an answer in a nutshell. I am also aware that the topic "integration vs identity" can spark an almost endless debate.
You are right about the architectural issues for sure, I only meant those for the USA - not for European/Mid-Eastern locales. As for causing a percieved threat to the local culture, I doubt that could happen in a place like Venice if you simply inform people that there are just a few dozen Armenians left of a once thriving community, and that they are simply trying to stimulate tourism to Venice and promote their shops/neighborhood...
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