1980_06 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper June 1980

              Page 2
Hye Sharzhoom
June 1980
OPINIONS
The Armenian image: The forgotten anger
By Mark Malkasian
"Image problems" are usually associated with overstuffed oil companies and overpaid athletes.
Entire nationalities, however, also suffer from self-inflicted image problems.
There is, of course, an Armenian image in America, although few consider it a
problem.   Armenian-Americans are typically identified with prosperity, churches
and respect for the law - all positive elements of the Armenian character. Politicians
often point to us when other minority groups complain.
"Look what the Armenians have overcome," they proclaim.
Sadly, though, few Americans know fully what we have "overcome." Of course,
Armenians understand prejudice in the United States, especially in the San Joaquin
Valley and more recently in Los Angeles. But so do many other ethnic groups.
Armenians also climbed and continue to climb the ladder of success with amazing
facility. But so have many other peoples.
The Armenian image, then, is not Armenian at all rather, it is an American creation, awarded to Armenians because we found a comfortable societal niche so quickly. It is an image we share with other hard-working, content ethnic groups - all
models of the ideal immigrant.
And, certainly, we deserve a pat on the back from our hosts (immigrants of earlier
generations). Armenians have achieved undeniable success. Judging by any
American standard, most of u s are now ready to slide once and for all into the melting pot, to be boiled away forever. The Armenian image is now palatably "American." Like Armenians everywhere, we have overcome virtually every obstacle.
Tragically, however, one obstacle has not been overcome, or even approached.
It is, of course, the Armenian Genocide.
The Genocide sets us apart from other Americans. Armenians were not immigrants in the typical American sense. Armenians were refugees, often surrendering entire families to Turkish barbarity and the untended graves of the Syrian
Desert. Many fled their homeland in hopes of someday returning to an independent
Armenia, but they grew old waiting, as the winds and rains of Eastern Anatolia
claimed the remains of their nation.
On April 24 many of the survivors join their families in commemorating the Genocide. There are flowers and prayers and tears and, occasionally, even anger. The
anger, however, is rarely shared with non-Armenians. Anger, unfortunately, is not
part of the Armenian image.
Rather, April 24 has become a celebration of Armenian "heritage" and "culture."
A few Americans now know our food, our dances, our ancient history and church
architecture. We seem like such a happy people, far removed from the "starving
Armenians" of the massacres.
The image problem doesn't surface until we attempt to convert our hard-won
goodwill into something more tangible. Somehow, we expect Americans to connect
the cheerful, successful Armenians of today with the pathetic, victimized Armenians
of 65 years ago. Somewhere the image becomes confused.
The actions of Armenian terrorists further muddle the Armenian image. Turkish
corpses pop up on TV screens and newspaper front pages bearing the label "Armenian terrorism." And now the Armenians are linked with inexplicable acts of violence.
Americans can only react with bewildermint. They saw no marches or clenched fists.
They heard no shouts of anger or demands of justice. But now they are confronted
with bullets and bodies - all for a private genocide that remains hidden from world
view.
Of course, a few brave Armenians express their sorrow publically on April 24.
Perhaps 20,000 Armenian-Americans openly commemorated the 65th anniversary
of the Genocide. Many others huddles safely and quietly in churches, cemetaries
and concert halls to share their collective grief amidst Armenians - a moving, personal remembrance but a silent, invisible act.
And so, the one-day mourning ritual is over for another year. The tearful, the bitter, and the angry, were all placated. And, inexorably, the Armenian Genocide
loses its human form, dissolving unchecked into history.
History, of course, is detached and impersonal. It fails to arouse emotion or motivate people to march and carry placards. For non-Armenians the Genocide must
appear as history. Armenian-Americans publically claim no personal relationship
to its victims. They seek no justice for their brutalized nation. Even the natural
anger is absent.
Rather, Armenian-Americans have largely chosen to conceal their past suffering,
safely merging the Genocide with ancient folktales and miniature painting.
American values have also contributed to our reticence. The Genocide suggests
failure-an embarassment for a community today so strong and proud, like a working-
class background that haunts the noveau rich.
More significantly, the Genocide represents weakness, in an America that worships strength. Heroic martyrdom eluded the Armenians of the Genocide. Instead,
they are remembered as "starving Armenians" - helpless, emaciated orphans, docile human caravans driven before Turkish whips. The Armenian nation was dispersed, defeated and destroyed. Our refugees numbly accepted $100 million in
American aid and then dutifully melted into oblivion. The American response was
overwhelmingly generous but far too late to avert the greater tragedy. A once indomitable people had been reduced to international "victims," recipients of the
world's pity.   Indeed, Armenian relief was a baffling charity, a belated appease
ment of a throbbing guilt.
Today's Armenian-American community, of course, has outgrown its orphaned
past .We are the donors, spreading our wealth among new classes of "victims."
We have rejected the "weakness" of the Genocide and, sadly, we have also forsaken its legacy. Today, when Armenians mourn their dead, they mourn alone;
asking nothing, receiving nothing.
Ironically, though, the Armenian Question has endured both the world's indifference and the stoic coldness of Armenian-Americans. The Armenian people
flourish throughout the globe. The Armenian land remains preserved, its rivers still
flowing and flowers still blooming. And some Armenian-Americans have not given
up hope that the two may some day be reunited. Ultimately, an independent Armenian homeland is not such an outrageous request. Armenians have a history, a
language, a culture. Only the land is missing.
April 24 must be a day of anger. The Armenian image must convey the Armenian
Question, loudly, bluntly, in unison.
The Armenian Question must be given life. If there are tears to shed, then let
America share our sorrow. We weep for flesh, not discarded statistics.
The spectre of Genocide has now haunted the Armenians for 65 years - a lifetime
of stalking our emotions. It is an image of horror, embodying death and tragedy.
But it is our image. Our heritage of Genocide is not to be celebrated but neither can
it be abandoned; for therein this uniquely Armenian holocaust lies an undeniable
link to the Armenian past.
It is a painful route to follow, an anguishing destiny - but there is also national
salvation. The Armenian homeland can live again, but not until the Genocide is
likewise given life.
UACC should broaden its reach
By Mark Arax
In an effort to inform the public,
the United Armenian Commemorative
Committee initiated a program a few
years ago to educate school children on
Armenian history and culture during
the week of April 24th.
This program consists of several
pamphlets dealing with a variety of
topics that range from David of
Sassoun to William Saroyan. In
addition, films are shown and oral
presentations made. The emphasis
is on history and culture. The Genocide
is mentioned only as a part of history
and it is presented in that context.
In and of itself, this educational
program is fine. However, its results
have been mixed and much of this can
be attributred to the age of the audience. School children cannot fully
understand the implications of Armenian culture and history. Their attention
and retention spans are limited; thus
restricting the scope of the educational
material.
All of this does not, however, render
the UACC's efforts ineffective. An
educational program aimed at school
children is important but the age of
those children must be accounted for
when deciding what should be included
in the material and making the presentations.
As part of its educational effort,
the UACC should initiate a program
that follows-up on the presentation
made to younger students. Junior
high and high school students throughout Fresno and parts of the Valley
should be included in the UACC's
effort. Not only are these older students better able to understand Armenian history and culture but they will
retain much of this information into
their adulthood.
Increasing the number of adults
aware of Armenian history and its
tragedy will undoubtedly increase the
.credibility of the Armenian cause.
And that seems to be the goal of the
UACC—not only commemorating the
Genocide but also increasing public
awareness and pricking the public
consciousness on issues affecting
Armenians.
Also, the Genocide should play a
bigger part in the program than the
UACC is now affording it. The Genocide is not merely a part of history but
it is the one aspect of Armenian history that will be ingrained in the minds
of non-Armenians for the rest of thier
lives. It should be manipulated not
for the sake of sensationalism but to
remind non-Armenians of the tragedy
of our history. The Genocide is our
trump card and we should play it, as
the Jews have, to educate non—Armenians on a wide variety of issues
affecting us.
A program, similar to the one I
am describing, was initiated this year
by a few students at CSUF. With
limited resources, these students,
who were also members of the Armenian Students Organization on campus, went to five high schools in
Fresno and presented hour-long lectures on "Armenian History and the
Genocide" to more than 700
students. The program was well-
received and it cries out to be repeated next year and eventually become a permanent fixture in the
Genocide commemoration.
We hope the UACC will coordinate its efforts with the ASO next
year and expand the educational program to include not only students in
grade schools but also the adults of
tomorrow—students in junior high and
high schools.