How my generation was thought Armenian History

Simon Simonian’s history textbook was the standard history textbook for my generation, those of us who came of age in 1965, at the 50 the anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. I copied Levon Sharoyan’s recollection of Simonian's history textbook from his book about Simon Simonian I translated. Vahe H Apelian

“Many in the Diaspora remembers these textbooks that became the standard history textbooks in the Armenian schools not only in Lebanon and Syria but also in Cyprus, Greece, the United States, Argentina, Jerusalem, and Ethiopia.

Who knows how many generations made their connections to their illustrious history through these textbooks? How many generations molded their identity as Arenians throught these textbooks? Countless are those who came to know of David of Sassoun, Lion Mher, Dragon fighting Vahankn, our legendary partriarch Haig, Ara the Beautiful, the pagann gods that brought the dead to life by licking their wounds. King Baruyr, Dikran the Great, Ardashes the Conqueror, the imprisoned King Arshag, Moshegh Mamigonian on his white horse, King Vramshabouh, Viartan who was killed in the battle of Avararyr and the Pakradouni Kings who built Ani. Roupen, Levon who established sovereignty on the Taurus Mountains, and all the other heroes of our history.

I was an elementar school student when my mother gifted me this sequel of Simonian’s Armenian history textbooks that were bound in a single volume. From the ifrst page, I remained attached to the large volume. I could read the sequel page by page and would be moved looking at those mysterious pictures. I would remain fascinated by the bravery of the Armenian kings.  

Simonian’s writing style was captivating. It was not a cut and dry history that Simonian narrated. He inspired and reinforced his adolescent readers’ Armenian identity.

Simon Simonian, "Armenian History" textbook
fifth grade.

At the very beginning of the first volume, Simon Simonian had placed a paragraph titled “The Reflection of the Armenian Student”, like a covenant of faith, it reads: 

“I am an Armenian. My fatherland,  Where my forefathers have lived and died  Is called Armenia. But I do not live in Armenia. I am away from it in exile. Above all, I will love my fatherland and I will not forget its name. I firmly believe that I will return there one day. To  hasten that day, I will always read about the  history of my brave ancestors. I will love my church and my fatherland and I will  feel proud to be called ARMENIAN. I have vowed to remain worthy to see Massis and Davros, Sipan and Nemrut; Puragan and Davros, Arax and Sevan; Etchmiadzin and Saint Garabed’  Gars and Garin; Van and Mush.”

What a structure for students to be prepared for and introduced to Armenian history.

In writing his history textbooks, Simonian had adopted a very practical and helpful method. He narrated a historical event with a pleasant and in an easy-to-read language. He then listed key words, which might be unfamiliar to the students by listing them under a header called “Explanatory Words”, with an explanation for each. He listed eight to ten questions related to the narration under “Questionnaire”. Header.  He then listed “Points for Elaboration” for the teacher to provide more details. At the end, he listed under “Sources”, references that could help teachers and anyone else interested to expand his or her knowledge about Armenian history. For example, when he narrated the period of the Arab invasion of Armenia, he listed the following sources at the end of the chapter: Sepeos, historian Ghevont, Tovma Ardzrouni, as ancient Armenian historians as well as books published in Venice and Vienna, including a source in French.

Let us be mindful that Simon Simonian was barely 25 to 26 years old when he prepared his series of history textbooks. "

 

Googling history

Vahe H Apelian

First and foremost, let me quote the following to justify my use of the verb google. According to Wikipedia, I quote, “the word "google" became a verb in 1998, when Google co-founder Larry Page used it in a mailing list message. The verb was popularized in 2002 when it was used on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The term was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2006 and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary in the same year.”

Googling history is surely an acceptable way of searching the history of a nation, especially that this year, 2024, is marked by the controversy over the designation of the Armenian history whether to call it “History of Armenia, Hayastani Badmoutyun” or “Armenian History – Hayots Badmoutyun”.   The PM Nikol Pashinyan’s preference is the former, not the latter.

The issue was not a passing one. Prof. Ara Sanjian entertained it. He is an Associate Professor of History and the Director of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. So did Dikran Jinbashian, who several years ago retired as the principal of the famed Nshan Palanjian Djemaran whose principal's seat has been occupied by luminaries such as Levon Shant, Simon Vratsian, Hratch Dasnabedian. Dikran Jinbashian acted as the principal after an active life-long dedication to Armenian causes.  

Google is the primary internet search engine I use as well. Driven by the controversy, I wondered whether it is American History or History of the United States of America. Thus I googled American History and to my surprise I was directed to the “History of United States” with the following notation: “American History” redirects here (i.e. “History of the United States”). For the history of the continents, see History of Americas.) 

I wondered, how about searching the history of  other nations. 

When I googled for French history, I was directed to "History of France". When I googled for German history, I was directed to the “History of Germany”. Similarly googling Syrian history led me to “History of Syria”, Lebanese history led me to “History of Lebanon”, Russian history led me to “History of Russia". Googling for European history led me to "History of Europe". But when I googled for Kurdish history, Google directed me to the “History of Kurds.” I imagine because the Kurds, unlike Armenians, do not have a state of their won.  

The message the global search behemoth sent is unambiguous. The history of a nation is the history of its state, unless that nation is stateless, such as the Kurds.

But it seems vocabulary has also evolved. When I googled Hayots Badmoutyun in Armenian letters, there came History of Armenia  - see the posting above - that “covers the topics related to history of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the Armenian people, the Armenian language, and the regions of Eurasia historically and geograhically considered Armenian. Wikipedia”. Googling Armenian history directed me as well to "History of Armenia". 

Let me state that I was brought up with Hayots Badmoutyoun – Հայոց Պատմութիւն - Armenian History. Well beyond having Simon Simonian’s Hayots Badmoutyun as a textbook, I was fascinated by it during my childhood years as a source, not only of mere history, but a source of pride. In fact Simon Simonian’s Hayots Badmoutyun is geared to instill in the formative minds of the young Armenian students, a pride in the Armenian experience.

To each its own. I believe teaching the history of Armenia is very appropriate as a subject for the students in Armenia and as well as its citizens. Diaspora naturally is outside the State of Armenia. The term Armenian history may serve Diaspora better.

 In any event whether Armenian history should be taught as Hayots Badmoutyun, or it should be thought as History of Armenia is an academic matter. But and regrettably, it becomes ever so more evident to me that no matter what, the Armenian divisive political undertone, if not the entrenched mindset, will creep in brandishing a “holier than thou” attitude, advocating a term over the other for political expendiency .   

Simon Simonian Hayots Badmoutyoun textbook
Fifth Grade

 

Googling history

Vahe H Apelian

 

First and foremost, let me quote the following to justify my use of the verb google. According to Wikipedia, I quote, “the word "google" became a verb in 1998, when Google co-founder Larry Page used it in a mailing list message. The verb was popularized in 2002 when it was used on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The term was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2006 and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary in the same year.”

Googling history is surely an acceptable way for searching the history of a nation, especially that this year, 2024, is marked by the controversy over the designation of the Armenian history, whether to call it “History of Armenia, Hayastani Badmoutyun” or “Armenian History – Hayasdani Badmoutyoun”.   The PM Nikol Pashinyan’s preference is the latter, not the former.

The issue was not a passing one. Prof. Ara Sanjian entertained it. He is an Associate Professor of History and the Director of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. So did Dikran Jinbashian, who several years ago retired as the principal of the famed Nshan Palanjian Djemaran whose principals have been luminaries such as Levon Shant, Simon Vratsian, Hratch Dasnabedian. Dikran Jinbashian acted as its principal after an active life-long dedication to Armenian causes.  

Google is the primary internet search engine I use as well. Driven by the controversy, I wondered whether it is American History or History of the United States of America. Thus I googled American History and to my surprise I was directed to the “History of United States” with the following notation: “American History” redirects here (i.e. “History of the United States”). For the history of the continents, see History of Americas.) 

I wondered, about the search the history of other nations. 

When I googled for French history, I was directed to History of France. When I googled for German history, I was directed to the History of German. Similarly, googling Syrian history led me to History of Syria, Lebanese history led me to History of Lebanon, Russian history led me to History of Russia. Googling for European history led me to History of Europe but when I googled for Kurdish history, Google directed me to the History of Kurds. I imagine because the Kurds, unlike Armenians, do not have a state of their won.  

The message the global search behemoth sent is unambiguous. The history of a nation is the history of its state, unless that nation is stateless, such as the Kurds.

But it seems vocabulary has also evolved. When I googled Hayots Badmoutyun in Armenian letters, there came History of Armenia that “covers the topics related to history of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the Armenian people, the Armenian language, and the regions of Eurasia historically and geogrrahically considered Armenian. Wikipedia”. Googling Armenian history directed me to History of Armenia as well. 

Let me state that I was brought up with Hayots Badmoutyun – Հայոց Պատմութիւնղ՚. Well beyond having Simon Simonian’s Hayots Badmoutyun as a textbook, I was fascinated by it during my childhood years as it was a source, not only of mere history, but a source of pride. In fact Simon Simonian’s Hayots Badmoutyun is geared to install in the formative minds of the young Armenian student, a pride in the Armenian experience.

To each its own. I believe teaching the history of Armenia is very appropriate as a subject for the students in Armenia and as well as its citizens. Diaspora naturally is outside the State of Armenia, teaching as Armenian history may serve Diaspora better.

 In any event whether Armenian history should be taught as Hayots Badmoutyun, or it should be thought as History of Armenia, is an academic matter. Regrettably, it becomes ever so more evident to me that no matter what, the Armenian divisive political undertone if not the mindset will creep in brandishing a “holier than thou” attitude.   

Simon Simonian "Armenian History"

No, it was not right and isn’t right

Vahe H Apelian

 

The year's villains, according to Keghart.co

Today the keghart.com online journal presented its pick of the year’s villains and heroes, as it continues an annual tradition.

The villains of the year naturally pertain to the Armenian year in the 2024 calendar year. The villains picked are the following, in the order of listing: Turkey, Azerbaijan, Putin, Israel, USA, UN member states, the Orwellian Media, Charles Michele, NIKOL PASHINYAN (my capitalization), Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, murderer Kamil Zaynalli. I urge readers to read Keghart’s posting (see below) to get acquainted with the reasons cites for picking the villains and as well as the heroes of course. But the picking of the heroes does not pertain this blog.

I found the listing of the PM of Armenia, along with Azerbaijan, Turkey and murderer Kamil Zaynalli as villains of the year, particularly appalling. (see the picture above)

When it comes to Diaspora and Armenia relations, I imagine, each Armenian has a principle to go by. Mine is based on the following premise. 

Ethnic Armenians living beyond the borders of Armenia – ardasahman – such as I, and most of the members and contributors to Keghart.org as well, have willfully forfeited their right of return and hence have delegated the fundamentals of citizenship to the citizens of Armenia who shoulder the responsibility of maintaining, safeguarding and governing the Republic of Armenia. I do not understand on what principle keghart.com, as a Diaspora online journal, feels that it is entitled to render such judgement on the PM when its denizens did not elect, nor cast a vote against the PM of Armenia. But I will admit that this perceived  entitlement in the Diaspora is not Keghart.com’s only . To my horror,  I read once a leader of ANCA in Washington DC, note on social media that “Yerevan is in cahoots with Ankara against the interest of Armenia”!!!! Just a few days ago, a prominent ARF member, also living in Washington DC, called the  Nikol Pashinyan led government a Vichy government, that is to say collaborators with Azeri and Turk occupiers!!! 

 Keghart.org is credited for keeping a Diaspora online journal for upholding Diaspora to the day when the diaspora returns to Armenia. Its primary focus is or should be the Diaspora. It is understood that as Diaspora journal, it has a say on matters that affect the Diaspora be it because of Armenia’s doing.

But, why does Dikran Abrahamian fault the PM of Armenia and calls him a villain? There is no need for me to continue on alluding to Keghart.com editorial board, for a very simple reason. Had Dikran Abrahamian not given his approval, that listing would not have been there. The reason for labelling the PM a villain Dikran Abrahamian sums it in a single statement or one sentence. I quote: “for the numerous anti-national deeds in years past and anti-Artsakh stand.” 

Dikran Abrahamian states the following two issues in that single statement, Nikol Pashinyan’s “anti-national deeds in years past” and NP’s “anti-Artsakh stand”. But he does not cite what were those anti-national issues of the past that have merited the PM the label of a villain.

 Let us be mindful that the PM Nikol Pashinyan's tenure, from May 8, 2018 to this day on December 28, 2024 is the shortest tenure at the apex of the Armenian statehood. It is 6 years, 7 months, 20 days long. Levon Ter Petrosyan’s  tenure from August 4, 1990 to February 3, 1998 was 7 years, six months. Robert Kocharyan served two full presidential terms and thus for 10 years. Serzh Sargsyan also served as president for two terms, totaling 10 years and 7 days as the PM,  from 17 April 2018 – 23 April 2018.

Dikran Abrahamian is mute as to what the PM Nikol Pashinyan could have done during those 6 years, 7 months, and 20 days that would have shaken Dikran to his core in Canada to label Nikol Pashinyan a villain. Was it the Armenian history text book related issues? The overwhelming majority of Armenians in the Diaspora do not study Armenian history, let alone use history textbooks printed in Armenia. The sad fact is that the overwhelming majority of Armenians, who could have been impacted by those history textbook issues, cannot read Armenian, or even understand, especially Armenia's "modern" Armenian, to have followed the debate whether it is “Armenian History” or “History of Armenia”. Let us also be mindful that during those 6 years, 7 months and 20 days, the citizens of Armenia elected Nikol Pashinyan to the office three times. The first time in a snap parliamentary election on May 8, 2018, and twice in general elections, once in December 2018 and the other in June 2021. Yes, calling the PM of Armenia a villain for “anti-national deeds in years past” is arrogant and is a nonsense, coming from a person entrenched in the Diaspora. 

As to Nikol Pashinyan’s anti-Artsakh issue, Dikran Abrahamian conveniently ignores that under Nikol Pashinyan's watch Armenia lost the 44 days long second Artsakh war, but put a fierce resistance to maintain an umbilical cord with Artsakh and continue to have Artsakh Armenians live in a good part of Nagorno -Karabakh Oblast, brokered by Russia. Surely, Dikran Abrahamian is well aware of the unfolding of the Russian brokered tri-lateral agreement.

On September 22, 2023, Nikol Pashinyan urged the Armenians not to leave Artsakh, letting them know that they would not be under direct threat if they stayed put under Azerbaijan’s rule. At the same time he assured them that Armenia is ready to accept them with open arms. I am sure that Dikran Abrahamian knows well of the unfolding of that historical catastrophe as well and knows very well that Armenia received the Artsakh refugees with open arms. If any doubt in that regard, Dikrarn Abrahamian may refresh his memories by reading the postings of Lucy Deukmejian, the editor of Keghart.com

Understandably the two points Dikran Abrahamian cites can be issues of contention. But not for qualifying Nikol Pashinyan a villain to the Armenians.

No, it was not right and it is not right to call the PM of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan a villain along with Ilham Aliev, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Azeri  butcher Kamil Zaynalli.

                                                ***

Note: 2024 villains and heroes: https://keghart.org/friends-villains-heroes-of-2024/

Truly a unique American feature: The Fed.

Vahe H Apelian

 

President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on the promise that his policies would lighten the financial burden on American households. But that most likely will not be so. It is highly unlikely that the prices in the grocery stores will be less, and house ownership will be more affordable as Trump administration entertains imposing punitive tariffs on goods produced in the Western advanced societies such as Canada and Europe, ostensibly to boost the post Covid domestic economy already going strong, according to economists. Consequently, more likely than not political clashes will be inevitable in the next four years  of Trump administration. 

Federal Reserves has become a convenient scapegoat and excuse to ascribe economic ills or fault it for ostensibly hampering economic growth, so nothing is new at the present,  even though Trump himself nominated its chairman to  lead the Feds. I quote, “The current chairman is Jerome Powell, who was sworn in on February 5, 2018. He was nominated to the position by President Donald Trump on November 2, 2017, and later confirmed by the Senate.”

Let us face it, the very reason the Fed is often attacked, criticized and faulted, is the very reason that Fed came about. 

In layman’s terms the Federal Reserve System, often shortened to Federal Reserve or Fed, is the central banking system of the United States. But, it is a conglomeration of independent banks and has no seating at the cabinet, simply because it is not a federal government institution. However, in a way it is the watch dog of a federal institution, the U.S. Department of Treasury, whose secretary has a seating at the Cabinet of the United States.

The government, who oversees the economy of the country, has a unique distinction, it can print currency and mint money. Too much of printing will cause an abundance of money circulating in the market and hence money will lose its purchasing power. The economists call it it inflation. Should the government not print enough money, there will be less of it and hence cause an escalation of the purchasing power of the printed money. The economists s call it deflation. In short, Inflation reduces the value of currency, but deflation increases it.

If we liken the government’s Department of the Treasury to Hoover Dam, then the Federal Reserve is its hydropower plant operating system that regulates how much  water is discharged from the dam to run the turbines and generate electricity to get the economy going without excesses, by discharging too much water, or too little water.  

In the enshrined concept of checks and balances that the founding fathers structured the governance of the United States of America, the Federal Reserve banking system is another lever.  In my view, the dollar, to great extent, owes its primacy to the Federal Reserve system, the independent banking congelation whose goal  is to assure healthy  market to make a buck,  the sacrosanct of the capitalist system. 

I read that Elon Musk, the billionaire  who appears to be given a free rein in the Trump administration to make the U.S. government more efficient, has a thing or two planned about the working of Federal Resave because it ostensibly is making the cost of running a business too costly and hence adversely affecting the economy.  Such arrogance should be the concern of every American, whether republican or democrat. All said and done, the bottom is the value of our hard earned money, be it Trump or Biden.

Note, I suggest those interested read a stamp collector describe how the Fed came about and what it does it by clicking on the following  attachment: https://info.mysticstamp.com/this-day-in-history-december-23-1913-2_tdih/?utm_source=tdih-398&utm_medium=TDIH-Email&utm_campaign=This+Day+in+History&fbclid=IwY2xjawHbBSpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXij_Rtr6nHfkj-6kVgiKXcBdQONZv_wGv41FbCqy0mj5oqxQ1iWxcOnyA_aem_mOakztpq-Jjpv9nL5Fg5pw

Քաղցրիկ Պուրճ Համմուտ՝ Ծնունդի հեքեաթներ

Արմենակ Եղիայեան

6.1.2018

Ամէն ինչ որ հեքիաթանման է, անպայման հեքիաթ չէ,

Իսկ ամէն ինչ որ հեքիաթ է, անպայման հեքիաթանման չէ:

Աշխարհի վրայ կայ հեքիաթային երկիր մը, որ կը կոչուի Լիբանան, եւ այստեղ կը գտնուի եզակի քաղաք մը, որ կը կոչուի ՊուրճՀամմուտ:

Պուրճ Համմուտը խորքին մէջ եզակի էր մեկէ աւելի յատկանիշերով, որոնց կարգին՝ իր ազգագրական պատկերը. անոր հիմնադրութեան առաջին տարիներուն (մօտաւորապէս 1933-34) բնակչութեան 99,99 տոկոսը հայ էր. 30 - 40.000 հազարի վրայ կային ընդամէնը քանի մը արաբ ընտանիքներ՝ եկեղեց­ւոյ քահնայiնը, ժամկոչինը, մուխթարինը եւ մէկ-երկու ուրիշներ ու այսչափ միայն:

         1946-էն սկսեալ, որ կը զուգադիպի հայրենադարձութեան, մեկնող­ներուն տուները գնուեցան ա­րաբ հայրենակիցներու կողմէ, տեղացի թէ պաղեստինցի գաղթականներ: Եւ ազգագրական եզակիութիւնը այսպէսով խախտեցաւ… ի հաշիւ ուրիշ հայաւանի մը, որ Այնճարն է եւ որը ծնունդ առած էր Պուրճ Համմուտէն 4-5 տարի ետք:

Այնճար կը շարունակէ պահել իր այդ ան­ղարտ դիմագիծը, մինչ Պուրճ Համմուտ օր ըստ օրէ կը կորսնցնէ իրը: Սակայն այս չէ իմ բնաբանս, ես ուրիշ բան պատմե­լու հա­մար ճամբայ ելայ: Ուրեմն հակառակ վերոնշեալին՝ Պուրճ-Համմուտը կը շարունակէ պահել իր եզակիութիւնը այլ կէտե­րու մէջ, որոնց­մէ մէկն ալ այստեղ հաստատուած արաբ խանութպաններու եւ երբեմն ալ սովորական հայրենակիցներու հայերէնաիմացութիւնն է: Այո, սա այնպիսի իւրայատկութիւն մըն է, որ ամբողջ աշխարհի մէջ, - ի բացառեալ անշուշտ Հայաստանը, ­ միակ պարագան է, ուր օտարներ հայերէն կը սորվին իրերու բոլորովին բնական ու անբռնազբօս բերումով:       

Պատկերացուցէք Լիբանանի ընդհանրա­պէս հարաւէն եկած արաբ երիտասարդներ, բայց նաեւ օտարահպատակներ՝ սուրիացի, եգիպտացի, յորդանանցի, սուտանցի եւ այլն, որոնք իրենց կեանքին մէջ հայ չեն տեսած եւ որոնք այստեղ հայահոծ թաղի մը մէջ պտուղի ու բանճարեղէնի խա­նութ կը բանան եւ կը սկսին առեւտուրի…հայե­րու հետ կամ նա՛եւ հայերու հետ: Եւ որովհետեւ հայը դժուարութիւն ունի արաբերէն սորվելու, այս մարդիկ կը ստիպուին իրե՛նք հայերէն սորվիլ, որպէսզի դրամ կարենան շահիլ ու ապրիլ:

         Առաջին ամիսը կը սորվին թիւերը ու չափերը՝ մէկ քիլօ, մէկուկէս քիլո, երկու ոսկի, չորս, հինգ, եօթը ոսկի կամ տոլար եւ այլն: Ապա կը սկսին սորվիլ ապրան­քին անու­նը՝ նարինջ, վարունգ, հազար, բողկ:

         Երկրորդերրորդ ամիսներուն կը սկսին կազմել իրենց առաջին կցկտուր նախադասութիւնները՝ շատ լաւ է, հա­մով է, թարմ է, աժան է: ­Կամ՝ հիմա չկայ, մէկ ժամէն կը հաս­նի…: ­Նաեւ՝ անուշ ըլլայ, նորէն եկուր եւ այլն: Իսկ վեցերորդ ամի՚սը կամ ամենաուշը տարին չլրացած՝ արդէն հայերէն կը խօսին քիչ մը… ամէն նիւթի մասին:

Եւ…կամացկամաց կը հայանան:

         Երբեմն շատ զաւեշտական պարագաներ ալ կը պատահին:

         Կը ճանչնամ անոնցմէ մէկը՝ իսկական աժդահայ մը, գոնէ երկու մեթր հասակով եւ երկու հարիւր քիլո քաշով, արաբական կամ արեւելեան բուրդէ գլխարկը մինչեւ աչքերը իջած, պեխերը ականջներուն հասած, մօրուքը ընդհանրապէս անխնամ, «մի զըռ չոբան»,–­ ինչ­պէս պիտի ըսէր ­Թու­մա­նեան, որ սակայն… մաքուր ու ծեքծեքուն հայերէն մը կը խօսի, ծայրայեղօրէն կիրթ է եւ իսկոյն կը հրապուրէ քեզ: Չես կրնար առանց գնումի դուրս ելլել խա­նու­թէն, ընդհակառակը՝ քիչ մըն ալ կը տնտնաս, որ աւելի լսես զինք:

­         Կը ճանչնամ Ղասսան մըն ալ, որ ինքնամփոփ ու լռակեաց երիտասարդ մըն է, որուն հետ կարելի է երկար զրուցել,  եւ հաճոյքով կը զրուցեմ, քիչ մը ամէն բանի մասին: Այնքան լաւ կը տիրապետէ հայերէնին: Կարծեմ հայ աղջկայ մը պարեգօտն ալ անցած է կեանքէն, չեմ գիտեր՝ իբրեւ նշանածի՞, թէ՞ իբրեւ ընկերուհիի, եւ յուզումով կ’ակնարկէ թէ՛ հայերէնին, թէ՛ զայն խօսող աղջկան:

         Առիթով մը, երբ տակաւին լաւ չէի ճանչ­նար զինք, միամտաբար հարցուցած եմ իրեն, թէ ինչո՛ւ «օ­տար» անուն կը կրէ:

         Եւ այսպիսիները բացառութիւն չեն:

         Ստորեւ պատ­կեր մըն ալ:

         Տասը օր առաջ, արեւմտեան Ծնունդի առթիւ, հրաւիրուած էի կաթողիկէ բարեկամի մը տունը, ուր, իմինէն զատ, կը գտնուէին չորս ուրիշ ընտանիքներ կամ անոնց ներկայացուցիչները, չորսն ալ իրենց եթովպիացի աղախիննե­րով: Երբ երեկոյթը իր աւարտին կը մօտենար, ուզեցի զայն փակել գարե­ջուրով մը: Եւ որովհետեւ միջավայրին ծանօթ էի եւ չէի ալ ուզեր ուրիշը խանգարել, խոհանոց ուղղուեցայ ինքնասպասարկութեան համար: Ի՜նչ տեսնեմ. չորս աղախինները հաւաքուած էին իրե՛նց սեղանին շուրջ եւ ուրախ կը ճռուողէին… մաքուր հայեր­նով:

         Կայ սա­կայն աւելի ուշագրաւն ալ, որ հետեւեալն է. այս օտարներուն սորված հայերէնը զերծ է այն բոլոր լեզուական արատներէն, որոնց դէմ ի զուր կը պայքարինք մեր՝ հայ խմբագիրներու, հայ մտաւորականնե­րու, հայ ուսուցիչներու աշխարհիկ թէ հոգեւոր բոլոր ծիրերէն ներս… առանց յաջողելու սրբագրել զանոնք: Օրինակ՝ ոչ մէկուն բերնէն լսած եմ փոխանցել, իբրեւ հետեւանք, իբրեւ արդիւնք, արդիւնքով, գծով, այն մասին, յետայսու եւ այս կարգի ճիւաղութիւններ, որոնք մերոնց հանապազօրեայ հացն ու սնունդն են:

         Աղէկ, պի­տի ըսէք, վերջին հաշուով՝ ովքե՞ր են ասոնց ուսուցիչները, որպէսզի քիչ մըն ալ մեր խմբագրատուները (առանց մոռնալու Երեւանի «Արմէնպրեսը»), դպրոցները, գրասենեակները, տուները, հեռաւոր թեմերն ու առաջնորդարաններն ալ այցելեն ու հայերէն սորվեցնեն:

         Մի՛ հարցնէք, որովհետեւ չեմ գի­տեր: 

*   *   *

         Տարիներ առաջ կը խնամէի հիւանդ մը, որուն հետ ա՛լ մտերմացած էի, ինչպէս սովորաբար կը պատահի հաւատարիմ յաճախորդներուն հետ:

         Մօտաւորապէս 20-25 տարուան ծանօթութիւն մը ունէինք արդէն, երբ օր մը ժամադրութիւն խնդրեց կնոջը համար: Եւ քանի մը օր ետք դարմանատունս մտաւ անոր հետ: Գլուխէս սառ ջուր թափեցաւ. կինը վերէն վար սեւ հագած, լաչակաւոր իսլամուհի մըն էր:

         Այլայլեցայ, շփոթեցայ, բառերս կորսնցուցի, բայց եւ այնպէս, միւս կողմէ, ցոյց տուի աթոռը, ինքս ալ տեղաւորուեցայ ու անցայ գործի, մինչ ամուսինը, քիչ անդին նստած, կը հետեւէր այս բոլորին:

         Կը զգայի, որ մտերմութեան վտիտ կապը փրթած էր մեր միջեւ. լռութիւն կը տիրէր, ճնշիչ լռութիւն մը… գոնէ ինծի հա­մար: Կը փորձէի առ ի քաղաքավարութիւն խզել զայն, նիւթ մը գտնել ու վերահաստատել կապը, սակայն չէի յաջողեր: Երբ վերջապէս շատ անճարակ, բայց հաւանաբար նաեւ անիրաւօրէն ըսի, կարծես անոր դատաւորը ըլլայի.

         – Իսլամի հետ ամուսնա­ցեր ես:

         – Ի՞նչ, հար­ցուց՝ չըմբռնելով ակնարկութիւնս:

         – Ինչո՞ւ իսլամի հետ ամուսնացեր ես, վրայ բերի, այս անգամ՝ անիրաւուածի պահանջատիրական զգալի շեշ­տով մը:

         – Ի՞նչ կը խօսիս, հակադարձեց ան շլմորած՝ անհանդարտ շարժելով աթոռին, կարծես փուշի վրայ նստած ըլլար:

         – Եղբա՛յր, ի՞նչն է անհասկնալին. ինչո՞ւ իսլամի հետ ամուսնացած ես:

         – Բայց, հա­քի՛մ, ե՛ս ալ իսլամ եմ, ը­սաւ՝ աչքերը լայն բացած, ու հիմա… ի՛մ կարգս էր շլմորելու եւ աթոռիս զիս նեղող փուշերէն անհանգստանալու:

         – Բարեկա՛մ, այսքան ատեն է մաքուր հայ էիր ալ, հիմա իսլամութի՞ւնդ բռնեց:

         Եւ ա­հա ան լայն ժպտելով ու հանդարտած պատմեց, որ պատանի հասակէն աշկերտը դարձած է հայ դերձակի մը, որմէ արհեստին հետ սորված է նաեւ անոր լեզուն, եւ հիմա, տասնամեակներէ իվեր, հաշտ ու համերաշխ կը շարունակէ ծառայել նոյնին հաստատութեան մէջ, որուն վերակացուն ալ դարձած է, շրջապատուած հայ արհեստաւորներով, եւ այնուհետեւ հայերէնը դարձած է իր երկրորդ լեզուն, որուն համար շատ ուրախ է եւ շատ կը սի­րէ զայն:

         Այս ալ… այս­պէ՛ս

          armenag@gmail.com

The historic blunder of undermining LTP’s Karabagh settlement policy.

Vahe H Apelian

Levon Ter Petrosyan prominence came about with the Karabagh liberation movement he led. Subsequently he became the first nationally elected president, in the long tortuous Armenian history, on November 11, 1991, just fifty days after Armenia declared its independence on September 21, 1991 and long before the newly independent Republic of Armenia, voted to approve its  constitution on June 5, 1995. 

The Karabakh liberation war raged under the watch of Levon Ter Petrosyan and culminated in the Bishkek Protocol on May 5, 1995 which was a provisional ceasefire, with no final peace agreement. 

Two and half years - 2 years, 5 months, 28 days –after the Bishkek agreement, president Levon Ter Petrosyan published his “War or Peace, Time to get Serious” position paper for the resolution of the Karabagh conflict on November 1, 1997, where he advocated concessions for resolving the lingering Karabagh conflict. 

The position LTP outlined in that document created an uproar in Armenia and resulted in the palace coup engineered by Robert Kocharian, Serzh Sargsyan, Vazken Sarkissian and Vartan Oskanian leading to president LTP’s resignation a few months later, on February 3, 1998, and paving the way for two terms presidency of Robert Kocharian, followed by two terms Serzh Sargsyan presidency. Both failed to settle the Karabagh conflict. They also did not recognize the Republic of Karabagh, nor annexed it onto Armenia. On may 8, 2018 Nikol Pashinyan, after a popular uprising, was voted the PM of Armenia in a snap parliamentary election. The rest is history.

The PM Nikol Pashinyan has asked the presidents to a public debate. I do not think presidents Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sargsyan will accept it. They lead the opposition. I am wondering if LTP will accept. But he had already presented his position on the matter and his political stand to resolve the Karabagh issue. But, as noted, the two power brokers who became the presidents, undermined his Karabakh issue settlement  policy and forced him to resign.

It is important that interested Armenians read LTP’s “War or Peace, Time to get Serious”. I have translated it in four segments and posted below. 

In his position paper “War or Peace, Time to get Serious”, LTP had emphatically noted a historic concession – I quote – “It is not about giving or not giving Karabakh. It is about keeping Karabakh Armenian. It was inhabited by Armenians for 3000 years and it should be inhabited by Armenians after 3000 years.” 

Historic Karabakh is completely depopulated of its native inhabitants 

****

 

The translation of Levon Ter Petrosyan “War or Peace, Time to get Serious”

Part 1 – The only option for solving the Karabakh question is compromise,'

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/10/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_23.html

Part 2 - The path of adventurers will lead to inevitable defeat

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/10/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_29.html

Part 3 - Five myths and  two riddles

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/11/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious.html

Part 4/4 - Our only ally is the refusal of adventure

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/11/war-or-peace-time-to-get-serious_12.html

1

Christmas Fairy Tales from Bourj Hammoud

Բնագիրը կցուած է ներքեւը։ The attached is a reposting of my translation of Armenag Yeghiayan's depiction of the Armenian enclave Bourj Hammoud.։  Vahe H. Apelian

Everything that is fairy tale like, is not necessarily a fairy tale,

And everything that is a fairy tale, is not necessarily fairy tale like.

"In this world, there is a fairytale country that is called Lebanon and in there, there is a unique city (maybe a town) that is called Bourj Hammoud. 

In reality, Bourj Hammoud is unique for many of its characteristics; among them is its demography. During its formative years, sometime between 1933-1934, its population was 99.99% Armenians. Among the 30-40,000 inhabitants, there were a few Arab families, such the mukhtar’s, the priest’s and a few more and that was all.

After the 1946 repatriation to Armenia, Arab fellow countrymen, natives or Palestinian refugees, bought vacant houses left behind. Consequently, its demographic uniqueness gave way to another Armenian inhabitant enclave, Anjar whose birth took place 4-5 years after Bourj Hammoud’s. Anjar continues to maintain unique Armenian features while Bourj Hammoud loses its, day by day. But, that is not what I want to write. I wrote this introduction to write about something else about Bourj Hammoud.

In spite of what I noted above, Bourj Hammoud continues to maintain unique features in different aspects. Among them is the Armenian grasp of the Arab shopkeepers who have settled there. Yes, this is such a unique feature that there is no other place in this whole wide world – save in Armenia of course – non-Armenians learn Armenian in an all too natural way, without ever being asked or expected to do so.

Just imagine that Arab young men mostly from South Lebanon, as well as foreign nationals such as Syrian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Sudanese and others, who have never met a single Armenian in their lives, come to Bourj Hammoud where they open a grocery store or stall, and start selling their produce to Armenians or to non Armenians as well. And because the Armenians have great difficulty learning Arabic, they start leaning Armenian to make a livelihood.

The first month they learn the numbers and the measures ‘Meg kilo” (one kilogram), “meg our ges kilo” (one and one a half kilogram),  “yergoo voski” (two Lebanese pounds),  ‘Chors’ (four), “hink” (five),  ‘yote voski gam dollar” (seven Lebanese pounds or dollars). Then they learn the name of the produce, “narinch” (orange), ‘varounk” (cucumber), ‘hazar” (lettuce), “poghg” (radish).

In the third to the fourth month, they start putting rudimentary sentences together such as “shad lav e” (it's very good), “hamov e” (it's tasty), “tarm e” (it's fresh),  “ajan e” (it's cheap). Or “hema chga) (not available presently), “Meg jamen ge hasni” (it will be here in an hour), also “anoush ella” (enjoy), “noren yegour” (come again) and so forth. By the sixth month or at most before the year is over, they have already started speaking a little bit Armenian about everything.

Slowly, slowly they become Armenians.

I know someone among them.  He is a veritable giant, at least 2 meters tall, weighing 200 kilograms, wearing an Arab or middle eastern wool hat that extends over his eyes. His mustache reaches his earlobes and his beard is mostly unkempt. He would be someone whom our writer Toumanian would have likened to a  rough fellow. But he is a very polite and a likable man who speaks fluent Armenian. It would be impossible to exit his store without having bought something and not wanting to linger a bit longer just to listen him.

I also know someone named Ghassan. He is a self-contained, quiet young man with whom its possible to carry a lengthy conversation (in Armenian). I gladly converse with him about everything. He has mastered the Armenian language so well. I think that he has had a love affair with an Armenian girl, either as a fiancée or girlfriend. He often emotionally alludes to the Armenian girl and to the language she spoke.

At one time, well before I got to know him better, I had asked him why he was named with a “foreign” name. !

He is not an exception.

Another story.

During this past December Christmas celebration, a Catholic friend of mine had invited us and four other families, to Christmas Eve dinner. Those from the other families had come with their Ethiopian servants. As the evening dinner was coming to its close I wanted to end it with a beer. Since their house was very familiar to me and I felt comfortable in their home, I headed towards the kitchen for self-service and what did I see? In the kitchen, sitting around a table, I saw the four Ethiopian servants animated and giggling in an impeccable Armenian!

There also is the other astonishing thing, the Armenian learned by these foreigners is devoid of the blemishes commonplace with our Armenian editors, intellectuals, teachers and ecclesiastical fathers against whom for long I have been waging a losing battle without succeeding in correcting them. I have not heard from these foreigners the wrong use of the commonplace Armenian words whose wrong uses seem to have become the daily bread for those of our own.

“well”, you might say, “who are their teachers?” So that they can also visit the classrooms in our schools, our homes, offices, far away prelacies and the editorial boards of our newspapers (without forgetting “Armenpress in Yerevan) to teach them also the proper use of the Armenian language. 

Do not ask me who their teachers are because I do not know who  they are.

Many years ago, I used to take care of a patient with whom I also had become intimate, as it customarily happens with long-term faithful clients. I had served him for some 20-25 years when he asked for an appointment for his wife. After a few days, he came to my office with her.

As if a bucket of cold water was splashed over me when I set my sight on her for the very first time. She was wearing a head-to-toe black coverall. She was a veritable Muslim woman. I got confused and felt disoriented at the sight but tried to regain my composure. I asked her to take the seat and I positioned myself next to her and started doing what needed to be done as her husband remained seated in the room following silently to all that was taking place.

It suddenly dawned on me that the bond of our long amity had suddenly snapped. An oppressing silence, at least for me, seemed to have descended in the clinic. Every now and then I tried to find a topic to reaffirm our bond, but I did not succeed. At the very last, a bit clumsily and surely wrongly, if not unjustly, I asked him as if I were a judge.

- “You have married a Muslim”, I said.

- “What?.” He responded as if not grasping my question.

- “Why have you married a Muslim”. I repeated, this time around with the tone of someone who has been unjustly robbed.

- “What are you talking about?” He said, shifting his position as if he was seated on a bed of thorns.

- “Brother, what is that is so incomprehensible to you? Why did you marry a Muslim?”

- “But, hakim (doctor), I also am a Muslim”, he said. This time around it became my turn to attempt free myself from the thorns bothering me.

- “Friend, thus far you were a clean Armenian. Is it now that you are playing a Muslim game?” I said

It was then, with a broad smile on his face and calmly he told me his story. As a young teenager, he had become an Armenian tailor’s apprentice and had learned the trade. Over the passing decades the business had grown up and he had become a manager in the firm supervising many Armenian workers. Speaking Armenian and dealing with Armenians had become second nature to him.

Yes, that is the way it is in the fairytale Bourj Hammoud."

Note: The Original: http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2022/12/blog-post_18.html

Armenag Yeghiayan was my chemistry teacher in Sourp Nshan School in Beirut, when he was studying dentistry. He has also emerged a Western Armenian linguist and a critic safeguarding the proper use of the Armenian language.