Armenians in the Diaspora – Keeping The Armenian Legacy Alive

Armenians in the Diaspora – Keeping The Armenian Legacy Alive
Written By: Talin Orfali Ghazarian – Canada

In life, we come to this world with different identities and backgrounds, and every culture, belief, race, religion, and heritage is important and special in many ways and to especially acknowledge, respect, and preserve. It is very important to appreciate and not take who we are for granted no matter who we are.

As a Canadian born Armenian in the diaspora outside of my motherland Armenia, it is important to me to preserve my heritage and culture to always keep learning about my country, to always be updated with current events and news happening around the world.  The diaspora of Armenians is largely populated around the earth more than Armenia itself. We come from all continents of the world.

I had the pleasure of visiting Armenia and catching up with reality on everything I have learned in my life and actually seeing it in person. It is so fulfilling and it means so much to me having been able to have that opportunity to see my culture up close and personal.

I was really emotional with happy tears. I cannot wait to go back and hopefully soon.

Armenia is located between Europe and Asia, but are located in Asia, and we are bordered with Iran, Georgia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. The Turkish Ottoman empire massacred 1.5 million Armenians on April 24, 1915, during the Armenian Genocide and where they stole a lot of our land and our sacred Mount Ararat where Noah’s Ark came to its final resting place. Armenian’s in the diaspora and in Armenia are demanding justice to recognize the Armenian Genocide globally and especially Turkey, but they still continue the denial of their crimes.

More than 30 countries around the world have recognized the Armenian Genocide and we are working to never allow history to repeat itself as many countries, cities, states, and towns continue to recognize. It is never too late. Even after 105 years later. We Armenians in the diaspora are always including dignitaries, governmental bodies in municipal and federal governments, and as well as Non-Armenians to inform them of who we are and to educate them about Armenia, the Armenian Genocide, as well as our culture and heritage.

Every year on April 24th, we come together in many communities around the world, marches, conducting peaceful demonstrations, we visit our local embassies and parliaments to gather to voice ourselves for the Armenian Genocide and to pray and stand to remember our ancestors.

Just recently On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan is committing a terrible crime against Artsakh which is a region of Armenia. An unprovoked aggression and war began perpetrated by Azerbaijani’s and Turks. They said in their own words that we will continue the Armenian Genocide, to take over Artsakh lands which we will not allow that to happen. Azerbaijan is made up and it did not even exist. You cannot even find Azerbaijan on an old map.

Recently they began bombing, shelling and they hit and damaged our church in Shushi. They also killed many Armenians, Armenian soldiers and are continuing to displace Armenians from their homes. This has been going on for a month now.

History is repeating itself while the world is staying silent and not helping us. We are fending for ourselves. News Media and Governments must intervene. Staying silent is not the way to go. Silence is violence, and it is a crime on its own. Armenians have been through a lot and we are still going through it.

Armenia was the first to adopt Christianity since 301 AD and we have the oldest church in the world in Armenia called St. Etchmiadzin which still stands strong and it is so beautiful. our culture is so rich in history, so many beautiful landmarks, churches, statues, cross rocks, and many stories that are endless.

We Armenians have a very strong connection to our culinary cuisine and food. We absolutely love to offer our hospitality with serving Armenian coffee, sweets, food and never letting anybody go hungry. We love to cook, bake for our family and friends and we are very friendly. We pay close attention to detail to make sure we have perfectly tasty food for all to enjoy. In the diaspora, we are always welcoming people to taste our food and they absolutely love it.

As Armenians in the diaspora the same as Armenia, we have built families, friends,  school’s, churches, statues, Armenian Genocide memorials, parks, community centers, clergyman, organizations and committees to gather Armenian’s and to have a welcoming feeling of being at home where Armenian’s can connect, communicate, organize events and parties. When we get together we are a large family and it is amazing how connected we really are.

Social media and the internet have made everything so much easier to connect to Armenians around the world, to make friends, to share everything together, to create online communities, events, and to be one family to interact and share with one another in seconds. I have made many new friends and discovered many Armenian people and I have met some of them in person after communicating online for a while. It is such a great feeling to be physically present and to get to know each other more. It is a special moment.

We have many Armenians around the world who are writers, developers, artists, actors, who work in film, comedians, directors, teachers, principals, singers, dancers, cooks, chefs, bakers, who have the innovative touch, inventing things, realtors, electricians, doctors, lawyers, jewelers, and in every other field of professions to cater to our world.

Challenging aspects we face globally

We Armenians face challenging aspects living out of Armenia as we adapt to society with different cultures, races, backgrounds in our cities and towns around the world. That is why it is important to preserve our identity and to always remember and be proud of who we are. It is important to speak Armenian, to read and write. We go to Armenian schools and are taught at home from a very young age.

Some Armenians do not know how to read and write our alphabet which has 38 letters, but above all the important aspect to it all is to speak it and never forget it. I face challenges of reading and writing in Armenian when it comes to different writing patterns  and I have trouble usually with the bigger words, but that is not stopping me from speaking and to keep it alive and vibrant and writing about it.

St. Mesrob Mashtotz was our Armenian Alphabet inventor. He was the chosen one to give us these beautiful and rich letters where we can write stories, songs, scripture, church hymns, and prayers. We have different words we use for everything. There are so many thousands and thousands of words and it is incredible and beautiful on how it all sounds.

As we face those challenges, we also appreciate and love who we are and are so proud. There is just so much to learn about Armenia and it is a place worth visiting, discovering, and educating yourself about.

We in the diaspora are so dedicated, devoted, motivated with so much passion, awareness, love with showing patriotism, showing and waving our Armenia flags proudly, and working hard to ultimately preserve who we are when we cannot be in Armenia physically. I love you Armenia and Armenians around the world. God bless us all.

We Have The Power – Peace for Armenia, Artsakh and Armenians

The power of social media outreach is so important. The words, videos, pictures we spread, who it reaches to, how we communicate to people. All are important. Hashtags and geotagging is something where our words get transmitted across the world quicker. How we word and write makes a huge difference. We all need to be social media influencers in all social media platforms. Especially now where our Armenians, Artsakh and Armenia are concerned.

Making a difference in the world, recognition, awareness, acknowledgment, prevention is something we are working extremely hard for. It is very difficult as the world stays silent and we have to fend for ourselves. Recently, some dignitaries and some in government started to become more aware of what is going on, but we want more.

We apologize for the inconvenience for all the repetitive posts, flooding stories, newsfeeds, groups and everywhere about what Artsakh and Armenia are going through right now. We are just trying to stop another Genocide from happening again from April 24, 1915 and right now in 2020 an unprovoked Aggression perpetrated by the Azerbaijani’s and Turk’s. 1.5 Million Armenians were massacred, a lot of our lands and Mount Ararat was stolen from us. They are continuing what they started and said that we have to finish the Armenians and take over. We will not allow that to happen.

We Armenians are peaceful people and we are demonstrating, voicing ourselves to let non-Armenian individuals know what is going on. Azerbaijani’s and Turk’s are killing our soldiers, bombing, shelling our cultural centres, churches, ripping families apart, destroying homes and cities of Artsakh.

We are boycotting Turkish products. Now these Azerbaijani’s and Turks are going around social media on Google and searching for Armenian businesses and they are falsely rating them with a 1 star and writing horrible things. They are lying on social media, posting cruel and disgusting comments to us. We are simply ignoring them. They want us to retaliate, but we won’t let them have that satisfaction.

Social media is powerful and it is very important to us to get the word out there. We just want peace and solidarity. We need to defend and fight for what is ours. We will win this battle. We Armenians are strong and dedicated to our culture, heritage and identity of who we are. We are innovative, intelligent, the first to adopt Christianity. We have so much rich history, so much to be proud of. We are Armenians and we are and will always be here forever! We are not going anywhere! God bless Artsakh, God Bless Armenia, God bless our Soldiers, and God Bless Armenians!

Why Is Montreal Laval a Happy and Sentimental Place For Me?

In life, some people find a connection and a sentimental happy place which is special to them. People automatically feel that sense of belonging to each their own. To me, Montreal and Laval, Quebec is a sentimental and happy place for me. It all began in 2003.

Our Armenian Youth Committee had organized a camping trip in August, 2003, where people from Montreal, Laval Toronto, Mississauga, and other places came to join us for a weekend in Brighton, Ontario, Canada. So I began to meet new people as they started to arrive, first few were from Montreal. Our friendships began instantly its as if we had know each other for a long time. We clicked. There was about 20 people or more who were from there.

I never had friends prior to 2003. I was always bullied and hurt emotionally and mentally by people and it was the worse times ever in my life. When I joined the committee and after leaving the school life behind, life got so much better and made all these friends and was overjoyed with happiness. I couldn’t contain myself. I always thought that I would never have friends until I went to this camping trip. It changed my life forever. I went through so much emotions and I felt so left out, but then everything turned around a whole 360 degrees. It was amazing.

Soon after our camping trip happened, I made a trip to Montreal a couple of months later to visit our newly made friends. I remember they all came to see me at my hotel. we were about 15 to 20 people. So we went out to eat and made great and fond memories. Since then I have driven to Montreal countless amounts of times from Toronto. the drive is so awesome and I always have had great memories in Montreal. Not one bad one.

At one point I had about 30 people visit me at my hotel room just to come and see me. I felt this strong sense of belonging. best feeling ever. We all went out with several cars and they all came for me.

I started to become fans of the NHL team there like the Montreal Canadiens, and started to become obsessed and attached. The restaurants, the areas, streets, and all the amazing times and memories all around the city and suburbs. One of my favourite places is the St Joseph’s Oratory which is in Mont-Royal. I always feel at peace there and I feel refreshed. You can see it in various areas around the city and from Laval too from highways and streets.

I always like to visit the Armenian churches there and see the priests and the others I know who work at the community centres. They love it when I come to visit. I have actually surprised people a few times. Its an awesome feeling when they get excited to see me too.

So many of my friends there said, Talin you know more on how to get around Montreal and Laval than we do. My passion grew that much.

In around 2006 to 2009, I had made Facebook friends from Montreal and Laval areas. So, I began to expand my connections in Montreal even further. I met many new friends and know so many people there now. I remember going to Armenian festivals and other gatherings and parties and there were people who recognized me through social media and they stopped to talk to me and say hello. It felt so amazing.

At one point, I wanted to move to Montreal, but the only barrier was that I don’t really understand French that well. I just know the basics, but It is not far from Toronto, so I can go anytime. I still keep in touch with my friends and we never lost that connection. It has almost been 20 years. Its been amazing.

After COVID19 is over with, we plan on having a big reunion and gathering. I can’t wait for that.

My sentimental views of Montreal even became closer to me. I was there a lot more then I was here in Toronto from 2003-2012. Then for a couple of years I couldn’t go visit as much, but then began again in 2015 for events, weddings and Armenian festivals and up to this day.

A lot of people have asked me why I love Highway 401 East and the Autoroute 20 going toward Montreal, its because its not so much the road, its the connection to my friends there and the city, the restaurants and so much more. Well, now you know.

I will always continue to keep driving down and enjoy the whole process of the connections I made. I am so blessed, thankful, and appreciate them all. They will always be in my life and my heart. I love them very much. I can’t wait to spend more time there as soon as the pandemic goes away.