What Makes Us Armenian?
By Aram Suren Hamparian on May 28th, 2009 and filed under Commentary,
Featured Story, Opinion.

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Armenians in Yerevan marking April 24. Photo by Arsineh Khachikian
Easy question; tough answer.
Language, land, family, faith, and culture for sure. These are, no
doubt, vital elements of our identity.
Without question, our rich heritage and proud 4,000 year legacy – in
all their diversity – play a role in shaping who we are today as
Armenians.
But, in an even more powerful sense, we are bound to our identity –
and ultimately to each other – not simply by what we have inherited,
but rather by that which we give of ourselves to our nation, our
cause,
and our common future.
Ultimately, being Armenian is more about giving, and less about
getting.
Less about expectations and entitlements, and more about taking
responsibility for our shared destiny.
Being Armenian, to put an even sharper point on it, is about
understanding
that service and sacrifice – old-fashioned virtues by today=80=99s
standards – in fact represent the cost of our continued existence
among the family of nations.
That giving – of our time, toil, and treasure – is not an option, but
the price of our survival.
But giving is not just a one-way street.
Through our generosity we nourish ourselves, take pride in our
accomplishments, inspire those around us, and reaffirm the core of our
identity as true stakeholders in the Armenian Cause.
Now of course, there are Armenians who live their entire lives –
perhaps otherwise fulfilling lives – without lifting a finger for
their nation or their fellow countrymen, but they are, as you can
surely attest, missing out on the most powerful and rewarding part of
their Armenian identity.
The simple fact is that by giving, we get.
We reinforce who we are by bearing the burden and blessing of our
generation to leave a better future for those who follow.
This was true at Avarayr, at Sardarabad, at Shushi, and it’s true
today.
The battlefields are different, but the stakes are just as high.
Our struggles today are vital to Armenia’s future: justice for the
crime of Genocide committed against the Armenian nation, the
strengthening
of the Republic of Armenia, the defense of Nagorno Karabagh, the
survival of the Armenian population of Javakhk, and – of course – the
growth in the power of the Armenian Diaspora.
These are all crucial to our future, and all require strong, visionary
leadership that understands that among the most powerful resources in
the world today for Armenia is a strong, engaged, and motivated
Armenian American community.
The ANCA Endowment Fund provides this leadership.
Principled, hard-working, and effective leadership that our community
richly deserves and that Armenia urgently needs at this pivotal moment
in the history of our proud nation.
Watch the ANCA Endowment Fund Telethon May 31st.