Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

In the aftermath of the mass exodus of my fellow Armenians from Artsakh, I felt like a leaf, vibrant with some color but torn from its tree. Carrying with me the identity of a Syrian Armenian who endured five years of the Syrian Civil War, I sought answers to my childhood questions about the reasons behind wars and their purpose. It compelled me to share my thoughts with you. My intention in writing this piece is not to politicize or reopen old wounds, but rather, it is to share my perspective on a crucial topic that necessitates discussion.

“It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war,” said John F. Kennedy. It is a hard pill to swallow, yet it is a reality that cannot be ignored. But what about how an individual feels? Objectively speaking, wars are not just clashes between two states but also an internal struggle that an individual, a citizen, silently endures, waiting for the day of victory. It is like opening your eyes again after a long, heavy coma. Who knew we were going to witness these days? Or if we predicted, what actions could we have taken to prevent the reality we face now?

Sometimes, I need tranquility. Sometimes, I feel the need just to sit and look at what I have. Wars have been an inevitable part of politics and human life. Yet, we collectively want more, seek more, and cry out for more. But I have noticed that my identity is crying, looking for compassion and care, and I ask myself what I am doing for my identity. It is a deep and thoughtful process to understand the whole meaning of identity because to some it might mean language, to others it means culture. But I think to me it means, “What am I doing today that will help others recognize something similar within themselves?”

I remind myself that it is not just how I describe myself that makes my nation proud but how I secure my identity that will make my nation more stable and irreversible. It takes more than effort, action and determination to protect our identity. Before anything, we are humans, and after that, we are individuals with identities, and ultimately, we are a community and the representatives of a society. Lucky are those who are aware and conscious of their actions to protect their identities.

Besides fighting for what we want, we should also fight for the betterment of ourselves and consequently question and analyze the events happening to us. Understanding what our identities need and demand from us is an ongoing process that requires careful attention and consideration. How I treat my identity profoundly impacts how others perceive themselves in relation to me. It is like we are walking on an empty street with mirrors in our hands. There are a few lessons I taught myself throughout the not-so-favorable but lifelong experiences that I will forever keep in my heart. The first is to always be an active seeker of what my identity needs. This could be self-development, knowledge, more education or more discipline. The other is to know the worth of my identity, to value it and to keep it as high as possible.

Born and raised in Aleppo, Syria, Kyourk Arslanian is currently a sophomore student, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in politics and governance at the American University of Armenia.

Haigazian University is pleased to announce that the first book of Haigazian Armenological Review for the year 2023, namely book 43/1, has been published.

In its 520 pages, alongside the editorial (included below) entitled “What the Diaspora Armenians Lack: The Role and Influence of the Armenian Scholar,” the book hosts a number of research papers pertaining to arts, folklore, literary criticism, church matters, sociology, linguistics and history, as well as an unpublished document, two briefings and two book reviews.

Launched in 1970, the Haigazian Armenological Review is published by the Armenian Department of Haigazian University. As of 2022, this annual publication is being published semiannually.

Haigazian Armenological Review book 43/1 features the following content:

Lusine Sahakyan, Current Issues of Komitas Studies
Robert Megerdichian, Abraham Megerdichian, Eemin shinadz panerus  (The Things I’ve Made)
Antranik Dakessian, A Survey of the Armenian Copper Bath Tass used for Clay
Galya Davidova, Remembering and Reviving Armenian Wedding Ceremonies and Marriage Symbols
Armen Sargsyan, Armenian Popular/Folk Cock-and-bull Stories
Karine Rafaelyan, The Exchanging of Material and Abstract Worlds in Hrachya Saribekyan’s Novels Yergvoryagneri Areve (The Twins’ Sun) and Abushneri Ooghevorutyune (The Idiots’ Journey)
Liza Karimian, Anti-Chalcedonism in Armenia in the Early 6th Century: The Confessional Orientation of the Dvin Council in 506
Samvel Khachatryan, An Examination of the Intersection of Populism and Democracy: The Case of Armenia
Mary Alik Karamanoukian, Diaspora in Armenia: Immigration and Political Integration of Syrian Armenians
Syuzanna Barseghyan, Diaspora Newspapers in the Context of Ethnic Media
Lusine Tanajyan, Some Peculiarities in the Religious Attitude of the Armenian Communities of Los Angeles and Tehran
Herant Katchadourian, Culture and Psychopathology: The Case of the Armenian Village of Anjar
Zaven Messerlian, Consciousness Matters: The Armenian Genocide Within Turkey
Anjela Amirkhanyan, Compound Names of Plants with the Rootword ‘Wolf’
Hagop Cholakian, A General Observation of Plant Names in the Dialect of Kessab
Mohammad MalekMohammadi, Armenian-Arabic Language Contacts and Armenian Words of Arabic Origin
Lalik Khatchatryan, The Transformation of Old Armenian Analytical Constructions into Compound Words with a Pattern Noun+Verb > Verb (Dyachronic Aspect)
Hayk Nazaryan, The Development of the Armenian Air Defence Forces between the May 1994 Armistice and the Military Actions of April 2016  (Part 2)
Seda Galstyan, Pages from the Archive of Anton Kochinyan (1966-74)
Vahram L. Shemmassian, The Saint Paul Capuchin Mission in Musa Dagh, 1919-39
Vazgen Hakhoyan, The Turkish Massacres in the Province of Alexandropol in 1920-21
Karen Mkrtchyan, Raffi’s Historical Articles in Meshag between 1872 and 1878 on the Armenian Community of Iran
Mihran A. Minasian, An Unpublished Report of 1900 on Denek Maden (Kesgin)
Elina Mekhitaryan, The Critical Conditions of the Indigenous Population of Artsakh (An Observation on Refugee and Internally Displaced Groups)
Vahram Hovyan, Interconfessional Cooperation in Kessab during the Years of the Armenian Genocide

***
Editorial

What the Diaspora Armenians Lack: The Role and Influence of the Armenian Scholar

Non-doctrinal thinking, freedom of speech and action are moving forces for the development of any society. The scholar who voices the issues of their society in an objective way and struggles against cautious, conforming, fossilized understandings and mindsets is considered the forerunner of the development of that society.

With outstanding qualities, like critical thinking, courage, rigorous attitude, modesty, independence and broad-mindedness, such scholars commit themselves to the human and national value system and shape social culture through unbiased examinations of diverse issues of life.

In assessing social shortcomings and bygone initiatives of society in an objective and daring manner, the scholar intends to rectify and reduce the shortfalls, balance the disproportions, even to the extent of discomforting society and authorities.

The best evidence of what is said above is the Armenian revival in the 19th century, which had Armenian scholars as its main avant-guard. Emanating from different forums and places, they succeeded in elevating the Armenians from the darkness of the previous centuries.

Indeed, Armenian scholars played a pivotal role in cultivating the 19th century Armenian space. The integration of scholars and capitalists led to the thriving of Armenian culture. Most of the Western Armenian cultivators of this flourishing culture became victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The presence of scholars and a scholarly mindset in the decision-making bodies and leadership of the Diaspora between the 1920s and 1950s was significant. The leadership of the 1950s to the 1980s, which was shaped by the previous generation, maintained the road map of its predecessors to a certain extent. Nonetheless, the gradual decline of the role and place of scholars was also noticeable. 

The marginalization of scholars in the decision-making bodies of the late 20th century was obvious. Scholars lost their weight, role and place in those structures, leading to an imbalance that did not yield the expected steps to be taken against the increasingly challenging conditions of the Diaspora. Indeed, the value system had deteriorated, the national vision was lessened and the strategic output was reduced. 

For these and other reasons the Armenian Diaspora is fumbling in its undertakings to recreate its identity.

This is why the restoration of the role and place of the independent scholar is a must that should not to be postponed any longer. 

In fact, the scholars, grassroots and followers of Armenian Diaspora religious and lay institutions follow a specific guideline of their own. Therefore, these institutions neither separately nor combined can have a pan-Armenian nature, view or space for endeavor. Complementing the leadership of these two institutions with independent scholars may generate a new quality, which may offer a plurality of choices to a society facing numerous concerns. These independent scholars may suggest different approaches to form opinions, thus sanctioning pluralism in national issues and the opportunity to consider various options in taking a stance. This is how democracy, the most important factor for the development of a society, becomes rock-solid.

The problem does not lie in the absence of scholars. Rather, it is the absence of the impact and influence of scholars. It is not an issue of individuals, rather an issue of their high and effective voice. It is not the absence of individual research papers. Rather it is the failure of the acceptance-adoption and implementation of credible calls in shaping views and policies. It is not an issue of quick, superficial internet investigations. It is the issue of acquiring deep and piercing analyses, no matter what their source.

Offering places to scholars, who have a different say in the public sphere, is a basic pathway for generating such a condition. This will encourage the scholarly youth with an ingrained interest to voice their views. Eventually, a healthy atmosphere will come to life in society, which will penetrate to the schools, which should undergo radical educational reform, including critical thinking and free _expression_ as ingredients of the curriculum. This can be the first model of democracy for the scholar of tomorrow, who gets training in free _expression_ and listening to the other from his teens.

In due time these steps consolidate the culture of independent thinking, which revitalizes society for a better future.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Antranik Dakessian

EDITORIAL BOARD
Silva Papazian, Arshalouyse Topalian, Armen Urneshlian

CONSULTATIVE BODY
Sylvia Agemian, Megerditch H. Bouldoukian, Seta Dadoyan, Arda Ekmekji, Murad Hasratian, Nanor Karageozian, Hranush Kharatian, Susan Pattie, Hratch Tchilingirian, Yervand Yerkanian

HAR REPRESENTATIVE IN ARMENIA
AMAA Yerevan Office

Join Armenian American musicians for a night in support of Artsakh refugees. Co-sponsored by the Zoravik Activist Collective, “The Mountains Remember: Benefit Concert for Artsakh Refugees” will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 8 p.m. at the Square Root in Roslindale, Massachusetts. 

The benefit concert will feature John Baboian (jazz guitar), Raffi Semerdjian (folk art guitar), Yalla Hilda (guitar – Laura Zarougian, drums – Michael Alan Hams), Armadi Tsayn Duo (oud – Samuel Sjostedt, upright bass – Filippo Goller) and The Tony Donatalle Jazz Quartet (details TBD).

Weaving a thread between traditional folk songs, electric jazz, twangy songwriting and loop pedals, these artists gather inspiration from their ancestral homeland while exploring new, universal sounds. The evening will showcase five artists who are broadening our definition of what it means to make Armenian music.

On Sept 19, after a nine-month blockade, Azerbaijan attacked the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh. Over 100,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands. Proceeds from the show will be donated to Tufenkian Artsakh Refugee Relief, which is providing housing, education and mental health support for the refugees.

Guitarist, composer and educator John Baboian has been on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1980. Although best known for his work in the jazz and swing idioms, Baboian has performed in the classical, blues, rock, R&B, Latin and world music genres. 

Raffi Semerdjian is a multimedia artist whose primary mediums are paint and poetry. Weaving imagery into lyrics, his longtime musical project, “Palm of Granite,” has cradled Semerdjian’s songwriting craft between his hometown of Los Angeles and his homeland of Armenia. 

Yalla Hilda is a musical duo comprised of Armenian Cowgirl Laura Zarougian and her jazz-rocker husband, Michael Alan Hams. Together, they blend voices and songs into an eclectic experience, brimming with worldly rhythms and ideas.

Armadi Tsayn is a contemporary folk ensemble led by Samuel Sjostedt and Alek Surenian. The Boston-based group explores the melodies of Western Armenian and blends them with a touch of modernity. 

The benefit concert will be held at the Square Root, 2 Corinth St., Roslindale, Massachusetts, 02131. Admission is $20 at the door, $10 for students.