BY MARIA TITIZIAN
For his daughter’s birthday, my friend Harut wished for her the following, which he wrote on his Facebook page: “Ophelia dear, my daughter, I am grateful to God that you exist. For you, my miracle, I wish happiness. I am sure that you will not stay there; I know that you are coming back because this is your country. Bad or good, it is yours. If it is bad, then I am to blame; you have to fix, correct, and clean all those problems, with which our country is surrounded. I know what I’m saying is difficult but I also know that you and your generation will be able to do it. They say miracles don’t exist. That’s a lie, don’t believe it. Miracles do exist. You are living proof of it. I love you and miss you…”
This was a simple yet moving wish from a father to a daughter who is far away from him, on the other side of the Atlantic, studying in order to return and apply her knowledge and experience to her homeland. That is Harut’s wish and I’m sure Ophelia’s as well. However there are many parents whose children are studying abroad, who silently wonder whether their children will return. Many don’t.
The day Harut posted this message I had met with a European delegation that was in Armenia ahead of the presidential elections on a fact-finding mission, I took part in a protest, I walked from one end of the city center to the other running errands and later on in the evening went out to dinner with family visiting from abroad. A pretty typical day. But after talking about the lack of democracy and the abundance of corruption and injustice in the country with the Europeans, after looking into the eyes of the disappointed and disillusioned youth at the protest, after seeing the tired and downtrodden expressions on people’s faces on my walk, I wanted to know what the hell had happened to my country. The country I had yearned for, the country I had seen in my dreams, the one I claimed and the one I felt I had lost. A jarring statement by someone who had repatriated to Armenia eight years ago kept playing in my head: “By coming to Armenia, I lost my homeland.” It was a devastating statement. It had paralyzed me. Could there be truth in those words? Had I too lost my homeland by coming to Armenia?
After reading Harut’s post, I realized that I had not lost my homeland. It is here, beneath my feet. It is the warm autumn breeze. It is the tree-lined boulevards and quaint corners of the city. It is the land that slumbers in the shadow of majestic Ararat. It is the breathtaking countryside. It is the laborer, the farmer, the teacher, the student and pensioner. I can see its reflection in the eyes of my children who have grown up with her. It is the land that accepted us and continues to reveal its many treasures and potential opportunities. My homeland is not lost, no, it has been hijacked. And I am determined to get it back.
Those who have hijacked our homeland are the ones who will have to answer to all of those parents whose children have left, never to return. Those who have hijacked our homeland will be held accountable for the hayatapum of this country by future generations of Armenians. And for all of us, the silent, brooding majority, we need to straighten our backs and set into motion the steps that need to be taken to ensure that 2.8 million people lead a dignified life; where more won’t leave and where more of us want to come.
Harut’s wish for his daughter is merely that – the gift of belief for a promise of return.
thank you, Maria.
Very much touched.
A.M.
Dear Maria
Your writings should be inspiration to all of us. Please keep on writing and sharing your thoughts with us.
Regards
Azniv
A chilling and beautifully written reflection.
Maria jan, that’s all that’s missing — the hope and the belief. To you and Harut, Thanx.
The problem is , we need to change this situation. We all know what is going on in our homeland, but no one is doing the right thing, except few activist and people like you. As a whole nation, we need to wake up and do whatever has to be done. We need very wise leaders and real patriots, who are not there for there pockets. As a ARF member, you have to work hard with your party members and educate our society, and be more active in our country. Let us know how we can help, or do anything in this manner. Thanks.
This is great writing Maria. Thank you so much for making this a recurring event. We need to hear the voices of wo-men like you. We need to speak out. We must stand for ‘something’ in order to not fall for anything.
Indeed our Homeland has been hijacked. And we need a rescue squad to get it back to its rightful owners: the future generations. Thank you.
Thank you so much Maria! Touched the depth of my soul.
Mrs. Titizian:
Very touching and very true indeed, and so beautifully narrated.
I have the deepest admiration for your decision to move from Canada, here, with your family. You are still one of the people who have and will continue to inspire me. But…
While your discourse is emotional and energizing, I am not sure you have cornered the true underlying cause for the demographic haemohorrage we suffer from. Nor do you propose a solution. Attacking presumed hijackers and windmills will not resolve our fundamental problems. Other, greedier hijackers, will take their place. Unless, unless you are prepared to run for office and surround yourself with sound economic advisers.
Respectfully
Antoine Terjanian, Yeghegnadzor
Very moving……the youth are Armenia’s best natural resource, and must be protected and encouraged; we must all treasure and encourage them in any way we can…..
Dear Maria
It is you and the “special breed of people” like you who give us hope and help us not to lose sight of the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, we will NEVER give up hope, we shall regain our country which as you aptly put it- has been” hijacked” by the enemy within. God bless you and keep you and your family safe and strong.
One day, I shall see you in office. Baghramyan 26 is waiting for you!
Փետրուարի ընտրութիւններուն յարմարագոյն անձը կրնաք ըլլալ. նետուեցէք առաջ սիրելի Մարիա: Ձեզ սիրողները միայն եթէ քուէարկեն՝ նոր արժէչափ մը, նոր տեսլական մը կը ստեղծուի: Համախմբեցէք Ձեր շուրջ համախոհներ, իրա՛ւ հայրենասէրներու հոյլ մը որոնք անպայման կրնաք գտնել Դաշնակցական երիտասարդներու մօտ: Ընտրեցէք հայրենի ժողովուրդը սիրողներ, անոնցէ որոնք գիտեն նուիրումի վեհ արարումը, ընտրեցէք պարզ բայց հիմնական, անաչար, պայքարողներ: Անպայման կը յաջողիք: Պ.Ա.