We Armenians are a proud old race of people.  We’ve been around for thousands of  
years.   To have survived our history to this point in time is a miracle in itself.  Living 
here  in the United Sates of America, we are part of a nation whose government derives 
its just  powers from the consent of its people.   


This concept of freedom and the dignity of the individual has not only made this young 
nation the greatest in the world, but it affords its people (Armenians included) the 
opportunity to reach their highest potential.   We have the best of two worlds to draw 
from, but instead of both of our worlds being  healthy, one is always sick.  The reason for 
this, I believe, is because we’ve kept our two  worlds separate.  


As Americans, we’re alive, we have incentives, we’re happy, we’re optimistic, and we’re 
involved.  


As Armenians, we’re tired, pessimistic, suspicious, and in constant conflict with each 
other.


As Americans, we have importance, we are a part of the governing influence and we have 
a ‘piece of the action.’


As Armenians, we’re dominated, confused, disoriented.  


We are subservient, ill-informed, and little or no future to look forward to.  It seems to me 
that if we want to pump some life into our old Armenian carcasses, we must strive for the 
same freedom of spirit and involvement that America has given us.  This old side of us 
needs a lot of maintenance; we need some new ideas and fresh attitudes.  We could start 
by trying to get our churches and people back together again.  We have plenty of common 
cause and common purpose to justify this.  As for our religious and political ‘throwbacks’ 
who tirelessly cultivate disunity between us, they are in the minority.  We, believe it or 
not, the apathetic, easygoing, silent supporters -- we are the majority.  This is no longer a 
question of who’s right or who’s wrong; it is a question of survival.  If we want our 
culture and heritage to survive tomorrow, we must get involved today.  The time has 
come for all of us standing on the sidelines watching, to get into the game.  


I’d like to get a movement started towards getting our churches united.  We can do this if 
enough of us get involved in the process.   God knows we don’t need anymore 
organizations; we already have more than we can handle.  As your children how they feel 
and listen to them.  That’s what this whole thing is all about.  We’ve got a lot to look 
forward to if we can stop looking back.  It’s input time!



Joseph Vosbikian