After six centuries of total Ottoman domination and massacres, followed by seventy years 
of Communist subjugation, the surviving fragment of Armenia finds herself on the bring 
of independent statehood.  They have even reinstated the Tri-Colors as the national 
symbol.  This has all come about through the miraculous fortitude and dedication of her 
nationalistically spirited leadership.  The Diaspora politicals had nothing to do with it.


The Tashnags have been using the term, "free and independent Armenia," for the last 
seventy years, but they didn’t go beyond the point of talking about it.  Judging by the way 
things are turning out, all of those who have been supporting this factions, may have to 
acknowledge that they have been supporting nothing but rhetoric.


On the other side of the coin we have the Rhamgavar politicals who had accepted the 
status quo of Communist domination.  They had no goals or objectives other than to be 
supportive of Soviet Armenia and against the Tashnags, who weren’t.  After seventy 
years of controversial political confrontation which, to this day, has kept our Diaspora 
communities divided, both Tashnags and Rhamgavars find themselves on the outside 
looking in.


For the first time in seven-hundred years, Armenians may have something they can all be 
proud of.  We must find the ways and means to support this new infant State of Armenia 
and her new non-Communist government under the leadership of newly elected President 
Leven Ter-Petrosyan.  If our Diaspora politcals have a fraction of the dedication that 
they’ve been claiming to have had over the last seventy years, now’s the time to show it.  
If our Armenian churches are truly one, now’s the time to show it.  If we, as a people, are 
proud of who we are, now’s the time to show it.


Let’s start by dissolving all of our tired political factions and regroup under one 
democratic Diaspora alliance with the united church and as one united people.  With this 
kind of support from the Diaspora, Armenia will have a much better chance of surviving 
the future.  As far as I’m concerned, this opportunity may be the only gift God gives us as 
Armenians, but we must keep in mind that, "God helps those that help themselves."   


Joseph Vosbikian