From April 24, 1915-1917 tragedy and injustice struck the Armenian nation as the Ottoman Empire began systematically killing Armenians in what is today known as the Armenian Genocide. Armenian men were massacred or forced to work while women, children, and the elderly were sent on death marches leading to the Syrian Desert. An estimated 1.5 million were killed, villages and churches burned, and countless Armenians forced out of their homeland. Some schools in the United States have textbooks, classes, and even lectures devoted to the genocide yet 101 years later we still don't have the justice we deserve because Turkey continues to deny what is tirelessly proven. In honor and in celebration of each year we've survived and grown to prove to Turkey that we will never fade or give in, I present to you why I'm proud to be Armenian. Whether you're Armenian or not, I encourage you to read this and know that we are still here, still living, still happy, still writing and speaking the language, still carrying on traditions, still growing, still educating, still angry, but most of all we are still unapologetically proud.
1. Our culture
2. Our people
3. Simone Monasebian
Simone currently serves as the United Nations' director of the Office on Drugs and Crime in their New York office. More recently, she was a part of a panel featuring Gillian Anderson discussing human trafficking and Gillian's new film, "SOLD." To find out more about the #TaughtNotTrafficked campaign please visit their website.
4. Charles Aznavour
5. Lamajun
aka "Armenian pizza"
6. Mother Armenia
Because she reminds everyone that we are a nation with strong women.
7. Our alphabet
It's unique and beautiful.
8. Our literature
9. Our language
Like our alphabet, our language is also unique. Plus it comes in handy in elementary school when you trick non-Armenians into thinking that "yes esh-em" means hi.
10. Our churches
Especially Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge, MA which was voted the second most beautiful church in the Boston area according to the Boston.com.
11. Diaspora
Because we're everywhere.
12. Our communities
What are we without each other?
13. Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA)
Our youth are extremely important especially with our diaspora. Our youth groups prove that you don't need to be in Armenia to continue the traditions and the culture. If you're between the ages of 13-21+ and you're not already apart of an ACYOA, I suggest you join. It's a great way to network and make lifelong friends. If you're 18+ consider attending senior's Sports Weekend in Boston, MA this May!
14. Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)
AYF is another great way to meet Armenians. As young adults in the Boston area, we are lucky to have so many Armenian organizations available to us.
15. Nazook
I tried to write a little blurb about this but my mouth started to water and I couldn't focus.
16. Khorovats
17. Lavash
18. Armenian TV Stations/Shows
19. Our rugs
20. Our coffee
21. Our looks
According to the Huffington Post, and the entire country of Armenia, Armenian women are the sexiest women in the world.
22. Yerevan
23. Vartan Mamikonian
24. Krikor Naregatsi
25. Khor Virap
26. Siamanto
Siamanto was an influential Armenian writer and poet who was killed by the Ottoman authorities during the Armenian Genocide but he still remains a national figure.
27. Saint Hripsime
28. Boreg
29. Our apricots
30. Garni
31. Our weddings
32. Our folk songs
33. Our camp programs
If you're from the east coast you're aware of the rivalry between St. Vartan Camp and Hye Camp (SVC is obviously better) but I'm still proud that we have these camps for people of all ages to participate in some way!
34. Our sayings
35. Our writers
“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” — William Saroyan
36. Our landscapes
37. Our folk dances
38. Our children
If you think we're attractive as adults you should see our kids, we're adorable.
39. Our intellect
40. Our crosses
41. Our holidays (like my personal favorite, vartavar)
42. Our family values
43. Our pride and symbolism in pomegranates!
You're the noor of my eye... haha get it?
44. Mt. Ararat (Masis)
45. Being the first Christian nation
46. Badarak
47. Our duduk
48. Our flag
49. Our national anthem, "Mer Hayrenik"
50. Hayr Mer
51. Our independence
52. Lake Sevan
Perfect place to visit on a hot summer day!
53. Our brandy
54. Our art
55. Artsakh
#ArtsakhStrong
56. ...and our soldiers who fight for it
57. Our saints
58. Our accents
59. Our red tuff rock
60. Our quarter in Jerusalem
61. Our names
62. Khachkars
63. System of a Down
64. We fight for what we believe in
65. Our fashion
67. Kev Orkian
68. Our composers
69. We welcome anyone into our family
70. We educate non-Armenians about our people and our history
71. We are hardworking
72. Tata Simonyan
73. Armenian schools
74. Michael Aram
75. Pilaf
76. We continue to wear our pride
If you're looking for awesome Armenian-themed clothing, Ara the Rat has really cool stuff! I personally just ordered the picture above and I'm more excited for this than the end of the semester, which says a lot.
77. Armenian Heritage Park in Boston, MA
If you're ever near Faneuil Hall in Boston, cross the street to visit our memorial to the genocide victims. The abstract sculpture has 24 to 26 different configurations, which symbolize the diaspora and coming together of immigrants from different shores.
78. Harout Pamboukjian
79. We take tavloo seriously
80. Ara Gevorgyan
Especially for blessing us with songs like Artsakh and Sardarapat.
81. Our Diocese
82. “Lost and Found In Armenia”
This is literally the funniest movie about Armenia I've ever seen.
83. Sayat Nova Dance Company
84. Our chess skills
85. The Armenian Genocide Memorial (Tsitsernakaberd)
86. Our ancestors
87. Lovers' Park
88. Swan Lake
Even before Kanye decided to dramatically performe in it last minute.
89. Raymond Vahan Damadian
Yup, that's right, an Armenian gave the world MRI scans.
90. Etchmiadzin Cathedral
91. Armenchik
92. Choereg
93. Armenian Alphabet Monument
94. Weightlifting
Nazik Avdalyan won the European Weightlifting Championship this past week in the women’s 69 kg category. She dedicated the victory to the all Armenian soldiers fighting in Karabakh.
95. Nune Yesayan
96. “Little Armenia” in Los Angeles, CA
97. Our stained glass
98. Tel banir
99. Alex and Ani
Although non-Armenians tend to pronounce "Ani" as "Annie" *eyeroll*.
100. Manti
101. We are survivors
There are a lot more reasons to be proud to be Armenian so if you would like to add your own, feel free to comment below!
