Commentary: Armenian Dream in America?

Leadership and Wealth
We must always admire and respect those among us who have succeeded in amassing wealth, established endowment funds and given generously to good causes without expecting adulation, plaudits and praise. There are others who imagine that by using their generosity and wealth the community owes them a huge debt of gratitude, praise, medals and leadership positions. Some give their gifts with conditions whether the community is in need of what they plan to initiate or need. Unfortunately, there are so many others who have no involvement in Armenian community and their philanthropy is directed elsewhere. This situation hurts, not helps, the community as no real planning or need is involved.

Volunteering
We constantly hear from so many Armenians a helpless query “Why doesn’t somebody do something about things?” These nice people do not bother to explain who this “somebody” might be. Do they have Holy Ghost in mind? What happened to the good old question, “What can I do?” We rely on paid help or “others” to do what we are qualified but not willing to do. There are so many uninvolved among us who continued to give their talents, time and treasure for the good of the community. We are failing miserably in creating the atmosphere to make the uninvolved join us. Our future depends upon our collective efforts to make serving the community a badge of honor. We witness so many good volunteers who have come to the end of their service due to old age, sickness or death and their void remains tragic and sad for the community.

Special Donations
All of us, at one time or another, have had special occasions to celebrate. The long list includes engagements, marriages, baptisms, birthdays, graduations and anniversaries, which we celebrate with family and friends, some in our own homes and others with parties, banquets, in hotels and halls. All these are extremely happy occasions to eat, to drink, to dance, to celebrate and splurge and spend a lot of money for gifts, souvenirs and whatnot. Why is it that we forget to donate on these occasions to causes dear and precious to us? We seek and expect donations in lieu of flowers when a family member dies. Isn’t is just as gratifying to feel good and noble by making special donations to causes the community champions? Why not consider donating on these occasions to the Diocese, the church, AGBU and the Mirror-Spectator, which you are reading presently. These organizations will be grateful to you and the community will be part of your celebration.

I agree it is easy to be critical and produce a more complete list of problems the community has. But when have you heard anyone say “Let us get ready for the best years of our community yet to come?!” When will our leaders sit together to create a long-range plan, a long range of dreams for our community. We have, all of us, effortlessly, quickly, passionately, have become familiar with the “American Dream.” This is very common to all of us.We want prestige, money, comfort and security and continue to become good Americans. It is so unfortunate that we have, unlike our forebears, forgotten that there is also an “Armenian Dream” that sometimes, some people, somewhere dream about and try to make it come true before it is too late.

One of the best things we could do is to revive the Armenian Dream. Talk about it, write about it, discuss about it, debate about it and celebrate it. There is unquestionably a place in our minds and hearts to have, along with the American Dream, an Armenian Dream as well. Not doing this will be our collective, unforgivable, bitter and cursed shame. It is time to just accept our past sins of omission and commission and try to win redemption by reviving this dream and ensure the community’s existence for decades yet to come.

(Nubar Dorian is a resident of Cliffside Park, NJ. He is active in the community, including as a Diocesan Delegate.)