By: Christine Feghali

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a blog entitled “Dreaming With a Broken Heart” (http://ancawr.org/2012/07/26/dreaming-with-a-broken-heart/) and the response it got was truly spectacular.  I didn’t think that so many people would read it and voice their opinions, but I am so glad that they did.  These topics need to be addressed in our everyday dialogue so that when the time comes, we can efficiently and confidently conquer any challenge that is thrown our way.

I was hesitant to post the blog because I felt that it might be offensive to some.  After having a few people review it prior to posting, I felt more comfortable with the diction and content and decided to publish the blog.  After more and more people read it and commented on it, I realized that the blog might not have been as innocuous as I thought.  If you haven’t read it yet, it’s about the challenges we will face when Western Armenia is justly returned to us, namely the Kurdish population and repatriation.

The article offended some readers while others were very supportive of what I had to say.  All of the commentary and discussion about the blog made me think even more about what I had written.  I realize that some of you were offended or made uncomfortable, but I will not apologize for what I wrote and the topics I discussed.

I would, however, like to take this opportunity to clarify some points that may have been misconstrued.

Many people seem to think that we could live happily side by side with the Kurds and that the Kurds will end their quest for an independent Kurdistan.  I acknowledge the fact that the Kurds are fighting against an oppressive regime in Turkey and that we are hopeful that a new Armenian establishment would be less oppressive and more tolerant of other cultures and customs.  This does not mean that the Kurds will stop fighting.  Kurds don’t want to have an identity that is part of a foreign ethnicity, particularly when their population greatly outnumbers the number of Armenians that are in Armenia!

Some readers felt I focused too much on the repopulation of our lands.  I stated  “we have lost too many Armenians through assimilation to fully repopulate Armenia if the lands are returned.”  I admit that this comment is vague and needs clarification.  I should have clarified what I meant by “fully repopulating”.  We need enough people in Armenia to make our country function properly and prosperously.  I did not mean to imply that our struggle to regain our lands is fruitless unless we have people willing to repatriate.  The right and just return of Western Armenia is of utmost importance and a goal that we should continue to strive fore.

The challenges I raised in the previous blog were not to discourage us from continuing our mission.  Rather it was an opportunity to bring to light topics that are usually left out of conversation because they make us uncomfortable.  I encourage further discussion about these topics.  The more we talk about these challenges and the more we educate one another, the more prepared we are when the time comes to face these challenges.

“He who fails to plan is planning to fail.”

– Winston Churchill