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Los Angeles Times Valley Edition | Glendale News-Press | 2005 December 3
On the question of pride
BY PATRICK AZADIAN
A couple of weeks ago I was on Larry Zarian's TV show, where we discussed a variety of topics ranging from assimilation to domestic violence. At the end of the show, a viewer asked whether I was proud to be Armenian.
The question could have as easily been about being American. Either way, my response would've been an instinctive "Yes!"
After the show, I felt a bit irritated with myself. I don't know if readers share my sentiment, but it seems answers to many questions become more complicated as we get older. Fortunately, I have the luxury of writing a column. If I'm not able to give a satisfactory answer, I get a second chance.
Take the simple inquiry "Are you proud of being Armenian?" As I left the studio that night, I struggled with the question of whether the viewer and I shared the same meaning of pride.
I consulted the dictionary and found quite a few definitions on the noun.
"A haughty attitude shown by people who believe, often unjustifiably, that they are better than others." In addition to all the obvious problems with this take on pride, such a vision can lead to further complications. Haughty attitudes can also mean a rejection of the challenges faced in one's own community.
I wouldn't be too surprised if this is one of the main reasons why the vast majority of Turks are so adamant on denying the atrocities committed by their forefathers against Armenians, just as many Armenians are so stuck on wanting to believe that no social ills exist within their community. If we are so perfect, then there is no room for improvement. Such an ethnocentric attitude can transform the idea of "my country, right or wrong" into "my country is always right."
The latter is not my idea of pride.
There were also other definitions of pride: "The correct level of respect for the importance and value of your personal character, efforts, or achievements. The satisfied feeling somebody experiences when having or achieving something special that other people admire. Something that somebody feels especially pleased to have achieved."
The three definitions posed some complications, as well. The explanations were intended for the individual and not an entire group of people. If one substitutes national or ethnic with the individual, then matters get even more complex.
Here's an example. As an Armenian or an American, can I take pride in the achievements of the American-Armenian artist Arshile Gorky when I had absolutely nothing to do with his work? Or is it relevant for me to remind all blackjack dealers in Vegas (with a glow on my face) that Kirk Krikorian is Armenian?
It would strike me as a case of jumping on the bandwagon, if I were to feel proud by association because of their ethnic makeup.
Moreover, it is hard to imagine how one can be proud of being American, for example, if one is not aware of all the American contributions to humanity in the fields of science, medicine, music, civil rights, contemporary art, sports and the humanities. Can one be proud of being Armenian, if the understanding of the culture and history does not extend beyond the "they tried to kill us syndrome?" One can be, but that wouldn't be my definition of pride.
Pride, on a national or ethnic level is more of an appreciation and understanding of one's own history and culture. It is about the knowledge of what we as a people have brought to the table of civilization. Furthermore, it is also about a desire to append those unique contributions, and commit to the perseverance of "our" way of life simply because it has its rightful place in the colorful quilt of humanity.
Lastly, are appreciation and knowledge the only ingredients of national or ethnic pride? Probably not.
I may be aware of the Italian contributions to civilization, but no degree of admiration is enough to give me a feeling of pride about being Italian, because I'm not Italian.
Which bring us to the last, and most curious definition of pride: "A group of lions, typically consisting of a dozen related adult females, their cubs and juveniles, and one to six adult males."
Pride is also about a feeling, an idea of belongingness and identifying with one or more groups of peoples.
As human beings we are social animals, we need each other to survive. Sometimes we need each other more than we need things to make sense. We do things as groups that we would never do individually. And despite all the modern claims to the contrary, we need to have the feeling of belonging to something, whether it's the family, community, or a people. And that something or somewhere is often what is familiar and true to our roots and core value system.
Copyright 2005 Glendale News Press
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