United Young Armenians Review 2010

6 comments

1. Congrats!

   But why have we on the East Coast not heard of your fine organization, the UYA, before?

   Are you planning on expanding to the East Coast?

   I hope so because the AYF is not doing as good a job in terms of grassroots political activism as one might expect. Nor are others.  I see virtually no youth from the Armenian Assembly "side" being politically active.

2. Extremamente gratificante

   Extremamente gratificante deparar com esse relato das atividades desses jovens armênios da UYA. Quando se sabe que é uma grande preocupação, que aflige toda Diáspora, a continuidade da identificação das novas gerações com a Armenidade, esta manifestação da UYA constitui uma enorme esperança, especialmente para nós, idosos armênios, filhos dos refugiados do Genocídio. É bom saber que a chama continua acesa ! Eis um grande exemplo para os jovens !

3. Re Questions

   First, let us thank Keghart.com for posting the article.

   Second, we are thankful for the kind words. We are always open to expansion and the creation of chapters across the globe. Currently, we are working on creating a chapter in Armenia. However, we welcome any initiative to open a UYA chapter in the East Coast, or any other part of the world.

   As stated in the article, we are independent of political party/church/groups so anyone can participate in such an expansion, if they adhere to the ideals which we pursue.

   Those ideals can be found on our site. We can be contacted via our website contact page.

   Thanks again for the kind words and interest. We are truly proud to serve the Armenian Nation.

   Unified Young Armenians

   "For the Sake of the Past… For the Sake of the Future…"

4. UYA in a decade

   Aroutin Hartounian, the President of UYA, reminds me of the fine young man who appeared on the late George Apelian’s hourly TV program in Glendale some two years ago. That young man then invited George Apelian, to be the main speaker of the gathering of Armenian youth to commemorate April 24, I think in Hollywood.

   The late George Apelian headed then an independent Armenian organization called Bashdban Haireniatz (Protectors of Fatherland).

   Aroutin may very well have been that very same person who appeared on that program, and the Unified Young Armenian organization may very well have been the youth organization that commemorated April 24 and invited George to be the speaker of the commemoration.

   Regretfully George Apelian passed away prematurely, so did the independent organization he headed, Bashdband Haireniatz.

   I often wonder what is really meant when an Armenian organization calls itself “independent” and in doing so distances itself from Armenian organizations that have been tested over and over again for many decades, such as ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) and its affiliated AYF (Armenian Youth Federation); AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union) and its affiliated Young Professionals, ARS (Armenian Relief Society), Hamazcain, etc. These organizations were “independent” organizations in their own time.

   I wonder where will the Unified Young Armenians be in a decade when their current founding members will not be that young for the upcoming youth in this fast changing culture. Will this current UYA leadership, as adults, continue to be in the organization labeled for the youth? Will there come about an "independent" Unified Adult Armenian organization?

   Obviously I am not discouraging the youth to organize themselves. However, I rather have them revitalize the time tested Armenian organizations rather then distance themselves from them. These time-tested organizations are not carved in stone. Their membership shapes the organization. It cannot be otherwise.

   The so-called current “independent” organization will not be looked that “independent” over time. After a decade maybe, they will be viewed as set in their own ways with their leadership now labeled traditional set in its own ways and clinging to “power”. The perpetual search for the ideal “independent” organization will continue.

   I wish UYA much luck. But I rather have their youthful enthusiasm channeled into revitalizing and shaping our time tested organizations and their affiliates. They have done so much good in perpetuating our cause, culture, history, faith.

5. Please clearify your point

   Dear Hannes,

   While I am trying to understand your point, it is very difficult to grasp what you are trying to say.

   Please clearify your point.

   I’ve known the group over one decade and they’ve carried their weight without pandering to any political party or group. This doesn’t mean they don’t cooperate with others. On protocols they worked with the 3 political parties, during the march they invited Sassounian & Abelian, both churches, 3 political parties, etc.

   Again maybe I’m not understanding your point, but when they say "independent" they always have referred to not taking orders from other groups, be it the Armenian Government, the Opposition, the parties, the churches, etc. But when it comes to working with all of them, they never kept anyone out.

   They have passed on the torch in 2007, and they didn’t become the "Unified Adult Armenians." I don’t know what your standard of "Adult" is but on Kach Nazar show, the author said he is 23 or 24.

   So a clearification will be appreciated.

   Razmik M.

6. Job well done

   I join others congratulating UYA. I am not acquainted with any of the leadership. Based on the article/report, the veracity of which I don’t doubt, I have nothing else to add except words of praise.

   The hardest job in our Diaspora reality is to motivate the young whether on a personal level or through existing traditional organizations. Anybody involved in community affairs knows this all too well. Certainly UYA has succeeded in what others have had sometimes unsurmountable difficulties for a variety of reasons.

   It does not matter what colour UYA chooses (or does not) for as long as it can energize the youth and that ultimately will count for our existence away from the motherland.

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