Analysis by Taleen El Gharib, Staff Writer

September 14th, 2020

“The eyes of Armenians speak long before their lips move and long after they cease to.” — Arshile Gorky, Armenian-American painter.

3,500-year-old Armenia is one of the oldest countries in the world. It may appear that Armenia is one of the less significant nations in Southwest Asia with an already minuscule population and minimal land area, but the annals of this great country stretch back as far as the Romans. Their story includes a multitude of chapters that extend far beyond its borders as a country, reaching Singapore, Moscow, Cairo, Paris and Beirut. Considering the historical turmoil endured by Armenia, it is truly a miracle that this country and its people persist today. 

April 24th, 1915 marks the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide—over a century year old tragedy that left many Armenians desperately foraging for refuge all over the world.

The historical narrative

In the 15th century, Armenia fell into the hands of the Ottoman Empire, which subjected Armenians to unjust treatment. Between 1894 and 1896, Turkish Sultan, Abdul Hamid II, declared a state-sanctioned pogrom (an organised massacre of a particular ethnic group). Later on in 1908, a new government led by a group of reformers called “Young Turks” was established after overthrowing Sultan Abdul Hamid; the government deemed Armenians a threat to their ultimate goal to “Turkify” the Ottoman Empire. When World War I began, Armenians fought alongside Russia against the Turks, who sided with Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

On April 24, 1915, the Turkish government arrested, executed and sent Armenians on death marches through the Mesopotamian desert without food or water, among other treacheries that resulted in the death of an estimated 800,000 to 1.2 million Armenians in that same year. By the end of the genocide, less than 400,000 Armenians remained in the Ottoman Empire. To this day, the 24th of April commemorates the fallen innocent lives, the hardships, the tragedies; it is a day of recognition and condemnation of the Genocide.

Armenians in Lebanon

Armenian culture extends far beyond its geographic borders, as the largest Armenian communities reside in Russia, USA and France. Lebanon happens to be among the many other countries accommodating much smaller Armenian communities. Only around 156,000 out the 8 million Armenian diaspora reside in Lebanon, just 4% of the Lebanese population. And despite being a minority group, their culture still flourishes. The red, blue and orange stripes of the Armenian flag beautifully decorate the balconies in Bourj Hammoud, the little Armenia in the heart of Beirut. 

Little Armenia lies in a densely populated community in the suburbs of Beirut, squeezed right between the Beirut river and foothills of Mount Lebanon. The cultural cradle prospers as the most densely populated neighbourhood in the Middle East.

The city is most famous for the lively Armenian culture in its restaurants, crafts and local shops. In an interview with The Phoenix Daily, Bourj Hammoud resident, Hrag Kojaoghlanian (45), talked about the birth of Little Armenia. “After the genocide, survivors walked from Armenia to Syria. Some settled and others left to settle in Lebanon. Initially, people thought that settlers wanted to create an enclosed, fanatic community, but we somewhat adapted to the Lebanese society while withholding our roots. We created a Lebanese-Armenian unity.”

“Lebanon’s sectarianism has led to division, it has become unconscious to refer to us as ‘Armenians’ instead of just Lebanese, despite the fact that many have been born and raised in Lebanon and have acquired the nationality. Why should we be referred to as a sect?”

The yearning to walk the streets of their own nation, free from the current neighbouring aggressions, exists in the hearts of all Lebanese-Armenians. Hrag Kojaoghlanian said, “We all wish to return. We all wish to see our nation prospering. But we have passionately contributed so much to Lebanon economically, agriculturally and industrially, and it is our home away from home.”

The resettlement of Armenians in Lebanon was very fortunate, as it coincided with the great famine that struck Mount Lebanon between 1915 and 1918. Little Armenia contributed greatly and constituted an essential component of the people of Lebanon.

The new generation of Armenians withhold the scars of those before them, but continue to prove their resilience and passion for their roots. TV and Film student at the Lebanese American University, Jad Panjerian (19), told The Phoenix Daily about his struggles and ongoing fight for recognition. “I have gone through many indirect racist encounters for being Armenian,” he explained. “After Al Jadeed’s Neshan [Der-Haroutiounian]’s comments on Erdogan went live, that was when I was directly ‘called out’ for my identity.”

“Human is my identity, nationality and religion are just labels to divide us even more from each other. My major being TV and Film provides me with an outlet to deliver a message about who I am. I will not let go of my heritage.”

When it comes to using their art as a means to convey the story that Lebanese-Armenians have long wanted to tell, world famous pianist, Guy Manoukian, spoke exclusively to The Phoenix Daily about his journey as an artist. “My identity has given me a huge boost and a lot of material, both my Lebanese and Armenian identities. The Lebanese part is also very important.”

“As someone with a large platform, I have used it many times to shed light on the Lebanese-Armenian narrative,” and with a huge following, as well as international recognition as a musician, Guy Manoukian has pledged himself to represent his roots. “As an artist, the message I am trying to convey through my music to my Lebanese-Armenian brothers and sisters is to be proud of our history and our nationality wherever we are in the world. We need to be an asset and a positive force, and that is what we have been for years now in Lebanon.”

The Lebanese Parliament recognised the Armenian Genocide in May 2000. On July 23rd, several members of the Lebanese Parliament signed a resolution, calling for legislation that declares April 24 a national day commemorating the genocide.

Despite the century-long atrocities that the people of Armenia have endured and the Ottoman Empire’s attempt to exterminate the nation and its people, Armenians have changed what it truly means to be Armenian through their growing worldwide unity and flourishing culture. The ongoing pressures and aggressions against Armenians all over the world cannot and will not erase the warriors that exist within their hearts. However, it is our duty to commemorate the genocide, for silence is a crime. 

References:

History.com Editors. (2010, October 01). Armenian Genocide. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/armenian-genocide

Touring Bourj Hammoud and experiencing the Armenian culture by Salma Yassine and Sandra Abdelbaki. (2019, August 08). Retrieved from https://en.annahar.com/article/1007702-touring-bourj-hammoud-and-experiencing-the-armenian-culture

MassisPost. (2020, July 23). Lebanese MPs Propose April 24 be Designated a National Day to Commemorate Genocides. Retrieved from https://massispost.com/2020/07/lebanese-mps-propose-april-24-be-designated-a-national-day-to-commemorate-genocides/

Forget-Me-Not: A symbol of Genocide Centennial making its way into Armenians' life - Genocide. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.armenianow.com/genocide/60808/armenia_forgetmenot_symbol_genocide_centennial