Amen

Published: Saturday November 24, 2007

The Armenia Fund supported the construction of the North-South Highway, referred to as “The Backbone of Karabakh.”.

Across the United States this week, Americans observed Thanksgiving Day in the customary style, observing traditions of both elder (family gatherings, roasted turkeys, prayer) and more recent (football marathons, traffic jams) vintages.

For countless Armenian-Americans, one emerging tradition of the day is to spend it with fellow Armenians from around the world -- via satellite, as it were - through the annual Armenia Fund Telethon. Certainly, part of the attraction of the telethon is the chance to see so much Armenian talent, from established stars to the latest up-and-comers, in live performance. From a production standpoint alone, the telethon is a marvel of technical and creative proficiency, and we tip our hats to the numerous people involved in bringing it to life, and into our living rooms, each year.

But of course, the telethon is more than just a great show. It's an opportunity for each of us to add our individual support to a good cause - no, a great cause; one of the most important causes we can think of: the building up of the free, sovereign, independent Republic of Armenia and Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. It renews our sense of pride in the community to see so many Armenians lending a hand, making contributions, helping to break the fundraising records of past years -- and helping, too, to advance the quality of life in our homeland. As the day itself reminds us, the patriotism of the worldwide Armenian community is truly something for which we should be thankful.

Aside from the feeling of pride it awakens, it is genuinely touching to see such a display of Armenian solidarity, fellow-feeling, and common aspiration for the future. Those qualities play a role in community life every day, surely; but they are writ large each year during the Armenia Fund Telethon. How many other groups can make a similar claim?

As citizens and lovers of America, we all have joined with our countrymen in times of great developments, both heroic and tragic, to unite in a common cause. It is the same for people in other countries, as well. But without in any way slighting these expressions of national solidarity, we want to suggest that sense of purpose uniting all Armenians is of a different order. It is not an occasional development, a response to external circumstance, but something we nurture throughout the year, year in and year out.

At least, that's how "the better angels of our nature" would have it. And on Thanksgiving Day, once again, those angels were hard at work. Amen to that.

Donate to the Armenia Fund In the Western United States, go to www.armeniafund.org 111 North Jackson St, Ste 205, Glendale CA 91206, Tel : 818 243 6222, Fax :818 243 7222, Toll free 1-800-888-8897, E-mail:info@armeniafund.org In the Eastern United States go to www.armeniafundusa.org 80 Maiden La Ste 301, New York, NY 10038, Phone: 212-689-5307, Fax: 212-689-5317, Toll Free: 1-866-446-6237, E-mail:info@armeniafundusa.org