“I don’t write in Armenian but I look at the world in Armenian…” I think everyone knows these words by well-known Armenian American prose writer William Saroyan, who was born in Fresno and introduced the world to Armenia and Armenians…

It’s interesting to know how the Armenians born and living in Fresno look at the world today. How has it changed? Where do they look? These are questions that “Hayern Aysor”’s correspondent tried to find the answers to during an interview with representatives of the Armenian community of Fresno, Berge Abgarian and Vrej Vasilian.

Let’s start with Berge Abgarian, who was born in Aleppo, but has been living in the USA for the past 35 years.

Berge Abgarian: There are nearly 50,000 Armenians living in Fresno. The Armenian community of Fresno is one of the oldest Armenian American communities. The Armenians moved to Fresno in the 1880s. The Armenians of Fresno today are the Armenians of the third and fourth generations and are mainly English-speaking Armenians. True, they have the spirit of Armenians, but that spirit is slowly fading away. The reason for that is because they lack knowledge of the language, and there is a need to strengthen the bonds between Armenia and the Diaspora in order to keep the spirit alive.

The Armenians who moved to America in the past faced quite a lot of problems and experienced many difficulties. That’s why most of them changed their last names. For instance, the Petrosyans became Peter, the Tufenkians became Caners, etc.

However, it gives me pleasure to say that today the Armenian community of Fresno can take pride in the fact that Armenians have their place in construction, agriculture, medicine, economics and other spheres. There aren’t many Armenian-speaking Armenians, but it’s an honor to have an Armenian name in Fresno today.

“Hayern Aysor”: It suffices to recall the name William Saroyan.

Berge Abgarian: It’s not just William Saroyan. There are also many well-known Armenian families like the Parnakians, the Hovhannisians, the Srapians, the Kashians, the Tufenkians, the Petrosians and others who are very worthy, popular and important within the community.

“Hayern Aysor”: Does the Armenian community of Fresno have a structure or organization?

B. A.: The community has different benevolent unions and charitable organizations, including the AGBU, Homenetmen, Hamazkayin, Tekeyan, Vardanants and more, as well as political parties that carry out activities within the scope of their powers.

That’s the reason why we want to open an honorary consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Fresno. With that we’ll stand more united under the Armenian national flag, collaborate more and reinforce the relations between the Homeland and the Diaspora. One of our key objectives is to take different measures to help our compatriots.

The consulate will play an important role in consolidating the community, making the Armenians of the community work together and further strengthen the bond with the homeland.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mr. Abgarian, you mentioned that only the spirit of the community is Armenian. What is the main reason why the community is not an Armenian-speaking community?

B. A.: There are different organizations that work with the youth. There is also a Chair of Armenian Studies at the University of Fresno. However, this is not enough. During our meeting with Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, we talked about different activities to restore the community and support our homeland with the spirit of patriotism and through activities aimed at preserving the Armenian identity.

Vache Vasilian joined the conversation. Vasilian is a doctor and graduated from Yerevan State Medical University in 1988. He is Lebanese-Armenian, but has been living in Fresno for the past six years.

Vache Vasilian: As Mr. Abgarian mentioned, the Armenian community of Fresno is the oldest Armenian community of America. Not only William Saroyan, but also the most remarkable leader of the Hayduks, General (Zoravar) Andranik lived in Fresno, and we’ll be marking his 150^th birthday in October. Our great hero Soghomon Tehleryan is buried in Fresno. We often take the youth to his tomb so that they can be inspired.

Asbarez, which is the first Armenian daily in America and is still published, was first published in Fresno. Nor Or newspaper was also released in Fresno. The Prelacy of the U.S. Western Diocese used to be located in Fresno.

Unfortunately, there is only one Armenian school in Fresno with nearly 100 students and up to the 6^th grade. We do everything we can to help the school, enroll more students and enhance the students’ knowledge of the Armenian language.

The Armenian community of Fresno is an old community, but unfortunately, the picture today is saddening. Yes, there are 40-50,000 Armenians living in Fresno, but if we be realistic, there might only be 4-5,000 Armenians.

“Hayern Aysor”: What is the main reason?

Vache Vasilian: They live in America and are far away from the homeland…

“Hayern Aysor”: Perhaps it would be wrong to compare, but even though you weren’t born and raised in the homeland, you speak Armenian fluently.

V. V.: I learned Armenian in school, at home and in many clubs. Unfortunately, there aren’t many clubs in Fresno as there are in Beirut, Aleppo or Jordan.

When we met with Minister Hranush Hakobyan, she gave us good ideas. We participated in the opening ceremony of the “Ari Tun” Program, and now we’ll try to find children in Fresno who will be able to visit the homeland through this program.

It’s very important to visit the homeland and learn the Armenian language. I’m certain that that will happen. We have to sow and reap.

We do our best to preserve the Armenian identity. For the past five years, we’ve been organizing Armenian family events during which we only speak in Armenian, prepare Armenian meals, sing Armenian songs and perform Armenian dances. Again, I regret to say that only 250 members of the large community participate in the events.

Berge Abgarian continued.

Berge Abgarian: There is a strong flow in America. Armenian children speak English in school, with their friends and hear English on television. Television has a tremendous influence on a child’s psychology.

Only few children attend the local Armenian school. They prefer to go to an American school because it’s free.

Most importantly, they don’t believe in the Armenian identity. This might sound displeasing, but many ask themselves why they’re preserving the Armenian identity in America when they can move to Armenia.

As I said, the first generation of Armenians underwent many trials and tribulations and was under a lot of pressure. Many Armenians changed their names and didn’t even teach their children Armenian or speak in Armenian with them. The next generation has obviously become detached from “Armenianness”. Today, we’re talking about the third and fourth generations.

I have four children, and Dr. Vasilian has two. If we don’t send our children to an Armenian school, can you imagine to what extent they will preserve the Armenian identity, speak in Armenian and show respect towards Armenia? It will be hard, right? If I send my children to an American school, they’ll become Americans without any knowledge of the Armenian language or the history of the Armenian people. The Armenian identity will become something abstract for them.

I repeat-the main reason is that the first generation of Armenians underwent incredible trials and tribulations. They were forbidden to enter cafeterias, purchase land or buy houses.

“Hayern Aysor”: We talked about Saroyan and Tehleryan. You mentioned that the Armenians have a high reputation in the community today. How is it that they don’t believe in Armenians when they have examples of great Armenians?

Vache Vasilian responded.

Vache Vasilian: It’s sad, but that’s the way it is. They don’t believe in the Armenian identity because, as Mr. Abgarian said, and even though I don’t agree with that, the first generation of Armenians suffered many deprivations. There was discrimination, and to avoid all that, families forbade their children to speak Armenian at home.

But again, I ascribe all this to the enemy, that is, the Turks.

Most of the Armenians having settled in Fresno escaped the Armenian Genocide. It was that fear that brought them to America. They didn’t want anyone to know that they were Armenian. They were afraid that they would be persecuted. They forgot their identity so that they could earn a living. The generation of Armenians that didn’t teach their children the Armenian language only thought about earning a living and forgot their identity, and they slowly started losing their identity.

I wouldn’t like to generalize, but unfortunately, the majority of the Armenians took that path.

There are 50,000 Armenians living in Fresno. I’ve been living here for the past 6 years, and I only see 700 people at the events.

This is very troubling. We’re working on mobilizing the community and making them feel more Armenian…

P.S.: As an epilogue, I would like to refer to Saroyan, who said the following:

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.”

Lusine Abrahamyan