Ronald Reagan: Freedom is not free (best quotes)

It’s no secret that I love Reagan. Putting aside the controversial ideas about his politics, which do not matter that much at this very moment, I admire him as a person, as a husband and as a father. His manhood is an example to follow and his dedication to his wife and his wife’s dedication to him deserve one thing — appreciation.

Thought/question of the day

In general, such thoughts occur to me late at night when I cannot make myself take the paper and a pen or when I have the computer switched off. I bet I am not the first night owl who becomes the best philosopher of the 21st century, “a hidden philosophic pearl” (trust me this is not an attempt to overestimate me and people like me, I just know what type of thoughts roll into the mind of those unable to sleep at night),  which starts glowing during the night and whose “sparkle” fades away or takes its way to oblivion as the morning dawns. This one, however, is not from that series, but just a question that arose in my mind when watching Animal Planet. 

What if we could control our memory?

The truth is — to a certain extent we are our memories and very often our memories define our approach and attitude to things and people around us. Memories have powerful impact on our day and the more we have and the more we remember the more affected we are by them.

Photo by Ani Babayan

Memories are like a voice within — the bright ones are like a good word addressed to us that rejoice and make us smile, the dark ones are like a curse that spoil the mood and sometimes it takes longer than just a day to overcome them

Vision for future or absence of it

I remember around a year ago we had a meeting with one of richest Armenians in the world. A short talk with him was enough to understand that this person has not only focused on making money but also on retaining and improving his human aspect.

Without any wish to cite his ideas that reflect pure wisdom, there is one thing that has stuck on my mind. He said that in our life we should focus on the long-term goals which might as well include short-term ones. What he recommended was having a clear idea of where we want to see us 15 years down the road

Marriage and change of last name

When I was born I was given my last name and it’s the last name that will be carved out on my gravestone one day.

I am usually open to opinions and I stand ready to know what other people have to say. However, I hate it when somebody tells you something in an attempt to impose it on you. The last name-surname topic is one of them.

I “inherited” my dad’s last name within the first hour of my life. Since then, this last name has been accompanying my name every day and at every second of my life. My creation was due to three “forces” — God, my mom and dad. Each of them has made separarte gifts for me — God has given me life, my mom has given me the opportunity to live that life and the very first gift I got from my dad was my last name.

Lack of respect and appreciation in families

While family is one of the top priorities for Armenians, the general truth is that marrying your husband you marry his entire family. This tendency has dwindled to a certain extent primarily compared to marriages in Soviet Armenia, but it still exists. Perhaps it will fully disappear in the years to come, but as long as there are the descendants of the Soviet Armenia generations, this will be preserved.

Photo by Ani Babayan

What does marrying the entire family mean?

The thick veil of human cruelty

Photo by Ani Babayan

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if certain people had not walked into my life. Would I be the person I am today? Would I have the same views I have today? Would I have the same lack of spirits I have today?

I have been in this state for such a long time that I have forgotten how I used to be. Have I ever been a cheerful person in my heart or not?

We were recently talking with my friend,

When entire Armenian family is brutally killed by rogue Russian soldier in their sleep

Photo by Ani Babayan

My country — Armenia– has faced lots of atrocities and has been number one in several things. Being the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity we were also the first nation to undergo massive killings described as genocide and known as Armenian Genocide. We are a nation that has spent ages under foreign rule and striving for independence and freedom

Longing for the End-Point

Photo by Ani Babayan

The elevator which carries my mom, one of my sisters and me stops on the first floor and we walk out except for my mom who is too scared to go out because of the man with his dog waiting for his turn to go up. Had I been in a different mood I would probably go back, take my mom’s hand and lead her out. Instead I told her

Irreplaceable “Things” in Life: My Father

Photo by Ani Babayan

Sometimes as we grow up we start taking our parents for granted. It’s not fair. They say you won’t understand your parents until one day you become a parent yourself! I need not that. So far I have understood every thing my parents have done for me, even if it was against my will I knew it was for my sake. God knows how thankful I am to them for who I am and what they did for me. There have been thousand times when I was so angry with my mom I would think of packing and leaving forever, but those moments of anger always pass and there remains only their love and care.

My mom is a separate topic that’s why I don’t want to talk much about her here, this is for my dad.

My dad … I don’t know if I ever dreamed of having this gift in my life or not. With my dad I feel complete. He is my light in the dark. He’s been with me all my life…