Hamazkayin, Montréal, QC

The Armenian Genocide, perpetrated from 1915-1923 by the Ottoman and Turkish authorities, as well as the collapse of the First Republic of Armenia and the Soviet persecutions that followed caused immense chaos. The survivors were dispersed all over the world and Middle Eastern countries became the primary safe heaven. The lifestyle, norms and mores, as well as the Armenians’ thinking was altered under the new circumstances. The Armenian people had been displaced. Peasants now had turned into merchants, workers, or businessmen. Moral values had changed. In the city, the former peasant had to race to be successful. A new moral perception, that of to succeed and find a place among the wealthy was formed. The Armenian had become a bourgeoisie. Doing well with whatever possible means became an end in itself. The naive and simple character of the Armenian naturally changed under such circumstances.