When the national anthem of the US is played, the citizens of that country put their hands over their hearts. We don’t believe that Americans are really encouraged by their national anthem and flag. We think that every manifestation of national pathos, which is shown in American movies, in particular, is false, and we wait anxiously for that “pathetic” part to end, action to resume, and good and bad guys to start shooting at each other again (however, the “lofty part” is usually at the end of the movie). On the one hand, all that really reminds of a mechanical ceremony, on the other, even if it is a ritual, it is so deeply rooted in that nation that it has become an inherent part of their everyday life and mentality.
In Armenia, some people get nervous because of that; they say, “Look at those primitive, stupid Americans.” So we are more complex, and therefore, being proud of one’s state or nation seems funny to us. “This government is robbing these people; what country, what nation can one think about?” This is the “crushing” argument that explains the cynicism and aims the conversation in a direction that is “pleasant” for everyone. And it is typical of people who are considered intellectuals to “encourage” such nihilism, in order to please the mob with their “oppositional” views. Whereas it seems one should preach the opposite; the citizens’ pride and dignity is not conditional on the number of political or economic problems in the country at the moment.
The attitude of Raffi Hovhannisyan who is brought up in the American spirit is often mocked because of the above-mentioned reasons. (Probably, his political opponents’ envy plays a certain role.) Guess Raffi bows to the grave of a freedom fighter. “Aha,” the representatives of the local bourgeois mentality comment, “he pretends, this is a PR action, he takes photos.” Our cynical mind cannot conceive that it is a way to express real, honest feelings. The same thing applies to walking, saying hello, hugging old women, attending the funeral services of strangers etc. Some people think it is insincere, but I perceive it as a way of life, mentality, which may seem strange to us, but is essentially healthy and positive.
It seems to me that the citizens’ positive attitude toward their country starts with people’s showing such an attitude toward each other. A man was shot. Perhaps, we don’t like his political views, perhaps, he says absolutely wrong things. However, he is in pain; let’s try to share this pain, not shy from showing normal human sympathy. I think that it is the cornerstone, on which normal social relations are built.
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ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
