A series of events occurred during the first week of the year 2014, which outwardly have nothing to do with each other, but in reality, of course, we can ultimately see some logic in everything.
1. Famous cultural figures: Jim Torosyan, Armen Mazmanyan, and Levon Khechoyan passed away. Since they were alive, some liked their works, and social activities, and some did not. Today, when they are gone, all of these, of course, will be conceptualized. Not only with the logic of “glory comes after death”, but what these people managed to do in their lives, rather than what they have said on this or that occasion. If what was said are not forgotten today, they would definitely be forgotten tomorrow, in 2-3 months, and in future years and decades people will discuss only the buildings designed by Torosyan, performances staged by Mazmanyan, and books written by Khechoyan. Maybe the attitude towards today’s artists should be the same.
2. The theme of intellectuals was started by artists Tigran Nersisyan and Armen Elbakyan, who hold a canopy over the head of the Catholicos and the President on Christmas day and deserved fierce attacks from the Internet opposition activists. In my opinion, religious and secular leaders, whoever they are, should be treated, on the one hand, with strong criticism (in order to see their numerous mistakes), on the other hand, with respect (it is a respect not to given person, but the state whose citizen you are, and the faith, which you belong). However, to tell the truth, I do not understand the tradition of holding the canopy. It reminds me of a scene from the life of the African tribes, when more muscular tribe members are holding palm branches over the head of the tribal leader and sometimes shaking to drive the flies away. I understand that this parallel is highly subjective and may not have occurred to others, but the whole ceremony seems to contradict the commandment of “Do not create idols for you”.
3. Finally, one of the most active opposition MPs, Zaruhi Postanjyan, had left Armenia for 5 months to participate in the course of Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at TaftsUniversity. This phenomenon by itself is normal and even welcomed: the young MP wants to improve her legal and diplomatic skills. Here, there is only one delicate issue. Zaruhi Postanjyan, as well as all opposition figures in the last 20 years, has repeatedly stated that the country is collapsing under this ruling, the state is on the verge of disappearing, and so on. How can she manage to be absent from the country for a long time, if the timing is so critical? Such “idleness” and the aspiration to obtain academic knowledge somewhat contradict each other.
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ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
