We all live with stereotypes, ethnic, political, and social, and some also religious. To abandon all stereotypes is impossible. They help us to demonstrate similar behavior in certain recurring situations. If at any situation we think how to behave, it will probably make our life very difficult.
However, there is the opposite extreme. Not to think at all, not to analyze, and approach the life with already ready prescriptions, all rich (in Armenia) are thieves, all Turks are bloodthirsty, all Russians are drunkards, and all Europeans are homosexual. I do not exclude that it is easy to live with. But, should we always seek for such simplicity?
I, too, like everyone else, was guided, and in many respect, probably, I am guided wrong, with false stereotypes. Now, of course, I can talk about stereotypes, which I abandoned. The first is about the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. The stereotype was that it was a revolutionary, extremist, and “utopian” organization, which for the sake of some fanciful “visions” and unrealistic “historic dreams” is ready to demolish the current Republic of Armenia. Certainly, such displays have been and still are, and the ideology of this party continues to be alien to me. But, now I am sure that the vast majority of Dashnak members, both in Armenia and in the Diaspora, are no less interested than me in strengthening and development of the Armenian state. What makes this stereotype demolished? It is clear that it was due to gathering information, reading, studying, observing, and being open to the information contrary to the stereotype.
The second stereotype, which I abandoned is about the “bros”. Allegedly they are greedy, philistine, hypocrites, and are satisfied with worshiping the picture of Ararat hanging in their luxury homes. Even their Western Armenian sounds quite ridiculous to me. The last argument, which broke this stereotype, are the Syrian Armenians arriving in Armenia in the last 2-3 years. It is clear that rich people will not come here; there are better prosperous countries. Those who have come to Armenia are the representatives of the middle class, merchants, craftsmen, and service workers. Those with whom I communicate are humble, hard-working, and well-mannered people. These people do not fit in my previous stereotype of “bro”. Even their language sounds beautiful to me. They are not “bros” but brothers.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
