My colleague, Mark Grigoyan, who telecasts “Point of Intersection” program by “Armenia” TV channel, once again referred to the culture of debate in Armenia, more precisely, the lack of it. The program went off in a format of debate, but inviting the disputing parties was rather difficult task. Petros Ghazaryan from “Kentron” TV channel, perhaps, will also prove the same.
One of the problems is that our politicians suffer from clean-cut narcissism and, accordingly, they do not find appropriate opponents to their high intelligence and deep knowledge. When you invite them to debate, they usually say, “Bring a man to my caliber (caliber, i.e., magnitude – A. A.).” And the “caliber” of our politicians and MPs approximately equals to Henry Kissinger or, at the most, Margaret Thatcher. A question arises. If they are such geniuses, why isn’t Armenia close to the countries of Kissinger and Thatcher with its level of welfare?
The Parliament, of course, is the rostrum, where this political dialogue should be evolved. But, behold, the “most interesting” part is the time of the announcement, where the opponents are talking about the destruction of Armenia, and the Republicans – about “non- constructiveness” of the opposition, at times, are saying a couple of “sweet words” addressed to Aliyev and Erdoğan. In short, they recite monologues. Of course, there is also “the NA – government Q&A” format. But, calling it a debate would again be an exaggeration. Usually, the “questions” of the opposition result in the following, “Don’t you find that you are a criminal.” Only the insane would agree to answer this “question”. I have always said and repeat to my students, the wording starting with “don’t you find that” or other similar idiomatic phrases, in fact, are not a question but poorly covert allegation.
Of course, the culture of debate is missing not only among politicians. Try, for example, hold a debate between “narek-style” and “anti-narek style” architects. They are talking about each other even worse than the Republicans about Erdoğan, “Who is this vagabond that I would debate with him. First, look at his designed buildings.” In other words, here also, the issue of “caliber” emerges.
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Although, as we know, nothing in this mortal life is eternal. After 1 March, 2008, the first president of Armenia, in response to the journalist’s question, said, “Even a hundred years passes, I would not comment on Kocharyan’s and Oskanyan’s words.” They were not worthy, the way I understand it. Not a hundred, but only 4 years elapsed, and Oskanyan, therefore, also Kocharyan, became quite worthy allies in the fight against the “regime”. Hence, “caliber” is also variable.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
