Latin word for propaganda contains a lot of negative charges in itself, and today, it almost equals to the expression of “brainwash”. “Serzh is bad, Levon is good,” or vice versa “Putin is the world’s savior, Obama is the embodiment of evil,” or vice versa, “we will destroy Yerevan”, “we will destroy Baku”, “Drink Pepsi, but not Cola,” or vice versa, these are examples of propaganda. Everyone says what his team, his country and his economic group is interested in.
In contrast with this, the Armenian word for “propaganda” seems to be perceived more positively. The idea of “propaganda” lies in here, which can also be a very bright thing, starting, of course, from the propaganda of the Mount. There are talented and honest priests in our church, and hearing them is not only pleasure, but also a powerful educational stimulus in people’s spiritual life to become kinder and stronger. There are, of course, also hypocrites who are just repeating molded and worn out ideas.
Propaganda, in short, may not reflect the interests of a gang, and at least theoretically be directed to people’s spiritual or physical health. Let’s take, for example, the propaganda of a healthy lifestyle, “do morning exercises, do not smoke, do not eat pork steak every day.” In theory, it is accepted by almost all Armenians, but in practice, a few turn to be successful, they lack in willpower. But there is also an unhealthy lifestyle propaganda, “well, this government has not left brain in human head so that these poor people would not smoke.” Or, a better version, “well, if these oligarchs are eating pork steaks throughout the day, why shouldn’t these poor people eat?”
Everyone also agrees with agitation of literacy and knowledge. And anti-propaganda (wordily) is not necessary here. The vast majority of nowadays National Assembly and the government is an anti-agitation of literacy. Most of legislative and executive officials, even by their appearance, say, “Do not read a book, eat exclusively barbeque and kebab, and success is ensured in this life.”
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There is also a theoretical consensus about environmental agitation, “Look, what pigs feasted on here. But since, it’s anyway a pigsty here, we will also litter here.”
The agitation of patriotism is a very subtle topic, the speculations by hypocrites are truly a lot here. And the anti-propaganda is known, “Well, is this a country where you live in, quit and leave this country,” say those who have already quit and left. Because they, compared to us, the rest, have an “advantage in number”, and this anti-propaganda is working.
And finally, an agitation for safety traffic. As far as I understand, most of Armenians are the archenemies of it. It’s enough to write, “Dear drivers and pedestrians, keep to the traffic rules”, and philosophical, political and psychological reasons from four sides and with great passion will be illustrated of why it is necessary to break these rules.
I recalled Eugène Ionesco’s aphorism, “Words are important, the rest are talks.”
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
