When being in emigration in the United States, one of the journalists had asked the poet Joseph Brodsky what the biggest enemy of humanity is. It was expected that perhaps Brodsky would say bitter words about the Soviet government. But the poet’s answer was more complicated, “The greatest enemy of mankind is not the communism, nor the socialism or capitalism, but the vulgarity of the human heart and human imagination” (he uses the word «вульгарность»).
And, really. Just visualize the “average arithmetic” image of an Armenian pro-government MP or a minister. Up to where do the borders of his imagination reach? To go to work, do the job somehow, “make money” in this way or another way, then go to a “kebab place,” and have a hearty dinner. “Why do we need money, Shura? – asked Ostap Bender, you do not have imagination, don’t you?”
What is the mission of an “average arithmetic” Armenian opposition today or 5, 10, 20 years ago? Demand the president’s immediate resignation. “A day early, this government was to leave to save the country from destruction,” this is the “credo” of the opposition for more than 20 year. In response, the government, displaying the “vulgarity of its heart,” is saying, “Look, they want to take away our kebab from us and enjoy themselves.” It is too simplistic explanation, there are, of course, “kebab lovers” among opposition member, but there are also honest, even abstinent people.
The main problem here is the lack of imagination. Both today’s and yesterday’s opposition members do not visualize what they can be busy with but to demand the president’s immediate resignation. There is also an element of laziness here: to demand something else requires “giving a hard time” to the brain, to read, study, and do calculations. Who feels like doing it? There is also the fear of being misunderstood. If we do not say every day a “criminal regime”, people might think that we are sold, whereas they expect decisive actions from us.
In other words, our political elite is working for the “target audience”, which also has problems with imagination, “oh, when will the regime come, which will give us prosperity and jobs, or better, distribute money?” Hope, therefore, is put on ignorance and instincts, and this is possible for changing individuals, but not the regime as a system. The system can change the society with certain level of consciousness.
At the end, one more quote, this time from Russian classic Leo Tolstoy, “The power of the state is based on the ignorance of the people, and the state knows it and so will always fight education. It is time for us to understand it.”
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
