If you are attacked, you should be protected. If they want to destroy you, you should destroy the attacker. The leaders of our neighboring countries do not hide that their goal is to eliminate Armenians in this region, and when practical steps are taken in this direction, we should eliminate the harassment performers, more the better. There is no other way out, otherwise, they will destroy us. For this reason, we have a state and an army, whose holiday we celebrate today. Here, extra “pacifism” is inappropriate, you cannot take soup with the help of a paper scoop. Do the neighbors want to live in peace next to us, to be kind and respectful to them? Do they want to conquer our land? They will get their answer.
However, I think that completely different rules should function in the inner life. When you write or say something in a way that the one opposite you has to be vigorously defended, thereby, you do not resolve the problem, which you are concerned about. Here, you should have reservations if you are really concerned rather than being occupied by some personal or group matters. To the point, the “personal” may not be associated with financial or political considerations, it may be just getting offended of something or somebody, internal unrest, willingness to throw some accusations for someone. And in the result of such attack, a temptation of being protected in the same way arises with the recipient of this attack, and the problem is not solved as desired.
Let me give you two examples. We are notice that many of our clergymen (especially the senior ones) are not quite modest, restrained and temperate. Is it worthwhile talking about it? Definitely, it is. The question is as to how. If you disseminate this defect over all the clergymen and if you are using obscene words, then they begin “protecting themselves” by accusing you that you are a nonbeliever or a sectarian, or you want to discredit the Mother Church. Those who lead a dissipated life, continue doing so. It would be more effective, I think, to encourage those who would be changed. You say that nothing will turn out? Today, maybe. But tomorrow, 5, 10 years later?
Or, after the Gyumri incidents, it became obvious that the Russian side is looking at us, the Armenians, from above, neglecting us, maybe it wants to hide something and does not take into account our very natural reaction to the committed crime. Naturally, our claims should be directed to our government, our state. Again a question of how to formulate these claims. When using profane or insulting words, they begin defending themselves, you want to undermine the old-age friendship between Armenia and Russia, handover Armenia to the Turks, you are grant-eaters and American agents. Does such logomachy lead to our authorities’ more dignified posture? I think, not. Dignity should be demanded with dignity.
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Hence, in the inner life, “pacifism” is quite appropriate.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
