When interviewing the well-known journalist and activist Tigran Hakobyan at “A1+”, he expressed the opinion that opposition in Armenia is perceived only the one who requires the president’s immediate resignation and extraordinary presidential elections.
If any political force would have its vision, let’s say, in the field of education (which was of special importance to my interlocutor) and the fight for reforms in this sector, it will not be considered an opposition. And the reason is that the political forces are trying not to lead the people, but to go after them.
It is true. One of vivid examples of forming not a public demand but adapting to it is to conduct voting during the rallies. Have you ever seen the people standing in the Square vote unanimously? It’s a very simple trick to ask questions, to which the answer is known. Shall we go to Baghramyan 26? Shall we put tents? Shall we hang the government authorities from these trees? Is there anyone who is cons or abstained? Accepted unanimously. These forms of “hearing the people’s voice”, in my opinion, are not only outdated, but also deadlock. I am sure that everyone, including the public officials and politicians, should not respond to existing sentiments, circumstances and situations, but to create them. In other words, if we apply the well-known psychological terms, be not re-active but pro-active.
It is requires, of course, from all citizens. This is why smart people emphasize the role of education, teaching and schooling in a broad sense. The re-active approach is as follows, “Well, if I have had a lot of money, an understanding director, a strong position and a government caring about the people, do you know what I would have done? Well, let me go to the Square to see whether Poghos is able to overthrow Petros. No, it did not happen this time, this country will not be corrected.”
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The pro-active approach is the opposite. “What am I personally doing every hour and every day? Regardless of external circumstances, how am I fulfilling my duties? Am I able to do good to people? Am I able, regardless of the attitude towards me, be kind to everyone and constructive in my relationships? I can see that the state of affairs in this area is bad, and I’m trying to find 3, 4, 10 like-minded people, and we, unselfishly, wasting neither time nor resources will work on it. Perhaps, what we do will be trivial, but it will be a step in the right direction.”
This requires one thing that you should know what you want in your career, public relations and in the sense of your and your nation’s place in the world. The pro-active person, I am sure, cannot be ignorant. Acting, bearing responsibility, not casting the blame on external factors requires discipline. The Latin version of this word underlies the word «discipulus» (a “pupil”, a “student”), which implies not just learning, but learning in a way as it is required in the 21st century.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
