Perhaps, it may be considered “non-patriotic” and “anti-national”, however, I do not perceive people in the light of their ethnic origin. “Do you know that this-and-this is Armenian?” For example, the Brits, Germans, Basques and even Chinese are “Armenians”. But these people do not know that they are Armenians. What do we gain by reading about them in a source that they are Armenians? I understand that such complexes exist in the small nations. Recently, for example, I have seen a cover of a book, the meaning of which was that the Jews have concealed the fact of Jesus Christ’s being Georgian.
But even if a person has an Armenian name and last name, but has not displayed himself as an Armenian in any way, then his/her being Armenia, I am sorry, does not cause any national pride to me. For example, one of the former teammates of Steve Jobs, American famous programmer Avedis (Avie) Tevanian is definitely Armenian. But as far as I understand, he is not interested in Armenians and Armenia at all, so why we should be interested in the nationality of this wonderful specialist. And vice versa, Turk by nationality Ragıp Zarakolu is closer to our nation not because that he loves us a lot but because this man has dedicated himself to defending people and the rights of individuals, irrespective of their nationality.
In short, the individual with his features is more important for me than his origin (just as his political or religious views). Therefore, in the Avakov-Saakashvili debate, I cannot “worship” Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, merely because he is an Armenian by nationality. Both figures have played a major role in the revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, both promoted the building of Georgia and new Ukraine, of course, along with all the flaws of these two countries. However, one must consider that what Saakashvili managed in Georgia is not necessarily to be managed in Odessa region. Frankly speaking, I do not believe in both being non-corrupt. Idealizing any person: a politician or a cultural figure, merely because he is an Armenian by nationality, I think, it is wrong.
… The video showing the marriage of an Armenian man to an Azeri girl in Moscow is spread out over the Internet. “Patriot” Armenians and Azeri hurried to condemn the young couple. But whom to love and whom to marry is a personal affair of each individual. They are married, well done. Good luck to them, let them build up a strong and happy family and bring up healthy children and grandchildren.
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Aram ABRAHAMYAN
