“Me? Being the second on the list? Me? The man who …” The matter as you understand is about the pre-electoral party or “alliance” lists. People are apt to be in the first place on any list: it is a form of self-expression or a manifestation of “success.” Moreover, in the case of small nations, provincial perceptions and unshaped political system.
Being “number one” in the political union means to hold a “purse” and a “seal” in his hands, to bring some people closer (also on the same list), to leave some people out, to go to TV stations and with barely concealed enjoyment listen to the “president’s” and “the head of the alliance’s” titles next to his name. For this vain and hollow proposes, people are ready to sacrifice a lot. Not only money. Soon, we will hear, “the adherents of Poghos wanted to give me the 5th place but I got offended and went to the adherents of Petros.”
We justly criticize the RPA 16th congress which “obviously smells the Soviet Union.” Apart from the President, no other delegate spoke about the serious problems facing Armenia, the majority was reading the beforehand prepared glorifying texts. But let’s remember the congresses of a number of other political parties. Were they talking about the mistakes and flaws of their political forces? Were there odes voiced in address to the first figure? People, therefore, are eager to be “number one”, it is nice to hear how smart you are.
Such “arrangement” of political life is possible in the case of extreme public infantilism. Yesterday, a man approached me asking whether it is true that Mourinho has taken money from the Turks not to allow Henrikh Mkhitaryan to the playground. Actually, when people ask me something on the street, it is not a question but a conviction, an “accurate information” which is formulated in the form of a question. Because my interlocutor “has heard the news” about Mourinho’s bribery from many people. When I wrote about it on the Facebook, many people began to seriously discuss this issue.
Politicians are just performers. We, the society, are the clients.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
