Actor Hayk Marutyan’s decision to become a member of the incumbent “Civic Agreement” party and starting a political activity received an odd response, in my opinion. Both the decision of becoming a party member and the decision to start political activity is the inseparable right of every citizen, his choice.
I remember, when years ago composer Robert Amirkhanyan and director Ara Yernjakyan became a member to then-incumbent party – the Republican Party of Armenia, there was also a lot of noise. However, it is the decision of those people welcoming or condemning which does not make sense to me.
The difference is also tangible. Amirkhanyan and Yernjakyan were pursuing the “warm” path of “nomenclature” since the beginning. Hayk Marutyan was standing on the barricades together with Pashinyan during the revolution and thus, I believe, he deserves more respect as a citizen. Nevertheless, whatever civil position the aforementioned composer, director and actor have, no one has right to put their talent under question.
There are people who live with politics, are fighting, they attack and counterattack their adversaries, ridicule, “humiliate morally” and etc: this is how they imagine their life, their service to their fatherland and state. And I believe that position also deserves a respect.
It is another question that one can be useful to the fatherland and the state without taking part in political processes. For example, when they start speaking about politics somewhere, I feel it does not interest me beyond my work at all. It is even sad when people gather for example, for a child’s birthday celebration and start talking about the nation’s challenges, the latest political gaps and the millions of this or that person. But eventually, it is their business: they are interested in it then it is about it they wish to express their opinion.
Thus, let us wish good luck to the talented actor Hayk Marutyan and if he really wishes to become the Mayor of Yerevan, let the residents of the capital decide.
Being engaged or not being engaged in politics is an issue of personal preferences. For example, I do not like green bean, but I do not strictly condemn all people loving green bean.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
