Before the revolution, the main question people asked me on the streets was, “What will be the fate of our people?” After the revolution, the question changed. Now they ask, “Is everything going to be fine? Will the country fix itself?” In the change, of course, there are some positive dynamics. “What will be our fate” translates into “every day gets worse and worse, where are we going to find ourselves.” But in the question of “will everything be ok,” there is hope and optimism. The context is the following: “The robbers and thieves left the government. Will the new people whom we trust be able to make sure that everything will end up ok?”
What remains is to make it clear as far as what people mean when they say “end up ok.” Sometimes, I ask that question to people who ask it to me. “What needs to happen in order for you to say that the country has fixed itself?” The answers to this question tend to fall into one or two categories: 1) materialistic- “when the people’s condition gets better” and 2) psychological- “when justice is served.”
Let’s go into detail on both sides. The condition of the people will get better when they start to be more financially stable. If someone receives a salary or commission of 150,000 drams every month, and the next year they receive 180,000 monthly, will they say that the country has fixed itself? Or if they perhaps receive 300,000? If the majority of Armenian citizens will then say that everything is fine, then the government needs to make every effort with full enthusiasm to reach that level.
Now, let’s speak about justice. In some sense, that has already taken place; the people who, in the opinion of the majority, have robbed the people, are no longer robbing anyone. They no longer have that ability. But since people continue to ask about when this country will fix itself, and they are referring to justice, then what already happened is not enough. Return the money that was stolen to the people? Of course. For example, according to law enforcement, when construction was taking place on the North-South road, more than 40 million dollars was stolen. But it’s not clear whom we need to demand that money from. Ok, let’s say that all those millions of dollars are returned to the state budget. Will people still continue to ask whether or not everything will be fine? Or if all former officials, their relatives, and their friends go to jail, will that question no longer be asked?
Just as before, I think that people need to look for the reasons, sources, and actions for things being “good” and “bad” within themselves, and take sole responsibility for his or her condition. I think that the country will fix itself when no one asks those questions anymore.
Aram Abrahamyan
