Aravot Daily, like many other newspapers, carries out surveys and vox pops that are more or less connected to the upcoming elections. Of course, people have different opinions. But, in any case, the majority of our surveys result in the following opinions.
- Pashinyan is an angel,
- Some bad people (most likely, the former regime) call Aliyev and ask him to invade Armenia to harm Pashinyan,
- The aforementioned people prevent Pashinyan from making the country prosper.
Those who support the government like these opinions; ‘See, it means that the people are with our dear Prime Minister.’ The opponents of the government don’t like these opinions; ‘These people have no sense of national dignity.’
I prefer to refrain from such emotions. Instead of judging, it is necessary to try and understand people. Yes, it can be said that when people receive a poor education, it is accompanied by brainwashing. They cannot position themselves in the modern world. They live in an imaginary, virtual reality. This does not mean judging, blaming, or even more, flourishing. Their mythological ideas come from the flaws in the education system and from the social atmosphere, the dominant value in society. And not three, not even the problems of the last 30 years.
But I also suggest not rushing into using the words ‘people’ and ‘democracy’ at every step. In ancient Athens, the ‘demos’ of democracy were not all the inhabitants of the area, but a certain status- people with educational and property qualifications. Of course, in the modern world, it is impossible to apply such discrimination; all people are created equal (they say).
Read also
At the same time, let me disagree with the expressions ‘the voter is always right,’ ‘the people are always right,’ and ‘the consumer is always right.’ And let me not always be ‘with the people.’ If the ‘people’ think that Pashinyan (Kocharyan, Ter-Petrossian, or any other mortal) is an angel, then I am not ‘with the people.’
If, according to the ‘people,’ someone is a monster, then once again, let me not be ‘with the people.’ If, according to the ‘people,’ the interpretation of ‘Yesterday’ by Spitaktsi Hayko is a world masterpiece, then no force will make me say that ‘the people’ are right.
… It is not acceptable to insult or label anyone. But reality, including the ‘people’s’ intellectual level, must be viewed with open eyes.
Aram Abrahamyan
