This is perhaps not a good idea. This log. It's 5 a.m., and I have not been able to sleep for the last few hours, and it may not be prudent to write on a public site, but I have to, so thanks for your indulgence.
I also went to the demonstrations, and I need to qualify my statements by saying that as part of my work in Armenia, I deal with political issues on a daily basis, and I do know some of the principals involved in what's going on right now in Armenia. I am not in support of one side or the other. In fact, I think much of what is happening is misguided.
Having said this, I also had the opportunity to talk to some "jobless people from the villages" and while I know that people are at times paid to come out to these things, and not everyone is there out of genuine interest or commitment, I do believe that there are those who are yearning to be heard and they are starved for proper leadership.
I had the opportunity to talk to two older gentlemen--jobless veterans. And one said to me, "My biggest regret in life is that I haven't and probably won't see my grandchildren truly happy." And this is at the heart of what's happening in Armenia.
It's not the political figures who are fighting over power. It's about the ordinary people who are losing out on life. It's about feeling oppressed and being oppressed. It's about young people not knowing their youth. It's about all of this.
While I was contemplating how to write all of this down, I received two emails from two diasporan organizations--your run of the mill young profession network type organizations--advertising their upcoming comedy night or fundraiser. And instantly I felt my anger level and hopelessness rise to dangerous levels. I thought to myself, therein lies the reality of it all. We have a Diaspora that is substantively disengaged from Armenia, and while I won't go into the reasons, I will say that the fact that all that's coming out of the Diaspora are hollow statements--ones void of any true understanding of Armenia in its current state--is at best paltry, and at most disappointing. Then there is a visible minority in Armenia--mostly in Yerevan, who by others' accounts are busy preparing for Easter--who also don't reflect the reality for a majority of Armenians.
So, while we are each entitled to our opinions, we must also face up to the fact that there is dissatisfaction, hopelessness, and serious lack of substantive and purposeful dialogue in the Armenian world.
We Diasporans who live in Armenia do not reflect the joy, or the suffering, of being of this country. We simply don't. So, let's not pretend. But I think we have a responsibility to recognize that there is reason for the discontent, and there is a serious lack of leadership in this country, and dare I say, in the Diaspora.
My friends are sick of me using this quote, but I must.
"The struggle of man against power, is the struggle of memory against forgetting," said Milan Kundera in the Book of Laughter and Crying. I think it'll serve us well to remember.
I also went to the demonstrations, and I need to qualify my statements by saying that as part of my work in Armenia, I deal with political issues on a daily basis, and I do know some of the principals involved in what's going on right now in Armenia. I am not in support of one side or the other. In fact, I think much of what is happening is misguided.
Having said this, I also had the opportunity to talk to some "jobless people from the villages" and while I know that people are at times paid to come out to these things, and not everyone is there out of genuine interest or commitment, I do believe that there are those who are yearning to be heard and they are starved for proper leadership.
I had the opportunity to talk to two older gentlemen--jobless veterans. And one said to me, "My biggest regret in life is that I haven't and probably won't see my grandchildren truly happy." And this is at the heart of what's happening in Armenia.
It's not the political figures who are fighting over power. It's about the ordinary people who are losing out on life. It's about feeling oppressed and being oppressed. It's about young people not knowing their youth. It's about all of this.
While I was contemplating how to write all of this down, I received two emails from two diasporan organizations--your run of the mill young profession network type organizations--advertising their upcoming comedy night or fundraiser. And instantly I felt my anger level and hopelessness rise to dangerous levels. I thought to myself, therein lies the reality of it all. We have a Diaspora that is substantively disengaged from Armenia, and while I won't go into the reasons, I will say that the fact that all that's coming out of the Diaspora are hollow statements--ones void of any true understanding of Armenia in its current state--is at best paltry, and at most disappointing. Then there is a visible minority in Armenia--mostly in Yerevan, who by others' accounts are busy preparing for Easter--who also don't reflect the reality for a majority of Armenians.
So, while we are each entitled to our opinions, we must also face up to the fact that there is dissatisfaction, hopelessness, and serious lack of substantive and purposeful dialogue in the Armenian world.
We Diasporans who live in Armenia do not reflect the joy, or the suffering, of being of this country. We simply don't. So, let's not pretend. But I think we have a responsibility to recognize that there is reason for the discontent, and there is a serious lack of leadership in this country, and dare I say, in the Diaspora.
My friends are sick of me using this quote, but I must.
"The struggle of man against power, is the struggle of memory against forgetting," said Milan Kundera in the Book of Laughter and Crying. I think it'll serve us well to remember.
posted by Alex at 6:44 AM
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