Study Hard and Be a Law-Abiding Citizen

Vahe H. Apelian

Սեղմել Հայերէն տարբերակը, եթէ կը փափաքիք հայերէնով կարդալ պլակը

 

1962 Sourp (Saint) Nishan Armenian School Graduates with Teachers and Principle
Seated Catholicos Khoren Paroian, then Prelate.

Surely it is personal, but I felt extremely aghast seeing on the social media, a vibrant and a beautiful young Armenian girl who appeared somewhat hesitant carrying a bouquet of black flowers with the Turkish flag planted in the vase, ring the bell of the Armenian Embassy or Armenian ambassador’s residence and present the flower arrangement to the lady who opened the door. What was disturbing to me is the realization the senior AYF member who had directed this young girl to do this act, did not accompany her but stood away, in anonymity, filming the sad episode and posted it on the social media. 

What was much more disturbing to me was the claim of a highly placed member of the AYF/ARF ranks that she is proud of the youth doing such acts of "resistance". Yes, I cannot condone and remain indifferent and silent and not voice my indignation for leading our youth in such a manner. Sadly, that was not the single episode that AYF posted that disturbed me. (Read: "Armenian Ambassador Assaulted in Compressional Building", Mirror Spectator, May 3, 2022). Watch: AYF Eastern Region FB post, whose members are trailing Armenian Ambassador Lilit Makunts, calling her a traitor and shouting at her to leave the U.S. April 18, 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsdVmA5Pamg)

I was not brought out that way although my entire youth and beyond was spent within ARF affiliated youth organizations. I was among the founding member of the YOARF - Youth Organization of ARF in 1972. These episodes reminded me of my teachers in the Armenian schools I attended from kindergarten to my acceptance to the American University of Beirut.

My teachers in the Armenian school were overwhelmingly Armenians who taught us all the subjects that a high school teaches to its students, especially that we had to pass government mandate examinations to progress in our academic pursuits. They taught us science, math, history, naturally including Armenian history, languages, and yes, Christian education as well. They may not have been “certified” teachers, as we expect from our teachers nowadays. They were not necessarily trained with pedagogical courses. Some were writers, editors of Armenian literary journals, Armenian college students, but they had our best interest in their hearts, much like a parent has.

They appealed to our better nature and to our hope. They would tell us that we may not see Armenia independent, that our children may not see Armenia independent either, but that it would become reality one day. Meanwhile, they urged us to study hard, and would tell us that we had to work much, much harder to be able to compete with the native locals. We did just that, applied ourselves hard. Not necessarily by continuing our schooling, but also by learning a trade as many of my classmates left school early on and apprenticed in a trade and became very successful in their trades.

Along with the work ethic they instilled in us, they told us to become a law-abiding citizen, and loyal to the government of our country, and respectful to its officials. In our little minds we would argue, what would happen in case of war and Armenians would be drafted in the armies of warring nations.

Acts of "Resistance"

Throughout those years and to this day I have not encountered a Diaspora Armenian depict his or her country’s president or PM the way some  Diaspora Armenians are depicting the PM of Armenia. Yes, we had justifiable reasons at times in the Diaspora to stand against the government of the countries of whom we consider ourselves no less an equal citizen. In 1960’s the Syrian government nationalized our schools and appointed party officials as principles in the schools we had built. In 1961, they imprisoned many Armenians, including my maternal uncle, an ARF leader, on charges of treason. During their trial, the Syrian newspapers, to their credit, did not label them traitors. And after a lengthy trial, those who were exonerated, like my maternal uncle, were welcomed by their Syrian coworkers, or business partners, neighbors, and friends.  

But I see a dichotomy in the Diaspora Armenian psyche. I cannot envision a Diaspora Armenian treating his or her country’s ambassador with such contempt I saw this young girl directed to present a bouquet of black flowers with a Turkish flag; or the young Armenian men walking a few feet behind the ambassador  of Armenia and calling her a traitor and telling her to move away. Yes, I have not yet encountered such acts by members of Diaspora Armenian youth organization against their countries’ ambassador in a foreign land,  be the ambassador of U.S., Syria, Lebanon, Russia or of any other country. But the Armenian youth is directed and instructed, if not weaponized, to single out and not to offer the same courtesy to Armenia's ambassador in the U.S. or in another country.

No doubt we are facing existential threats. We have different visions as to best address these existential threats. But there cannot be legitimacy in bringing change through “extra-parliamentary” opposition in the Diaspora. Nor Diaspora can galvanize itself against the inevitable to endure longer, when leaders of the community instill such hatred, by words and deeds, against the representatives of the Republic of Armenia and direct the youth to do the same.

 I quote Stepan Piligian, even though he may have stated it in a different context. But the message is unequivocal to me. I quote: “Simply put, if the democratic institutions of Armenia are not supported in this transition, then what is the point of sovereignty”. Yes, indeed, what is the point, be it a sovereign, free and independent Armenia if its democratic institutions are not safeguarded in Armenia and Diaspora does not lend support to forge "a better union" in Armenia as well.