Ashot Simonyan's response from Armenia to Harut's “obvious”

Vahe H Apelian

On June 25, 2024, Harout Sassounian’s posted the above picture on his Facebook page sarcastically commenting that the picture represented the “obvious”. Harut Sassounian writes a weekly comments from Los Angeles, California that are against the democratically elected government of Armenia, whenever Armenia is a theme of his column, which mostly is. He pens his columns with the same spirit he amply displayed by his sarcastic comment. His comment of the picture he posted, captured the very spirit of his views and his perception  that the citizens of Armenia are much like sheep led by a donkey. The Armenian Weekly  regularly presents his weekly column to its readers. 

Regrettably a few from Diaspora joined his sarcasm. I quote.

M. Tarakdjian artworks commented claiming that the picture “Exactly describes the situation.”

Victoria Majarian commented claiming the snap shote “Wow, describes the situation so vividly. No explanation needed.”

Vahan Lux commented that the picture represents “Pashinyan and followers”.

Rose Melkonian commented claiming the picture depicts the “Very obvious բթացած ուղեղներ – dull brains”

Elyane Kazandjian  commented that claiming that it is just right – “ Chad djicht !”

Ashot Simonyan from Armenia has also commented noting the following: “Obvious”.  Obviously, this is Armenia, the village of Areni in Vayots Dzor, taken from the Areni winery. Obvious”! Obviously, it is the Yerevan-Goris highway. Every year, in the months of May-June, the herdsmen of the villages of the Ararat Valley drive the flock of sheep to the summer meadows of the Jermuk mountains. In September, they drive in the opposite direction and return it. “Obvious”. Obviously, there are still Armenians who have not gone to the USA, Europe, Russia and other rich countries and earn their living with such work. ”Obvious” Sorry”

Ashot has cropped the picture and posted it on his Facebook page noting the following in capital letters: “ARMENIA AND THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE: DECADES THROUGH THE EYES OF PEOPLE LEADING THE DIASPORA ... “Obvious”. A FLOCK OF SHEEP A DONKEY WILL LEAD THEM AHEAD ... 

I cannot negate Ashot Simonyan’s claim. Yes, many Armenians in the Diaspora, which is on the verge of cultural oblivion, view the citizens of Armenia and Armenia much like Ashot Simonyan noted.

In Ashot's words, the PEOPLE LEADING THE DIASPORA from the comfort of their homes or in their air-conditioned offices in Beirut, Boston, Montreal, Los Angeles, have a thing or two to say about the government the citizens of Armenia democratically elected in a transparent, orderly election as to how it should run Armenia. The same then turn around claiming they lobby for Armenia while continuing to publicly attack its government for expanding its foreign policy westward to include the U.S. 

I wonder if the same PEOPLE LEADING THE DIASPORA  believe that their constituents and the officials of the United States government are oblivious to their contradiction and are seriously considering their lobbying when they acknowledge with a courteous response.