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WHERE ARE THE YOUNG PEOPLE?
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments24693.html
Published: 19:02:41 - 23/12/2011
A lot of people are now speaking about the need for a change of
generation in the government of Armenia, even the government speaks
about it. A lot of people wrote about it, giving examples, noting that
the change of generation is underway, simply the public is not aware.
In fact, there are a lot of young officials in public administration
and young members of parliament. In fact, there are enough young
heads of departments, deputy ministers, members of parliament, even
young ministers, chiefs of staff, prosecutor, mayor.
However, the problem needs certain clarification. What do we
understand by saying a young official and what do we understand by
change of generation? If we want a change of age, this notion acquires
a mathematical or arithmetic meaning, then the change of generation
in Armenia moves fast, and at present there are as many young people
in government as elderly.
Is the problem the number? Were this the problem, the problems of
Armenia would have been solved. However, the notion of change of
generation must have another meaning. In Armenia, the government
and the political system undergo change of generation with different
thinking, different system of values, a generation with a new outlook.
In this sense, the ruling system of Armenia is dominated by "oldness".
The young officials, the majority of ministers, deputy ministers,
other officials, members of parliament, just entering the ruling system
or occupying leading positions there, are not distinguished by new
thinking and new values. They do not change the existing rules and
relationships. They get used to it, with excuses, open or indirect,
that the system is too fossilized, and they do not act against it
openly not to be annihilated. Instead, they try to change it from
the inside.
In fact, the idea or scenario of changing it from the inside was
defamed before the youth by the most aged ones, our traditional ARD
Dashnaktsutyun Party, who explained its presence in the coalition
several years ago by referring to change of the system from the
inside. This example showed that this approach is either ineffective
or simply funny because the only option of appearing inside the
system is to be devoured by the system. As soon as it devours you,
you will be digested.
Dashnaktsutyun, like the Orinats Yerkir Party, have presented the
emptiness of the option of the "inside" so figuratively that the
so-called young officials' excuses that they try to change it from
the inside are more than meaningless.
In this situation, the inside and the outside are intellectual
categories rather than physical. The system must be changed from the
outside, with a mentality which cannot get adjusted to the present
system, fit inside, become part of the system.
The youth must fight against this system and the fight must be visible,
and the youth must offer proposals to the society to expect support
because the so-called new generation can change the system only with
the support of the society.
Armenia lacks this, so it would be an exaggeration to consider the
presence of young people as a change of generation. Moreover, the
public speeches of the representatives of the new generation make
think of abuse of generation rather than change, and old vices appear
in a young body.
In Armenia, the fossilized system is in crisis, material, political,
mental and of values, so the change of generation will succeed only
in a revolutionary way, in other words, young people will appear in
the system who will rebel against their "fathers".
The government of Armenia lacks it but even if there is struggle,
it is not viewed as struggle of thinking and values. It is struggle
for power.
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments24693.html
Published: 19:02:41 - 23/12/2011
A lot of people are now speaking about the need for a change of
generation in the government of Armenia, even the government speaks
about it. A lot of people wrote about it, giving examples, noting that
the change of generation is underway, simply the public is not aware.
In fact, there are a lot of young officials in public administration
and young members of parliament. In fact, there are enough young
heads of departments, deputy ministers, members of parliament, even
young ministers, chiefs of staff, prosecutor, mayor.
However, the problem needs certain clarification. What do we
understand by saying a young official and what do we understand by
change of generation? If we want a change of age, this notion acquires
a mathematical or arithmetic meaning, then the change of generation
in Armenia moves fast, and at present there are as many young people
in government as elderly.
Is the problem the number? Were this the problem, the problems of
Armenia would have been solved. However, the notion of change of
generation must have another meaning. In Armenia, the government
and the political system undergo change of generation with different
thinking, different system of values, a generation with a new outlook.
In this sense, the ruling system of Armenia is dominated by "oldness".
The young officials, the majority of ministers, deputy ministers,
other officials, members of parliament, just entering the ruling system
or occupying leading positions there, are not distinguished by new
thinking and new values. They do not change the existing rules and
relationships. They get used to it, with excuses, open or indirect,
that the system is too fossilized, and they do not act against it
openly not to be annihilated. Instead, they try to change it from
the inside.
In fact, the idea or scenario of changing it from the inside was
defamed before the youth by the most aged ones, our traditional ARD
Dashnaktsutyun Party, who explained its presence in the coalition
several years ago by referring to change of the system from the
inside. This example showed that this approach is either ineffective
or simply funny because the only option of appearing inside the
system is to be devoured by the system. As soon as it devours you,
you will be digested.
Dashnaktsutyun, like the Orinats Yerkir Party, have presented the
emptiness of the option of the "inside" so figuratively that the
so-called young officials' excuses that they try to change it from
the inside are more than meaningless.
In this situation, the inside and the outside are intellectual
categories rather than physical. The system must be changed from the
outside, with a mentality which cannot get adjusted to the present
system, fit inside, become part of the system.
The youth must fight against this system and the fight must be visible,
and the youth must offer proposals to the society to expect support
because the so-called new generation can change the system only with
the support of the society.
Armenia lacks this, so it would be an exaggeration to consider the
presence of young people as a change of generation. Moreover, the
public speeches of the representatives of the new generation make
think of abuse of generation rather than change, and old vices appear
in a young body.
In Armenia, the fossilized system is in crisis, material, political,
mental and of values, so the change of generation will succeed only
in a revolutionary way, in other words, young people will appear in
the system who will rebel against their "fathers".
The government of Armenia lacks it but even if there is struggle,
it is not viewed as struggle of thinking and values. It is struggle
for power.