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SMALL AND BIG RACISM
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/09/14/109426/
September 14, 2012 12:57
Information was spread in the Bulgarian mass media as if during the
football match between Bulgaria and Armenia, the Bulgarian fans had
chanted "gypsies" addressing our football players and our football
federation had filed a complaint accusing Bulgarian fans of racism. No
one in Armenia confirms that news, but if there was such chanting,
it is surprising that there are people in the friendly nation who have
such a wrong perception of our nation's anthropological type and way of
life. However, it is more important that international organizations,
including FIFA, are too sensitive about this issue and actually often
punish the countries, the fans of which behave as racists. For example,
during Euro 2012, the Russian Football Federation was fined not only
for the fans' hooliganism, but also racist deeds.
It seems that this approach is excessive European political
correctness. However, in reality, it is a certain mentality, a system
of values, the rules of which Europeans themselves sometimes break, but
we, Armenians, haven't fully comprehended them yet. The manifestations
of that are many. Recently an election for village headman took place
in the village of Dzorakap, region of Shirak.
Locals claim that in order to guarantee his "reproduction," the
village headman brought people from Akhalkalak who had never lived in
the village, but were registered there for a few hours. They voted
for him and then returned to Georgia. It is very probable that it
was the case. But look what measures some of the complainers are
ready to take - if their demand is not met, they threaten to close
roads (it is normal) and to kick out of the village the natives of
Akhalkalak who have been living there for a few years; the story was
broadcasted in both Gyumri and Yerevan. Thus, innocent people must
be held accountable for the village headman's illegal action.
Well, now compare this approach with the international reflection
of such a mentality. Muslims didn't like some American movie, which,
in their opinion, misrepresented 9/11. What is the way of protesting
against it? To fire at and shell American diplomatic representations
in different countries. It is the same logic.
For me personally, humanity is more important for me than nationality,
let alone where one is from. Thus, I don't have a problem with
communicating with Azerbaijanis. I have a problem with communicating
with those people - even Armenians - who think that one can somehow
justify killing a sleeping man with an axe.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/09/14/109426/
September 14, 2012 12:57
Information was spread in the Bulgarian mass media as if during the
football match between Bulgaria and Armenia, the Bulgarian fans had
chanted "gypsies" addressing our football players and our football
federation had filed a complaint accusing Bulgarian fans of racism. No
one in Armenia confirms that news, but if there was such chanting,
it is surprising that there are people in the friendly nation who have
such a wrong perception of our nation's anthropological type and way of
life. However, it is more important that international organizations,
including FIFA, are too sensitive about this issue and actually often
punish the countries, the fans of which behave as racists. For example,
during Euro 2012, the Russian Football Federation was fined not only
for the fans' hooliganism, but also racist deeds.
It seems that this approach is excessive European political
correctness. However, in reality, it is a certain mentality, a system
of values, the rules of which Europeans themselves sometimes break, but
we, Armenians, haven't fully comprehended them yet. The manifestations
of that are many. Recently an election for village headman took place
in the village of Dzorakap, region of Shirak.
Locals claim that in order to guarantee his "reproduction," the
village headman brought people from Akhalkalak who had never lived in
the village, but were registered there for a few hours. They voted
for him and then returned to Georgia. It is very probable that it
was the case. But look what measures some of the complainers are
ready to take - if their demand is not met, they threaten to close
roads (it is normal) and to kick out of the village the natives of
Akhalkalak who have been living there for a few years; the story was
broadcasted in both Gyumri and Yerevan. Thus, innocent people must
be held accountable for the village headman's illegal action.
Well, now compare this approach with the international reflection
of such a mentality. Muslims didn't like some American movie, which,
in their opinion, misrepresented 9/11. What is the way of protesting
against it? To fire at and shell American diplomatic representations
in different countries. It is the same logic.
For me personally, humanity is more important for me than nationality,
let alone where one is from. Thus, I don't have a problem with
communicating with Azerbaijanis. I have a problem with communicating
with those people - even Armenians - who think that one can somehow
justify killing a sleeping man with an axe.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN