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EDITORIAL: THE LONG ROAD TO DEMOCRACY
http://asbarez.com/114127/editorial-the-long-road-to-democracy/
Friday, September 20th, 2013
The Coat of Arms of the Republic of Armenia
It has been 22 years since that momentous day when Armenia freed itself
from Soviet clutches and declared independence, knowing full-well that
the road to sovereignty and true independence would be long and hard.
The early years were marred by war and the continued relief efforts
for the 1988 earthquake that had displaced tens of thousands of
Armenians. Bleak was an understatement. The entire Armenian nation
pulled together to ensure that Armenia's independence would be lasting
and one day it would become a self-sustaining paragon of democracy
in a region filled with authoritarianism.
More than two decades later we must ask ourselves: Did we succeed? The
knee-jerk response is Yes. By all accounts, Armenia cannot be compared
with the authoritarian regimes governing Turkey to its west and
Azerbaijan to its east, both of which continue their threats to our
national security on a daily basis.
Yet, 22 years later, we must scratch the surface and collectively
find remedies to the negative aspects that threaten Armenia's national
security from within.
Even before September 21, 1991 the entire Armenian nation rolled up
its sleeves and asked not what the nation can do for us but what we
can do for our nation, to paraphrase the infamous quote by President
John F. Kennedy. Now, 22 years later the maladies that ail Armenia
on the domestic front are making it imperative for the authorities
in Yerevan to answer not just to the Armenian citizens but to all
Armenians worldwide. After all, the rhetoric from official Yerevan
is that Armenia and Diaspora are interwoven in the fate of our nation.
Rampant corruption, usurping of our national wealth, suppressing
democratic freedoms and rights of the citizens and overall social
injustice, as well as the rape of the environment and election fraud
have turned that dream of Armenia being a paragon of stability into
a nightmare that is perpetuated every day. This has resulted in the
biggest threat to our national security-emigration.
The missteps of successive regimes and the blatant and flagrant
disregard for rule of law have given way to a nation that lacks trust
and faith in its leaders. It was President Sarkisian himself who blamed
the people for Armenia's woes when he said: "The biggest problem of our
country is not corrupt officials. The biggest problem of our country is
not criminals. The biggest problem of country is a cynical atmosphere."
The bright spot that we saw this year, however, is that the young
generation of Armenians-the independence generation-is willing to
fight for its rights and has taken its fate into its own hands. In the
Diaspora, Armenians have a responsibility to nurture this generation
who wants to live in its homeland, but might be forces out due to
the ongoing injustices perpetrated by the government.
This is the issue-the challenge-that requires our collective attention
and immediate action, since all of the positive achievements of
the past 22 years hinge on the need for Armenia to be populated
by Armenians.
On September 21, we celebrate that momentous time in modern Armenian
history-Armenia's Independence. But, we must also come together,
in the name of our homeland, of our people and of the ultimate goal
of a FREE, INDEDPENDENT and UNITED ARMENIA to collectively guarantee
the well-being of our people.
Happy Independence Day.
http://asbarez.com/114127/editorial-the-long-road-to-democracy/
Friday, September 20th, 2013
The Coat of Arms of the Republic of Armenia
It has been 22 years since that momentous day when Armenia freed itself
from Soviet clutches and declared independence, knowing full-well that
the road to sovereignty and true independence would be long and hard.
The early years were marred by war and the continued relief efforts
for the 1988 earthquake that had displaced tens of thousands of
Armenians. Bleak was an understatement. The entire Armenian nation
pulled together to ensure that Armenia's independence would be lasting
and one day it would become a self-sustaining paragon of democracy
in a region filled with authoritarianism.
More than two decades later we must ask ourselves: Did we succeed? The
knee-jerk response is Yes. By all accounts, Armenia cannot be compared
with the authoritarian regimes governing Turkey to its west and
Azerbaijan to its east, both of which continue their threats to our
national security on a daily basis.
Yet, 22 years later, we must scratch the surface and collectively
find remedies to the negative aspects that threaten Armenia's national
security from within.
Even before September 21, 1991 the entire Armenian nation rolled up
its sleeves and asked not what the nation can do for us but what we
can do for our nation, to paraphrase the infamous quote by President
John F. Kennedy. Now, 22 years later the maladies that ail Armenia
on the domestic front are making it imperative for the authorities
in Yerevan to answer not just to the Armenian citizens but to all
Armenians worldwide. After all, the rhetoric from official Yerevan
is that Armenia and Diaspora are interwoven in the fate of our nation.
Rampant corruption, usurping of our national wealth, suppressing
democratic freedoms and rights of the citizens and overall social
injustice, as well as the rape of the environment and election fraud
have turned that dream of Armenia being a paragon of stability into
a nightmare that is perpetuated every day. This has resulted in the
biggest threat to our national security-emigration.
The missteps of successive regimes and the blatant and flagrant
disregard for rule of law have given way to a nation that lacks trust
and faith in its leaders. It was President Sarkisian himself who blamed
the people for Armenia's woes when he said: "The biggest problem of our
country is not corrupt officials. The biggest problem of our country is
not criminals. The biggest problem of country is a cynical atmosphere."
The bright spot that we saw this year, however, is that the young
generation of Armenians-the independence generation-is willing to
fight for its rights and has taken its fate into its own hands. In the
Diaspora, Armenians have a responsibility to nurture this generation
who wants to live in its homeland, but might be forces out due to
the ongoing injustices perpetrated by the government.
This is the issue-the challenge-that requires our collective attention
and immediate action, since all of the positive achievements of
the past 22 years hinge on the need for Armenia to be populated
by Armenians.
On September 21, we celebrate that momentous time in modern Armenian
history-Armenia's Independence. But, we must also come together,
in the name of our homeland, of our people and of the ultimate goal
of a FREE, INDEDPENDENT and UNITED ARMENIA to collectively guarantee
the well-being of our people.
Happy Independence Day.