Every Which Way But Down

Patrick Bairamian
(Los Angeles, USA)

How would you feel if your mother lost her job, a natural disaster destroyed your home, your father left you during those two crisis’, she had to take care of you when she had no money or home to raise you in, and on top of all that, both sides of your family refused to talk to you or help you in any situation? Our mother, Armenia, who suffered an economic collapse, earthquake, volatile fever of war, and closed trade along her two longest borders, was in this situation twenty years ago. Twenty years ago, she should have given up. She had no reason to build again, try again, live again. But she didn’t give up. She faltered, she stumbled to regain balance, and limped forward, and carried on. She then started to rebuild. She rose up and reached out. She rose up and began to breathe. But she was tired…she is still tired.

These people, our people, aren’t lazy, scared of oligarchs, against change, against societal evolution, modernization…essentially, a fresh start. When you search beyond the facade of their daily lives, and look past the leaking pipes of their apartment, broken roads to their village, simple meals of bread and cheese, you see that there hangs a heavy burden on our people. Since twenty years after our independence as a stand alone country, we (Diasporans) are expecting too much of a nation in repair. They aren’t broken, they aren’t weak. Give a man a reason to fight here and he will until his death. But,we, expect Western standards of living, governance, and civility, yet few are willing to implement these ideals in the country , and with the people they criticize daily for their lack of XYZ. The people, this country, is exhausted. Not of their potential, not of their resources, but of their hope.

The country isn’t in the dark, but some issues are. And these are issues which the Diaspora can help shed light on. Sure, the country is 20 years old, and we understand it’s still trying. But know that for longer than 20 years, the people, the country, has existed, preserved and maintained its identity for over 3000 years. That’s quite the information stream and burden on the people. It’s time to debunk all the rumors, and be present in this country. It’s time to reinspire the troops with the roar of our freedom to the drumbeat of our heritage. We’ve taken the country back, now we must be present in its refinement.

We fought for our independence, now we have it. But if we aren’t present in the independent state that we have fought for, and continue to fight for from our adopted citizenships, how can we garner the change we all expect to be here when we land at Zvartnots in the succulent Summers, wonderland Winters, blooming Springs, and majestic Falls? There is a need for presence here, and the provinces, the cities, the villages, the nation, and most importantly the people – need it. What can presence do though? Money is all that can change anything in this country, isn’t it?