Once again, the discourse in Armenia has become extremely polarized. It is black and white. It is good versus evil. It is us against them.
Against the backdrop of such binary discourse, emotions run high and level-headed judgement is crucified.
Unfortunately, the window of opportunity to pull this discourse into the realm of reason was forced shut within minutes due to the unwillingness of the confronting parties to negotiate. Speaking in ultimatums and publicly threatening bloodshed have put Armenia on a collision course toward leaderless chaos and hateful violence.
As our country is staring into the abyss of an existential crisis, each person has a moral duty to speak and to act for a viable resolution to this highly charged deadlock.
Honorable sirs, through your numerous acts for the betterment of our homeland you have garnered the immense trust and reverence of our nation – and with such popularity and appreciation comes your heightened duty toward that very nation.
Establishing the Aurora Prize, you successfully took upon yourself the shifting of a century-long narrative embedded in the national psyche from one of hatred to that of gratitude. On the eve of the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, exercising your acumen to impact public discourse becomes imperative once again.
This is why we call on you to break your silence, and to do so immediately…
…because the Prime Minister of our country has openly threatened bloodshed against the very people he is meant to represent;
…because the detention of three Members of Parliament makes peaceful protesters susceptible to opportunist forces with ulterior agendas;
…because the protests, having truly the best intentions at heart, may be grounds for provocateurs to unleash lawlessness;
…because the Armenian citizen’s right to peaceful assembly and free speech is being forcibly disrupted; and
…because law enforcement, while professional and courteous at times, is resorting to disproportionate violence.
What our young republic needs today is a solution based on principle and reason. To achieve this, discourse must go from reactionary to reasoned, “us against them” must be replaced by “us all,” and people of influence and of good conscience must step up and speak up.
You are among them.
Open letter from LA Armenians
