The group were supposed to stir interest about the content of the particular play, book, newspaper and engage in a discussion about issues like: ‘the government does not exist in vacuum’, ‘we are responsible for our state’, ‘we have to take responsability ourselves and try to correct the wrong we see’, ‘we should follow the rules, giving a bribe and saying this country is no good won’t solve anything’.

Yes, unique ideas for Armenia, but ones that the citizens of this country need to adopt and accept as crucial for their own future.

People really do need to think here, and while poverty is a huge problem it is not as bad as it was and there is a sizable segment of society that might not be rich, but is also not starving and needing to think about such issues and more than that, get involved. Actually, if you examine most of the core members of groups such as Sksela, Hima etc, many are working for international organizations, NGOs or IT companies and earning reasonable if not excellent salaries for Armenia. The secret, perhaps, for youth groups is to attract those who are “comfortable” financially and to use them to communicate new ideas etc.

Indeed, it could be argued that it is always a “middle class” that drives social change although yes, the impoverished masses need to follow them, However, it is wrong to say that the majority of people are hungry although I hope we are seeing the emergence of some part of society which is hungry for new ideas and ways of living. People can also set by example and force people to think — about abiding by the rule of law, for example. This is vital for both government, opposition and citizens to understand.

Nevertheless, I agree that politics here is “uncivilized,” and the government and especially the radical opposition typified this. The latter instead played on the lowest common denominator in people — anger, xenophobia etc — in their campaign rather than with ideas so if actions like this can start a process where that situation changes, it should be welcomed. Yes, there are the poor and there are the rich, but there is also an increasing number of people in between who want something different than what’s on offer on both sides of the political divide.

Of course, it won’t be easy and it won’t be quick and it might even fail, but we’ll never know until we see. However, I think that there is the possibility that a small group might be thinking in different ways although yes, I have already pointed out my doubts about whether “soft” actions can work in this reality. On the other hand, we desperately need the government to allow more freedoms, the radical opposition to become less “radical” and more moderate, and probably the emergence of a third force in between.

If this albeit small group is just one among others representing the start of that, then good luck to them. But yes, after Sksela became politicized and with an absence of a true-pro-democracy movement in Armenia, I’m not going to get too excited yet. Still, some of the concepts this group voice are fundamental to the development of Armenia. I hope it works.

Principles of HENQ Youth Initiative

Henq it deep, or go to sleep.

The national-civic worldview of HENQ is constituted of three basic points:

1. We are the State.
2. The interest of the State is our interest.
3. The responsibility of the State is our responsibility.

The civic lifestyle of HENQ is based on four main principles:

1. To value and respect our State, and thus value and respect ourselves.
2. To follow and respect the laws of our State, and thus respect each other.
3. To participate in elections and public discussions.
4. To do volunteer work and develop the State’s interests, that is, our interes

Is something changing in this new generation? I don’t know, but I hope so.

Anyway, I also received this from Vahagn, so to set the record straight.

I am actually not an initiator but [...] I do participate in ALL they do, from here, by sharing whatever i have in my mind and soul, and I bvelieve this is when the real Teghapoxutyun can start…

Well, if they can think out of the box albeit in a somewhat localized fashion then there’s a glimmer of hope. Like I said, the answer to the question Observer asked was a breath of fresh air given the polarized nature of election politics these days.

And perhaps that’s really where the change does start. With ideas and thoughts rather than slogans which conceal a lack of either. Dunno. Let’s see.

And kudos to all of those who are supporting such efforts. Change cannot happen overnight . I hope Armenian youth can begin to grasp this concept.