MONTE: “THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE AND TO BE ONE OF THEM”
hetq
23:30, June 12, 2012
What follows is an abridged version of an article written by Monte
Melkonian’s wife Seda on the anniversary of Monte’s death on June
12, 1993.
Another anniversary of Monte’s passing is upon us and once again I
search for some of his messages to share with the public who came to
love him.
There are many types of people who love him. Sometimes they shape
their histories to correspond to his desires that do not necessarily
have anything to do with reality. Moreover, they begin to understand
Monte in a way that they believe he should have been.
We must remember one thing – that sometimes our most beloved
individuals can sometimes possess things that are not natural or
close for us. We will have only corrupted the character when we impart
things that aren’t correct.
Monte would have considered such an approach as a slap in the face
because it is a lie and a falsehood.
Lately, the focus of our people is set on things that should be at
the top of our list of priorities. Those that should be at the top
of the scale are fated to being neglected.
About ten days ago I saw yet more evidence of the destruction
of Yerevan. They were pictures of the collapse of the Pak Shouka
(Covered Market) on Mashtots Street. They were troubling images. We,
individuals who long for the Yerevan of old, were so happy regarding
the preservation of Mashtots Park.
However, this wheel of the city’s destruction doesn’t seem to want to
come to a stop. The pile of 100 year or even 500 year lease permits
signed in willy-nilly fashion by Vane Siradeghyan in the 1990s has
grown even larger.
Based on what moral right have these sites been granted to private
individuals? I cannot say. I only know that many of these private
citizens could have purchased private homes or lands, but they fixed
their gaze on lands owned by the people and they succeeded in grabbing
them. Sadly, the list of such sites is long.
Perhaps our heroes who came out during the Diversity Day march can
direct their patriotic marches towards such issues instead?
Monte once stated the following – I never will say that the Armenian
people are better than any others. No, such talk is not correct. Such
an issue doesn’t even exist. Simply stated, each people possess
their characteristics and the type of these characteristics leads
to a variety that enriches world humanity. Thus, it’s only natural
that you and I and the rest of the Armenians should be tied to our
qualities and culture. Our culture is one part of the richness of
the humankind in general. We must protect and develop that culture.
Each of us has a duty to demand that we have a proper country and that
our youth serve in an army that is well organized and considerate. And
remember that ensuring good army conditions is a task not only to
be shouldered by a minister. A minister isn’t a miracle worker. If
all of us do not work towards this end, if we dolt demand it of the
government and don’t raise decent children, those kids will end up
serving in the army under terrible conditions, they will try to bully
the weak and even kill them. They will have done the enemy’s bidding.
We can solve our problems only if all of us work together.
Monte believed that “the most important thing was to understand the
people and to be one of them. Only in this way can you do the right
thing for them.”
Having lived with a person who served as an example of such patriotism,
it is extremely difficult for me to understand the alleged patriotism
we are witnessing today.
I am talking about the patriotism that destroys a historical monument,
that turns his fellow countryman out on the street in the name of
hollow and lewd personal ambition, and that demolishes the few green
spaces and trees that give a bit of fresh air to our city.
We all want to have a beautiful and clean city but while at the same
time preserving its character.
Whose interests are served by those high-rise buildings, rife with
violations, erected in the earthquake zone? They merely fill the
pockets of a few rich individuals.
A person who truly loves the homeland and its people wouldn’t express
his patriotism in such a manner. A person who disrespects the will
of the people in such a manner isn’t worthy of respect.
And this exoneration from punishment just goes on and on.
Seda Gbranian-Melkonian