• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Social Media
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • flickr
  • blogger
  • youtube

blog-logo

  • Home
  • Pan-Armenian News
  • UAE Armenians
  • Hrach Kalsahakian
  • Հայերեն բաժին
  • القسم العربي
  • Archives
    • News
    • Articles
    • Directory

You begin by reforming yourself

June 27, 2008
A+ A-
Email Print

MANY QUESTIONS, ONE ANSWER


By Ara Baliozian


We all want the same thing: to improve matters.


We all agree we have problems.


We are unanimous in admitting we need reforms.


It's amazing the number of things we agree on.


It's the solutions we don't agree on.


It's when we start discussing solutions that the crap hits the fan.


Our Turcocentric ghazetajis want to begin by reforming the Turks, which is easier said than done.


Others want to democratize our mafias in the Homeland. Ditto.


Still others want to deliver sermons to our bishops to show them the path leading to church unity.


All these projects boil down to a single word: honesty.


How do you introduce honesty in a dishonest environment?


How do you convince a brainwashed dupe that he is not as smart as he thinks he is? How do you convince a crook that in the long run and for all concerned (including himself, especially himself) honesty is better than dishonesty?


How do you convince a bishop that ?a house divided against itself cannot stand?? How do you convince a boss that an ideology that divides the nation does more harm than good?


How do you convince a benefactor that by supporting institutions that legitimize divisions he may not be doing us a favor?


Finally, how do you reform a reformer?


Let me rephrase the question:


How do you teach the value of humility to a megalomaniac with messianic ambitions?


How do you convince a sanctimonious prick that uttering pious platitudes does not make him an admirable specimen of humanity, and that patriotism means love of country as well as fellow countrymen?


To say my solution is better than yours is to imply you have a better chance to succeed where far better men than yourself failed.


What is the answer?


Is there one?


Isn't there anything I can do?


Do I give up?


Hell no!


You begin by reforming yourself.


And that, my friend, is a project that may keep you busy for the rest of your life.


I speak from experience.


June 2008


Source: http://baliozian.blogspot.com/

author-avatar

Posted by Azad-Hye

Like to share?

Social Media

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • flickr
  • blogger
  • youtube
Newer PostA Spark of the Divine
Older PostTime to expose lies

POPULAR

item-thumbnail

Vardavar (water pouring) international festival in Armenia gains popularity

July 17, 2015
item-thumbnail

Rebecca Malikian’s novel “The Caravan of Death”

July 10, 2015
item-thumbnail

Erebouni pen launched in Dubai and other cities

April 12, 2015
item-thumbnail

Discrete Video Modeling for children with special needs in Armenia

February 23, 2016
item-thumbnail

Nana Aramyan’s art and her exceptional inspiration

September 12, 2015

LATEST

item-thumbnail

تواصل تركيا سياستها التقليدية بتبرير الإبادة الأرمنية والتهديد

August 11, 2020
item-thumbnail

«Իմ երազանքապնակը բազմազան ու գունեղ էր, սակայն չէի մտածում, որ երգիչ կդառնամ». Ուսկե Շաբաբյան

July 10, 2020
item-thumbnail

Գինեկոլոգիա. Ինտիմ պլաստիկան և ցուցումները

July 2, 2020
item-thumbnail

Ptit: Armenian language website for children and teenagers

June 20, 2020
item-thumbnail

Vartine Ohanian Minister of Youth and Sports in the New Lebanese Government

January 22, 2020

COMMENTS

Azad-Hye on In memory of AUB Medical Alumni who died during the First World War
Azad-Hye on Kessab Ousoumnasirats celebrates centennial
Lawrence Danny CPA on Kessab Ousoumnasirats celebrates centennial
Stephensmith on Pizza making vending machine invented by Puzant Khachadourian
ALEXANIAN on Astghik Voskerchyan: Every element in my environment has a role in my creations

Categories

  • Applications
  • Chinese Armenians
  • Cyprus Armenians
  • Egyptian Armenians
  • Ethiopian Armenians
  • European Armenians
  • Hrach Kalsahakian
  • Indian Armenians
  • Interviews
  • Iraqi Armenians
  • Lebanese Armenians
  • Music
  • Pan-Armenian News
    • Art
    • Books
    • Business
    • Celebrations
    • Courses and Camps
    • Documentaries
    • Education
    • Energy
    • Festivals
    • Genocide
    • History
    • Interviews
    • Language
    • Poetry
    • Politics
    • Tourism
  • Religion
  • Syrian Armenians
  • Turkish Armenians
  • UAE Armenians
  • Websites
  • Հայերեն բաժին
  • القسم العربي

CUSTOM LINKS

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Social Media

RANDOM POSTS

item-thumbnail

Սփյուռքի նախարարությունում տեղի ունեցավ մամուլի ասուլիս՝ նվիրված «Քայլ դեպի տուն» ծրագրին

item-thumbnail

How many times to celebrate Christmas?

item-thumbnail

Ավստրալահայ ընտանիքը հայրենադարձվել Հայաստան

TAG CLOUD

Armenian Art Armenian Catholics Armenian Christmas Armenian Costumes Armenian Genocide Armenian Songs Armenian Velvet Revolution Azad-Hye Celebrations Cyprus Armenians Daniel Varoujan Hejinian Diaspora Armenians Education Emma Kant Emma Karapetyan Ethiopian Armenians Garni Geghard Genocide Goris Greece Hidden Armenians History Iraqi Armenians Kessab Kessabtzis Krikor Jabotian Language Lebanese Armenians Meri Martirosyan Music Music Application Nana Aramyan Nikol Pashinyan Norway Ottoman Empire Paris Speech Therapy Syrian Armenians Syunik Turkey Turkish Armenians UAE Armenians Vardavar Western Armenia

Azad-Hye on FLICKER

© 2021 Azad-Hye . Designed by Wpinhands
Scroll