Price for Armenian Revolution—USD 8 mln
The Financial Times introduced a story about former manager of Deutsche Bank on risk assessment. Former employee of the bank named Eric Ben-Artzi refused his bonus of USD 8.25 million, who revealed irregularities at Deutsche Bank during the financial crisis declined the reward offered in the US stock Constable (SEC). He preferred to expose false accounting at Deutsche Bank instead of the offered premium.
By that step Ben-Artzi helped respective bodies to uncover the chain of fraud, as a result of which Deutsche Bank has been fined for USD 55 million.
This story, having nothing to do with Armenia, refers to the extent that it replies to the question why do we have what we have in Armenia today, i.e. in fact and basically we have nothing? This story is about a man, who, refusing the immense amount, being able to overcome the seduction, has fought against fraud, deception and lawlessness.
We have what we have in Armenia today, i.e. basically we have nothing, as there are no Ben-Artzis in Armenia, the type of a human, the collective image, who is ready to make a public positive step on account of his wellbeing lacks. This type lacks in Armenia, for this the other—its opposite image is exists and functions, the type ready for anything for wellbeing.
As in Armenia it’s difficult to imagine any Minister, who can refuse kickback. It’s difficult to imagine any judge in Armenia, who may refuse something good done from the authorities for a commanded verdict or baksheesh given in an envelope for a verdict made as a result of a good deal.
It’s impossible to imagine any oligarch in Armenia, who may refuse monopoly provided by the authorities or super benefit obtained for destroying the contestant.
It’s senseless to imagine an MP in Armenia, who may refuse the mandate and render miscellaneous service from his unwritten responsibilities.
It’s horrible to imagine in Armenia any figure delivering press conferences, who is able to refuse expressing a dictated opinion and payment received for that. It’s ridiculous to imagine any opposition figure in Armenia, who may refuse expressing a dictated idea and not being paid for that. It’s from the genre of fantasy to imagine any academician in Armenia, who may refuse fawning the authorities and another position given for that and the place promised at a banquet of the authorities…
Of course and fortunately, exceptions are available, however, they, as it’s known, confirm the regularity, edifying absence of heroes, ordinary, humane and civic heroes.
To have a good or a bad state, and generally on the level of the dilemma of having or not a state, heroism is not only being made a hero by the one, who reptiles and destroys a Turk on the battlefield, shoots and screening movies about it.
In terms of overcoming the seduction of heroism in the fight for not losing the state, and even being a former adventurer, is in being frank at least once in a lifetime. Heroism is in being sincere and doing actions following it, and first and foremost…
Whether accidental or not majority of our historical and literature heroes, as a rule, are sly, those cheating, misleading or betraying this or that king. However, in case of seeking in history and treating the available with some preference at least a few fedayi, other humane and moral heroes may be found, then nowadays it’s impossible. As presently one may become a hero from everything, but first and foremost, through having everything by refusing dignity, morality and the most ordinary frankness.
Heroes in Armenia are exactly them, and the public consists of few such heroes and a large number of those not intending to become such, the majority of whose would dream of being in the status of Ben-Artzi and not only will accept 8 and more million dollar bonus, but also with the threat of refusing it would double or even triple the bonus.
Revolution, about which everybody likes and speaks of, in fact, will occur in Armenia in the period and in case, when somebody will be found, ready to refuse 8 or 80 million for the sake of a state, in which 8 or 80 million may be earned also by their own work.
Revolution, which is so popular to be touched upon, cost only USD 8 million. Not only in case of green banknotes put on the table, but also the one refusing those banknotes from the other side of the table.
Conditionally, of course.
Meanwhile, the one or a few, or a crowd comprised of a few lacks, the majority, providing the heroized minority through “Armenian” ways everything but, first and foremost, power will exist, for which the other, lacking type is dangerous and a threat. That absence is the guarantee for personal presence, as well as the reason, that speaking of Armenia it’s heard—we have what we have.
Thus, in fact and basically, we have nothing.
By Garnik Gevorgyan
