YOUTH HAVE BAD HABIT OF LEARNING FROM ADULTS
Haik Aramyan

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

Ararat Mahtesyan, a high-ranking police official stated November 3 that
all of us, the whole society is to blame as the system of values of
the youth is becoming increasingly inclined to the "criminal world,
criminal approaches". The deputy chief of the Police was right,
it is the fault of everyone. The youth, which is not only our
present but also our future, has a "bad habit" – they learn from
grown-ups around them. They finish school, try to enter a university
or college, and afterwards they want to have a job, live a good and
full life. And what does a young man standing at the threshold of life
learn as an adult? For instance, he can see what is going on at the
universities. Then he witnesses the situation in the period of the
call-up. Then he learns about the ways how one can set up a business
or get a placement. He can see, for instance, how the law enforcement
agencies, the representatives of government agencies work, who often
deal with the representatives of the "criminal world", accompany them
or guarantee their security. He can see that there are privileged and
"second grade" citizens, there are people who do not obey the law, and
people who are cheated and robbed in the direct and indirect senses
of the word every day, placing the responsibilty for the life of the
country on their shoulders. What does a young man who is not a member
of the privileged class do after witnessing and understanding all these
things? (Especially that all this starts as early as at school.) He has
to go away or get used to this situation. The other right way is, of
course, that he must fight for his rights and welfare. In this sense,
however, there is still a long way to go. But presently the government
and the political forces of Armenia have established a system which
resembles that of the "criminal world", as Mr. Mahtesyan put it. The
mechanisms of black budget, extortion and blackmail function perfectly
within this system. The criminalization of the political and civil
life is underway, and efforts are made to introduce these mechanisms
everywhere, especially among young people. Baze Gatherings, youth wings
of political parties and other bureaucratic mechanisms are designed to
"spoil" the youth, pointing to the "right way" for them.

What does a young man, whose sensitive and pure soul craves for
justice, have to do in this situation? According to the adults,
justice is an abstract notion, however, it should be there. In the
meantime, the widely preached values of the mysterious, romantic
"criminal world" start attracting the young man. Everything is simple
and clear in this world, which is wrapped in the veil of mystery.

Everyone is equal there, there is "justice", scoundrels are punished:
this is their perception. And where else can a young man turn his
face? It should be noted that the system established in Armenia
presently is attempting at attracting young people into this system
of values by their everyday activities and propaganda. This is an
easier way to sustain their privileged status.