HENQ — Vonts, Chuneq?

An early morning online chat with local youth activist Vahagn Vardumanyan, aka Seetizen, reminded me of the birth of a new youth initiative, HENQ. According to Vardumanyan, the initiative is non-political and seeks to remain apart from the polarized politics that seems to define most activity in this area since the parliamentary election last year.

According to the official communique announcing the formation of the group, HENQ takes a refreshing approach to the concept of youth empowerment and involvement in the process of nation-building and democratization.

HENQ organized its first public presentation on Saturday, May 31st, at Common Ground. Following the spirit of HENQ, the coordinating group decided to bend the classical rules of making a presentation and turn the event into an interactive mutual exchange of perspectives.

The event was started off by a discussion on a key question: “After all, what is the State”? We’ve noticed that there is a general view in society that the State is basically the state authorities – the President, the Parliament, the Government, and so on. Some think of it as a regime, some as a machine, or apparatus for governing. Surprisingly enough, these views weren’t widely held in the group that had gathered, which opted for the perspective which is being campaigned by HENQ, that is:

We are the State.

The group elaborates further on this concept with the publication of seven principles which define it. Interestingly, this goes as far as obeying the rule of law — an idea which is not common to say the least in Armenia — even to the extent of only crossing the road at zebra crossings. Their first action also sounded interesting.

The essence of the “marshrutka attack” comes from one of the un-deadly sins of man (and by man we mean women as well, not only men :)) – eavesdropping. So, let us ask, when was the last time you saw two people gossiping about, say, our show-business in a marshrutka, while you were overhearing them with an ever-so-innocent expression on your face? Not very long ago, eh? We thought so.

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Sounds fun? It definitely was! The youth gathered were divided into groups of two and were handed pre-written dialogues which touched upon stereotypes like “Yerkire yerkir chi”, “Petutyunn a meghavor”, “Ba es petutyun a, orenq, kargukanon chka” and others. To give the dialogue more dynamism, one person in the pair was supposed to voice these thoughts (like “Mer lifte eli pchacel a, ba es petutyun a?”), while the other spoke against the person and proved that we are the State and that we are supposed to follow the law.

With all that in mind, I had no choice but to turn up for their second action today and after asking Observer whether he knew anything about the group, he also decided to attend. It has to be said that the action was not so well attended, but Observer says he was suitably impressed albeit with some reservations.

The action, called “Vonts, chuneq?” (”You don’t have it?”), is based on principle of “We are the State”, according to HENQ. The point of the action was - to go around bookshops, newspaper shacks, DVD stores, movie theaters in Yerevan and ask for non-existing books, movies, newspaper titles, plays, e.g.: “We are the state” film by Carla Garapedian, the director of the “Screamers“, “The country is a country” by Paulo Coelho, “A citizen is wanted” by HyeFilm Studio.

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’. The action that started today will go on for a week. Many of the bookstores, movie theaters will be visited repeatedly in the hope, that rumors will circulate about these new ‘hit’ films, etc. - which everybody is talking and interested about.

Joining the HENQ members - divided into groups of two Onnik Krikoryian and myself went around to some of ‘targets’. It was fun, but I’m really not sure it this activity will achieve anything, apart from creating a possibility to spend the energy for a bunch of excellent young people with vague ideas about the need for civil activity, caring their country while trying to stay out of politics.

While not supporting the heavily politicized activities of groups such as Hima, both Observer and I had to wonder whether or not such “soft” actions would be able to achieve something in a country such as Armenia where it is very easy to polarize people instead. However, the group, which also includes members from other politicized groups such as Hima and the AYF, do seem to have one thing going for them.

That is, they appear to be able to think for themselves rather than to order from this or that political force. They also are prepared to engage in discussion and more than that, this is exactly what they’re trying to do rather than remain silent and hold up signs or shout simple slogans which conceal the lack of ideas and thought behind them.

The main problem, of course, is numbers. Less than a dozen showed up, but as they say, a thousand mile journey starts with a single step. And given that there was only one male, co-founder Stepan Khzrtian, one supposes the Babe Theory of Political Movements will kick in at some point.

The babe theory of political movements essentially holds that:

Where and when there are hot babes, an exponential number of men will show up. If 100 cute girls with voluptuous bodies are protesting for freedom, you can count on a thousand men being there as well.

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An alternate view of the Babe Theory holds that attractive women are drawn more to successful political movements than to fringe movements. In other words, if the ideas behind a political movement has value, if the fight has a noble purpose, if it has worth, it will attract lovely young ladies, who then become the face of the movement. Women (babes), then, are discerning consumers of political movements, and when there is a worthwhile one, they buy into it whole-heartedly.

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Another view of the Babe Theory holds that a society will not be ready for democratic reforms if it does not have babes. Babes, you see, are a sign of a certain minimal level of affluence. In international relations circles, there is a belief that a society must have a certain level of wealth before it can truly become free and democratic.

Time will tell if the more intellectual approach, albeit implemented in Sksela like ways, will result in a change of thinking in Armenia, especially among youth, but let’s hope so. Good luck to them. I just have to wonder if it’s possible not to have to take a stand on political issues once in a while. Regardless, HENQ has a Facebook Group here.

Photos: © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008