what's happening to our country?

[15levels]

I couldnt agree more with John' opinion. Actually this article is very interesting as not many of such writtings penetrate to the media, we only end up somehow hearing "this was built","that started operations", but you better believe the opinion of those who have a point of comparison, I saw with my own eyes whats happened to our country and our beloved Yerevan in this winter. The picture was shocking and I am sure I am not the only one who felt that way after visiting the country after long absense. Erb enk menk xelk havakelu - ete aispes sharunakvi- erkriz vochinch chi mna... I'm sorry if I sound harsh but read this article and tell me if I am wrong. (and thanks, Onnik, for once again giving us the reality check).

 

Outside Eye: A non-Armenian's view of life in his adopted home

http://www.armeniaweek.com/may102002/outside_eye.html

 

Thank God, someone has finally seen the essential need of this struggling

Republic and is taking measures to meet it.

 

Last week it was announced that the Cafesjian Family Foundation plans to

spend $20 million on a project that would include a glass museum at the very

feet of the Mother Armenia statue atop Victory Park in Yerevan.

 

At last, the long suffering is over! The cries of anguished Armenians

clamoring "give us a glass museum!" have finally been heard. And a grateful

nation owes homage.

 

Nor will it be just any museum, but a resting place for its benefactor,

Gerard Cafesjian's personal $110 million glass collection.

 

(Am I the last guy on the planet to know that anyone could care enough about

glass to spend $110 million on it? I'll confess to having spent my share of

bucks on those little globular snow scenes in airports, but I don't think

that's what we're talking about here.)

 

When Armenians brag of their inherent resilience, they speak of surviving

genocide and earthquake and political upheaval, never mentioning the

collateral psychic damage of being spawned from a country that has never in

its multi-millennium history had the pride of ownership inherent to a glass

museum.

 

Cafesjian, from Florida - the state that turned farmers' orange orchards

into billionaires' theme parks and gave the world alligator wrestling and

topless doughnut shops - no doubt understands the efficacy of imposing

cultural awareness as a poultice to mental anguish. Otherwise, he might cash

in that $110 million collection and spend it on something frivolous. Like,

oh, I don't know, paying teacher salaries so that the educational system in

Armenia is run on merit and not on bribes. Maybe?

 

Oh, and here's an idea for a $20 million structure: Put a roof over the

sidewalk outside the US Embassy, so that the daily lines of people applying

for visas to leave Armenia will have shelter from rain and sun.

 

But I'm being shortsighted. No matter how bad other things might be -

unemployment, corrupt government, unreliable utilities - those jobless,

weary applicants would no doubt turn in their desperate tracks back to this

country if only it had a glass museum.

 

I am humbled by the brilliance of the plan. Apparently so was President

Robert "Buy My Country, Please" Kocharian, who called a special session of

Parliament to amend Armenia's tax code to make it easier for the millionaire

to get rights to the building site.

 

Word around Yerevan is that Cafesjian asked that the property be given him.

Which is understandable, since a man who has spent $110 million on glass

can't be bothered with actually having to pay for land.

 

Unwilling to hand over the land, the National Assembly, by 56-55, was

willing instead to change the tax laws, giving Cafesjian a break that makes

it much easier for him to build his glasshouse. The fine print is that in

exchange for eight hectares, Cafesjian must agree to renovate the Cascade -

a monument of steps that leads from the center of Yerevan to the park where

the museum will be built.

 

Not since the Spaniards - again with Bob's blessing - gave us bullfighting,

has Armenia needed anything less than it needs a glass museum.

 

I sound too harsh, don't I? Let me acknowledge, then, that the Foundation

has done good and charitable work in Armenia. In fact Cafesjian once even

gave money to a media project that was the genesis of this website.

 

Forgive me. But these thoughts fester, while, on my way to this newsroom I

pass a dumping site from which I often see men, no doubt well educated and

once employed - who will never get an audience with the President or a tax

break - digging for empty glass bottles.

 

They take those bottles out of the grime and wash them and then try to sell

them for 10 drams - less than two cents. I'm trying to figure out how many

bottles they'd have to gather to have a collection worth $110 million . . .

 

A millionaire American is not to blame for their condition. A Government

willing to be a whore, is. But a millionaire American willing to encourage

the process by buying influence and flaunting wealth doesn't do much to help

it.

 

John Hughes

[bellthecat]

I thik you are over-reacting a bit. There are probably plenty of other places in the world that would quickly leap at the chance of hosting this museum - so given the choice of Yerevan having the museum or not then the answer probably should be to have it. It is not going to do any harm.

 

Whether or not this person could have spent his money on something more beneficial than antique glass is a different issue - but turning oranges into glass is a neat alchemy trick!

[khodja]

This article encapsulates my chagrin with the Armenian-American elite. I know them well. I HAVE mingled with them, forged close friendships with them, dated their daughters, married the daughter of one of them. They are in a mind warp.

[Boghos]

Hughes article is another expression of how politically correct and hence conservative many self avowed progressive people really are. It is quite simple: "oh, instead of a glass museum he could have done something better for Armenia, like creating jobs, housing, education, blah, blah". Yes, indeed, that he has done too, or attempted to.

 

Some people seem to find that the only way for Armenian to progress is through diasporan help. I don't doubt for a second that disporan help is extremely useful, but it is very far from being a determinant factor. Armenia, itself, our people living there will have to bear the burden of forming a country. It is not just money (look at many of the oil rich Arab countries, Nigeria), it is being able to create a functioning society that benefits everybody, even if in different ways.

 

If someone wants to build a museum, so be it.

It will also benefit Armenia economically. I don't think Armenia needs handouts. It needs time and constructive help from each of us, however we can do it. Not whinning and complaining all the time.

 

[ May 15, 2002, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Boghos ]

[Twilight Bark]

Indeed. It is extremely important for Armenia to eliminate widespread corruption, and build up a very efficient and independent judicial system. These are rock-bottom, absolutely basic requirements for investment to materialize, not just from the diaspora but from any foreign investor. The diaspora, or anyone else, cannot do it for them.

 

Right again. The money will go directly to the local economic activity, helping a few more people to make a living in a dignified way, and indirectly by creating another "tourist trap" to help generate income in the long term. If and when Armenia becomes a "normal" country and start entering the radar screens of the tourists of the world, it would be nice to have "off-the-wall" places in addition to the more "traditional" attractions. In any case, if you dare not establish a business because of the hostile environment, and do not want to send yet more handouts (with ultimately little lasting value), you build someting, anything, that will keep the locals busy. Why not.

[Harut]

forgive me, but i didn't really understand what was the standing of Hughes.

 

can someone clerify please?

[Twilight Bark]

His position is well-intentioned, but not necessarily realistic or wise economically. He says that money spent on a silly museum in Armenia is money wasted. Many of us, including me, would feel the same way as a knee-jerk reaction. A cool-headed analysis, however, would probably show that such sentiments, although well-intentioned and noble, are not justified.

[Sip]

Well, maybe he is right. Maybe the money should be spent on a serious museum rather than on a silly one

 

I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. Please ignore

[Twilight Bark]

Dear #646,

I think the general idea is that any new museum at this point is by definition a silly one. That would be correct if we were certain that the same resources would still enter the country for a more "practical" purpose. Boghos and I are doubting it aloud I suppose.

TB

[Harut]

thanks TB, i guess the article was too complicated for my apprehension.

 

and this is really sad.

i was very much surprised and shocked the when i moved to Califoria and encountered this general feeling among Armenians that the life in Armenia is dead. that the best think we can do is try to bring all our relatives out of the country or send some money so that they can survive.

i had a feeling that people here think that people in Armenia must sit down the whole day mourn, and try to survive; thinking of having fun or try new moral and cultural things are excluded in Armenia. and those who try to do that are morans who waste money instead of giving it to the poors.

 

i don't know.

[MosJan]

i was - a year a go,

 

it will be ok, one day,

Jamanak@ k@ga, mi or!!!

[khodja]

Boghos,

 

You are a doctor's son. You have most probably had a pampered life. What do those of your life circumstances KNOW of struggle?

[Harut]

i'm not a doctor's son. i've been through very harsh times (early 90s in Armenia).

but now i'm through with it. now that the question of basic survival is over for me, i want to enjoy my life, i want to go to glass museum.

[Arpa]

 

Sip, don't be shy. You don't have to apologize. The project may appear "silly" on the surface but your comment is not

This debate is very much reminiscent of the times when a new Cathedral was announced. I was on the opposing side, if not so much about the project itself, if not so much about the argument that 10 million dollars could have been spent on much worthy and urgent projects. There were those who would argue that the new edifice would be a spiritually uplift for the natives and a touristic attraction for others. All true. My objection was based on my prejudice about all things churchly and religious. I think we place too much on our religion. I would have been happier if that kind of money were spent on a commercial project, an institution of learning or just plain improve the streets and the highways.

Similarly this project will and does stimulate a lot of discussion and argument. John Hughes is right in the middle of things, he can see the misery and it hurts him just as it does us. As to the museum in question, as far as I am concerned, a glass museum? What is a glass musuem? Is it a collection of old beer bottles? According to the article the glass collection is valued at 110 Million dollars. That must be some glass!!

Again, just as in the case of the Cathedral, many asked; Aren't there enough churches already? Yes, there are, most of them unused or unedrused. Most of them are nothing but a heap of rocks that may only have an emotional and nostalgic value to us. Most of them may be of little interst to the average nonArmenian. If it had to be a museum why could it not be a Genocide Museum, or a museum of art and archeology. Yerevan has all of those. Again most of them may be of value for us. How about the others? A collection valued at $110 million must be of great interest to the world. If handled correctly it may be unique and have universal interest and attraction.

Armenia is having trouble attracting tourists, even we are showing signs of fatigue. How many times can we visit Geghard, Khor Virap etc.? Would a museum with universal appeal stimulate tourism? I'm sure the building will not be shabby either. Yerevan does need a facelift. As magnificent as those building at the Republican Square may be, has anybody dared look behind those buildings?

Also consider that just as in the case of the Cathedral this museum will also employ many artisans and construction people and if and when it accomplishes its touristic potential, think of all the small businesses that will surround it.

[MosJan]

What I understand from the H1 TV is that 20m is not spend on the glass museum only, 95% this money will be spend on finishing the Cascade project and on the buildings + Market Places + Streets +.

So it’s not only the glass museum.

 

us for the glass museum:) do we need one ? i do not know, can we use one , yes we can it's not duing anything bad - so it must be good somthing new.

 

Movses

[MosJan]

Ya before I forget, it will also be paying for the shopping center project that will be in beatwin KArapi Lij and Hraparak,

[15levels]

Just a question: how many of you have you been to Armenia lately and what were your impressions?

[MosJan]

smile.gif

[khodja]

Boghos,

 

The point I originally made you have ignored and instead make jokes about me.

 

I have made clear that I have not associated with any world leaders or their offspring, just American politicos and family.

 

JFK was assasinated when I was just a child, so I could not have smoked or played games with him.

 

I have not had sex with any well-known actresses.

 

I NEVER claimed to be a sex symbol.

 

I do not play chess, although my brother is a well-known international gamesman.

 

I NEVER took up any of the older ladies or "khoshig" men at the resort on their offers. ANIMALS? Get Real!

 

I have not met even one US President although I did get correspondence from one.

 

If I was able to send you information on my family you would stop laughing.

 

You are a TYPICAL wealthy Armenian. You are the same everyhere I have visited from Singapore to Jerusalem.

[Boghos]

Chief,

 

Do you think that it makes any difference to me whether you descend from Noah himself or whomever ?

 

A typical wealthy Armenian ! What's wrong with you ? All these cheap generalizations and you'll be on your way to become a third-rate Ara Baliozian. Just imagine what that would be worth. Well, when you get your literature Nobel prize, let me know (or maybe you already have several in your family).

[MosJan]

Boghos jan Axper@s, Tsavt tanem just haw wealthy are you

 

can you help:) me to open a On-Line-Museum i will nam it after our good friends,

Boghos jan i will name a Strret after you, a city, a cassino, Boghos jan TSavt tanem Tolk to me

 

Boghos jan it's just a joke

[Boghos]

[Boghos]

Sireli Movses,

 

Shad, shad garevor pan bidi esem: Hayastan ambaiman bedke unenal Hagaragi DunTankaran. Amenayi hayots clown.

[MosJan]

Che Boghos jan annang ch@ llar:) tun Tram@ dur menq gitenq te inch gnenq:)

 

Anang che m@ tun Barerar menaq al pan m@ gnenq YAlla Bohos jan qani m@ milyon PM @ere desnanq inch bid @enenq.

[joseph]

Boghos did you say(look at many of the oil rich Arab countries,Nigeria).Nigeria is an african country its not an arab country.it have plenty of oil but most of its people are poor and un educated and its govrnment is one of the most corrupt in africa