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Re: elegy
Monday, September 7, 2009
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BRAIN DRAIN
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A headline in NEWSWEEK reads: “Venezuela's brain drain.” Who speaks of Armenia's brain drain? Not even Armenians, probably because every Armenian believes he has a surplus of that particular commodity and would gladly share it if asked.
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It is easy for two fools to convince each other that they are not just smart but much smarter than others. On this point, Armenians have no trouble reaching a consensus.
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Teach yourself to say, “I am a fool,” for that is the beginning of all wisdom.
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A good Armenian is one who loves those have brainwashed him and hates those who speak of reality, as if reality were anti-Armenian and pro-Turkish.
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I learn something from everyone I meet, except my critics. All my critics succeed in doing is expose the Turk in themselves and, in doing so, they remind me of the Turk in me.
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We learn from our mistakes only in the sense that we learn ways to avoid getting caught red-handed – until making mistakes becomes a habit, and that's when we get caught.
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The right to be wrong is also a human right. Be aware of the man who is never wrong.
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There is a type of reader who is disposed to agree with me only if I were to say Armenians are the first people to convert to Christianity and the first nation to be targeted for extermination in the 20th century. Beyond that, no matter what I say, their first impulse will be to contradict me.
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Most Armenians will never take me seriously as a writer simply because I say things they have known all along without taking the trouble to verbalize them because doing so would amount to adding insult to injury, which may suggest that they view criticism as massacre by other means.
#
Monday, September 7, 2009
***********************************************
BRAIN DRAIN
********************************************
A headline in NEWSWEEK reads: “Venezuela's brain drain.” Who speaks of Armenia's brain drain? Not even Armenians, probably because every Armenian believes he has a surplus of that particular commodity and would gladly share it if asked.
*
It is easy for two fools to convince each other that they are not just smart but much smarter than others. On this point, Armenians have no trouble reaching a consensus.
*
Teach yourself to say, “I am a fool,” for that is the beginning of all wisdom.
*
A good Armenian is one who loves those have brainwashed him and hates those who speak of reality, as if reality were anti-Armenian and pro-Turkish.
*
I learn something from everyone I meet, except my critics. All my critics succeed in doing is expose the Turk in themselves and, in doing so, they remind me of the Turk in me.
*
We learn from our mistakes only in the sense that we learn ways to avoid getting caught red-handed – until making mistakes becomes a habit, and that's when we get caught.
*
The right to be wrong is also a human right. Be aware of the man who is never wrong.
*
There is a type of reader who is disposed to agree with me only if I were to say Armenians are the first people to convert to Christianity and the first nation to be targeted for extermination in the 20th century. Beyond that, no matter what I say, their first impulse will be to contradict me.
*
Most Armenians will never take me seriously as a writer simply because I say things they have known all along without taking the trouble to verbalize them because doing so would amount to adding insult to injury, which may suggest that they view criticism as massacre by other means.
#
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