In the May 2001 issue of AIM Magazine, there was a commentary entitled, "Looking for 
God," by Hrair Sarkis Sarkissian.  It described the impoverished conditions under which 
many survivors from the December 7th, 1988 earthquake are still existing in today.


As things stand today, it is hard for me to understand why fourteen years after the 
earthquake, that there are still people over there living in shipping containers.  Shame on 
Armenia.


In still another article near the front of this same issue, there was another commentary 
entitled, "Containers, Containers, Containers" -- "Help Them Get Out."   In it, the writer 
pleads with Diaspora Armenians to purchase a one, two or three-bedroom apartment left 
vacant by migrating Armenians, and thereafter to turn it over to a container family.


Understandably, the individual who wrote this article was well-meaning.  And even more 
understandable, it would be a way of getting these unfortunates out of shipping 
containers, but this is not a long term solution.  In reality, however, the responsibility for 
this problem should be placed at the doorsteps of Armenia’s government.  I call it, "gross 
negligence."


As for our Diaspora Armenians getting them out of their containers, I believe my father 
said it best when he used to tell us, "Uyn pan-nah vor tzur-ee-yeh ahrj-ek choo-nee."  
(That which is free has no worth.)


To begin with, how could Armenia’s government knowingly allow these people to go on 
living under such conditions?  And if charitable Armenians have to bail them out of 
something that is their buhr-du-gun-oot-yoon (responsibility), where’s their Armenian 
pride?


In Armenia today, there is an enormous disparity between ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’.  If 
anything, it magnifies their ineptness to self-govern.  They have yet to learn that true 
democracy is not intended for a select few, but for their entire population as a whole.


No doubt, when Armenia fell victim to that earthquake in 1988 followed by their 
declaration of independence in 1990, there was need for outside help and even now, after 
fourteen years, Armenia still needs a great deal of outside help.  But outside help is only 
intended for such time as it takes for its receiver to survive on its own.


Judging by this container issue, however, if Armenia hasn’t been able to supply a simple 
thing like basic housing for its earthquake survivors after fourteen years, with all of the 
Diaspora help they have already received, then the prognosis for her future as a 
democratically independent nation doesn’t look very good.  And I sincerely hope that I 
am wrong.  But until such time as it takes for me to be convinced otherwise, I will be 
wondering: How long is it going to take for Armenia to start getting off of welfare?


Joseph Vosbikian