HY RU EN
Asset 3

Loading

End of content No more pages to load

Your search did not match any articles

“The Things I Love Most”

Seta Kabranian-Melkonian

I often think about Monte’s infinite optimism. For him, there was a way out from any bad situation. I miss Monte’s trust in his people, his devotion to the things he loved most. It seems to me sharing his letters with the people he so loved brings him back for an instance to salute their efforts of building a homeland. It also reminds the people how much Monte believed in Armenia’s bright future.

15 June 1988

The latest news from there is very good. Yes, once again there were issues in the neighboring city but in our city at least, there are good news and also quite a healthy and mature approach. Our people’s initiative and mass movement there has created a new historic phase. I would like to salute all of them. Furthermore, I would love to participate and serve in any way. I am so-so happy that you partake. I would have loved to be by your side. That way I would be surrounded by the things I love most: you, my active, mobilized nation, and my homeland.

I long for Monte’s everlasting confidence that his people know what’s necessary to built a decent country. And if that homeland didn’t’ get built, the nation would rise to find solutions and defend their rights.

18 June 1988

This year, on exactly your birthday important things will happen there. That’s what we’ve heard at least. Here, too, things will happen. It is very unfortunate that our neighbors’ approach is what it is. “Reconstruction” is an approach of solving problems, not neglecting or extending them. In any case, I trust our compatriots. Until now they’re the ones taking initiatives and I can’t see why they would stop.  

A lot has been said and written about Monte’s patriotism, humanism, modesty and devotion. However, Monte had no time to devote to a few principles and beliefs he felt strongly about, such as environmental and women’s issues. Often, current discussions about women’s roles make me hear Monte’s voice in my mind.

19 June 1988

I found a nice comfortable place outside, lied down under the sun and read. The book was interesting, but my heart was somewhere else.  Moreover, the topic of the book (as every thing these days) reminded me of you. The book was about the economic system and structure, as well as state resources of the Soviet Union. It’ s written before Aghampegian’s book but is very interesting and detailed. Aghampeghian’s book is interesting and important. I hope you’ll have the chance to read it. My copy is in the local language here.  When I read about these topics my mind inevitably goes to you. I think, “Now Seta is there. She’s living all this. She feels it in her everyday life and so she will have a lot to explain to me. I wish I was with her and could feel with her, learn with her…” I truly would love to live there with you at least for a year. At least enough so you could take me to all the places and introduce me to everyone, so I could learn and feel. There are people who think they can understand a situation from afar. I am not one of them. It is true that one can understand a lot and form an opinion by reading and discussions with other people, but that’s not enough. To really understand one needs the experience, one needs to live it. But I am here …nonetheless, my other half, you, are there. You are there and have lived there and will explain to me for hours. You will talk and talk and I will look into your eyes and from your voice, your words I will feed…and we will live like that, we will work and do good deeds.

In his letters, and later during our life together, Monte often stressed the importance of my opinion, not because I knew more than he did, but because he believed in gender equality.

21 June 1988

Today I got much news from there. I am very happy. You are extremely lucky to be there during this historic phase. I can’t wait to listen to you. Sometimes there are photos in the newspaper. I look at every face in those pictures searching for you. Too bad media photos are usually not printed well and it’s not possible to see clearly.  Until now I haven’t found you. But I’ve noticed something else: at least in the photos, the vast majority of the people are men. There are girls/women here and there, but very few. Is it really so? One half of our people are females and they have a great role to play. I hope girls/women are active. Although I’ve heard a few things about this subject, but I’ll wait until you come and explain to me. In reality it’s an important topic.

Monte believed in gender equality. He believed that a homeland is built with combined efforts. He didn’t believe in the capitalist system and didn’t tolerate exploitation of beings and places alike. For Monte, defending people’s rights was above everything else, struggling for the well being of the country the only version of patriotism. Monte believes that sooner or later, masses rise to claim their rights.

Write a comment

If you found a typo you can notify us by selecting the text area and pressing CTRL+Enter