Comments on: Waiting for Lenin http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/ Journalism and Photography from Armenia and the Surrounding Region Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:13:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2628 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 16:23:36 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2628 Hi Myrthe, good point and a situation that I think we've all gotten used to in villages and towns outside Yerevan. Hi Myrthe, good point and a situation that I think we’ve all gotten used to in villages and towns outside Yerevan.

]]> by: Myrthe http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2627 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 16:06:32 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2627 Where are the people between, say twelve and 65 years old in the picture? Where there any in the village left? ;-) Where are the people between, say twelve and 65 years old in the picture? Where there any in the village left? ;-)

]]> by: Marc Tailly http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2626 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 15:20:52 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2626 Indeed Onik, most people do indeed consider the sovjet era as having been a period of "better life - although little freedom". And I think this was especially true for the years 1970-1989. But I meant the figure of Lenin himself who seems even less popular than his companion Stalin in the hearts of some armenians I know well. Marc Indeed Onik, most people do indeed consider the sovjet era as having been a period of “better life - although little freedom”. And I think this was especially true for the years 1970-1989.
But I meant the figure of Lenin himself who seems even less popular than his companion Stalin in the hearts of some armenians I know well.
Marc

]]> by: Karo http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2624 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 11:28:45 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2624 I've already said this on the "30% armenians mal-nourished article". Independence has failed people's expectations. The "free-market" development model had failed the armenian people. The only people who have benefited from the collapse of the soviet union are elites, which stole armenia's industries, and ultra-nationalists. I hadn't heard about this villige. and it clearly shows people's disastisfaction and rememberance of a better standard of living. I’ve already said this on the “30% armenians mal-nourished article”. Independence has failed people’s expectations. The “free-market” development model had failed the armenian people. The only people who have benefited from the collapse of the soviet union are elites, which stole armenia’s industries, and ultra-nationalists.
I hadn’t heard about this villige. and it clearly shows people’s disastisfaction and rememberance of a better standard of living.

]]> by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2623 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 08:38:37 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2623 Wow. Thanks for the link, Artyom. Wow. Thanks for the link, Artyom.

]]> by: artyom http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2622 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 07:58:10 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2622 if you think this is fun check this one out. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4374826.stm if you think this is fun check this one out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4374826.stm

]]> by: Garo http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2619 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 01:56:13 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2619 Nice photos.... Nice photos….

]]> by: tsovinar http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2618 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:49:46 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2618 they must have other names for their kids than Vladimir (which is by the way a beautiful russian name though now reminding us maybe only the soviet era) like Lendrush (leninyan drosh), Lenstal (lenin-stalin). i suggest other names Lenquch (Lenini qucha) maybe a modernized Lenman or Lendamn....(sorry to be out of topic:)) they must have other names for their kids than Vladimir (which is by the way a beautiful russian name though now reminding us maybe only the soviet era) like Lendrush (leninyan drosh), Lenstal (lenin-stalin). i suggest other names Lenquch (Lenini qucha) maybe a modernized Lenman or Lendamn….(sorry to be out of topic:))

]]> by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2617 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:37:44 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2617 Just noticed you posted some pics of the Lenin statue in Gyumri on your own blog: http://belgiumarmenia.blogspot.com/2006/11/lenin-89-years-after.html Just noticed you posted some pics of the Lenin statue in Gyumri on your own blog:

http://belgiumarmenia.blogspot.com/2006/11/lenin-89-years-after.html

]]> by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2616 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:28:33 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2616 Marc, you're generally right perhaps with the exception of people over the age of 45-50 although many young Armenians say they appreciate the social benefits of the Soviet era, but would prefer those back only if new freedoms of today were also still there. Incidently, it's interesting to note that the guys in Lernamerdz were said to be the least supportive of Communism in the Soviet era. This love for Lenin really is new. The bust, for example, was <a href="http://www.iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=321323&apc_state=henfcrs321321">erected post-independence</a>, for example. <blockquote>In Soviet times, the village of Lernamerdz was one of the few places in Armenia that did not have a statue of Lenin. The villagers say that they were fairly passive communists and that there were only seven communist activists amongst them. But then, after Armenia became independent, and statues and busts of the great leader were taken down all over the country, in 1996 the people of Lernamerdz (its name means “near the mountains” in Armenian) erected a basalt bust of Lenin in the middle of the village. It weighs two tonnes and is now an important part of the village and a source of great pride. The villagers say they came to understand the value of communism only after it had disappeared. </blockquote> Anyway, re. the old statue of Lenin in Gyumri, yeah, I've seen that as well. In fact, I photographed it a year ago and posted it on this blog at: http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/11/29/gyumri-scenes-1/ Marc, you’re generally right perhaps with the exception of people over the age of 45-50 although many young Armenians say they appreciate the social benefits of the Soviet era, but would prefer those back only if new freedoms of today were also still there.

Incidently, it’s interesting to note that the guys in Lernamerdz were said to be the least supportive of Communism in the Soviet era. This love for Lenin really is new. The bust, for example, was erected post-independence, for example.

In Soviet times, the village of Lernamerdz was one of the few places in Armenia that did not have a statue of Lenin. The villagers say that they were fairly passive communists and that there were only seven communist activists amongst them.

But then, after Armenia became independent, and statues and busts of the great leader were taken down all over the country, in 1996 the people of Lernamerdz (its name means “near the mountains” in Armenian) erected a basalt bust of Lenin in the middle of the village. It weighs two tonnes and is now an important part of the village and a source of great pride.

The villagers say they came to understand the value of communism only after it had disappeared.

Anyway, re. the old statue of Lenin in Gyumri, yeah, I’ve seen that as well. In fact, I photographed it a year ago and posted it on this blog at:

http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/11/29/gyumri-scenes-1/

]]> by: Marc Tailly http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2615 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:13:28 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2615 Years ago I read some article about this village and its love for Lenin and communism in general. A bit strange, as I never met an Armenian with good feelings about Lenin. A bit by coincidence, last summer we found - still standing - a statue left in Giumry on deserted industry grounds. Years ago I read some article about this village and its love for Lenin and communism in general. A bit strange, as I never met an Armenian with good feelings about Lenin.
A bit by coincidence, last summer we found - still standing - a statue left in Giumry on deserted industry grounds.

]]> by: Zarchka http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2614 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:38:27 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2614 Didn't have any idea about this village. Interesting and not usual for eyes, at least mine. Viva Lernamerdz ?!?! ?!? Didn’t have any idea about this village. Interesting and not usual for eyes, at least mine. Viva Lernamerdz ?!?! ?!?

]]> by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2613 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:51:50 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2613 Vay, Happy Birthday! Lucky your folks didn't name you Vladimir ;-) Vay, Happy Birthday!

Lucky your folks didn’t name you Vladimir ;-)

]]> by: artyom http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2612 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:47:46 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/11/07/waiting-for-lenin/#comment-2612 hey, it's my birthday today! Don't make fun :) hey, it’s my birthday today! Don’t make fun :)

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