Beyond normal.
“To be normal is the ideal aim of the unsuccessful.” Carl Gustav Jung
After the post that I wrote yesterday on events of 15-16th October 2003 (http://sympathy4thedevil.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/15-16th-of-october/ ) I received comment asking me to look on the bright side of the things in our country. When I asked comment poster to give me an example, he directly said “Emin Milli” and that 10 years ago system wasn’t able to produce such people. Of course I answered that Emin Milli is self-made man that dedicated all his life to education and networking.
This conversation provoked some thoughts. Do they have Emins and Adnans in developed countries? In fact do they need them? Once again, which countries need heroes? Heroes that will fight till the end and always rise to the occasion? Only countries in really dire situations need heroes to save them. No, of course there are millions of talented young men in developed countries but they have no urgency to become heroes, because their countries need technicians and managers. And they become Nobel Prize winners (Emin) or CEOs of big transnational companies (Adnan). They live their normal lives, they don’t get arrested. Let me once again say that I’m proud of Emin and Adnan. They are showing true courage right now. Maybe they won’t have normal lives, but their children and grandchildren will.
Talking about normal… Yesterday one of the most talented Azerbaijani rock-bands Ozan (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27448415357&ref=ts) dedicated their usual gig at Corner-pub in Baku to Emin Milli’s birthday. This is a very courageous move for Azerbaijan. This is the move that shows heart and fearlessness. When I said their singer and guitarist Nurlan halaldir(“all hail”) today, he answered: “Ilkin, it’s normal”.
No, Nurlan, it’s not normal. People that surround us every day are normal. Living their lives, not even trying to know what is going on. Too scared to go beyond normal. What you have done was beyond normal! And I’m proud that I can say that i’m your friend!
Unfortunately we are living in the country where normal actions won’t bring the CHANGE. We all should go beyond normal. And when enough people will be beyond normal, then we will achieve the CHANGE that we desire and which this country needs.
L4L
October 16, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Right! The Change! good job man…proud of you!
October 16, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Thanks
October 16, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Veziyyet urek achan deyil qarda$. 20-30 nefernen CHANGE elemek mumkun deyil. Eminin fikirlerinden birini 4 elle destekleyirem – Azerbaycani tehsil xilas edecek. Bu gunku tehsilimizde ise esl genosid ba$ verir.
October 16, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Change geometrik prosesdir. 20-30 nefernen 1000 neferin baxishini deyishe bilersen 100-200 nefernen ise 100 minlerin. Tehsil xilas edecek. Amma tehsil ve ideya bir yerde getmelidirler. Biri olmayanda, digeri bayagilashir ve
normallashirOctober 16, 2009 at 7:22 pm
We’re all crazy. (c) Emin Milli
That’s the best thing about us, huh
)
October 16, 2009 at 7:24 pm
That is only the part of the iceberg that is beyond water
October 17, 2009 at 10:54 am
Beyond normal in an abnormal country- sounds good:D (and also not impossible)
nice post!
October 17, 2009 at 1:56 pm
thanks!
October 18, 2009 at 2:49 am
Ilkin,
It is good…provoking thought can be very helpful, right:)))?
First, let me explain what I meant when I said system. System for me does not mean just government. It means everything. The fact that Emin went university, had parents, went and saw another country, had courage, had friends supporting him, read a lot etc. all within dynamic structure of society, nation, government and education is loosely understood as a system. Mind you, please, I don’t mean Emin did not make himself. What I mean is this: everything around him has contributed who he is – of course, he made himself. But does it invalidate my point that system also contributed? After all, we are not going to deny that he became Emin Mill exactly because he lived in such a dire absurdistan, like Azerbaijan. As you say in your own post is there any need for Emin Millis in developed countries? System is changing, there are groups like Ozan, persons like Emin Milli and I see it as good change. Does it mean that everything is ok? No. It only means that seeing bad, I also try to see good and balance both aspects.
Second, please notice that I did not accuse you of confusing something or did not make any statement about level and sharpness of your knowledge. But you do without knowing my credentials. Such approach to argument is called argument ad hominem which means you leave aside what person says and turn to person’s character saying what (s)he does not know and what (s)he confuses with what. Do you think it is appropriate for open, honest, and civil argument?
Now about your post: I think yes, there are Emin Millis and Adnans in developed countries too – they are developed because they have them more often and in more fields than we have. As far as my own personal experience testifies, leaving in country where all second-third-world countries look up for democracy, I think there are. They are just different in another context and we may not notice them.
Ok…I guess I write too much.. . Sorry about that. Last post. never ever will bother you again…
October 18, 2009 at 12:58 pm
We are clearly have different views on the word “system”, so let’s stop it here.
Where did i made “any statement about level and sharpness of your knowledge.”? You mean that one “You are clearly confusing idealism and romanticism.”? It’s my view on your comment. Nothing more. I don’t think it’s an insult or attempt to turn attention on your person. In fact, your attempt to tell me that i’m romantic in politics, as i’m romantic in life was argumentum ad hominem, as you weren’t trying to answer my post, but rather talked about my character.
October 18, 2009 at 1:23 pm
OK!! 10 years ago the sysytem couldnt produce people like that?
Just becuase it is not on the internet it didint happen?
There were plenty of young people who gave up far more than Emin and Adnan (not to say that these guys deserve any less credit for their actions). People who are rotting away in prisons today after being arrested during 2003/04/05 demonstrations. People who had the balls to go on the streets and fight rather than talking about ‘revolutionary’ ideas of networking and unity!!
I think one of the key problems in Azerbaijan is that we are way to keen when it comes to chatting our way out of problems and shy away from more physical actions.
PS the method of attacking a person rathr than his/hers views is used pretty much everywhere in the world.
The government in Azerbaijan loves doing that and unfortunatly it has rubbed of in a big way on all parts of the opposition.
For example I myself was accused of not writing my posts in Azeri by a prominent supporter of Adnan and Emin. The idea was to paint me as unAzeri…(not by the author of this blog by the way!)
October 18, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Farid, once again i agree with you
There were people who gave up more than Adnan and Emin. But, the thing is, Adnan and Emin are different. They are the harbingers of totally new situation, when people are not arrested for their political actions, but for even less than that.
I agree with PS too. For a change we should start with ourselves and our closest circle. But, i’m hopeful. People that are thinking like us are growing in numbers.
October 18, 2009 at 3:34 pm
[...] July, as does Ali S. Novruzov in an entry on the Frontline Club blog. L4L, a new Azeri blog, even says that a local Baku-based rock band dedicate a concert to Milli. Talking about normal… Yesterday one of the most talented Azerbaijani rock-bands Ozan […] [...]
October 19, 2009 at 12:02 am
[...] July, as does Ali S. Novruzov in an entry on the Frontline Club blog. L4L, a new Azeri blog, even says that a local Baku-based rock band dedicated a concert to Milli. Talking about normal… Yesterday one of the most talented Azerbaijani rock-bands Ozan […] [...]