They said their book prize contest is not aimed at propaganda but promotion of reading. “Reading”? Really? What they actually promoted was Facebook ‘likes’ contest and - even if unwittingly - homophobia.
Here is a disclaimer that (following our Open Letter) Orange Armenia posted towards the end of their website page introducing that homophobic short story:
Ծանոթություն. այս ստեղծագործությունը պարունակում է մտքեր, որոնք կարող են դիտարկվել որպես ատելության խոսքեր հասարակության տարբեր խմբերի` այդ թվում նույնասեռականների նկատմամբ:It’s good that they followed our call and re-stated their company’s policy re equality and no discrimination, including based on sexual orientation. I am glad that when asked, this is how they put it in wording. Unfortunately though, what they declare doesn't quite match with what they actually do.
Ցանկանում ենք հաստատել, որ Orange Արմենիան, լինելով պատասխանատու ընկերություն և կրելով Orange-ի ու Ֆրանս Տելեկոմի արժեքները, չունի տարբերակված վերաբերմունք մարդանց որևէ խմբի նկատմամբ` լինի կրոնական, սեռային, ռասայական, սեռական կողմնորոշման կամ ազգային բնույթի: Ստեղծագործությունների հեղինակների և կերպարների արտահայտած կարծիքը կարող է չհամընկնել Orange-ի կարծիքի և քաղաքականության հետ:
In an Open Letter we asked Orange: “Would it be permissible, perhaps, for a story to be included in the contest that spread the same message of hate towards, for example, Jewish people or people of a different skin color or any number of other marginalized communities?.” [Արդյոք թույլատրելի՞ կլիներ, որ մրցույթում ներառված լիներ մի պատմվածք, որը նույն ատելությունը կտարածեր, օրինակ, հրեաների կամ մաշկի այլ գույն ունեցող մարդկանց կամ այլ անհատների նկատմամբ:] Orange conveniently skipped this part and didn’t reflect it in their reply.
They said they do not want to do ‘censorship’. Read the above paragraph again.
Now that we know that Orange Armenia doesn’t do ‘censorship’ and promotes whatever the so called “professional jury” chooses for them... Why not promote neo-nazi stories for next year’s book prize? Or perhaps, Anders Breivik-like diaries? Or... shortlist a novel that justifies genocide? Free speech. No censorship. Could be a subject of very ‘stimulating’ and ‘challenging’ public discussions. Could even ‘promote reading’. Слабо?
At least they won’t need an open letter next year. Disclaimer will conveniently come by default. Yes, disclaimer is good and necessary at times but cannot serve as an excuse for companies to promote (in this case) homophobic literature, even if unwittingly.
Finally, to repeat my point: And I will not be buying into the argument that the shortlist was decided by “professional” jury. It was Orange who should have set up a clear criteria re selection process (without interfering into deciding their literary merit), i.e. it should have been unacceptable under any circumstances to select racist, homophobic etc works.
...because hate kills.
Thumbs down, Orange Armenia.
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Epress.am contacted Orange Armenia for comments and received the following response:
“We would like to say that Orange Armenia, being a responsible company and holding the values of Orange and France Telecom, does not differentiate toward any group of people — be that based on religion, gender, race, sexual orientation or nationality. Our company is guided by these principles in recruiting employees and serving and supporting customers, and generally in its relations with all its stakeholders. Also guided by these values are our company’s employees in Armenia, as elsewhere.
“The aim of the Orange Book Prize is not to be engaged in the propaganda of this or that issue, but to stimulate interest in reading, which, we are confident, is undoubtedly an important issue for modern Armenian society, especially considering that Yerevan will become the World Book Capital next year. Though Orange creates a platform for authors, it does not always share the views expressed by the authors or the characters in their works. Receiving the observations and concerns of several organizations and individuals with respect to the story “Hours Before [Being Given] the Death Penalty” that made it to the second stage of the 2011 Orange Book Prize, we met with some of the authors of the open letter [Tuesday]. Understanding their concerns, as well as the need to raise the issue, Orange believes that perhaps holding public discussions on the subject in question will be more helpful for all than if the company tries to act as a censorship body and suspend the work’s future participation in the contest.
“As already announced, roundtables and discussions will be organized at the end of the public voting with the participation of members of the jury, authors and all those interested. The first roundtable, considering recent developments, will be dedicated to the story “Hours Before [Being Given] the Death Penalty,” among other works. Taking place during the roundtable will be not only a literary analysis of the works, but also [a discussion of] other issues raised by the participants regarding the works. The date and location of the roundtable will be forthcoming.
“Until then, beginning tomorrow [Wednesday], Orange will publish a notice on the Orange Book Prize official webpage on not sharing the views of the main character in the story and its [Orange's] position regarding the work. If as a result of the voting, “Hours Before [Being Given] the Death Penalty” is deemed to be the winner and subject to publication, Orange will certainly take into consideration the concerns of NGOs defending human and LGBT rights and will include an explanatory text in the book on the company’s position or will advise the author to review certain sections of the work.”
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