Armenia once again must fight for its freedom, land and way of life
Tonight, as I kiss my daughter goodnight, I hold on for a few seconds longer. I hold on for all the Armenian mothers who would give anything to hug their sons one last time. I hold on for the Armenian fathers, who promised their wives and children they’d return victorious, only to return in a coffin. Because while the rest of the world is focused on fighting a pandemic, Armenians are being forced to fight a war.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, I learned that Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, had once again violated a three-decade-long ceasefire and launched an unprovoked, full-on attack on Artsakh — the rugged and mountainous ancestral homeland of Armenians. Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabagh, is a de facto independent state with an Armenian ethnic population. It broke away from Azerbaijan in 1991, resulting in a devastating war that came to a halt in 1994 with a ceasefire treaty. Today, Armenians are once again at the receiving end of Azerbaijan’s aggression as they attempt to steal Armenian lives and land.
I think back to the summer of 2014, when I was fortunate enough to experience Artsakh in a time of peace. I had lived in Armenia until I was 6, which is when my family moved to Fresno.
On that special trip I hiked through Artsakh’s lush forests, danced with the locals in Shushi, and befriended villagers who took it upon themselves to teach me how to drive a tractor. The ancient beauty of Artsakh and the genuine kindness of the people who reside there is indescribable. It is no wonder why so many are willing to give up their lives to defend this land. Seeing Artsakh with my own eyes allowed me to realize then and now, that this truly is a land worth fighting for.
As you read this, thousands of Armenian soldiers are fighting for the right to live in peace. Dozens of families are grieving for those who have fallen. Those who are not in the middle of the combat are mobilizing to send aid. Though we are thousands of miles away from the conflict, we too, can help. Visit anca.org/alert to urge your representatives to end U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan and visit armeniafund.org to donate for humanitarian aid.
During this time of uncertainty and instability, my heart is filled with hope. A hope for the end to violence and hate. A hope for a lasting peace. A hope for joyful reunions of soldiers with their families. A hope that every Armenian mother will once more hug and kiss their soldiers. And lastly, a hope that I will one day return to this majestic land, this time, with my daughter.
This story was originally published September 29, 2020 at 11:42 AM.