Courage to change
“The eyes of the Armenians speak long before the lips move and long after they cease to”- Arshile Gorky
Armenian history and literature have stood out with many war examples and their hardening effect on our nation’s well-being. But none of us could have imagined being a particle of a war today. Has Armenia ever been at peace? The answer is of course no.
The post-war situation in Armenia is harrowing for our society. We try to live, but don’t know exactly how. We’re experiencing such difficult times that being adequate under these conditions is from the fantasy genre. A flow of aggression has unconsciously enveloped our minds. A loss is a loss and we have to deal with this harsh reality.
Our provocative statements have brought Armenia to complete economic instability. Poverty, societal collapse, inflation, unemployment, and many more negative effects are already on our shoulders. The institutional framework is completely crushed in all sectors. It seems like we’re getting disappointed more and more by realizing that our country doesn’t really have a capability to deal with all those issues. We have always advocated nonviolence and the ideology of a peaceful neighborhood. However, the superpowers continue to immerse ordinary nations in their criminal acts. The power of today’s world is manifested only through money. It diminishes how effectively the country handles the war causes from the socio-economic point of view. Armenia is not a game-changer in the region, but can we at least try to be for ourselves. We’re already too tired of these so-called permanent peace calls.
I guess the crucial issue of Armenian society is our individualistic culture. Ego has become our greatest enemy. Sometimes we’re too ignorant towards other people, and yes, it’s much easier to pretend to be blind. We truly believe in what we believe without even a second thought to look around us. The Armenia-Azerbaijan war is conclusive proof that we’ve failed to some degree in achieving a collectivist mindset. We all have sights but no visions. Everybody blames everybody for everything, and the future of our country seems foggy, perhaps for now.
Collectivism — one word thousand opportunities. This war is a real disaster of our times, and we should fight together to overcome all these difficulties. The ultimate goal is to put our efforts into action to make our motherland strong again. Each of us has a unique power to create, to change, and to achieve. We have what we have now. Let’s put aside all our judgmental cultural views and behaviors. It’s the right time to bring our knowledge, expertise and skillset to the table. We can no longer wait for these traitors to determine our fates. Through work, we can actualize our needs and aspirations and give meaning to our existence. The harder we’ll work, the better we’ll get. Our guarantee of a prosperous life is at the core of our diligence. It’s the main portrayal of a wealthy society. No doubt the war was a destructive force for our country. But we Armenians will never give up no matter what challenges life prepares for us. Our strength lies in our unity. We’ll move forward together and build our Armenia from within.
