When Silence Drowns the Screams

Bullies gang up on a smaller person while others look away and stay silent

Thank you for clicking to read this very personal article. There are many more very informative articles and sources on what is currently happening in Artsakh, where Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey and various indirectly supporting the war.  However, there does not seem to be enough being done to it to help stop all the killing of innocent people.

You see, my grandparents were survivors of the 1915 Armenian genocide that is still being ignored and suppressed. They witnessed their families and neighbors killed by the hand of the Ottoman Turks. My grandparents were brought to Armenian orphanages in Beirut Lebanon.  Growing up I would listen to my maternal grandfather Mihran tell me stories of all the atrocities and how he was still proud to be an Armenian genocide survivor. Even though all the horrible things he went through and witnessed, he was still a very strong and positive influence on me.  He always looked on the bright side of life and always wanted to help others regardless of how poor he was. He never turned down anyone that needed help. He would play pranks on us and make us laugh, even though I could see all the pain and harsh memories in his eyes. To say he was and still is the driving force in my daily life is an understatement.  Every time life threw me a curve and challenges piled up, I always thought of my grandfather and what he went through and dug deep and pushed through them.

Some might be wondering what is the deal with Armenians and this Genocide? Why does it matter to me? It’s a small little country between Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. It’s not even close to where I live. The safety of being out of range and the false comfort that it does not really impact us in other countries. While that might sound true in the immediate environment. It does impact in many ways. From our taxes being used to indirectly fund the weaponry to economic impact and balance of power in the region and the world in the long run. One might also wonder what do Armenians provide to the world anyway. Yes, we’ve probably heard of the Kardashians and have an opinion on it. However, here’s a short snippet of what other Armenians have brought to this world to make our lives for the better. Some of which you probably use on a daily basis.

Why am I writing about all of this? Because what is happening now in Artsakh is very similar to what happened in Armenia in 1915.  Not only is the killing of innocent Armenians in Artsakh similar but the similarities of most other countries not taking action to stop the killings to what transpired back in 1915 as well.

I know this year has been a challenge all around the globe, from the pandemic to economic turmoil, to conflicts in many other countries as well. There is still a chance to raise awareness and make it so the silence does not drown the screams. Don’t let the bullies continue what they are doing, it will just make them do it again to others. Don’t let the silence drown the screams.

If you are interested in helping to raise our voice above the silence, please share this and talk to others about it.  If you are also inclined to help with a donation, you can do so here: https://www.armeniafund.org

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